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ADAM MATUSZEWSKI
JAN JONSTON: OUSTANDING SCHOLAR OF 17TH CENTURY
One of the outstanding scholars of the 17th century Leszno, besides Jan Amos
Komensky, was the word-famous physician, biologist, philosopher and historian – Jan
Jonston from Szamotuły. For many years in the post-war period this prominent representative
of Leszno scholars was almost completely forgotten. It was only in 1975, when the Leszno
Cultural Society published a collective work1 and organized the international symposium
devoted to Jonston [June 6 – 8, 1975] that he was remembered. The proceedings of the
symposium were published in volume 28 series B of the Studia i Materiały z Dziejów Nauki
Polskiej2. However, no monograph covering all areas of Jonston’s scientific activities has
been written so far. The present article is, therefore, an attempt to present the scientific
biography of Jonston.
Jan Jonston was born on September 3, 1603, in Szmotuły in Wielkopolska [a region in
western Poland. His father, Szymon Johnston, was Scottish origin and his mother, Anna
Becker, was German. In 1611 Jonston went to a school run by the Bohemian Brethren in
Ostroróg, and three years later – to the then-flourish gymnasium in Bytom. His mother died in
1617, his father a year later. Care of the orphan was taken by his uncle as well as by Kaspar
Dornavius, doctor of philosophy and medicine, the then Rector of Bytom Gymnasium, and
Baltazar Exner, historian.3 Dornavius must have inspired the boy’s interest in philosophy and
medicine, and Exner in history. These two men were, then, the first people to determine the
main areas of Jonston’s interests.
After five years spent in Bytom Gymnasium, on April 5, 1619, Jonston begins his
studies in Toruń Gymnasium. At that time Rector of that school was Konrad Graser, historian
and philosopher, whom Jonston calls in his Naturae Constantia [1632] “praeceptor noster
observandus”.4 It is probably to Graser Jonston also owes his excellent command of the
Hebrew language. Theodor Wotschke5 and Tadeusz Bilikiewicz6 mention a speech delivered
by Jonston at Toruń Gymnasium and entitled: De Fraudibus contra Lipsium, in which he
expressed his favourable attitude towards a well known Machiavelist - Justus Lipsius.
After leaving Toruń Gymnasium Jonston went to Scotland, where on January 29, 1623,
he enrolled in Saint Andrews Academy. There he continued his studies of scholastic
philosophy, the Hebrew language and theology, with so good results that John Spotwood, the
archbishop of the town of St. Andrews and the primate of Scotland, allowed him to join the
exclusive community of the twelve royal alumns.
In 1625, taking a route via Gdańsk and Toruń, Jonston returned to Szamotuły to bring
into order his family life and with the intention of going back to Scotland once this will have
been done. However, the scourage of plaque raging in Poland at that time frustrated these
plans and Jonston decided to accept the post og governor of the children of the Korzbok
Zawadzki family in Leszno. It was there that he started work on his first encyclopedia of
nature Enchiridion Historiae Naturalis, which was later published in Amsterdam [1630] as
Thaumatographia naturalis in decem classes distincta.7 The first part of it, “Coeli”, brings
description descriptions of stars and five planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, Venus and Mercury.
Similarly to Komenský, Jonston rejects Copernican theory here. In the second part,
“Elementorum”, Jonston discusses four elements of the Universe, considered funmebtal since
Plato’s times. These are: fire, air, water and earth. When discussing fire, Jonston writes about
its nature, presence on the surface of the Earth and under it as well as its relations to some of
the natural phenomena. As regards air, Jonston mentions the regions of its presence, the types
of air encountered in the mountains, the influence of air pollution on the development of
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epidemics, finally, the function of air for the human organism. When writing about water,
Jonston mentions its properties, the types of water to be found on the surface of the Earth,
their use, and the like. When describing earth, he writes also about continents, islands, types
and heights of the mountains. He includes a description of Etna and Hekla as the two most
interesting mountains.
In the third part, “Meteorum”, Jonston deals mainly with atmospheric phenomena, that
are winds and how they come about, lightnings, thunders, rain, snow and hail. He also
mentions the underground movements of the Earth’s crust, as well as comets, and the like.
The fourth part, ”Fossilium”, treats of minerals. Jonston divides them into sals, soils and
metals, and in particular detail discusses the soils applicable in medical treatment. As regards
salts, he distinguishes between edible salt, alumn, saltpetre and vitriols. Kerosene, asphalts,
amber and jet make up one group called “earth oils”, and all more or less liquid minerals form
the group of “earth juices”. This part ends with description of various kinds of stones.
In the fifth part of “Thamatographia” – “Plantarum” – Jonston describes 140 kinds of
plants and some of their products.
Parts 6 to 9 bring descriptions of various species of animals: part 6 – of insects and
birds, 7 – of four-footed animals, 8 – of poll-beasts, 9 – of fishes. Animals within each group
are listed in the alphabetical order, with no attempt at classification.
The last, tenth part of the work under discussion is devoted to a man. Jonston begins
with a general description of human organism, and then goes on to present its various
functions, such as nourishment, digestion, growth, reproduction; physiological functions such
as activity, resting, or sleeping; senses, organs of movement and their functions, finally, the
functions of the reasoning soul with the one regarded by Jonston as the most important one,
namely remembering.
In 1629 Jonston takes part in a medical session, examining the case of Krystyna
Poniatowska, who had prophetic-religious visions. The case won considerable fame, because
many of the Czech Brethren, including Jan Amos Komenský, believed there was a mystical
sense in Poniatowska’s prophecies. Up to this day has a description of Poniatowska’s vison,
written (as proved by Bilikiewicz8) by Jonston9. The description shows that Jonston believed
in the supernatural origin of Poniatowska’s vision. Bilikiewicz suspects, howener, that
Jonston’s stance may be explained by his reluctance to question of Komenský’s opinion.10
In June, 1629, Jonston set out for a long journey across Europe. During the journey he
was able to get acquainted with many outstanding men of science. In 1629 he enroled a
medicine course in Franeker, and in 1630 – in Leyden, London and Cambridge. When
studying in Cambridge, he prepared for printing the philosophical treatise Naturae constantia,
which was published later in Amsterdam in 1632.11 Here Jonston attacks the idea spread by
the chiliasts, according to which the world is gradually degenerating and declining. The
reviews the achievements of the Renaisance science and compares them with those of the
science of the ancient times, Jonston claims that the constant character of nature can be best
seen in astronomical phenomena. He points out that the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon
happen no more frequently in modern times then they did in the ancient times, for they
depend on the periodical movements of celestial bodies. It is worth noting that this time
Jonston assumes a positive attitude towards the Copernican theory, quoting the following
opinion by Henry Briggs: “Astronomia Copernicana, quae docet Terram esse orbis Lunaris,
Solem vero esse solem reliquorum omnium planetarum, quod in Venere et Mercurio, cum sint
in inferioris parte suorum Orbium, etiam oculi comprehendi potest, ope Tubi optici nuper
invenienti. Decet etiam per motum telluris diurnum, ortus et occasus omnium syderum. Et per
motum ejusdem annum in orbe suo mango, omnium planetarum motus et distantias eorumque
in coelo progressus et regrassus mylto facilius et accuratius indagare quam per Ptolomaei aut
antique cuiusquam Epicyclos aut alias Hypoteses”.12 This is a considerable progress from the
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views Jonston held in Thaumatographia..., where he categorically rejected the Copernican
theory.
In further parts of Naturae constantia Jonston maintains that elements have not changed
for thousands years. The sea does not shrink, for although waves go away, they come back
again. The amount of the soil and its fertility, and the disposits of minerals do not change
either. Writing about the general state of scientific knowledge of the Renassance period,
Jonston quotes a sentence by Peter Ramus, a 16th century logivian: “Majorem doctorum
homonum et operum proventum seculo uno vidimus, quas totis antea quatuordecem majores
nostril videretur”.13
As regards mathematics, Jonston maintains that one of the key mathematical
achievements was the discovery of logarithms by John Napier. Among contemporary
logicians Jonston particularly values Bartłomiej Keckermann, whom he considers better than
Peter Ramus, Nevertheless, Jonston believes that the most important achievement of the
modern age is the invention of print. He also maintains that the first European printer was not
Johann Gutenberg, but Laurens johanszoon, called Aeditus, from the Netherlands. In
Jonston’s opinion Gutenberg only improved the art of printing.
The evidence how popular Naturae constantia was is the fact, that soon after it was
published, the University of Dewenter in the Netherlands asked Jonston to chair their
philosophy department. Jonston, however, refused.
Tadeusz Bilikiewicz mentions another work written by Jonston in Cambridge – a
historical treatise De quatuor Monarchiis.14 The treatise got lost however, anf no mention is
made of it either by Estreicher15 or by Helena Plucińska in her Bibliografia prac Jonstona
[Bibliography of Jonston’s Works]16.
In 1631 Jonston returns for a short time to Leszno, whre he receives the post of
Bogusław Leszczyński’s governor. Half a year later, in February 1632, accompanied by his
pupils: Bogusław Leszczyński, Władysław Dorohostajski and Władysław Korczbok-
Zawadzki, Jonston set out for another European journey. For some time he studies in Franeker
in the Netherlands and in August 1632, in the company of his pupils, goes to Leyden. There in
1633 he publishes a textbook of universal history, intended for Leszno Gymnasium and
entitled: Sceleton historiae universalis, Civilis et Ecclesiasticae.17 In this textbook Jonston
presents the history of the most important countries, starting with the beginning of the world
and finishing with the year 1633, that is with the most recent events. In the foreword Jonston
quotes Cicero, Lactantius, Lipsius, Horace, Homer, Plutarch and other ancient philosophers
who thought that history can teach how to live. Jonston believes too, that history should
provide the young with patterns of behaviour. He adds that his textbook should facilitate the
learning of history, for so far students had to use many textbooks by different authors in order
to lern the most basic facts.
In Leyden Jonston published also a work on ethics: Enchiridion Ethicum ex
sententionissimis dictis concinnatum et in libros tres distinctum18 and later included it in a
book published in 1666 in Frankfurt and Leipzig under the title: Polymathiae philologicae.19
The work is collection of maxims by the ancient philosophers of ethics. Jonston is of the
opinion that ethics consists of rules of conduct which should guarantee happiness. Everybody
who will act in accordance with the established customs and legal norms will be able to
achieve happiness. However, he emphasizes that beliefs and conscience cannot be regulated
by law. Consequently, he believes that everyone should be entirely free to choose a
denomination he likes or to break from the Church altogether. Further in his treatise Jonston
teaches his students about the main virtues, such as common sense, moderation, equality,
patience, and points out the role these virtues play in the harmonious co-existence of people.
The last work published by Jonston during his stay in Leyden is his doctoral
dissertation, De Febribus20 [published in 1634], on the basis of which he received the degree
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of doctor of medicine on April 15, 1634. In De Febribus Jonston describes different kinds of
fevers. He believes that fever is not symptom of an illness but an itself, consisting in, among
others, distortions of temper and inner warmth. Among the cures for treating fevers
recommended by Jonston is the cinchona root. Jonston rejects however, the use of cinchona
bark, already in the medicine of his time.
At Rafał Leszczyński’s request, from Leyden Jonston and his pupils set off to Dordrecht
and Harderwijk, where they intended to see the machinery used for minting and assaying
Everywhere he went, Jonston established contacts with celebrities of the world of science. In
May 1634 he made his first trip to England, where in Cambridge he was granted the degree
of a doctor of medicine. From England, via Flanders and Brabant, he went to France, where
he studied, among other things, the collection of the Royal Library. He also spent some time
visiting famous towns of France and Italy.. On November 15, 1636, Jonston returned to
Leszno. There he was appointed of the Leszczyński’s and town doctor and physicist. His
duties included also control over the medicines permitted for sale. The same year he became
member of the “Collegium Scholarcharum” – the supervisory board of Leszno Gymnasium.
However, there is no evidence that Jonston actually taught there. A hand-written list of
teachers and chancellors who worked in Leszno Gymnasium since its foundation to 173921
does not contain his name.
We know, however, that in 1639 Jonston published another textbook of history,
intended for Leszno Gymnasium and entitled Horae subcissivae seu rerum toto orbe, ab
universi exortu gestarum idea.22 The is an extended version of the Sceleton historiae
universalis, civilis et ecclesiasticae, published in Leyden in 1633. From the foreword,
addressed to Jan and Andrzej Leszczyński, we learn that this is the third universal history
textbook Jonston has written.. He decided to add to the previous textbook a history of eastern
monarchies, with, as he remarks, the Polish society was totally unfamiliar.23 Consequently, the
new textbook consists of two parts, the first encompassing the period from the beginning of
the word to king Salomon, the other presenting the history of eastern monarchies from the
destruction of the Judean Empire to the end of the Macedonian Monarchy (the death of
Cleopatra). Alongside with the presentation of the most significant events in history of the
sixty states chosen by Jonston and the biographies of the rulers of these states, the text book
presents the history of particular religions and denominations and information about lives of
eminent men of science.
Another work written by Jonston in Leszno is his treatise: Ad Theriacae Andromachi
singularia Schediasma,24 published in Leszno in 1642. Here the author attempts to recreate
the components of the remedy for epidemic diseases, invented by the famous Greek
physician, Andromach. The medicine called “theriac” and known and highly valued in the
ancient times, was in Jonston’s time completely forgotten. When working on the treatise
Jonston wrote a letter to his friend, Andreas Senftleben, and asked for his help in finding not
only the works written by Andromach, but also by Nicander and Tidicaeus and commentaries
by other authors of medical treatises.25
Hoe great was the instantaneous popularity of Jonston’s treatise on the “theriac” and
how much his reputation of a physician was raised is evidenced by the fact that it was still the
same year of 1642 that the elector of Brandenburg offered Jonston the post of head of the
medical department at the University of Frankfurt on the Oder. Jonston, however, rejected this
high offer, justifying his decision by “temporum saevitiam”,26 but promised to write a
textbook of medicine for the students of Frankfurt University, which he did, and the result
was published in Amsterdam in 1644 as the Idea universae medicinae practicae Libris VIII
absoluta.27 In the foreword Jonston emphasizes that the information on various remedies
comes from the works of the best physicians and includes what he had been able to learn from
the outstanding people he met during his voyages. Jonston adds that he had studied al the
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remedies he could find in the medicine chest of his father in law, Mateusz Vechner, a well-
known physician from Wschowa. Jonston intended his textbook to be a summary of all
medical knowledge available at that time. When discussing diseases, he first writes about their
symptoms, ten causes followed by the differences between diseases, finally treatment. Jonston
is the first man to introduce a new branch of medicine, the medicine of labour, and to describe
and systematize the diseases of the nails. According to Maciej Iłłowiecki, Jonston’s dynamic
approach to diseases preceded that of renowned English physician, Thomas Sydenham.28
The treatise had many editions, and its contents was twice considerably enlarged and
revised. It is to this treatise that Jonston owes his name of one of the authors of the modern
classification of diseases.
In 1646 Leszno saw the first textbook of dendrology to be published in Poland,
Jonston’s Syntagmatis dendrologici specimen.29 The textbook includes descriptions of eleven
species of fruit trees together with a short history of their cultivation and the use made of their
fruits. The structure of the textbook follows of Pliny’s Natural History, there is no attempt to
classify the species. Lack of pictures is another drawback of this textbook.
The best book on nature among those written by Jonston in Leszno is the vast zoolocal
encyclopaedia Historia naturalis,30 published in seven volumes in the years 1650 – 1653..
This is the third of the big encyclopaedias of nature written in the Renaissance and Baroque
periods. The authors of the two earlier ones were Swiss Konrad von Gesner (1515-1565), and
Italian Ulisses Aldrovandi (1522-1605). The first edition of Jonston’s encyclopaedia has 1504
printed pages as well as 324 tables representing approximately 3000 artistiv drawings made
by Mateusz Merian. Three volumes were published in 1650: Theatrum universale de Avibus
(on birds, some of its copies and editions have title of Historiae naturalis de Avibus);
Historiae naturalis de Exsanguinis aquaticis (on exsanguineous) and Historiae naturalis de
Piscibus et Cetis (on fish and cetaceans). One volume, Historiae naturalis de Quadrupedibus
(on four-footed animals) was published in 1652, and three remaining ones appeared a year
later as Historiae naturalis de insectis (on insects), Historiae naturalis de Serpentibus (on
snakes), and Historiae naturalis de Insectis, Serpentibus et Draconibus (the supplement to
volumes 5 an 6, treating of insects, serpents and dragons).
All fauna is divided in Jonston’s encyclopaedia into two categories: the sanguineous
and the exsanguineous. Further these categories are divided into subcategories, the criteria of
classification being mainly of ecological character – the habitat of a given animal and the food
it eats. Jonston’s classification surpasses the earlier classifications proposed by Aristotle,
Gesner and Aldrovandi.
Jonston’s encyclopaedia enjoyed great popularity in the scientific milieu of Europe as
long as the end of the eighteenth century, and had numerous editions in many countries. In
1773 the volume De Avibus was even translated into French.31
After Leszno was burnt down in 1656 by the Polish army fighting with the Swedes,
Jonston moved to Ziebendorff (the present name – Składowice) in the German Silesia, where
he purchases a house and where he was to live till the end of his days. There, in 1660, he
wrote three significant works. The first one, dealing with the feast-days of the ancient Greeks,
has the title De festis Hebraeorum et Graecorum schediasma.32 It has two parts. The first part,
devoted to gods and heroes, consists of seven chapters, the second to nyphs and goddesses,
consists of six chapters. In the first part Jonston gives the names of the gods in the order of
their hierarchy, then he enumerates heroes, finally he lists the feast-days devoted to gods and
heroes. The feast-days are arranged in the alphabetical order, and supplemented with detailed
information. In the last chapter of the first part Jonston writes about other feast-days. He
follows the same structural pattern in the second “feminine” part od his book.
Another work published by Jonston in 1660 is a collection of commentaries to
Hippocrates Prognastics,33 the essay on medical diagnosis. In the foreword to his work
5
Jonston deplores little interest shown in prognosis by younger physicians, who usually make
do with the knowledge of pathology and general and particular therapy. As regards the form
of Jonston’s work, one or less frequently two or three sentences of the Greek origina are
followed by the Latin translation by Antonius Foesius and these, in turn, are followed by
Jonston’s commentaries, considerably longer then the original text. According to Bożena
Bujakowska, Jonston’s commentaries are the earliest of the known attempts to collect and
arrange medical prognoses.34 Moreover, this is the only origina Hippocrates text, published
thanks to Jonston’s efforts.
The third work which Jonston began publish in 1660, was his fourth in turn text-book of
universal history a large, five-volume work, which appeared as Polyhistor seu rerum ab
exortu Universi ad nostra usque tempora, per Asiam, Africam, Europam et Americam in
sacris et profanes gestarum succincta et methodical series.35 1660 saw the first two parts of
the book, namely Res Antemonarchias ab orbe condito ad excidum regni Judaici per
Nebucadnezarem exhibens and Res sub Monarchiis Orientalibus a Nebucadnezarem ad
Augustum Caesarem exhibens. The third part Res sub Monarchia Romana indivulsa ab
Auguste Caesare ad Carolum Magnum appeared in 1665. Part four, treating of the period
between Charles the Great to Rudolph of Habsburg, and part five, treating of the period
between Rudolph of Habsburg to Albert II of Austria, appeared, respectively, in 1666 and
1667. In his 2461 pages long textbook Jonston not only discusses the political and economic
history of sixty states, but also gives some information on the most important events in every
possible field. Besides Asian and European, American and African states are discusses here,
too.
The next work written by Jonston in Ziebendorff is a cataloguebof plants, published in
Leipzig in 1661 as Notitia regni vegetabilis.36 The same year sees Jonston’s work on
mineralogy Notitia regni mineralis seu subterraneorum catalogues, cum praecipuis
differentis.37 This is, in fact, an extended version of part 4 Thaumatographia naturalis. Its first
part trats of gases and waters in underground resevoirs, crevices, veins, canals and wells,
which are violently discharged onto the Earth’s surface or flow slowly out, or are mined by
the man. Earthquakes are another phenomenon discussed broadly in the first part. The second
part deals with mineable substances. Jonston divides them into five groups: soils, solidified
juices, bitumens, stones and ores. Soils fall into ordinary (e.g. marl and clays), medial (e.g.
ochres as dyes) and precious (Leminian seal, Armenian clays, sealing soil); solidified juices
-into lean (halite, saltpetre, alum and vitriol) and fat (orpiment, realgar and sulphur). Bitumens
form a separate group and are related to the fat solicified juices. They fall into liquid (e.g.
kerosene) and solidified (asphalts and amber(. Within the group of stones Jonston
distinguished between transparent (precious), translucednt and opaque stones. In the group of
metals Jonston describes gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin, bismuth, antimony and mercury
as well as sulphides (jet and piryte), mica and talc. At the end of his work Jonston writes
about the slag produced when smelting iron, copper, lead and tin.
Jonston supplied his Notitia regni mineralis with an alphabetical index of approximately
900 entries which facilitate the use of the work.
In 1661 Jonston published one more work, a hygiene textbook Idea hygieines
recensita.38 According to Jonston, hygiene is a science expounding principles of behaviour
conduitive to the conservation of health. In the first of the book, therefore, he presents factors
responsible for diseases, and in the second part gives advices on how to avoid diseases. He
advocates, among other things, life harmonious with one’s nature, the necessity to be aware of
the needs of one’s body as a whole and of its parts, to live life befitting one’s age and
corresponding to one’s habits and preferences. 1662 brings another textbook of dendrology by
Jonston: Dendrographias sive historiae naturalis de arboribus et fructibus tam nostri quam
peregrini orbis.39 This large work, consisting of 528 pages in the 2o format, contains
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description of about 2000 trees, classified in the ten groups. The first group comprises various
kinds of apple trees, and the following groups contain juglandales, aromatic, acornbearing, ,
bacciferous, conifers, leguminous trees; different species of rhododendrons; “arboribus
miscellis” (trees which Jonston was not able to classify) and exotic trees. The last part is
supplemented with Michael Peter Boym’s treatise Flora Sinensis,40 on the flora of China.
Jonston’s dendrology textbook is all the m ore valuable since it contains 137 tables with over
1800 pictures of the trees discussed and their fruits. The pictures usually present both the
whole fruit and its cross-section. The title of the the textbook suggests that it was to be the last
part of Jonston’s Natural History. The seven volumes of the Natural History of animals,
published between 1650 and 1653, were intended as a description of all the fauna of the
globe; simiralry, Notitia regni vegetabilis of 1661 and Dendrography were to cover all
species of plants known in Jonston’s time. The weak point of both fauna and flora parts of
Jonston’s Natural History lies in his writing about not only real, but also legendary animals
and plants.
How big was the popularity won instantaneously by Jonston’s Dendrography is
evidenced by the fact that soon after it had been published Jonston was offered chair in the
medicine department of the University of Heidelberg. The following year a similar offer came
studies in the quietness of his home rather then post of professor of famous universities.
In 1666 Jonston published a concise encyclopaedia of all sciences: Polymathiae
philologicae, seu totius rerum Universitatis ad suos ordines revocatae adumbration horis
subsecivis.41 Through definition of 12000 Latin words Jonston presents an encyclopedical
system of knowledge, divided into three sections: nature, man and society. The first section
trats of substance in general, of God, spirits, of firmament, meteors, plants and animals; the
second of human body and soul as well as of popular customs and entertainment; the third of
different kinds of social groups, held together with economic, educational, political ties as
well as with ties of entertainment during show and feasts, with ties of religion, finally of
funeral rites. The method employed by Jonston this time is that of lecture, and is modelled on
Jan Amos Komenský’s Janua linguarum reserata, published in 1631. The difference is that
while Komenský intended his textbook for elementary level of education, Jonston wrote his
for older students, with basic knowledge of Latin, nature and society.
The last known work by Jonston is Syntagma universae medicinae practicae,42 which
appeared in 1673. In it Jonston included all he had written on medicine throughout his life.
Helena Ostromęcka mentions one more work by Jonston the lost manuscript of
zoological work Inventarium Zoologicum.43
Jan Jonston died on June 6, 1675. On September 29 that year his body was transferred
from Ziebendorff to Leszno.
One of the signs of popularity won by Jonston’s work with his contemporaries is the
very big number of editions published in 17th and 18th centuries, sometimes without Jonston’s
knowledge and consent and numerous translations which appeared at the same time.
According to Stanisław Schwann, Jonston’s textbooks of medicine and nature were still
compulsory in all German universities in 1721.44 How famous Jonston was as scholar, in turn,
can be seen from numerous offers to chair departments at the best European Universities.
Later Jonston’s works were often accused of being compilations devoid of originality. This
accusation is rather pointless, for neither Jonston nor Jan Amos Komenský intended to write
pure scientific works; their intention was to write textbooks which would facilitate the
acquisition of all knowledge in either a given field, or, as in Komensk ý’s “pansophic”
textbooks or Jonston’s Polymathiae philogcae, in all fields.
Jonston’s connections with Komenský were first pointed out by Tadeusz Bieńkowski45
and Marta Bečkova46 in their papers delivered at the 1975 international scientific symposium
devoted to Jonston. Marta Bečkova’s paper focused on personal contacts between Jonston and
7
Komenský, and Tadeusz Bieńkowski highlighted the similarities of the method of textbook
lecturing, encountered in the works of both authors. The similarities are particularly clear
between the structures of Komenský’s Janua linguarum and Jonston’s Polymathiae
philologicae. In both of these works knowledge about the surrounding world is presented
through set of definitions of objects and notions. Marta Bečkova47and Stefan Ziemski48 show,
however, that it was Jonston who drew Komenský’s attention to the Spanish-Latin book
Janua linguarum by William and John Bateus and monk Stephanus, printed in Salamanca in
1611.
The similarities between Jonston’s and Komenský’s textbooks are not limited to
structure only, but extended to the views voiced by both authors. Both of them emphasized
the great importance of hygiene for human health. The sentence by Vives, quoted in Jonston’s
De naturae constantia, that: “Ubique bona nascuntur ingenia, excolatur modo; alibi fortassis
frequentiora, sed ubique nonnula”49 tallies absolutely with view expressed by Jan Amos
Komenský in his Dictica Magna, according to which everybody has a talent but for it to
develop he must receive education.50 As for the differences between Jonston’s and
Komenský’s methods of dissemination of knowledge, Tadeusz Bieńkowski points out that
Jonston put greater emphasis on textbook knowledge and did not demand so forcefully as
Komenský did that learning with models, empirical learning and practical activities should
be introduced into the educational process.51 It would wrong to conclude, however, that
Jonston underestimated the role of empirical learning, for in his treatise De naturae
constantia he states clearly that learning about nature should be based on experiments.52
It is also important to point out the connections between Jonston and Henry Martinus,
the author of the first work on the analysis of urine written in Poland [in Leszno in 1645]. 53
The work is published together with Jonston’s letter to Martinus, dated on December 4,
1645,54 in which Jonston expresses good opinion of both that tratise and another unknown
work by Martinus De Colica (On Colic). Jonston considers Martinus achievements in urine
analysis as important as Gaspar Aselius’ discovery of lacteal vessels, Giorolamo Fabricius ab
Aquadente’s discovery of veinal valves, Gabriel Fallopius discovery of the uterine tube. At
the end of the letter Jonston encourages Martinus to undertake research into other “Humours”
of the human body and provides Martinus with a large list of literature on the subject.
The letter includes an important piece of biographical information on Jonston, namely,
that during his stay in London he had the opportunity to listen to William Harvey’s lectures
on circulation of blood. [Still, in his medical works Jonston discusses circulation of blood
according to Galen’s theory].
Jonston’s approval of Martinus’ work is not fortuitous. There are far-reaching
similarities between the medical views held by both men. For instance, both Jonston and
Martinus respected gratly the achievements of ancient medicine and deplored the fact that it
was not valued highly by the contemporary physicians. In addition, both of had much
understanding for chemistry and wanted to combine the results of “serious” chemistry with
ancient theories.
Jonston is also likely to have given his opinion on Paweł Franciszek Lubieniecki’s
Ksiaszka[!] bardzo potrzebna każdemu człowiekowi do uchronienia się molrowego powietrza
[The Book Necessary for Etery Man to Escape the Plague], which appeared in Leszno in
1643.55 It is known that one of Jonston’s duties as the chief physician of Leszno was to control
the medicines permitted for sale. It is possible, then, that the control was extended to medical
books.
Another thing to ponder on is the relation between Jonston’s interests in nature and in
history. It does not happen very often that a naturalist writes books on universal history. In
Jonston’s case, however, the two fields were closely connected, the connection being the
result of Jonston’s understanding of the notion of nature. As it was pointed out by Stefan
8
Ziemski in his introduction to the Polish translation of Naturae constantia,56 by “nature”
Jonston understood not only whole natural world but man and his history as well.
Jonston’s main scientific achievement consists in his accurate description and
classification of many species of plants and animals and kinds of diseases. His works were the
basis of Carl Linneus’ classification of fauna and flora, which, although carried out in the 18th
century, is still modern and current nowadays.
Our knowledge of Jonston’s scientific output is considerable but not complete. What has
not been learned yet yet is, first of all, his attitude towards the concept of textbook that
teaches languages through “knowledge of things”, the concept used by Komenský in his
Janua linguarum. Jonston followed a different concept, which he expounded theoretically and
applied in his Polymathia philologica.
Jonston’s encyclopaedism and polihistoricism is another “blank spot”. Jonston adopted a
different form of polihistoricism than, for instance, Komenský did in his concept of
“pansophia”. Besides, as can be seen from a number of examples, Jonston was not a
mechanical compiler of knowledge, collecting facts and opinions voiced by other people. In
his works he expressed also his own views, thoughts and results of studies.
One more little-researched issue is the knowledge of Jonston’s works and their impact in
the past centuries. We know that his works were published in many countries and had many
editions. They were read until the end of the 18th century.
Fair knowledge of Jonston’s life is not coupled wsith the knowledge of his output, The
latter still poses many questions answers to which should be provided before one attempts to
write Jonston’s monograph, which Jonston definitely merits.
9
1
NOTES
Jan Jonston 1603-1675. Ed. Zbigniew Smoluchowski. Leszno 1974.
2 Jan Jonston, Lekarz i uczony XVII w. Materiały Sympozjum Naukowego Leszno-Lublin 6 – 8 czerwca 1975. Warszawa
1978. Studia i Materiały z Dziejów Nauki Polskiej. Ser. B. Z. 28
3 Tadeusz Bilikiewicz: Jan Jonson 1603 – 1675. Żywot i działalność lekarska. Warszawa 1931, p. 20.
4 Jan Jonston: Naturae constantia. Amstelodami 1632, p. 87.
5 Theodor Wotschke: Johann Turnowski. „Jahrbuch d. Evang. Voreins. f. d. Kirchengesch. d. Prov. Posen.”. Bd. 1:
1911, p. 52
6 T. Bilikiewicz: op. cit. pp. 176 - 177
7 J. Jonston: Thaumatographia naturalia in decem classes distincta. Amstelodami 1630
8 T. Bilikiewicz: op. cit., pp. 176-177.
9 [J. Jonston]: Relation tres veritable et miraculdeuse d’une jedne fille de Boheme, demeurant à présent a Lesno en
Pologne, laquelle un an en ça a eu diverses extases et revelations. Geneve 1629. [Reprint and Polish translation]: T.
Bplikiewicz: op. cit., pp. 180 – 185.
10 T. Bilikiewicz: op. cit., p. 186
11 J. Jonston: Naturae constantia seu diatribe in qua per posteriorum temporum cum prioribus callactionem mundum,
nec ranione sui totius, nec ratione partium, universaliter et perpetuo in pejus ruere ostenditur. Amstelodami 1632.
12 J. Jonston: Naturae constantia… p. 83
13 Ibidem, p. 70
14 T. Bilikiewicz: Jan. Jonson. Żywot i działalność lekarska … p. 40. T. Bilikiewicz: Jonson Jan. In: Polski słownik
biograficzny. T. 11. Z. 2. Wrocław 1965, p. 268
15 Karol Estreicher: Bibliografia polska. T. 18. Kraków 1901, p. 613-620.
16 Helena Plucińska: Bibliografia prac Jonsona. In: Jan Jonson. Lekarz i uczony XVII w. Warszawa 1978, pp. 247 –
260.
17 J. Jonston: Skeleton historiae universalis, civilis et ecclesiasticae. Res praecipuas ab orbe condito ad annum 1633
gestas brevissime exhibens. Concinnatum in usum gymnasii comitatu Lesnesis a I.I.S.P. Lugduni Batavorum 1633.
18 J. Jonston Enchirydion Ethicum ex sententionissimis dictis concinnatum et in libros tres distinctum. Lugduni
Batavorum 1634; [2 ed.]: Lugduni Batavorum 1643.
19 J. Jonston: Polymathiae philologicae, seu totus rerum Universitatis ad suos ordines revocatae adumbration horis
subsecivis. Francofurti-Lipsiae 1666, pp. 381-402.
20 J. Jonston: De Febribus, 1634. Disputatio medica inauguralis de Febribus. Lugduni Batavorum 1634.
21 Conspectus Gymnasii Lesnensis in Maori Polonia, quos Rectores et Praeceptores a suis initio ad praesentem usque
Annom 1739 habuerint, exhibens. Ms. 1739. B. PAN in Krakow. Ms. 1418;ff. 75r.-78r.
22 J. Jonston: Horae subcisivae seu rerum toto orbe ab universi exortu gestarum idea. Lesnae 1639.
23 J. Jonston: Horae subcisivae … k. nlb. 3v.
24 J. Jonston: Ad Theriacae Andromachi singularis Schediasma. Lesnae 1642.
25 J. Jonston: [J. Jonston’s Lester to Andreas Sennftleben, November, 17, 1641]. [In]: T. Bilikiewicz: Jan Jonston
(1603-1605). Żywot I działalność lekarska … pp. 98 – 99.
26 J. Jonston: Idea universae medicinae practicae. Libris VIII absoluta. Amsterodami 1644, p. 5 and following
27 J. Jonston: Idea universae medicinae practicae. Libris VIII absoluta. Amsterodami 1644.
28 Maciej Iłowiecki: Dzieje nauki polskiej. Warszawa 1981, p. 82.
29 J. Jonston: Syntagmatis dendrologii specimen. Lesnae [1646]
30 J. Jonston: Historiae naturalis, Libri I – VII. Lesnae – Frankofurti 1650 – 1653.
31 J. Jonston: Historie naturelle et raisoné des différentes oiseaux qui habitent le globe. Paris-Lesnae 1773.
32 J. Jonston: De festis Hebraeorum et Graecorum schediasma. Vratislaviae 1660
33 J. Jonston: Magni Hippocratis Coi medicorum principia, Coacae Praenotiones, Graece et Latine. Amsterodami
1660.
34 Bożena Bujakowska: Jan Jonson jako komentator „Prognoz koskich”. In: Jan Jonson. Lekarz i uczony XVII wieku.
Warszawa 1978, p. 21
35 J. Jonson: Polihistor seu rerum ab exportu universi ad nostra usque tempora, per Asiam, Africam, Europam et
Americam in sacris et profanes gestarum succincta et methodica serie. Jenae: Pars 1-2, 1660; P. 3, 1665; P. 4, 166; P. 5,
1667.
36 J. Jonston: Notitia regni vegetabilis seu plantarum a veteribus observatorum, cum synonimis gaecis et latinis,
obscurioribusque differentis in suas classes fedacta series. Lipsiae 1661.
37 J. Jonston: Notitia regni mineralis, seu subterraneorum Catalogus. Cum praecipuis differentis. Lipsiae 1661.
38 J. Jonston: Idea Hygieines recensita. Libri II. Jenae 1661
39 J. Jonson: Dendrographias sive historiae naturalia de orboribus et fructibus, tam nostril, quam peregrine orbis. Libri
decem. Francofurti 1662.
40 Michał Piotr Boym: Flora Sinensis. In: J. Jonston: Dendrographias … Francofurti 1662, pp. 475 – 477.
41 J. Jonston: Polymathiae philologicae seu totus rerum Universitatis ad suos ordines revocatae adumbratio horis
subsecivis. Francofurti et Lipsiae 1666.
42 J. Jonston: Syntagma universae medicinae practicae. Libri XIV. Jenae 1673
43 Helena Ostromęcka: Jonson Jan (1603-1675). In: Słownik biologów polskich. [Ed]: Stanisław Felisiak. Warszawa
1987, p. 238.
44 Stanisław Schwann: Działalność Jonstona w świetle opinii nauki zachodnioeuropejskiej. In: Jan Jonson. Lekarz i
uczony XVII wieku … p. 235.
45 Tadeusz Bieńkowski: Aspekt dydaktyczny dzieł Jonsona. Ibidem, pp. 183 - 186
46 Marta Bečkova: Jan Jonson a Jan Amos Komensky. Ibidem,, pp. 187-197.
47 M. Bečkova: op. cit. p. 189
48 Stefan Ziemski: Wstęp. In: J. Jonson: O stałości natury. Polish translation: Maria Stokowska. Warszawa 1960, p. IX.
49 J. Jonson: De naturae constantia …. p. 70.
50 Jan Amos Komeński: Wielka dydaktyka. [Ed.]: Bogdan Suchodolski. Polish translation: Krystyna Remerowa.
Warszawa 1956, p. 289 [and others].
51 T. Bieńkowski: op. cit. pp.. 185-186
52 J. Jonston: De naturae constantia … p. 80.
53 Henricus Martinus: Anatomia uranie Galeno-Spagyrica. Lesnae 1645
54 J. Jonston: (J. Jonston’s Lester to H. Martinus, December 4, 1645. In H. Martinus: op. cit. ff. 11v – 12r. Polish
translation: T. Bilikiewicz: Hdenryk Martini i Jan Jonston. Fragment z dziejów kultury lekarskiej polskiego Leszna.
„Archiwum Historii i Filozofii Medycyny oraz Historii Nauk Przyrodniczych”. T. 13: 1933, pp. 10 – 11.
55 Franciszek Paweł Lubiecki: Ksiaszka[!] bardzo potrzebna każdemu człowiekowi do uchronienia się morowego
powietrza. Leszno 1653
56 S. Ziemski: op. cit. p. XV.