1501-1576. Italian physician, mathematician,
philosopher, astrologer, and gambler. He is
remembered for his theory of chance, his use
of algebra, and many medical publications,
notably the first clinical description of
typhus fever. Born at Pavia, he became
professor of medicine there in 1543, and
wrote two works on physics and natural
science, De Subtilitate rerum 1551 and De
Varietate rerum 1557.