88 BIOLOGY AND ITS MAKERS 



work of any extent like Malpighi's Anatome Plantarum or 

 Swammerdam's Anatomy and Metamorphosis oj Insects. 



Swammerdam was the most critical observer of the three, 

 if we may judge by his labors in the same field as Malpighi's 

 on the silkworm. His descriptions are models of accuracy 

 and completeness, and his anatomical work shows a higher 

 grade of finish and completeness than Malpighi's. Malpighi, 

 it seems to me, did more in the sum total than either of the 

 others to advance the sciences of anatomy and physiology, 

 and through them the interests of mankind. Leeuwenhoek 

 had larger opportunity; he devoted himself to microscopic 

 observations, but he wandered over the whole field. While 

 his observations lose all monographic character, nevertheless 

 they were important in opening new fields and advancing the 

 sciences of anatomy, physiology, botany, and zoology. 



The combined force of their labors marks an epoch 

 characterized by the acceptance of the scientific method and 

 the establishment of a new grade of intellectual life. Through 

 their efforts and that of their contemporaries of lesser note 

 the new intellectual movement was now well under way. 



[) 



