Tracing Senguerd's footprints : sciences and tarantism at Leiden Universtiy (1667-1715)

The present paper deals with the reflection on Apulian tarantism – the disease produced by tarantula's poison – of the Dutch philosopher Wolferd Senguerd (1646-1724). According to him, tarantism is a phenomenon which consists of many aspects explained previously throughout different traditional occult qualities; the various occult aspects of tarantism are clarified by Senguerd using several “scientiae”, such as natural history, physics and medicine. Showing this particular view of tarantism, the first part of this paper is dedicated to the analysis of Wolferd's thought about tarantism and occult qualities, with particular reference to the analysis of the strange effects deriving from tarantula's poison. The second part focuses on how Senguerd used his source, namely Athanasius Kircher and Giorgio Baglivi, in order to prove that there is no chromatic attraction in those who are poisoned by the spider. [Publisher's text]