Leon
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Leon was a Jewish physician from Venice who became the first doctor from Western Europe to practice in Russia in 1490. He served as physician to Grand Prince Ivan Vasilyevich but was executed after the death of Ivan's son, Ivan the Young, due to the prevailing belief in the infallibility of medicine at the time.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
Leon, otherwise Mistro Leon Zhidovin, a Jewish physician from Venice. Leon was the first doctor to come to Russia from Western Europe in 1490, together with various masters and artists. Leon served as physician to Grand Prince Ivan Vasilyevich. When Ivan Vasilyevich's son, Ivan the Young, fell ill, Leon undertook to treat him, guaranteeing success with his life. But the patient died on April 7/11, 1490, and Leon was executed "on Balvanovka on April 22," "since at that time they believed in the infallibility of medicine and in poor treatment results saw only the doctor's guilt." In I. I. Lazhechnikov's novel "Basurman" (Moscow, 1838), Leon is probably depicted under the name of the novel's hero, the physician Anton.
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“Leon.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/leon/