Dr. Sylvius’ Special Medicine, In the mid 17th century a Dutch physician and alchemist named F
Dr. Sylvius’ Special Medicine, In the mid 17th century a Dutch physician and alchemist named Fransiscus Silvius (born Franz de la Boe) was perhaps one of the most learned men of his time. Throughout his life he accomplished many great works, founding his own hospital, proposing a theory that the human body worked through chemical reactions, and conducting groundbreaking studies on human anatomy. In fact his studies on the structure of the brain led to the discovery of two brain structures named after him; the Sylvian Fissure and the Sylvian Aqueduct. However it was in the mid 16th century that Dr. Sylvius’ would create his most important invention, a special medicine that is still popular today. His medicine was made from distilled malt wine, but due to its bitter flavor he sweetened it with the oil from juniper berries. His new medicine was sold all over the Netherlands, being used to treat stomach ailments, kidney ailments, gout, gall stones, and lumbago. Dr. Sylvius called his new medicine jenever. Today jenever is as popular as ever, although it is no longer consumed for medicinal benefits and is better known by its modern name, gin. -- source link
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