William Cowper (anatomist)

William Cowper (* 1666 in Petersfield, Sussex, England; † March 8, 1709 ) was an English surgeon and anatomist. According to him ( " Cowper 's gland " ) is in the Humanantomie the Bulbourethraldrüse named.

Life

Cowper began in March 1682 his apprenticeship with a surgeon in London. In 1691, he was inducted into the Barber- Surgeon 's Company and began to practice in London. In 1694 he published his widely acclaimed work Myotomia Reformata, or a New Administration of the Muscles, German about Myotomia Reformata, or a new use of the muscles. Two years later he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society. His 1698 published book The Anatomy of the Humane Bodies, German The anatomy of the human body gave him great fame and notoriety. During the next eleven years, he published several treatises on topics from the fields of surgery, pathology, physiology and anatomy. Cowper died on 8 March 1709.

Work

From some Cowper's Anatomy of the Human Bodies is accused of being one of the largest cases of copyright theft. 1685 published Govard Bidloo ( 1649-1713 ) Anatomia Humani Corporis his (anatomy of the human body ) in Amsterdam. For this purpose he used 105 picture panels that of Gerard de Lairesse ( 1640-1711 ) painted by Abraham Blooteling ( 1640-1690 ) engraved. A Dutch version was printed under the title of Ontleding Menschelyken Lichaams 1690. When these but sold sluggishly, sold Bidloos publisher 300 not yet committed illustrations to William Cowper or its publisher.

Cowper she added with an English text so that they illustrated many of his own research results and new insights. He also gave nine new illustrations, including a view of the entire musculature each from the front and from behind, in order, were engraved drawn by Henry Cook (1642-1700), and by Michiel van der Gucht ( 1660-1725 ). The book was finally published without mention Bidloos or Lairesse under Cowper's name. It was the original title page, in which only the Dutch title was replaced by English. Thereupon, an acrid slugfest between Cowper and Bidloo which found expression in several pamphlets developed. Cowper claimed that the illustrations do not Bidloo came but were given by Jan Swammerdam (1637-1680) commissioned and was sold after his death by his widow to Bidloo. Collegiality.Notwithstanding this dispute over the authorship, however, Cowper was due to its own services an outstanding anatomist and surgeon and has yet Bidloo refused recognition of its interest in his work.