jFIRST PERIOD. 21 



other school of France ; and the progress it has 

 since made , is due to the method he introduced, 

 and to the ardour his lectures had excited. Having 

 reached an advanced age, and feeling his strength 

 unequal to the continuance of his duties , he was 

 replaced by his ablest pupils, among whom was 

 his nephew ; who , as well as his successors , se- 

 conded the impulse given to the science. 



The indefatigable Fagon thus enjoyed the fruit 

 of his labours. The three chairs were filled by 

 celebrated professors, aided by able demonstra- 

 tors : a large amphitheatre had been constructed 

 capable of containing six hundred auditors , and 

 it was usually filled : the cultivation was care- 

 fully directed by Vaillant , and additional plants 

 were procured from his correspondants in Amer- 

 ica : interesting objects were added to the collec- 

 tion of drugs , and new illustrations , to that of os- 

 teology; and the painter Aubriet continued to swell 

 the number of drawings of plants and animals. 



Such was the establishment at the death of 

 Louis XIV, in 17 15. Fagon, aged and infirm, 

 resigned the place of first physician , which 

 was given to Poirier, and retired into the gar- 

 den , where he was born , and where he died 

 in 1 7 18. 



« His memory , says M. de Jussieu ; will 

 > always be venerated in the Museum , for 



