Martin Ruland the Elder

Martin Ruland the Elder, also Martinus Rulandus (* 1532 in Freising, † February 3, 1602 in Prague) was a German physician, alchemist and Hellenist. He was regarded as a follower of Paracelsus.

Life

Ruland the Elder. was born the son of a pharmacist Balthasar Ruland ( 1489-1534 ). After his studies he worked as a spa doctor in Giengen. From about 1565 taught Ruland the Elder. at the Lauinger illustrious high school (now Albert Grammar School ) as professor publicus pharmacology, physics and Greek. In Lauingen he also served as city physician and physician to the Count Palatine Philipp Ludwig.

Later moved Ruland the Elder. about the personal physician of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague. There he died at the age of 70 years. His grave plate is obtained as a fragment in the wall tower at Oberanger in Lauingen.

Ruland the Elder. had six known by name descendants. Four of his sons were also physicians. His son Martin Ruland the Younger was later also known as a physician and alchemist.

Work

From today's perspective, the numerous medical journals have Ruland the Elder. mostly only historical importance as it remained arrested the alchemical views of his time. As drugs he sat mostly an antimonial emetic. Be prepared on the basis of potassium antimonyl tartrate tartar emetic ( aqua benedicta rulandi or Rulandswasser ), who was found until the 19th century in drug books became famous.

Ruland the Elder. is regarded as the first to describe the clinical symptoms of rolandic epilepsy (1597 ), which, despite the name similarity is not after him, but after the Italian anatomist Luigi Rolando, named.

In addition to his medical work Ruland the Elder wrote. Writings on the Greek language, such as the often launched Dictionnaire Anglais -graecum immersive synonymorum copia ( Augsburg 1589, Anger).

Ruland the Elder. a book authored by his son Ruland the Younger lexicon of alchemy was formerly often attributed.