OF THE LIFE OF LINN^US. 



221 



secrets could be brought to light. Of all the kaures Linn.eus, 

 those which he delivered upon this compendium required the 

 most unremitting attention. Diaetetic — as another most interesting 

 and most useful branch of medicine, also occupied Linnaeus. 

 His travels had enabled him to make many experiments and ob- 

 servations upon that branch of medical study. « This science," 

 wrote he to Baron Haller in 1744, " makes my delight, I have 

 « collefted more in it than I know any other to have done* '. The 

 whole course of his t disetetic leftures lasted three years each time. 

 He did not publish any general works upon this branch of physic 

 It was however enriched with a considerable number of fine trea- 

 tises upon single subjeCls, for instance, such as on the utility of 

 motion, on the diversity of aliments, on bread, on the eatable plants 

 of Sweden^ on tea, coffee, chocolate, &c. &c. These tra6ts were 

 defended by his pupils whom he furnished with the materials. He also 

 made himself equally conspicuous in what is properly called medicine. 



* I|i his mese deliciae; in his plura collegi qiiam, quod novi iilkis alius.— Already in the 

 year 1740, Linn^us wrote thus to Haller : " Quid in diffiteticis colligo tandem videbis, 

 " in his per decern annos laboravi." 



t Dr. Hedin, first physician to the Court of S-iveden expresses himself in his Treatise : 

 Quid Linn^o fatri debeat Medidua, Ups. 17S4, in the following manner: — "Ilia hue 

 " acies ingenii elucet, ut fidem omnino superet, Medicinam, quam artem semper tonjeitura- 

 «' lem statuunt ignorantes osores, sub— Linn^ei — manibus speciem physicas experimentalis 

 '* induisse et assertis jeque exploratis superstriidlum. Diffidendum lamen non est, opus hocce, 



licet omni et admiratione et attentione nostra dignissimum, siimmis quibusdam medicis ali- 

 ♦< quo jure videri et difficile omnino comprehensu et praxi forsitan minu. adaptatum. Verum in 

 <' rebus tantas indaginis raro sibi sufficit ingeniuni mediocre, nisi filum hoc Ariadneum per ob- 



scuros scientiae masandros ab ipso audtore illustrissimo sequi diiceret. Hinc e I, quod, 

 " qui censores agere voluermit, notam ig:iorantias sure prodiderint, quum, qiiae pro}^osita 

 " fuerinf, se vix intellexisse coatti sint ; quod ipsi cont-git Domino Vic d'Azyr, Cort'icale 

 *' Vitale ( Claa)is Medic p. 5.) per cutem reddenti. Cui quani absona -sit idea 'vitalis cor- 

 " ticalis, nullum vel leviter in re medica versatum, fugere potest ; unde nec mirum, si de 



utilitate hujus operis asque absona sit conclusio." 



