Johan van Beverwijck (Johannes Beverovicius), Dutch physician and writer. He studied in Leiden, Paris, Montpellier and Padua. Around 1618, he settled in his native city of Dordrecht where he became the first physician and judge of the city. His books related to health belonged to the most widely read books. He also left his mark on the Dutch language by words such as pancreas, rectum, to think collarbone or esophagus.
Johan van Beverwijck (Beverovicius) was an established physician (first physician and judge of the city) in the Dutch city of Dordrecht.
His book “Schat der gesontheydt” is devoted to all aspects of people’s health. It starts with a general, rather metaphysical discussion about health. Then in the first and main part of the work all things influencing health are treated in detail, like emotions, seasons, geographical situation, air, water, bodily exercise, sleep, and especially food. The second part is devoted to the preservation of health for people of all ages.
The picture shows an illustration from the 1656 edition of this book representing tobacco smoking, a warning against this dubious habit.
