ABSTRACT
Like many, if not most of them, worm had been trained as a physician, but his interests were diverse, stretching from natural philosophy, medicine, botany, natural history, iatrochemistry, astrology, to antiquarianism, and collecting. Ole Worm, in other words, was neither a Galenist nor a Paracelsian. Instead he was open to any school of thought which could be tested, observed, and validated through medical practice. This was a position he reiterated again and again over the years and never deviated from. Worm provided diagnoses and medical remedies for these patients; aware of the problems posed by the lengthy sea-journey needed, and the harsh weather conditions, his remedies had to be able to withstand to remain useful at arrival. Worm tirelessly promoted the value and importance of anatomy for medicine. Bearing that in mind it is surprising that he never undertook dissections of humans in Copenhagen during his tenure as professor of medicine.
