LIFE AT STOCKHOLM 77 



to Haller, but one had by this time come to hand from 

 Clifford. 



At last the post was to take a hopeful letter from 

 him to Falun. 1 He writes, c I have undeservedly got 

 into so much practice that from seven in the morning 

 till 8 P.M. I have not even time to take a short dinner.' 

 Times were changed from when he was not called in to 

 a sick servant ; for the contemptuous reason, * What could 

 a mere botanist know of the art of healing?' He was 

 now called to the great ; ' everything turned out pros- 

 perously ; no patient could be cured without me ; from 

 4 A.M. till late at night I visited the sick, spent nights 

 with them and earned money. Alas ! said I, ^Escula- 

 pius affords all that is good, but Flora yields only Sieges- 

 becks. I renounced botany and resolved a thousand 

 times to destroy all my collections for ever.' 2 



( He was called to the lady of an aulic councillor, 

 troubled with a prevalent cough ; Linnasus prescribed 

 a remedy which she could carry by her for constant 

 use. This lady was one day at court at a card party 

 with Queen Ulrica Eleonora. While playing she put 

 something into her mouth. ' What is this ? ' asked the 

 queen. 'A remedy against the cough, may it please 

 your Majesty ; I always find myself much relieved after 

 using it.' The queen had a cough at that very time. 

 Linnasus was called; he prescribed the same remedy, 



1 The Swedish post-boxes amuse strangers now with their in- 

 scription ' Tonimes nasta gang,' which we familiarise into ' Tommic's 

 next go.' 



2 Linnaeus to Haller. 



