If guided by the right principles, even a short life can bring rich scientific and pedagogical fruits. Despite his premature death Johann Jakob Geelhausen (1692−1738), a hitherto little-known professor at the Charles University, who died on 16th February 1738 at the age of only forty-six, proves to be an important pioneer of chemistry at the Charles University. The presented first detailed study of his pedagogical and scientific legacy not only demonstrates the continuity of teaching chemistry at the Charles University since the early 18th century, but also offers an opportunity for self‑reflection and strengthening the identity of contemporary chemists. A graduate of philosophy and medicine at Charles University, Geelhausen underwent another fundamental formation while studying chemistry with the famous Dutch chemist-reformer Herman Boerhaave. Geelhausen brought Boerhaave's modern methods of teaching chemistry to the Charles University, where he was a professor of medicine from 1721. He also held four times the office of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and became the Rector of the University. Thanks to Professor Geelhausen's innovative spirit and as a result of the fruitful encounter of the ancient tradition of the Charles University and the busy atmosphere of Boerhaave's lectures, chemistry began to be taught indirectly at the Faculty of Medicine, long before the first professor of chemistry was appointed there. Already in his dissertation, Geelhausen proved his zeal in the promotion of chemistry, recommending that the drugs “studiosius a chymicis passim inquiruntur” (should be more eagerly sought after by chemists). This study presents a complete, annotated bibliography of Geelhausen's scientific works. Articles on the preparation of diethyl ether, the use of Papin's pot for extractions, and the analysis of mineral waters in Bechyně (a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic) stand out from his work. Chemistry is also abundant in dissertations supervised by Geelhausen at the University. Moreover, Geelhausen took an active part in the scientific and social life of Central Europe. He was a member of the Königlich Preußische Sozietät der Wissenschaften and the Academia caesarea Leopoldino‑Carolina naturae curiosorum. He is also a co-author of the first domestic pharmacopoeia, Dispensatorium medico-pharmaceuticum Pragense, published shortly after his death in 1739. With his work and experience with Boerhaave and his writings, Geelhausen probably influenced one of his pupils and successors, Jan Antonín Scrinci. Scrinci was then appointed the first full professor of chemistry at our university in 1738 (in the death year of Professor Geelhausen). Since then, chemistry has been taught continuously at the Charles University.
Although analytical chemistry, as an independent discipline, appeared at Charles University in the 19th century, its history dates back to the beginning of the university, to the 14th century, six centuries before Faculty of Science of this University was established. Thus the local history of analytical chemistry represents an important part of the story of chemistry in the Czech Lands. At the beginning of the 17th century, university theses deal with the analysis of chemical problems only theoretically, on a mental level. During the 17th and 18th centuries, however, as in other European countries, analytical chemistry at the University has established itself as an important auxiliary science at the Faculty of Medicine. The Fathers Founders here include, in particular, Jan Marek Marci of Kronland (1595–1667), the discoverer of the separation of white light on a prism, which phenomenon he described eighteen years earlier than Isaac Newton. The founder of uninterrupted teaching of chemistry at Charles University is Professor Jan Antonín Scrinci (1697–1773). The present article brings the first evaluation of Scrinci’s analytical-chemical publications and also draws attention to the presence of analytical chemistry topics in publications of the Faculty of Medicine in the 18th and 19th centuries. The rapid development of chemistry at the beginning of the19th century resulted in a transition of chemistry as independent science to the Faculty of Arts in 1849. By reconstructing the line of succession of the most important representatives of analytical chemistry at the Charles University, including Bohuslav Brauner (1855–1935), one of the most important Czech chemists, the article portraits the successful development of analytical chemistry there. This resulted not only in the establishment of the Faculty of Science in 1920, but also created conditions leading later to the Nobel Prize for Professor Jaroslav Heyrovský for the discovery and development of the polarographic methods of analysis.
- MeSH
- akademický sbor dějiny MeSH
- analytická chemie * dějiny výchova MeSH
- dějiny 17. století MeSH
- dějiny 18. století MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- dějiny raného novověku 1451-1600 MeSH
- filozofie dějiny MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- studium lékařství dějiny MeSH
- studium vysokoškolské dějiny MeSH
- univerzity * dějiny MeSH
- věda dějiny výchova MeSH
- vyučování dějiny MeSH
- Check Tag
- dějiny 17. století MeSH
- dějiny 18. století MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Rakousko-Uhersko MeSH
- Svatá říše římská MeSH
When looking at pharmacy and, due to the reciprocal interdependence, also at chemistry, we rightly perceive them as the continuity of knowledge and experience being passed on in an unceasing line between established scientists and incoming generations of new talents. In this continuity, what represents a measure of success are the actual scientific discoveries and their positive impact on society. However, we usually forget those who were behind these discoveries and ensured the integrity of this line. We no longer perceive the motivation that led them to their demanding work. We are – unfortunately and to our detriment – losing sight of their personal story, which is behind both their unique contribution to pharmacy or chemistry and, above all, the continuous improvement of conditions for a dignified life of humanity; a story that can be an important source of inspiration for their followers today. Based on a profound examination and evaluation of the materials from the Archive of the Charles University, we present biographical profiles of leading scientific and pedagogical members of the academic community of the Faculty of Science of the Charles University, who not only taught pharmacy but also participated in building an independent Czech pharmaceutical or chemical school. Oldřich Tomíček, Robert Kalvoda, Stanislav Škramovský, Jan Stanislav Štěrba-Böhm, and František Plzák belong among the most important. We show the overall context of teaching at the faculty, where the leading positions of chemical departments were held by pharmacists who themselves had the highest possible chemical education at that time (such as Jan Stanislav Štěrba-Böhm, who studied at the later Nobel Prize winner Henri Moissan). We recall the importance of the preparation of the first national pharmacopoeia, which was largely attended by scientists from the faculty, as well as the problems associated with its publication (the typesetting of which was ordered to be destroyed during the German occupation, but was secretly saved and preserved until the liberation in 1945, when it was finally released). We mention the relationship of Nobel Prize winner Jaroslav Heyrovsky to pharmacy (during the First World War he worked as a pharmacist in military hospitals) and the use of polarography, discovered by him, for pharmaceutical analysis. In these circumstances, the ongoing scientific interest in pharmaceutical analysis and synthesis of new drugs at the Faculty of Science of Charles University remains the logical legacy of these chapters in its history.
Through the history of teaching of pharmacy at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, we illustrate how cutting-edge science impregnated with fundamental historical reversals has profoundly affected the lives of those who taught, studied, and developed pharmacy in the Czech Lands in the 20th century. During the first thirty years of the faculty's existence, the centenary of which we commemorate this year, chemistry is inextricably connected with pharmacy. However, the mutual dialogue between pharmacy and Charles University (founded in 1348) is much older, as the first relationships between the University and pharmacists can be traced to the Middle Ages. From 1652 onwards, the University supervised the profession of pharmacists who were passing exams there, which entitled them to practice their profession. Since 1804, the University has been providing full university education for pharmacists. The formation of independent Czechoslovakia in 1918 enabled the Faculty of Science to be established as the fifth faculty of the Charles University two years later. Between 1920 and 1950, the Faculty was the only place of pharmaceutical education in the Czech Lands. Based on a profound examination and evaluation of the materials from the Archive of the Charles University, we not only bring an overview of the requirements for applicants to study pharmacy, but also reconstruct and analyze the curricula (in which chemical subjects represented most of the taught subject matter). We also present an international character of the education at the Faculty (a large part of the students was from abroad) and its important gender aspect (women represented an above-average proportion of students of pharmacy). The forced closure of the Czech universities as a result of the German occupation in 1939 not only interrupted the teaching of pharmacy, but also caused a significant loss of the Faculty's pedagogical and scientific potential due to the dispersal of top scientists and educators as well as irrevocably lost opportunities for personal development. Although the teaching of pharmacy at the Faculty of Science of the Charles University was resumed after the end of World War II in 1945, shortly thereafter in 1950 it was abolished as a result of political and organizational decisions. It was renewed only in 1969 with the establishment of the independent Faculty of Pharmacy. The ongoing scientific interest in pharmaceutical analysis and synthesis of new drugs at the Faculty of Science of the Charles University therefore remains a logical legacy of these chapters in the history of the Faculty. By recalling the dynamic past of the faculty and its inner connection with the vibrant present, our message is to be seen as a contribution to the dynamization of public perception of the identity of chemists. And as such, in addition to communication, it also has a didactic dimension. Chemistry, if communicated – among other things – as a science that medicates and heals, naturally acquires a completely different emotional touch than it usually has at present. It suddenly becomes socially relevant. This can have a positive impact on young people's decision to study chemistry and then dedicate their lives to it. Only this will allow leading chemical institutes to educate new generations of chemists who will be well prepared to effectively manage the pitfalls of new epidemics and pandemics for humanity.
- Klíčová slova
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe,
- MeSH
- bolest * dějiny MeSH
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- dějiny lékařství MeSH
- erotika MeSH
- filozofie MeSH
- lékaři dějiny MeSH
- lékařství v literatuře MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoc dějiny MeSH
- novodobá literatura * MeSH
- poezie jako téma MeSH
- významné osobnosti MeSH
- Check Tag
- dějiny 19. století MeSH
- dějiny 20. století MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- historické články MeSH
It is a familiar paradox that we miss much that is set before our very eyes. Whereas Goethe as one of the greatest men of European culture is well known, his unique combination of literary talent and passion for chemistry escapes the attention and his scientific books remain on the bookshelves unread. That is why Goethe's interest in chemistry, as well as chemistry itself in his works, is the main focus of this essay. Chemical reactions metaphorically described in his writings (Elective Affinities and Faust) are examined and revealed. Goethe's own chemical experiments are introduced. Although Goethe's view of chemistry is presented in a manner consistent with the taste of his time, it speaks clearly to a modern chemist. Consequently we shall reseek him and rescue his chemical legacy from the oblivion. Goethe's chemical novel of love, his artificially created homunculus and the fascination of this non-chemist in chemistry could be a possible response to the current discussion on the new ways in the didactics of chemistry and measures to encourage students to learn chemistry.
- MeSH
- alchymie MeSH
- chemie MeSH
- lékařství v literatuře MeSH
- literatura MeSH
- významné osobnosti MeSH
- Publikační typ
- biografie MeSH
- O autorovi
- Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von, 1749-1832 Autorita
