MEMOIR OF SWAMMERDAM. 
53 
be said to have originated with Swammerdam. His 
intimate acquaintance with human anatomy, which 
had made considerable progress before his time, 
prepared him to enter upon the enquiry in the most 
intelligent manner ; and the sagacity, penetration 
and zeal with which he pursued it, are not a little 
remarkable. In the latter quality especially, he 
scarcely ever had an equal: no difficulties could 
deter, no disappointment discourage, and scarcely 
any degree of labour exhaust him. His enquiries 
were frequently carried on for a length of time 
together, with little interruption, both by night and 
day, without allowing himself the requisite time 
either for taking food or natural rest. When the 
subject occupied his mind, it did so almost to the 
entire exclusion of every thing else. His profession 
was neglected, his father’s displeasure disregarded, 
his health sacrificed. This exclusive engrossment 
was certainly in him in some degree of a morbid 
nature. His constitution and temperament strongly 
predisposed him to that kind of enthusiasm which 
is allied to a species of mania. By sedentary habits, 
and the prevention of that wholesome play of the 
faculties produced by an alternation of pursuits, 
he aggravated the disorders to which he was na- 
turally liable, and brought on a state of dejection 
and hypochondriasis, which cast a shade over a 
large portion of his life. To this cause, also, ought 
to be ascribed, in no small degree, the mistaken 
views ho adopted regarding religious duty ; his no- 
tion that it was incompatible with the ordinary 
