318 Medicine.: [Chap. IV. 



In framing his system of physic, Boerhaave seems: 

 diligently to liave studied the writings of both an- 

 cient and modern physicians, from Hippocrates down 

 to Sydenham. Though extremely partial to the 

 mechanical principles of Bellini and Pictairn, he 

 appears to have endeavoured, as much as possible, 

 to divest himself of prejudice in favour of former 

 systems, and to make a candid and genuine selec- 

 tion of truth from every source. Beside availing^ 

 himself of the experience of Hippocrates, and other 

 observers of nature in every age, he drew many of 

 his doctrines fi*om the chemical as Avell as mathe- 

 matical philosophy of the period in which he lived. 



Boerhaave's Institutes, which is his theoretical 

 work, contain all the discoveries in anatoni}- and 

 physiology known at that time; and that system 

 likewise of pathology and therapeutics which he 

 thought proper to adopt. His Aphorisms, or prac- 



** Some, ihoiigl: few," (says his great disciple Haller) ^*'\vill rival 

 him in erudition 3 his divine temper, kind to all, beneficent to foes 

 and adversaries, detracting from no man's merits, and binding by 

 favours his daily opponents, may perhaps never be paralleled." He 

 was at once a practical philosopher and an eminent Christian. No 

 one was ever less moved by the attacks of envy and malice j no 

 one ever bore with more firmness and resignation the evils of life. 

 Simplicity was the characteristic, of his manners. He was easy and 

 familiar in his converse ; perfectly free from parade of every kind; 

 grave imd xu])er in dc meanour, and yet di>.p().sed to pleasantry, and 

 occasionally indulging in good-humoured raillery. lie was almost 

 adored by his pupils, whose interests he regarded v/ith the kind- 

 ness of a parent, and wliom, when sick, he attended preferably tvj> 

 any other patients. Piety of the most amiable cast was wrought 

 In tlie very habit of his soul ; the perusal of the scriptures was one 

 of his habitkial and stated employments 3 and the business of every 

 day wiis precededby the devotiorial exercises of the closet. — General 

 Biograpftj/ by John Aikin, J\I. D. -and others, vol, ii. 



