Buffon
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Georges Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-88) was a renowned French naturalist who initially focused on mathematics before turning to biology. His major works, though containing few original observations, sparked widespread interest in biological questions throughout educated Europe.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Buffon, Georges (George Louis Leclerc comte de Buffon, 1707-88), renowned French naturalist. Initially interested in mathematics, he was elected to the Academy for several works in this field. Appointed in 1739 as intendant of the royal botanical garden, B. devoted himself to the study of biology. B. wrote several major works in the field of natural science. Original observations and experiments in B.'s works are very few; their significance lies in the broad interest which they aroused throughout educated Europe in questions of biology. In contrast to Linnaeus, who gave priority to systematics, B. was interested, mainly, in the external appearance, way of life, and peculiarities of the animal. B.'s main works: "Histoire naturelle", 3 volumes, 1749; "Epoques de la nature", 1778; "Histoire naturelle generale et particuliere", 44 volumes, 1749-1804; in Russian translation there is "General and Particular Natural History of Count de Buffon" (10 parts, St. Petersburg, 1789-1808).
Related articles
Mentioned in
Cite this page
“Buffon.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/buffon/