SWAMMERDAM 181 



manuscripts still existed, and proofs of some of the 

 engraved plates were sent for Boerhaave's inspection. 

 He bought the whole at a low price, and in 1737-8 had 

 the satisfaction of issuing Swammerdam s works in two 

 magnificent folios, illustrated by fifty-three plates, and 

 accompanied by a new Latin version by Gaubius of 

 Leyden. It is not easy to explain how Swammerdam 

 came to give to any book of his so significant a title as 

 The Bible of Nature. His purpose of magnifying the 

 works of God, which appears in the pious ejaculations at 

 the end of every chapter, may have seemed to sanctify 

 his labours. Buch der Natur had been the title of 

 an illustrated book of animals and plants published at 

 Augsburg late in the fifteenth century. 



Insect Transformations 

 The General History of Insects (1669) includes a 

 long discussion en the nature of insect transformations, 

 which was afterwards included in the Biblia Natures. 

 One main object with Swammerdam was to refute the 

 mistaken doctrines of Harvey, the great Harvey, whose 

 account of the circulation of the blood was now generally 

 accepted. Harvey's knowledge of development was based 

 entirely upon his study of vertebrate embryos, and his 

 account of the development of insects and other animals 

 then called "bloodless," was darkened by vain philosophy. 

 According to him, an insect could not be properly said 

 to grow ; it was a lump of organic matter which had 

 been stamped with a definite form. Insects, he made 

 bold to say, were generated by chance, and were not 

 constant to their kinds. Swammerdam might well be 

 angry to find notions so preposterous disseminated under 

 the authority of a great name. He combated Harvey 

 with all his vigour, and at wearisome length. Insects 



