DANIEL, an eminent physician, was born in 1572 at Bredlaw; and in 1593 he was sent to Wittemberg, where he made great progress in philosophy and physic. He visited the universities of Leipzig, Jena, Frankfort on the Oder, and Berlin; but soon returned to Wittemberg, where he was promoted to the degree of doctor of physic, and soon after to a professorship in the same faculty. He was the first who introduced the study of chemistry into that university; he gained a great reputation by his works and practice, and was very generous to the poor. He died of the plague at Wittemberg in 1637. He raised himself enemies by contradicting the ancients. He thought the feed of all living creatures animated, and that the soul of this feed produces organization. He was accused of impiety for asserting that the souls of beasts are not material; for this was affirmed to be the same thing with asserting that they are immortal; but he rejected this consequence, as he well might do. See Metaphysics, Part III. chap. vi.