CHAPTER IX. 



THE SCIENTISTS OF THE XVTH AND XVITH CENTURIES. 



IN the table of the mediaeval and Revival periods, given 

 in that chapter, we set forth two groups of facts the first 

 embraces the large number of inventions up to the year 1625; 

 the second, the large number of men of science over half a 

 hundred who appeared before or about the end of the XVIth 

 century. In order now to enable the reader to perceive the 

 aggregate achievements made in the various branches of 

 research, we shall set forth a rapid summary of the 

 same period presenting it under a somewhat different 

 aspect. 



First, then, we have a cluster of Mathematicians, such 

 as Stiefel, Fernel, Tarlaglia, Cardan, Ferrari (1522 1565), 

 VlETEj Napier, and SNELL, whose services to pure mathe- 

 matics, or mechanics, or physics, made rapid progress in 

 these branches a matter of absolute certainty in the near 

 future. Each of these men left sterling work behind him 

 which became in one way or another a new point of 

 departure. 



In the Natural Sciences and Medicine we find the labours 

 of Gesner and Belon as regards Zoology ; of Tragus, C^ESAL- 

 PINUS, and Lobel as regards Botany ; of PARACELSUS, Pare, 

 Coiter, as regards Medicine, which base these branches on solid 

 foundations. Nay, more, Anatomy had been studied ever since 

 Mondini (1315), and its rise a radical accession to natural 

 philosophy may be said to have completed the nascent 

 system of modern science. Achillini, Fabricius, Caesalpinus, 



