Background
Lusitanus was born to Marrano parents in 1511 in the town of Castelo Branco.
Lusitanus was born to Marrano parents in 1511 in the town of Castelo Branco.
The young Juan learnt much of his Jewish heritage, including the Hebrew language from his outwardly practicing Christian parents. He went to Spain to study medicine at the University of Salamanca.
After receiving his medical degree, he returned to Portugal, but antagonism to and oppression of the Marranos made him flee to Antwerp three years later. There he practiced medicine for seven years. His many patients included the mayor and the Portuguese consul.
Amatus achieved renown as a scientist and in 1540 the duke of Ferrara appointed him lecturer in medicine at the University of Ferrara. There, Amatus worked with other famous scientists of his day on studies in human dissection. His aim was to clarify human anatomy and investigate practical surgical techniques.
In 1547, while on his way to Ragusa (modern Dubrovnik) to take up a position as municipal physician, Amatus stayed at Ancona, where he was called upon to treat the sister of Pope Julius III. This incident led to a position as the physician of the Augustinian and Dominican friaries, where he was able to study the diseases of the friaries in detail.
Amatus was called to various cities and his reputation grew further after he treated the pope in 1550. In the revised 1553 edition of his book on Dioscorides, Amatus criticized the work of another contemporary botanist and Viennese court physician, Matthioli. This led to bitter antagonism between the two and when the new pope, Paul IV, published decrees against the Marranos in 1555, Amatus was persecuted largely at Matthioli’s instigation. He lost his valuables and manuscripts and fled to Ragusa for two years and then in 1558 moved to Salonika, where he practiced his Judaism freely and openly. There he had a large practice, mainly Jewish.
Amatus died in Salonika in a plague epidemic.
Quotations:
EXCERPTS FROM AMATUS LUSITANUS’ OATH
I swear by Almighty God and by his most holy Ten Commandments given on on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses the lawgiver that I have never in my medical practice departed from what has been handed down to us in good faith; that I have never practiced deception; I have never overstated or made changes for the sake of gain; that I have ever striven that benefit might accrue to mankind; that I have praised no one nor censured any one to indulge private interests but only when truth demanded it. I have not desired for the remuneration of medical service and have treated many without accepting any fee, but with none the less care. I have given my services in equal manner to all — Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I have accorded the same care to the poor as to those of exalted rank. ...I have never revealed a secret. I have never given a fatal draft. No woman has ever brought about an abortion with my aid. I have done nothing that might be considered unbecoming an honorable and distinguished physician....
Quotes from others about the person
Moses on Mount Sinai about a medical oath in the name of “The Holy Ten Commandments”:
This oath demonstrates Lusitanus’s deep faith in Judaism, and its medical ethics as well its philanthropic and practical religious practices.