ALPINI, PROSPERO, in Latin, Prosper Alpinus, a
celebrated physician and botanist, was born at Marofica
in the republic of Venice in November 1553. In
his early years his inclination led him to the profession
of arms, and he served some time in the Milanesi.
By the encouragement and persuasion of his father,
who was a physician, he retired from the army, and
devoted his attention to literature. To prosecute his
studies with more advantage, he went to the university
of Padua, where he was soon after elected deputy to
the rector and syndic to the students. But in the dis-
charge of his official duties which was distinguished by
prudence and address, he was not prevented from pur-
suing the study of physic which he had chosen. He
continued his medical studies with zeal and success;
and after having acquired the necessary qualifications,
he was admitted to the degree of doctor of medicine
in 1578. Soon after he left the university, and settled
as a physician in consequence of an invitation from the
citizens in Campo San Pietro, a small town in the
Paduan territory.
In the course of his studies he had paid particular
attention to plants, and had become an enthusiast in
botanical science. The sphere of his present practice
was too limited to afford him much opportunity of pro-
secuting his favourite study. He wished particularly
to extend his knowledge of exotic plants; and the only
means to attain this, he thought, was to study their
economy and habits in their native soil. And to gratify
this laudable curiosity an opportunity soon present-
ed itself. George Emo, the consul for the Venetian
republic in Egypt, appointed Alpini his physician.
They sailed from Venice in September 1580; and
after having experienced a tedious and dangerous
voyage, arrived at Grand Cairo in the beginning of
July the following year. Alpini spent three years in
Egypt, and by his industry and assiduity, greatly im-
proved his botanical knowledge. With this view he
travelled along the banks of the Nile, visited every
place, and consulted every person from whom he ex-
pected any new information. From a practice in the
management of date trees which he observed in this
country, Alpini seems to have deduced the doctrine
of the sexual difference of plants which was adopted
as the foundation of the celebrated system of Linnæus.
He says, "That the female date trees, or palms, do
not bear fruit, unless the branches of the male and fe-
male plants are mixed together; or, as is generally
done, unless the dust found in the male sheath, or male
flowers, is sprinkled over the female flowers."
When Alpini returned to Venice in 1586 he was
appointed physician to Andrea Doria prince of Melfi,
and during his residence at Genoa, acquired so great a
name as to be esteemed the first physician of his age.
The Venetians became jealous that the Genoese state
should number among its citizens a person of such
distinguished merit and reputation, whose services might
be
be essentially beneficial, and whose fame might be highly honourable to his native country. In the year 1593, he was recalled to fill the botanical chair in the university of Padua, with a salary of 200 florins, which was afterwards augmented to 750. He discharged the duties of his professorship for many years with great reputation, till his declining health interrupted his labours. He died in the year 1617, in the 64th year of his age, and was succeeded as botanical professor by one of his sons. Alpini wrote the following works in Latin: 1. De Medicina Egyptiorum, libri iv. "Of the Physic of the Egyptians, in four books;" printed at Venice, 1591, in 4to. 2. De Plantis Egypti liber: "A treatise concerning the plants of Egypt;" printed at Venice, 1592, in 4to. 3. De Balsamo Dialogus: "A dialogue concerning the Balm of Gilead;" printed at Venice, 1599, in 4to. 4. De Praefacienda vita et morte agrotantium libri vii: "Seven books concerning the method of forming a judgment of the life or death of patients;" printed at Venice, 1601, in 4to. 5. De Medicina methodica, libri xiii: "Thirteen books concerning methodical Physic;" Padua, 1611, folio; Leyden, 1719, in 4to. 6. De Rhapontico Disputatio: "A disputation held in the school at Padua concerning the Rhaponticum;" Padua, 1612, and 1629, in 4to. 7. De Plantis Exoticis, libri ii: "Of exotic plants, in two books;" Venice, 1699, in 4to. He left several other works, which have never been printed; particularly, 8. The fifth book concerning the physic of the Egyptians. 9. Five books concerning the natural history of things observed in Egypt, adorned with figures of plants, stones, and animals. (Biog. Diff.)