Frederik Ruysch (1638–1731): Historical perspective and contemporary analysis of his teratological legacy

Abstract

The Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in Saint Petersburg is the oldest museum in Russia. It keeps the remains of the anatomical collection of the world‐famous 17th century Dutch anatomist Frederik Ruysch. This unique collection was bought and shipped in 1717 by Czar Peter the Great, and presently still comprises more than 900 specimens, a modest number of which concerns specimens with congenital anomalies. We searched for teratological clues in the existing collection and in all his descriptions and correspondence regarding specimens and cases he encountered during his career as doctor anatomiae and chief instructor of the surgeons and midwives in Amsterdam. A total of 63 teratological specimens and case descriptions were identified in this legacy, including some exceedingly rare anomalies. As it turns out, Ruysch was the first to describe several of the conditions we encountered, including intracranial teratoma, enchondromatosis, and Majewski syndrome. Although his comments pose an interesting view on how congenital anomalies were scientifically perceived in early 18th century Europe, Ruysch mostly refrained from explaining the causes of the conditions he encountered. Instead, he dedicated himself to careful descriptions of his specimens. Almost 300 years after his demise, Ruysch's legacy still impresses and inspires both scientists and lay men. © 2016 The Authors. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

History and highlights of the teratological collection in the Museum Anatomicum of Leiden University, The Netherlands

“…All inventoried existing teratological specimens were, when possible, assigned to a specific collector and were matched, where possible, to (historical) literate. As previously described (Boer, Radziun, & oostra, 2017) all specimens and descriptions were reduced to “unique cases.” Finally, the most remarkable specimens were selected for a detailed description (See case 1–11) and the most influential collectors were described in detail (See Sections 4 and 5). Due to the magnitude of the found specimens and matching with historical descriptions, it is beyond the borders and scope of this paper to include all matching results.…”

Dutch teratological collections and their artistic portrayals

“…Although the anatomical specimens of Frederik Ruysch (1638Ruysch ( -1731 are on permanent display in the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) in Saint Petersburg (Russia), the collection originated in The Netherlands during the late 17th and early 18th centuries (Boer, Radziun, & Oostra, 2017). Ruysch was a Dutch professor in anatomy and botany, who built up a collection of more than 2,000 specimens.…”

“…Some of these collections are paired with copperplate engravings and lithographic illustrations and comprehensive descriptions. In some cases, in which the actual specimen is lost, the descriptions and depictions are of such high quality and level of detail that a diagnosis could still be made centuries after they were collected (Boer, Radziun, & Oostra, 2017). In fact, many diagnoses could not be made if these depictions were absent-as more often than not-the depicted specimens do not exist anymore.…”

Hirschsprung’s Disease—Recent Understanding of Embryonic Aspects, Etiopathogenesis and Future Treatment Avenues

“…Although this eponymous disease is named after a Danish physician Harald Hirschsprung, who described it in 1886, it was actually a Dutch anatomist and botanist, Frederik Ruysch, who first mentioned this condition in 1691 as “ enormis intestini coli dilatatio ” in a case report of a 5-year-old girl. Therefore, an eponym Ruysch disease was created, although it is rarely used, despite Ruysch´s description being almost 200 years older than Hirschsprung’s [ 31 ]. The understanding of HSCR etiopathogenesis was obscure until 1948.…”