132 JOHN SWAMMERDAM. 



living with his son-in-law, so that he was obliged 

 to look out for another residence. On this occasion 

 his allowance was limited to 200 florins, and as he 

 could not find any one to purchase his collection 

 he was reduced to great perplexity. However, a 

 thought struck him that he might apply to an old 

 friend, who had formerly treated him with great 

 kindness ; but in this he also failed. 



In the following year, his father died, leaving him 

 heir to his property, which was sufficient for his 

 support ; but he became involved in disputes with 

 his sister, which, together with his assiduous endea- 

 vours to discharge his religious duties, so agitated 

 his mind, that he was again seized with a severe ague. 

 For three entire months he was confined to his bed, 

 and even when the accessions of the fever had become 

 more gentle and less frequent, he still persisted in re- 

 maining in the house. In vain did his friends, Sla- 

 dus, Ruysch, Schrader, Hotton, and Guenellon, urge 

 upon him the propriety of adopting means for im- 

 proving his health. He would not yield to their 

 proposals ; and, when they still persisted, at length 

 maintained an obstinate silence. 



Finding all his endeavours to sell his collection 

 fruitless, he determined to expose it to public auc- 

 tion ; but before the period arrived, his disease was 

 much aggravated by the various agitations to which 

 his mind was now habitually subject. The fever 

 proved again regular and continuous, the countenance 

 was emaciated, the eyes were sunk, the feet, the 

 legs, and at length the whole body, dropsical. His 

 friends dared not speak to him respecting his former 

 studies, for he detested all allusion to them, and wish- 

 ed to withdraw his mind entirely from earthly con- 



