36 
LINNAEUS 
self to certain branches. Artedi loved chemistry and 
particularly alchemy, as much as Linnaeus loved 
plants. Artedi had some previous insight in botany, 
just as Linnaeus had in chemistry, but as each 
recognized that he could not outstrip the other, he 
neglected the other’s subjects. They both began at 
the same time on fishes and insects, but as Linnaeus 
could not outvie Artedi, he left the subject entirely, 
just as Artedi left insects alone; Artedi studied 
amphibia, and Linnaeus birds. There was between 
them a constant jealousy to keep secret what they 
discovered, but that gave way in about three days, 
before the temptation to boast to each other of their 
discoveries. 
The young searchers gained essential help in the 
University library, which Linnaeus soon found was 
excellent. Besides the array of books which they 
had at their disposition, there was a great botanic 
treasure preserved in the University, namely the 
learned Burser’s precious plant-book, which, in a 
hundred and thirty large folio volumes had been bound 
by Chancellor Cojet and presented to the library. 
Linnaeus did not neglect to solicit permission, nor 
had he to wait long, before he made use of so many 
books on botany, that he well-nigh surprised the staff 
of the library. 
An opportunity in another direction, in some 
measure completing what Uppsala University could 
deliver in instruction, divulged itself at this time and 
was embraced eagerly by Linnaeus. Partly to see 
Stockholm, and partly to attend some members of the 
medical college, he travelled on the 14th January, 1729, 
to Stockholm, and there gained intelligence, that at the 
end of the same month and beginning of the following 
month, there would be an anatomical demonstration 
on the body of a woman who had been hanged. This 
was an opportunity for inquisitive and curious persons, 
also an event of no small importance, and that the 
greatest possible use should be made of it, the 
