Thomas, a celebrated physician, son of the former, was born at Copenhagen in 1616. After studying some years in his own country, he in 1637 went to Leyden, where he studied physic during three years. He then travelled into France; and resided two years at Paris and Montpellier, in order to improve himself under the famous physicians of those universities. Afterwards going to Italy, he continued three years at Padua; and at length went to Bafli, where he obtained the degree of doctor of philosophy. Soon after, he returned to Copenhagen; where in 1647 he was appointed professor of the mathematics; and next year was nominated to the anatomical chair, an employment better suited to his genius and inclination; which he discharged with great fidelity for 13 years, and distinguished himself by making several discoveries with respect to the lacteal veins and lymphatic vessels. His close application, however, having rendered his constitution very infirm, he, in 1661, resigned his chair; but the king of Denmark allowed him the title of honorary professor. He now retired to a little estate he had purchased at Hagested, near Copenhagen, where he hoped to have spent the remainder of his days in peace and tranquillity; but his house being burnt in 1650, St Bartholomew's day, 1659, his library, with all his books and manuscripts, was destroyed. In consideration of this loss the king appointed him his physician with a handsome salary, and exempted his land from all taxes; the university of Copenhagen also appointed him their librarian; and, in 1675, the king did him the honour to give him a seat in the grand council of Denmark. He wrote, 1. Anatomia Caffarii Bartholini Parentis, novis Observationibus primum locupletata, 8vo. 2. De Monstris in Natura et Medicina, 4to. 3. De Armillis Veterum, praetertim Dorum Schedion, 8vo; and several other works. This great man died on the 4th of December 1680.
St BARTHOLOMEW'S DAY, a festival of the Christian church, celebrated on the 24th of August. St Bartholomew was one of the twelve apostles; and is esteemed to be the same as Nathanael, one of the first disciples that came to Christ.
It is thought this apostle travelled as far as India, to propagate the gospel; for Eusebius relates, that a famous philosopher and Christian, named Pantanes, desiring to imitate the apostolical zeal in propagating the faith, and travelling for that purpose as far as India, found there, among those who yet retained the knowledge of Christ, the gospel of St Matthew, written, as the tradition affords, by St Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles, when he preached the gospel in that country. From thence he returned to the more northern and western parts of Asia, and preached to the people of Hierapolis; then in Lyconia; and lastly at Albania, a city upon the Caolian sea, where his endeavours to reclaim the people from idolatry were crowned with martyrdom, he being (according to some writers) flayed alive, and crucified with his head downwards.—There is mention made of a Gospel of St Bartholomew, in the preface to Origen's Homilies on St Luke, and in the preface to St Jerome's Commentary on St Matthew; but it is generally looked upon as spurious, and is placed by Pope Gelasius among the apocryphal books.