OF THE LIFE OF LINNAEUS, 
221 
secrets could be brought to light. Of all the le&ures Linnaus, 
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 
« collected more in it than I know any other to have done*”. The 
whole course of his + diaetetic 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 subjects, 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 trails were 
defended by his pupils whom he furnished with the materials. He also 
made himself equally conspicuous in what is properly called medicine. 
* In his mcae deticwe ; in his plura collegi quam, quod novi ullus alius. — Already in the 
year 1740, LinnjEus wrote thus to Haller : “Quid in diseteticis colhgo tandem videbis, 
“ in his per decern annos laboravi.” 
f Dr. Hkdin, first physician to the Court of Sweden expresses himself in his Treatise : 
Quid Linnjeo fatri debeat Medicina, Ups . 1784, in the following manner: — “Ilia lux: 
“ acies ingenii eluret, ut fidem omnino superet, Medicinam, quam artem semper conjeftura- 
u lem. statuunt ignorantes osores, sub— Linwjei— liianibus speciem physicse experimentalis 
<« induisse et assertis teque exploratis superstrufhim. Diffidendum tamen non est, opus hocce, 
“ licet omni et admiratione et attentione nostra diguissimum, sumrnis quibusdam medicis ali- 
“ quo jure videri et difficile omnino comprehensu et praxi forsitan minus adaptatum. Verum in 
“ rebus tantm indaginis raro sibi sufficit ingenium mediocre, nisi filum hoc Ariadneum per ob- 
t< S curos scientite maeandros ab ipso aui'tore iliuslrissimo sequi di see ref. Hinc e t, quod, 
“ qui censores agere voluerunt, uotam ignorantia: su.-c prodiderint, quum, quae proposita 
“ fuerint, se v x intellexisse coafti sint ; quod ipsi contgit Domino Vic D’An R, Corticate 
« vi ta ie (Claws Medic p. 5 ) P« r cutem reddenti. Cui quam absona sit idea vltalis cor- 
“ ticalis, nullum vel ieviter in re medica versatum, fugere potest ; unde nec mirum, si de 
utilitate hujus operis seque absona sit condusio.” 
This 
