HISTORY OF THE SCIENCE. 418 
kingdom. His work* contains the descriptions of 
more than 600 plants. He made many and extens 
sive journeys through Asia. Diocorides lived under 
the emperor Nero, 64 years after CHRIsT. 
Cajus Plinius Secundus, flourished at nearly the 
same time. He collected the most important passages 
on all parts of natural history from the writings of 
his predecessors, but especially used the works of 
Dioscorides in his writings on plants. Pliny has 
made no discoveries himself. From his 11th to his 
19th book he treats on plants. He says strangely 
enough, that there are many more plants growing 
near hedges, public roads, and in fields, but that 
they have no names, and are of no use. In his 56th 
year he became the sacrifice of his curiosity and in- 
quiries into the nature of things, attempting to wit- 
ness an eruption of Vesuvius. 
Several Roman authors wrote on plants, but what 
they have left are merely transcripts from other 
authors. 
The writings of some Asiatic writers, as Galenus, 
Oribasius, Paulus Aegineta, and some other physi- 
clans excepted, nothing more ‘was written on the 
productions of the vegetable kingdom. And indeed 
* Teel vans lereixns, or De Materia medica, Lib. VI. It was 
first published by A. Manuce at Venice, 1499, in folio. Ano- 
ther edition was published with notes, by J. A. Saracenus, at 
Francfort, 1598, in folio. But we have been favoured by 
Van Swieten, at pa 1779, with a very elegant edition 
with plates. 
as evel 
