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Struss, Jozef

1. Dates
Born: Poznan, 1510
Died: sometime between 27 July 1568 and 26 Jan. 1569. Buried at St. Mary Magdalene in Poznan.
Dateinfo: Death Uncertain
Lifespan: 58
2. Father
Occupation: Merchant
Nicholas Struss, a wealthy brewer. Jozef's mother was the daughter of the mayor of Poznan. His maternal uncle was T. Bederman, the rector of the Lubranski Academy and a lawyer in Poznan.
3. Nationality
Birth: Polish
Career: Polish, Italian
Death: Polish
4. Education
Schooling: Cracow, B.A., M.A.; Padua, M.D.
He completed his elementary education at the parish school of St. Mary Magdalene in Poznan, then went on to Lubranski Academy, the most illustrious institution in the system of higher education in Poland, but more an advanced gymnasium than a university. He next moved to Cracow, where in 1531, after seven years of study, he obtained a diploma in the seven liberal arts. (both B.A. and M.A.) 1532-7, the University of Padua; M.D. in 1535.
5. Religion
Affiliation: Catholic
Catholic assumed from career. However, note that the most formative influence on his intellectual development was Christoph Hegendorfer, who came to Poznan from Leipzig, and was the most distinguished professor at the Lubranski Academy. Hegendorfer was a fervent Lutheran.
6. Scientific Disciplines
Primary: Medicine
His main work is Sphygmicae artis, (1555, the work of twenty years) an accurate clinicophysiological study of the pulse and its alterations. It suggested the pulse as a reliable sources of clinical data and of diagnostic and prognostic information.
7. Means of Support
Primary: Medicine, Patronage
Secondary: Academia, Government
He was under the care of his maternal uncle during his years at the Lubranski Academy.
Evidently a poem he wrote, dedicated to Cyprian of Lowicz, brought him into the good graces of the very important Laski family (including Jan (1455-1531), Primate of Poland and Chancellor, and Jan [John O'lasco] (1499-1560), his nephew who actively promoted Calvinism in Poland, but necessarily at a later time). J. Chojenski, the rector of Krakow University, also began to support Struss at this juncture.
He was professor of theoretical medicine at the University of Padua from 1535 to 1537.
1537, invited to lecture at the University of Cracow at the request of Chojenski. (Struss took a considerable drop in salary in the move.) Chojenski died before Struss was offered a chair.
1537, Sandomierz Canon.
About 1538 he entered the court of Andrei Gorka, then the governor of Greater Poland as his personal physician.
1539, personal physician to Princess Isabela, daughter of Sigismond I, the King. Isabela was engaged to the King of Hungary, Jan Zapolya.
Struss was appointed administrator of a Hungarian province.
With Gorka Struss was sent to the court of Suleiman I. Wen he returned to Poznan in 1541 he remained personal physician to Gorka and advisor in his political caareer. Struss amassed large property in the region of Poznan through his association with Gorka.
He established a successful practice and became personal physician to King Sigismund Augustus in 1559.
8. Patronage
Types: Academic, Government Official, Court Official
See items above.
9. Technological Involvement
Type: Medical Practice
10. Scientific Societies
Memberships: None
Sources
  1. Roman Pollack, Bibliografia literatury polskiej. Pismiennictwo staropolskie. (Warsaw: Panstwowy Instytut Wydawn., 1963-5), 3, 229-31.
  2. Aledsander Brückner, Dzieje Kultury Polskiej, vol. II Polska u Szczytu Potegi. 2nd ed. (Wydawnictwo J. Przeworskiego: Warszawa, 1939), p. 230.
Not Available and Not Consulted
  1. H. Barycz, "Rozwoj nauki w Polsce w dobie Odrodzenie," Odrodzenie w Polsce. Materialy Sesji Nauk. PAN 25-30 Pazdziernika 1953 r. T. 2: Historia Nauki. Cz. 1 w-wa 1956 pp. 61-2; 135-6.
  2. Osob. pt. Dzieje nauki w Polsce w epoce Odrodzenia.
  3. H.Barycz, Historja Universytetu Jagiellonskiego w epoce humanizmu, (Cracow, 1935), pp. 241-2. LF1407.B2.
  4. W.Bugiel, Un celebre medecin polonais au XVI siecle: Joseph Struthius, (Paris, 1901).
  5. G.Sterzi, Josephus Struthius, lettore nello studio di Padova, (Venice, 1910).
  6. M. Lyskanowski, "Jozef Strudiek (Strus), wybitny lekarz polski epoke Odrodzenia," Problemy 1960 nr. 1.
Compiled by:
Richard S. Westfall
Department of History and Philosophy of Science
Indiana University

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©1995 Al Van Helden
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