Judith Brouwer
tice meant that the topics of letters and essays sent to the ZGW could range from
astronomy to causes of infertility, and from updates on current politics to the
mechanics of watermills.92 The ZGW encouraged members to send their schol
arly works to the ZGW, which provided the opportunity for the member's work
to be published in the Verhandelingen, the journal of the ZGW. This would give
the author scholarly recognition. Furthermore, members were required to send
in information that could be published in the Verhandelingen at least once every
six years.93 The following paragraphs first discuss the scope of information sent to
the ZGW, followed by a distinction between persons who sent in their own pieces
and those who sent in information produced by other persons in their network.
The correspondence increases substantially in quantity from 1769 onwards.
This can be explained by the fact that most members living outside of Zeeland
were added from 1768 onwards.94 The topics vary quite a bit, including many
medical essays sent in by surgeons. An example: on May 30, 1769, Mr. F. H. Gram
- a surgeon and obstetrician in Rotterdam - sends an essay to the ZGW about a
new treatment he performed on a person with a hernia, which was successful.95
Another surgeon, Mr. W. Wildrik, mailed a letter on the harmful practice of sol
diers having to wear 'too tight cotton gaiters.96 The ZGW did not only receive
information from within the Dutch Republic. Mr. C. F. van Meuschen, who was a
member of the ZGW between 1770-1802, sent a letter on February 27, 1770, about
the precautions taken in Switzerland against the spreading of the cattle plague.97
Sometimes drawings would be sent, as Bergius did of the newly discovered plant
Echites Semidigynus on April 24, 1770.98 The gathered information was not just
about topics that are considered to fall within the natural science today; works on
theology were often submitted to the ZGW as well. One of the many examples
is Petrus Nieuwland who sent in an essay on the interpretation of Matthew 8:22
(April 24, 1770).99
lll
92 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 18, 20; ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 59, scan 19; ZA, Arch.
KZGW, inv. nr. 60, scan 47.
93 Mijnhardt, Tot Heil van't Menschdom, 150.
94 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 121, scan 3-6.
95 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 5.
96 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 9: 'over het schadelijk gebruik der al te naauwe strop-kous-
sen bij soldaaten'.
97 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 8.
98 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 8.
99 ZA, Arch. KZGW, inv. nr. 56, scan 8.
