Pictures and albums about Rudbeck published in travel

Olaus Rudbeck (also known as Olof Rudbeck the Elder, to distinguish him from his son, here Latinized as Olavus Rudbeck Pater) (1630-1702), Swedish scientist and writer, professor of medicine at Uppsala University and for several periods "rector magnificus" of the same university. He was the son of Bishop Johannes Rudbeckius, who was personal chaplain to King Gustavus Adolphus, and the father of Olof Rudbeck the Younger. Rudbeck, who was mentor to both Linnaeus and Celsius, is primarily known for his contributions in two fields: human anatomy and linguistics. Rudbeck was one of the pioneers in the study of lymphatic vessels. According to his supporters in Sweden, he was the first to discover the lymphatic system and is documented as having shown his findings at the court of Queen Christina of Sweden in the Spring of 1652. However, he did not publish anything about it until the fall of 1653, after Thomas Bartholin, a Danish scientist, had published a description of a similar discovery of his own. Rudbeck's research led to the Queen's support of his career. To facilitate his studies of human anatomy, he had a cupola built on top of Gustavianum, a university edifice, and in it was built an arena-like Theatrum anatomicum, where dissection could be carried out in front of students. The cupola still remains and is a landmark in Uppsala. The "Gustavianum" stands in front of the cathedral, and is still part of the university. Rudbeck was active in many scientific areas, including astronomy, and left many traces still visible in the city of Uppsala today. He was also said to be a good singer with a strong voice. On the personal level, he was said to be very strong-willed. During the course of a fire that destroyed most of Uppsala in 1702, a large portion of Rudbeck's writings was lost. Rudbeck himself directed the people of the city, shouting orders from a roof while his house burned down. He died the same year, shortly after the fire. Alfred Nobel was a descendant of Rudbeck through his daughter Wendela, who married one of her father's former students, Peter Olai Nobelius.

Basic immunology can be said to have its origin in the mid-17th-century with the discovery of the peripheral lymphatics. They completed the gross anatomical picture of the lymphatic system, which is the basis for much of the immune response. Their recognition almost simultaneously by two Scandinavian anatomists led to a protracted war of words over priority of discovery, pitting a young Swedish medical student (Olof Rudbeck) against an honored Danish anatomy professor (Thomas Bartholin). In a 752-word letter in Latin, Rudbeck charged Bartholin with pre-dating a key observation, thereby giving priority of discovery to the latter. This very rare work published by the doctor and Flemish surgeon Siebold Hemsterhuis (born in 1629), joining together the great XVII century anatomical discoveries relating to the lymphatic system. This volume, dedicated to the great Danish anatomist Thomas Bartholin, one of the great names in this field, is the second edition (1659) and includes illustrations of the work of Olaus Rudbeck. Hemsterhuis evidently wanted to capitalize on the research no matter who was ultimately judged worthy of credit for it.