Tobias Cohn

Portrait of Tobias Cohn Wellcome L0014928

Tobias Cohn (1652–1729), also known as Tobias Kohn or Toviyyah ben Moshe ha-Kohen, was a prominent Jewish physician and author in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He is best known for his comprehensive medical work, Ma'aseh Toviyyah, which was one of the first medical texts written in Hebrew.

Early Life and Education

Tobias Cohn was born in Metz, France, in 1652. He came from a distinguished family of Kohanim, which are the Jewish priestly class. His father, Moshe, was also a physician, which influenced Tobias's early interest in medicine. Cohn studied medicine at the University of Padua in Italy, one of the few universities at the time that accepted Jewish students.

Career

After completing his studies, Cohn traveled extensively across Europe and the Ottoman Empire, practicing medicine and gaining a reputation as a skilled physician. He eventually settled in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul), where he served as a physician to the Ottoman court.

Ma'aseh Toviyyah

Cohn's most significant contribution to medicine is his encyclopedic work, Ma'aseh Toviyyah (The Work of Tobias), published in 1708. The book is divided into eight sections, covering a wide range of topics including anatomy, physiology, hygiene, pharmacology, and cosmology. It also includes a section on Jewish law and ethics as they pertain to medicine.

Ma'aseh Toviyyah is notable for its detailed anatomical illustrations and its attempt to reconcile Jewish religious law with contemporary medical knowledge. The work was widely read and respected in both Jewish and non-Jewish medical circles.

Legacy

Tobias Cohn's contributions to medicine and his efforts to bridge the gap between Jewish tradition and modern science have left a lasting impact. His work continues to be studied by scholars interested in the history of medicine and Jewish medical ethics.

Related Pages

• Jewish medicine
• History of medicine
• University of Padua
• Ottoman Empire
• Anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Jewish law

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