192 DIVI BOTANICI. 



Plants ; by Mattioli* in his Commentaries on Ancient Phytography; 

 by Dodoenst, in his botanical Pemptades ; and by their successors 

 in cultivating the philosophy of vegetable nature. 



p. 722—724. In his description of the Euphorbium and its medical uses, 

 Book III, Chapter liii, the author follows Pliny, Dioscorides, Galen, and 

 Paul of jEgina, without attempting to confirm their principles by facts de- 

 duced from his own experience. — Jean de la Ruelle, M.D. became Dean of 

 the Medical Faculty in Paris and one of the king's physicians. As an edi- 

 tor and translator, the doctor so far excelled the co-eval scholars as to be 

 designated by them the " aigle des interpret es." He made Latin versions of 

 the works of Dioscorides and Actuarius ; he gave correct editions of Hippo- 

 crates, Galen, Euclid, Celsus and Pliny the naturalist ; and, in approbation 

 of his botanical merits, the Ruellia has been made a generic appellation in 

 the Acanthaceous family of plants. This laborious phytologist was born at 

 Soissons in 1474, and died at Paris in 1537, having become a widower and 

 entered into holy orders, a short time before his decease. 



* Mattioli's first botanical work was published in the vulgar tongue of his 

 country, with the title II Dioscoridc con gli suoi Discorsi, aggiuntovi il sesto 

 libro degli anlidoti contra tittti i veleni ; folio, Venezia, 1544. He afterwards 

 gave it to the world in a Latin version — Commentarii in sex libros Pedacii Di- 

 oscoridis, adjeclis quam phirimis Plantarum et Animalium iconibus ; folio, Vene- 

 ris, 1554. Under both these forms, his Commentaries appeared in numer- 

 ous editions ; and, under the superintendence of Dr. Caspar Bauhin, they 

 constituted the chief portion of Petri Andrea Matthioli, M.D. Opera qute ex- 

 tant omnia; folio, Basilete, 1598, 1674, et folio, Venetiis, 1712, 1744. At Book 

 III, Chapter lxxx, p. 585 — 6 of the edition 1674, are the description and 

 figure of the Euphorbia, with ''considerations" on its discovery, its uses in 



medicine, and its appellations Pietro Andrea Mattioli, M.D. completed his 



education at the Italian schools ; and, through the progress of a lengthened 

 life, he enjoyed the respect which society intuitively concedes to a useful and 

 dignified character. His botanical pursuits were crowned with eminent suc- 

 cess, and his writings will remain an enduring memorial of his sagacity and 

 indefatigable exertions. By his own industry and the devotion of his 

 friends, he was enabled to describe many new vegetables ; and, out of grati- 

 tude to the improvers of his favourite science, he restored the ancient custom 

 of dedicating plants to the honour of illustrious phytologists. Yielding to 

 the advances of old age, he renounced his office of physician at the empe- 

 ror's court ; and, retiring to the vale of Trent, he drew the solace of his 

 declining days from the tranquillity of a rural seclusion. He was born in 

 1501, and died in 1577 from a seizure of the plague. 



•f Cruydt Boeck van Rembertus Dodoneus volgens laetse verbetringe, met 

 biivoegsels achter elck capittel, ut verscheyden cruydt. beschryvers ; folio, Antwerp, 

 1553. Hixtoire des Plantes, conlenant la description des herbes, leurs especes, 

 noms, temperaments et vertus, traduite du bas Allemand (of Dodonseus) en Fran- 

 cois, par Charles de VEcluse ; avec un discours sur les gommes, liqueurs qui decou- 

 lent des arbres, et quelques bois, fruits et racines aromatiques ; folio, Anvers, 

 1557. A Niewe Herball, or Uistorie of Plantes ; wherein is contayned the 

 whole discourse and perfect description of all sorts of Herbes and Plantes: 



