Jan Swammerdam
1637-1680
Dutch Anatomist and Microscopist
Jan Swammerdam, the son of a prosperous apothecary, was born in Amsterdam, Holland and died there only 43 years later. Even as a child, Swammerdam's main interest was the study of insects. His father was also interested in the natural sciences, but he demanded that his son take religious orders rather than study natural history. As a compromise, Swammerdam was allowed to study medicine at the University at Leiden. Although Swammerdam graduated as a doctor of medicine in 1667, he retained his interest in research on insects and never practiced medicine. Through his research on the natural history and anatomy of insects, Swammerdam established himself as one of the founders of modern comparative anatomy, entomology, and microscopy. Swammerdam saw the microscope as a tool rather than an end in itself and he used it to carry out systematic studies of entomology and comparative anatomy.
During the seventeenth century, naturalists began to use microscopes to examine the morphology of organisms that were difficult or impossible to see with the naked eye. Much of the early microscopical work was devoted to plant tissues, but Swammerdam was primarily interested in the fine structure of insects. In order to study the mouthparts and action of insects, Swammerdam subjected himself to the bite of lice and other insects. In addition, he systematically investigated the fine structure of plants and animals, and discovered the minute "seeds" of ferns. Through dissection and microscopic examinations of human cadavers, he made important discoveries about the uterus, spinal medulla, lymphatic system, and the organs of respiration. The studies of respiration included in his 1667 graduation thesis included original observations about the structure of the lung that had important implications for forensic science. Swammerdam reported that, before respiration had been established, the lungs of a newborn mammal would sink when placed in water. After respiration had been established, the lungs would float.
In 1669 Swammerdam published a general history of insects. The text was written in Dutch rather than Latin. He also carried out dissections of tadpoles, snails, marine invertebrates, and so forth. After contracting malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that plagued him for the rest of his life, Swammerdam was sent to the countryside to recuperate. Instead, he devoted himself to a painstaking study of the morphology and natural history of the mayfly. This research was also published in Dutch in 1675. The study of the mayfly reflected Swammerdam's growing interest in religion as well as his obsession with the details of insect life. He suggested that knowledge of the brief life of the mayfly might give humans beings an appreciation of the shortness of earthly existence and inspire them to a better life. Eventually, his health deteriorated and he became increasingly involved in religion and mysticism; especially after he became a disciple of Antoinette Bourignon, who was known as a mystic and religious fanatic.
More than fifty years after Swammerdam's death, his manuscripts were purchased by Hermann Boerhaave, who had them translated into Latin and published in two large volumes under the title Biblia naturae (Bible of Nature, 1737). The text, which included plates engraved from Swammerdam's own drawings, provided the first systematic account of insect microanatomy, classification, and metamorphosis. For each of the insects that had been studied, Swammerdam described the natural history and details of its anatomical structures. For example, Swammerdam provided the first accurate descriptions of the compound eyes, stinger, and mouthparts of the honeybee. Swammerdam discovered the nucleated, red blood corpuscles of the frog. He also described experiments that proved, contrary to traditional belief, muscles do not increase in volume when they contract. In addition, eighteenth century naturalists turned to Swammerdam's studies of insect metamorphosis in support of the theory of embryological development known as preformationism.
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