The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Digital Library

De duplicitate monstrosa commentarius [Tableau I]

About This Item

Title

De duplicitate monstrosa commentarius [Tableau I]

Subject

Teratology

Description

Meckel was a renowned pathologist and anatomist. Born at the end of the 18th century, Meckel was inclined to view the causes of monstrosities as part of nature, as developments rather than phenomena. Meckel was one of the first to suggest the idea of pleiotropy, meaning that one gene (heredity) can be responsible for multiple defects; and the first to promote the study of embryology in order to understand better the causes of monstrosity. In Meckel’s work, one can see the beginnings of what will be called teratology, the study of abnormalities of physiological development.

One of the greatest and lasting influences of the burgeoning 18th century medical societies was the detailed anatomical study of the causes of monstrosities. Above is an illustration of a superficial muscle dissection of conjoined twins.

Creator

Meckel, J. F. (Johann Friedrich), 1781-1833.

Source

Original Image in ZCd 3, Historical Medical Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Publisher

Digitized by the Historical Medical Library of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

Date

1815

Contributor

Halae et Berolini : E Librariis Orphanotrophei, 1815.

Language

ger

Identifier

ZCd_3_Tab.I

Citation

Meckel, J. F. (Johann Friedrich), 1781-1833., “De duplicitate monstrosa commentarius [Tableau I],” The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Digital Library, accessed November 24, 2024, https://cppdigitallibrary.org/items/show/6781.

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