68 BIOLOGY AND ITS MAKERS 



Early Interest in Natural History.— He was born in 1637, 

 nine years after Malpighi. His father, an apothecary of Am- 

 sterdam, had a taste for collecting, which was shared by many 

 of his fellow-townsmen. The Dutch people of this time 

 sent their ships into all parts of the world, and this vast com- 

 merce, together with their extensive colonial possessions 

 fostered the formation of private museums. The eldei 

 Swammerdam had the finest and most celebrated collection 

 in all Amsterdam. This was stored, not only with treasures 

 showing the civilization of remote countries, but also witl 

 specimens of natural history, for which he had a decidec 

 liking. Thus "from the earliest dawn of his understanding 

 the young Swammerdam was surrounded by zoologica 

 specimens, and from the joint influence, doubtless, of hered 

 itary taste and early association, he became passionatel) 

 devoted to the study of natural history. " 



Studies Medicine. — His father intended him for the 

 church, but he had no taste .for theology, though he became 

 a fanatic in religious matters toward the close of his life; 

 at this period, however, he could brook no restraint in word 

 or action. He consented to study medicine, but for some 

 reason -he was twenty-six years old before entering the Uni- 

 versity of Leyden. This delay was very likely owing to his 

 precarious health, but, in the mean time, he had not been idle; 

 he had devoted himself to observation and study with great 

 ardor, and had already become an expert in minute dissec- 

 tion. When he went to the University of Leyden, therefore, 

 he at once took high rank in anatomy. Anything demanding 

 fine manipulation and dexterity was directly in his line. He 

 continued his studies in Paris, and about 1667 took his degree 

 of Doctor of Medicine. 



During this period of medical study he made some rather 

 important observations in human anatomy, and introduced 

 the method of injection that was afterward claimed bv 



