Capivaccio (Capodivacca), Girolamo (Hieronymus) (1523-1589)
Medicina practica, sive methodus cognoscendorum, et curandorum omnium corporis humani affectuum ... Cui adjecta sunt et reliqua ... opera omnia, Venetia 1597. (Practical medicine, or the method to diagnose and treat all human afflictions)
Little is known about Capivaccio’s life. He was educated in Padua, got his medical degree at age 29 in 1552, not long after Vesalius left. Realdo Colombo, Vesalius’ replacement taught him anatomy. He was a professor of Anatomy himself in Padua and published his first work in 1562 entitled Opusculum de Differentis Doctrinarum (A study on different doctrines). His other works, were all published posthumously. He died in 1589 in Mantua at the age 66.
His posthumous publication in 1593 is entitled Nova methodus medendi. In 1594 his Methodus anatomicus sive ars consecandi is published. Methodus anatomica seu ars curative and Practica Medicina, both appear in 1594. A collated Opera Omnia is published in 1603.
The current volume is comprehensive synthesis of knowledge he distilled in his practicing life. He looks at the classics, Hippocrates, Galen and Aristotel, the Islamic scholar’s work and distills it into his own experience. One of Capivaccio’s innovation is the introduction of case presentation. In the 16th century “case presentation” was forged by two authors, including Capivaccio. This was novel way to educate medical students in understanding disease. Cases were reviewed and retold in the presence of teachers and other students. Giovanni Argenterio (1513–72) and Girolamo Capivaccio (1523–89) appear to be among the first to employ this system of teaching.
The volume also includes dentally relevant texts including managing dental pain and decay.
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