Carl Gottlob Rafn
Encyclopedia
Carl Gottlob Rafn was a Danish
Enlightenment
scientist
and civil servant. He wrote influential papers on a broad array of basic and applied sciences.
, Denmark
as the son of a judge. He began studies of medicine
and botany
at the University of Copenhagen
in 1788, but later changed to veterinary science with P.C. Abildgaard at the Vetarinary School in Copenhagen
. He never took any final exam, however. Instead, he became Assessor in the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce
under the Danish
absolute monarchy
and filled various other posts, such as being the first director of a new Royal Aquavit Distillery, which was founded on his own initiative. Rafn died in Copenhagen
in 1808, only 39 years old.
. One of these was a flora
of Denmark
- Flora of Denmarks and Holstein, for which he was runner-up
(the first prize went to J. W. Hornemann
for his Forsøg til en dansk økonomisk Plantelære). Part of Rafn’s contribution was a text book on plant physiology
. This was also published in a separate volume and translated to other languages.
Together with his friend the physicist J. D. Herholdt, Rafn wrote an account “On the hibernation of animals” that won a prize from the French
Institut National.
The same two authors stood behind a small, but influential book entitled An Attempt at an Historical Survey of Life-saving Measures for Drowning Persons and Information of the Best Means by Which They Can Again Be Brought Back to Life from 1794. All knowledge on anesthesia
caused by submergence and on resuscitation available at the time was collected. More recently, the book was reprinted – both in Danish
and in English translation – on the occasion of the 10 anniversary of the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
in 1960. This treatise has been hailed as containing ”an enormous amount of information, and more importantly, wise comment - much of which was visionary and subsequently has been proven to be of key relevance to resuscitation of the submerged victim as practiced today” .
Rafn became member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
in 1798.
A few names of his making are still in use, e.g. Centaurium erythraea
Rafn.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
scientist
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
and civil servant. He wrote influential papers on a broad array of basic and applied sciences.
Life
Rafn was born in ViborgViborg, Denmark
Viborg , a town in central Jutland, Denmark, is the seat of both Viborg municipality and Region Midtjylland. Viborg is also the seat of the Western High Court, the High Court for the Jutland peninsula...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
as the son of a judge. He began studies of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and botany
Botany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the University of Copenhagen
University of Copenhagen
The University of Copenhagen is the oldest and largest university and research institution in Denmark. Founded in 1479, it has more than 37,000 students, the majority of whom are female , and more than 7,000 employees. The university has several campuses located in and around Copenhagen, with the...
in 1788, but later changed to veterinary science with P.C. Abildgaard at the Vetarinary School in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. He never took any final exam, however. Instead, he became Assessor in the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce
Ministry of Agriculture
An agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
under the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
and filled various other posts, such as being the first director of a new Royal Aquavit Distillery, which was founded on his own initiative. Rafn died in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
in 1808, only 39 years old.
Scientific works
Rafn made contributions to many prize essay contests on all disciplines of scienceScience
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. One of these was a flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- Flora of Denmarks and Holstein, for which he was runner-up
Runner-up
Runner-up is a term used to denote a participant which finishes in second place in any of a variety of competitive endeavors, most notably sporting events and beauty pageants; in the latter instance, the term is applied to more than one of the highest-ranked non-winning contestants, the...
(the first prize went to J. W. Hornemann
Jens Wilken Hornemann
Jens Wilken Hornemann was a Danish botanist.-Biography:He was a lecturer at the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden from 1801. After the death of Martin Vahl in 1804, the task of publishing the Flora Danica was given to Hornemann, who subsequently issued fasc. 22-39 with a total of 1080...
for his Forsøg til en dansk økonomisk Plantelære). Part of Rafn’s contribution was a text book on plant physiology
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
. This was also published in a separate volume and translated to other languages.
Together with his friend the physicist J. D. Herholdt, Rafn wrote an account “On the hibernation of animals” that won a prize from the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Institut National.
The same two authors stood behind a small, but influential book entitled An Attempt at an Historical Survey of Life-saving Measures for Drowning Persons and Information of the Best Means by Which They Can Again Be Brought Back to Life from 1794. All knowledge on anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
caused by submergence and on resuscitation available at the time was collected. More recently, the book was reprinted – both in Danish
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
and in English translation – on the occasion of the 10 anniversary of the Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica is a peer-reviewed medical journal within the field of anaesthesia, intensive care, pain, and emergency medicine...
in 1960. This treatise has been hailed as containing ”an enormous amount of information, and more importantly, wise comment - much of which was visionary and subsequently has been proven to be of key relevance to resuscitation of the submerged victim as practiced today” .
Rafn became member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters
Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters is a Danish non-governmental science Academy, founded 13 November 1742 by permission of the King Christian VI, as a historical Collegium Antiquitatum...
in 1798.
A few names of his making are still in use, e.g. Centaurium erythraea
Centaurium erythraea
Centaurium erythraea is a species of flowering plant in the gentian family known by the common names common centaury and European centaury. This centaury is a widespread plant of Europe and parts of western Asia and northern Africa. It has also naturalised in parts of North America and throughout...
Rafn.