316 



JOURNAL, K.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. IX. 



science had made some considerable progress in the Island, 

 and that many native and Dutch descendants had applied 

 themselves to its study. 



Dutch physicians have been noted for their knowledge of 

 botany, and the extensive field afforded in Ceylon for its 

 study was an especialat traction. The flora of the Island 

 was arranged and described by Linnaeus, with the aid of the 

 celebrated herbaria collected by Herman and Hartog, both 

 of whom were sent out to Ceylon by the Dutch East India 

 Company, in 1671. It is also interesting to note that the 

 first European writer on tropical diseases was a Dutchman 

 named Bontius.* 



There are no records extant to show that any effort was 

 made by the Dutch to teach the science of medicine syste- 

 matically to the natives, but it appears that the kings of 

 Kandy often requested through the Government the medical 

 aid of Dutch doctors, which the Dutch Governor of Colombo 

 complied with. 



The mission of Doctor Danielsz and his apprentice to 

 the court of Kandy in 1739, to cure the King Sri Vijaya Raja- 

 sinha of a bad leg, as recounted in his journal, is replete with 

 interest. The late Doctor Koch, in his introductory lecture 

 delivered at the opening of the session of the Medical School 

 in 1872, thus recounts the particulars of that memorable visit : 

 " Doctor Danielsz went accompanied by his apprentice ; but all 

 he could see of his royal patient was the ailing limb. Under 

 such circumstances it was impossible he could adopt any other 

 course of treatment but what consisted of outward dressings. 

 These he tried without any satisfactory results, and alarmed 



* The same correspondent notes here : — " So far as I know, Dr. Vander- 

 straaten is correct in stating that Bontius was the first European writer 

 on tropical diseases ; taut there was another medical writer on the subject, 

 who followed not so long after, and whose work passed through several 

 editions. I refer to Dr. iEgidius Daalmans, a native of Antwerp, who 

 went to the East in the service of the Dutch in 1687, visiting Ceylon, Java, 

 and India, and returning to his native land in 1689. Dr. Daalmans' book 

 is very rare, the British Museum not possessing a copy." — Hon. Sec. 



