214 



REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES 



DOTES.— THE FAMILY OF LINN^US.— LITERARY EMINENCE OF ONE OF HIS 

 DAUGHTERS.— HIS PECULIAR PREDILECTION FOR HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER.— 

 HER BIRTH.— ANECDOTE.— EXTERNAL APPEARANCE OF LINNAEUS.- HIS KNOW- 

 LEDGE OF LANGUAGES.— HIS LATIN.— ANECDOTES.— THE CHARACTER OF LIN- 

 N.EUS— HIS HABITS AND USAGES.— HIS ZEAL IN NATURAL PURSUITS.— HIS PAR. 

 SIMONY.— HIS BENEFICENT AND GENEROUS CONDUCT TOWARDS HIS PUPILS.— 

 ANECDOTES.— HIS LOVE OF FAME.— HIS COAT OF ARMS.— HIS RELIGIOUSNESS. 

 STRICTURES RESPECTING LINNAEUS BY THE CHEVALIER MURRAY.— LINN-EAN 

 ANECDOTES BY FABRICIUSo 



We have thus far considered Linnaus mostly in the light of a bo- 

 tanist. But this was not the only title which distinguished his fame. 

 He had renounced medicine as a pra£litioner, but as a theorist this 

 science derived the most essential benefits from his exertions. The 

 knowledge of diseases, (pathology) — their remedies or cures (Materia 

 Medica) — and the instruftions how to preserve health by means of a 

 regular choice and judicious use of meat and drink, (Dicetetic) — consti- 

 tute the three principal branches of physic ; they are steps of know- 

 ledge which must be ascended by physicians if they wish to acquire 

 fame and eminence in their profession; and Linnaeus acquired cele- 

 brity and extensive merit in those three different branches of medical 

 science. 



We shall first take a view of his merits in the Materia Medica. The 

 best and most numerous remedies are drawn from the vegetable reign. 

 It is the chief arsenal in which Nature preserves her store of arms 

 against maladies. The animal and mineral reigns are but sparingly 

 provided with them. The accuracy or inaccuracy of the knowledge 

 of herbs and plants determine, therefore, the application of the me- 

 dicines which are prepared from them ; they determine also, in a great 

 measure, the restoration or sacrifice of afflifted humanity. As long as 



botany 



