Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 727

WILLIAM COWPER (1666-1709) Eucharistia [Greek transliterated], in qua dotes plurimae & singulares Goedfridi Bidloo, M.D. [Impensis S. Smith & B. Walford] 1701 pp. [19]-72.

For more information on this author or work, see number: 722

Bidloo was greatly upset by Cowper's plagiarism (see No. 724) of the plates from his Anatomia humani corporis (see No. 667). In a pamphlet addressed to the Royal Society he vindictively attacked Cowper who soon responded with the present satirical but courteously framed reply. Cowper was polite but firm and stated that he had as much right to the illustrations as Bidloo because they had been drawn for Swammerdam (see No. 602) who died four years before Bidloo's book was published. Nevertheless, Cowper was never able to substantiate his claim that the plates were drawn for Swammerdam. In so far as the text was concerned, Cowper pointed out that he had written an entirely new description of the plates. Historians have concluded that Cowper did indeed write the text but undoubtedly used Bidloo's plates without his permission.

See Related Record(s): 724 667 602

Cited references: Osler 2383; Russell 215; Waller 2190; Wellcome II, p. 401

Gift of John Martin, M.D.