222 HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



plants, of parasites, of culbiary herbs, and of Jtowering plants ; he 

 remarked upon the uses of each plant, the place where it grew, and 

 whether it was woody or herbaceous. He had no idea of genera 

 or species; his names were merely local, and his descriptions gen- 

 erally indefinite. His views upon the physiology of plants, were 

 superior to his descriptions of them ; he remarked upon their differ- 

 ent external organs; distinguished the seed lobes (Cotyledons) from 

 the leaves ; gave just ideas upon their functions, and upon the offi- 

 ces of the root. He explained their anatomy as well as possible 

 without the assistance of the microscope, which (as the science of 

 optics was then unknown) had not been invented. Theophrastus 

 seemed too much inclined to compare the structure of vegetables to 

 that of animals ; imagining that he found in plants, bones, veins, and 

 arteries. A shrub which grows in the Antilles is named Theophras- 

 ta, in honour of this ancient botanist. 



Dioscorides, a physician of Greek extraction, abovit the com- 

 mencement of the Christian era, travelled over Greece, Asia Minor, 

 and Italy, in order to observe the plants of those countries ; his 

 works were written in Greek ; he divided plants into four classes, 

 viz.: 1st, aromatic, 2d, vinous, 3d, medicinal, and 4th, alimentary ^ 

 or nutritious. The labours of this botanist were of little value in 

 after times, on account of want of method in his descriptions. He 

 gave the names and properties of 600 plants ; but having no idea 

 of species or genera, his work was but a chaos of facts, which were 

 so imperfectly expressed, as to render it impossible to apply them 

 to use. 



The elder Pliny, who lived in the reign of Nero, treated of the his- 

 tory of plants, but he neglected nature, and derived his science 

 from the works of his predecessors. False systems of philosophy 

 seemed to fetter the noblest minds, and prevent their pursuing those 

 methods of investigation which would have led to a true knowledge 

 of nature. The genius of Pliny was vast and active; he conse- 

 crated to scientific researches and literary works, the leisure which 

 public duties left him. His " History of the World," which was a 

 compilation of all the knowledge of the ancients, upon the subject 

 of natural history, the only one of his writings which has escaped 

 the ravages of time and barbarians, is but a small portion of his 

 labours. He is considered faulty in recording both truth and error, 

 often transmitting them without observation or criticism, and some- 

 times favouring absurd traditions ; but his work is justly admired 

 for the greatness of its plan, which embraced the whole of nature, 

 for the elegance of its style, and for the wonderful art with which the 

 highest considerations of practical philosophy are associated with 

 natural history. In the year 79 after Christ, Pliny fell a sacrifice 

 to his desire of knowledge, in an eruption of Mount Vesuvius ; 

 wishing to contemplate as near as possible so subhme a spectacle, 

 he perished, suffocated by the sulphureous exhalations. 



Galen, in the second century, wrote upon the medicinal qualities of 

 plants, but gave no descriptions. The love of the sciences seemed, 

 in the prosperous days of Rome, to be extinguished ; " Mistress of 

 the world," corrupted by victories, and by tyrants, she had aban- 

 doned herself to luxury. The false philosophy of the vanquished 

 Gr'.-eks reigned in the schools of victorious Rome, chasing away 

 every trace of true knowledge. Rehgious fanaticism had also its 



Dioscorides— Pliny— Galen— Condition of science in the most prosperous davs of 

 Aome. 



