1 28 HEROES OF SCIENCE. 



animals. He followed the method of Aristoteles, and 

 the notion of the genus was, of course, not satis- 

 factorily established ; but the book was the source 

 of much of modern zoology, from which succeeding 

 writers drew largely. 



Gesner's botanical works were as great as those 

 relating to animals, and he designed and painted 

 fifteen hundred figures of plants, which were of 

 great use to his successors. As if he had not 

 enough to do, he translated the Greek works of 

 Aelian, on animals, in 1556. Scientific and in- 

 dustrious, he had much to contend with, and was 

 short-sighted. He was the first person who used 

 concaved glasses to remedy this defect in his 

 sight. As years rolled on, Gesner was much 

 liked and honoured in his native town ; he was 

 very amiable, a great peacemaker, and a liberal 

 citizen. He established a botanic garden, and gave 

 employment to artists. Whilst in the full vigour 

 of life, and in active practice as a physician, the 

 plague attacked Zurich, and Gesner successfully 

 combated the contagious disorder in many cases. 

 He exposed himself without fear, after the fashion 

 of most medical men, and unfortunately caught the 

 disease. When the worst symptoms came, he knew 

 his hour was at hand, and asked to be carried into 

 his library and museum, where all the treasures 

 he had collected and described, to the delight of 

 his students and friends, were deposited. There he 

 breathed his last, in the arms of his affectionate 

 wife, for whose love contagion had no terrors. He 



