MEMOIR OF BARON HALLER. 
19 
an opportunity of exercising his self-control, and 
manifesting his good sense and feeling. The house 
in ■which he resided haring taken fire, he had 
scarcely time to make his escape, snatching along 
with him a few of those articles he esteemed the 
most precious. Among these were his poetical 
effusions ; which taking occasion to examine, and 
finding that many of them were devoted to bitter 
criticism and sarcasm, he determined to commit 
them to the flames, and had the decision to execute 
his purpose. He reserved only such poems as have 
transmitted his character -with credit to posterity. 
It was now time that Haller should make choice 
of a profession ; hut he found the more difficulty in 
this, as his extensive acquirements, and the versatility 
of his powers, fitted him nearly alike for any. He 
had, however, some natural bias towards medicine, 
and a professional and respected friend having en- 
couraged and cherished this predilection, he, at 
length, in 1723, came to the decision to resort to 
Tubingen for the prosecution of his studies. Here 
he was initiated into the first elements of the art by 
Camerarius and Duvemoi, then celebrated teachers 
in that city ; directing, at the same time, a consider- 
able share of his attention to comparative anatomy. 
During liis stay at Tubingen, Haller took part in 
an adventure, which, though trifling in itself, yet 
as having established an epoque in his life, merits 
notice in this place. He formed one of a some- 
what numerous meeting of his young associates, 
where, after the bottle had circulated somewhat too 
