6 The Life and Writings of ^Agassiz. 



surmounting difficulties. Full of confidence in himself, he 

 applied to the bookseller Cotta, a man who united with great 

 skill in business the most enlarged views. To him he shewed 

 the materials he had collected for a Natural History of the 

 Fresh-water Fishes of Europe. The beauty of the drawings, 

 the finish of the details, and, above all, the enthusiasm of the 

 young man, gained the heart of the old bookseller, who ad- 

 vanced him funds to continue and complete his work. 



At the same time Agassiz, like a good son, sought to re- 

 gain the favour of his parents. For this there was but one 

 thing to be done, namely, to return to Medicine. Until now 

 he had divided his time between his medical and his zoologi- 

 cal studies ; but now we may infer that he applied himself 

 seriously to his profession, since, not long after, he presented 

 himself as candidate for the degree of Doctor, and passed his 

 examination with distinction. But the title of Doctor of Me- 

 dicine was not enough for him. In the same year he applied 

 for a degree of Doctor of Philosophy, which he received after 

 a public disputation, which produced a great sensation in the 

 literary community of Munich. 



He undertook to shew that woman is superior to man. 

 Mens feminoe mri animo superior was the theme of his dispu- 

 tation. Such a proposition, coming from a young man whose 

 devotion to the fair sex was well known, could not fail to at- 

 tract attention. Tt was received with the most various sen- 

 timents. The young applauded the irresistible aguments of 

 the youthful candidate ; puritanic conservatives, and those 

 belonging to what is called, in Germany, the Historical School^ 

 thundered against these ideas as revolutionary, and calcu- 

 lated to subvert the order of society. The sphere of woman, 

 they thought, should not be extended beyond the kitchen and 

 the laundry. 



After this double examination, Agassiz received permis- 

 sion from his parents to visit Vienna. The object of this 

 journey was the completion of his medical studies ; but on his 

 arrival, he devoted himself again to his favourite pursuit, and 

 was oftener to be met with at the Museum than in the hos- 

 pital. Here he made the acquaintance of many distinguished 



