Niall Ó Glacáin
Encyclopedia
Niall Ó Glacáin, or Nellanus Glacanus, Irish
physician
, c. 1563–1653.
from 1634 to 1637, believed him to be about 48 during one of those years, giving a birth year of c. 1575.
He was born in Tír Chonaill
, and may have received his early medical education from a local hereditary family of physicians such as the Mac Duinnshléibhe family of Tír Chonaill. At the time, such families were the only source of medical training in Ireland.
sometime before 1600, possibly in time to treat victims of an outbreak of the bubonic plague
which was rampant from 1595 to 1602. He was at the Spanish court Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill arrived in Spain, and may have attended him upon his death in 1602. Ó Glacáin subsequently spent many years practising medicine in Salamanca
. In 1622 he moved to Balencia, residing there for two years. In 1627 he moved to France during an outbreack of the plague, working as a Plague doctor
in towns such as Fons
, Figeac
, Capdenac
, Cajarc
, Rovergue and Floyeac.
in time to treat victims of the outbreack of 1628. MacCuinneagáin states that Ó Glacáin "gained high esteem and general consideration because of the devotion which he showed in braving the contagion
to succor the sick. He was appointed physician at the xenodochium pestiferorum, the plague hospital at Toulouse in 1628 and was appointed to the University there with the title Premier Professor of Medicine. He spent some time in Paris as physician to King Louis XIII and was also a Privy Councillor there."
. Suggested treatments including bleeding
, the use of clysters, purgatives and fumigation
.
An especially interesting part of the text is a description of four post-mortems which he carried out, where he noted the occourance of petechial haemorrhages which "covered the surface of the victims' lungs and also the swelling of the spleen
."
in pathological anatomy
, with his work predateing that of Giovanni Battista Morgagni
(1682–1771) by several decades.
, which had a tradition of employing very eminent foreign doctors teaching Medicina Sopraordinaria. To this end, the city senate asked the then M.S., Giorgio Scharpes (Medicina Sopraordinaria from 1634 to 1637) write up a report on Irishman, who's fame by now spanned all of Europe. Scharpes reply was as follows:
"With regard to religion Mr. Glacan is a Catholic
, and there is no doubt because it would be difficult for a heretic to live in a city like Tolosa (Toulouse) which is know to be one of the most Catholci places and where they cannot bear heretics. Mr. Glacan is about 48. He is famous because during the plage in these regions of France during the years 1627 to 1629 he was very helpful and in the year 1629 he produced a book who title is Tractus de Peste ... and I invite you to read this book to understand exactly why Mr. Glacan is valuabel and why he is still teaching in the University of Tolosa ... About his teaching he is well estimated because he is a good philosopher, good in fighting against his enemies that accused him of being a magician
; his book can confirm that he was not a magician ... Mr. Glacan knows Greek
very well ... talking about the other questions ... from a letter from Mr. Glacan whhere he says he would really like to serve the University of Bolgona I can understand that there will no be any problem for the salary
and for him to come."
Ó Glacáin became Professor of Medicina Theorica Soparodinaria at Bologna in 1642, an office he held till his death eleven years later.
, the second pathology
, and the third - which appeared after his death - on the theory of signs. This final volume dealt with the different diagnosis by doctors, descriptions of diseases, and was overall an introduction ot the modern concept of differential diagnosis
.
Two other Irishmen resident in the city, Gregory Fallon of Connacht
and the Rev. Phillip Roche, S.J., wrote commendatory verses prefixing volume two.
Nicholas French
and Sir Nicholas Plunkett
at his home in Bologna, when the latter two were on their way to Rome
in 1648. In collaboration
with them he wrote eulogistic poems in Latin
to Innocent X, titled Regni Hiberniae ad Sanctissimi Innocenti Pont. Max. Pyramides Encomiasticae. In his latter work he mentions another friend, the Franciscan
catechist and grammarian, Fr. Francis O'Molloy
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, c. 1563–1653.
Background
Ó Glacáin's date of birth is uncertain. MacCuinneagáin believes him to be about ninety upon his death in 1653, giving a birth date of around 1563. Giorgio Scharpes of the Faculty of Medicine, BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
from 1634 to 1637, believed him to be about 48 during one of those years, giving a birth year of c. 1575.
He was born in Tír Chonaill
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and may have received his early medical education from a local hereditary family of physicians such as the Mac Duinnshléibhe family of Tír Chonaill. At the time, such families were the only source of medical training in Ireland.
Spain and France
Ó Glacáin made his way to SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
sometime before 1600, possibly in time to treat victims of an outbreak of the bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
which was rampant from 1595 to 1602. He was at the Spanish court Aodh Ruadh Ó Domhnaill arrived in Spain, and may have attended him upon his death in 1602. Ó Glacáin subsequently spent many years practising medicine in Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
. In 1622 he moved to Balencia, residing there for two years. In 1627 he moved to France during an outbreack of the plague, working as a Plague doctor
Plague doctor
A plague doctor , was a special medical physician who saw those who had the bubonic plague. They were specifically hired by towns that had many plague victims in times of plague epidemics. Since the city was paying their salary they treated everyone, the rich and the poor...
in towns such as Fons
Fons
Fons can refer to:* one spelling of Fontus, an ancient Roman water deityFons is the name or part of the name of several communes of France:* Fons, in the Ardèche département* Fons, in the Gard département* Fons, in the Lot département...
, Figeac
Figeac
Figeac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.Figeac is a sub-prefecture of the department.-History:Figeac is on the via Podiensis, a major hiking medieval pilgrimage trail which is part of the Way of St. James...
, Capdenac
Capdenac
Capdenac is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.It has been inhabited since prehistoric times. At one time Capdenac was thought to be identifiable as the Gaulish settlement of Uxellodunum which was besieged by Julius Caesar, but this theory has been discredited....
, Cajarc
Cajarc
Cajarc is a commune in the Lot department in south-western France.It is a stopping place on the Via podensis, the medieval pilgrimage route from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela, but also attracts tourists on account of its medieval town centre, its plan d'eau, a 4 km-long dammed section of...
, Rovergue and Floyeac.
Toulouse and Paris
He had settled in ToulouseToulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
in time to treat victims of the outbreack of 1628. MacCuinneagáin states that Ó Glacáin "gained high esteem and general consideration because of the devotion which he showed in braving the contagion
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
to succor the sick. He was appointed physician at the xenodochium pestiferorum, the plague hospital at Toulouse in 1628 and was appointed to the University there with the title Premier Professor of Medicine. He spent some time in Paris as physician to King Louis XIII and was also a Privy Councillor there."
Tractatus de Peste
By now a respected authority on plague treatment, he published his most famous work, Tractatus de Peste, at Toulouse in 1629. It contained his conscise descriptions of the plague, its various effects on different patients such as buboes, rashexs, headaches, vomiting and comaComa
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. Suggested treatments including bleeding
Bleeding
Bleeding, technically known as hemorrhaging or haemorrhaging is the loss of blood or blood escape from the circulatory system...
, the use of clysters, purgatives and fumigation
Fumigation
Fumigation is a method of pest control that completely fills an area with gaseous pesticides—or fumigants—to suffocate or poison the pests within. It is utilized for control of pests in buildings , soil, grain, and produce, and is also used during processing of goods to be imported or...
.
An especially interesting part of the text is a description of four post-mortems which he carried out, where he noted the occourance of petechial haemorrhages which "covered the surface of the victims' lungs and also the swelling of the spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
."
A Pioneer of Pathalogical anatomy
Ó Glacáin was a pioneerInnovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
in pathological anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, with his work predateing that of Giovanni Battista Morgagni
Giovanni Battista Morgagni
Giovanni Battista Morgagni was an Italian anatomist, celebrated as the father of modern anatomical pathology.-Education:...
(1682–1771) by several decades.
In Italy
Ó Glacáin moved to Italy in the early 1630s, where his services were sought by The Faculty of Medicine at the University of BolognaUniversity of Bologna
The Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is the oldest continually operating university in the world, the word 'universitas' being first used by this institution at its foundation. The true date of its founding is uncertain, but believed by most accounts to have been 1088...
, which had a tradition of employing very eminent foreign doctors teaching Medicina Sopraordinaria. To this end, the city senate asked the then M.S., Giorgio Scharpes (Medicina Sopraordinaria from 1634 to 1637) write up a report on Irishman, who's fame by now spanned all of Europe. Scharpes reply was as follows:
"With regard to religion Mr. Glacan is a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, and there is no doubt because it would be difficult for a heretic to live in a city like Tolosa (Toulouse) which is know to be one of the most Catholci places and where they cannot bear heretics. Mr. Glacan is about 48. He is famous because during the plage in these regions of France during the years 1627 to 1629 he was very helpful and in the year 1629 he produced a book who title is Tractus de Peste ... and I invite you to read this book to understand exactly why Mr. Glacan is valuabel and why he is still teaching in the University of Tolosa ... About his teaching he is well estimated because he is a good philosopher, good in fighting against his enemies that accused him of being a magician
Magic (illusion)
Magic is a performing art that entertains audiences by staging tricks or creating illusions of seemingly impossible or supernatural feats using natural means...
; his book can confirm that he was not a magician ... Mr. Glacan knows Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
very well ... talking about the other questions ... from a letter from Mr. Glacan whhere he says he would really like to serve the University of Bolgona I can understand that there will no be any problem for the salary
Salary
A salary is a form of periodic payment from an employer to an employee, which may be specified in an employment contract. It is contrasted with piece wages, where each job, hour or other unit is paid separately, rather than on a periodic basis....
and for him to come."
Ó Glacáin became Professor of Medicina Theorica Soparodinaria at Bologna in 1642, an office he held till his death eleven years later.
Cursus Medicus
During his years in Bologna, Niall Ó Glacáin wrote his Cursus Medicus (Medicine lessons), which appeared in three volumes; the first dealt with physiologyPhysiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, the second pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, and the third - which appeared after his death - on the theory of signs. This final volume dealt with the different diagnosis by doctors, descriptions of diseases, and was overall an introduction ot the modern concept of differential diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
A differential diagnosis is a systematic diagnostic method used to identify the presence of an entity where multiple alternatives are possible , and may also refer to any of the included candidate alternatives A differential diagnosis (sometimes abbreviated DDx, ddx, DD, D/Dx, or ΔΔ) is a...
.
Two other Irishmen resident in the city, Gregory Fallon of Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
and the Rev. Phillip Roche, S.J., wrote commendatory verses prefixing volume two.
Personal life
Niall Ó Glacáin's personal life is almost unknown, but he did entertain Bishop of FernsBishop of Ferns
The Bishop of Ferns is an episcopal title which takes its name after the village of Ferns in County Wexford, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:...
Nicholas French
Nicholas French
Nicholas French , Roman Catholic Bishop of Ferns, was an Irish political activist and pamphleteer, who was born at Wexford....
and Sir Nicholas Plunkett
Nicholas Plunkett
Sir Nicholas Plunkett was the son of Christopher Plunkett, Lord Killeen, and Jane Dillon. At the age of twenty Plunkett traveled to London to receive training as a lawyer at Gray's Inn in London, and later at King's Inn in Dublin...
at his home in Bologna, when the latter two were on their way to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1648. In collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration is working together to achieve a goal. It is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together to realize shared goals, — for example, an intriguing endeavor that is creative in nature—by sharing...
with them he wrote eulogistic poems in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
to Innocent X, titled Regni Hiberniae ad Sanctissimi Innocenti Pont. Max. Pyramides Encomiasticae. In his latter work he mentions another friend, the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
catechist and grammarian, Fr. Francis O'Molloy
Francis O'Molloy
Froinsias Ó Maolmhuaidh , Franciscan monk, theologian and grammarian, author of the first published Irish grammar of Irish in Latin, c.1606-1677.-Early life:...
.
Bibilography
- Tractatus de Peste, Seu Brevis, Facilis et Experta Methodud Curandi Pestem, University of Toulouse Press, 1629.
- Cursus medicus, libris tredecem propositus, three volumes, University of Bologna press, 1655.
External links
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2385830/pdf/ulstermedj00097-0038.pdf
- http://www.irishtimes.com/ancestor/surname/index.cfm?fuseaction=Go.&UserID=