LIFE ABROAD 
143 
declares that if an interested reader should gain profit 
from this little work, he had exclusively to thank 
Gronovius and Lawson; and these thereby not only 
laid the foundation of Linnaeus’s world-wide repu¬ 
tation, but secured for themselves the warm gratitude 
of all naturalists. 
A still more eminent and influential helper was 
gained by Linnaeus. This was no other than the 
venerable old man, Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738), 
regarded in the whole of Europe as the chief medical 
oracle of the time, “ Hippocrates redivivus.” The 
position which he had filled with so great renown in 
medicine, botany and chemistry, he had, it is true, 
relinquished in 1729, but he still continued (till a 
short time before his death) to impart medical instruc¬ 
tion, for which advantage pupils came from all 
countries to Leyden. Also for botany, in which 
science he had engaged as author, he retained a warm 
interest, and great was his pleasure when once a week 
he betook himself to his country seat outside Leyden, 
and there, free from other vexations, he could refresh 
his mind in working in his “ arboretum ” or park, 
where grew every kind of tree that could bear the 
climate. 
Clearly Linnaeus would not willingly have left 
Holland before meeting with this great man of 
science. His immense reputation as practising phy¬ 
sician caused him to be overwhelmed by patients 
seeking advice; his abundant wealth made it possible 
for him to confine the number of his visitors within 
measurable limits, without regard to their condition 
or means, and even these were admitted in turn, a 
measure which his age and decreasing strength de¬ 
manded. Unfortunately it was generally reported 
that his servant for his own profit only admitted those 
who could or would employ jingling methods of 
persuasion. 
Conscious of his own weakness in this respect, 
Linnaeus despaired of getting his wish fulfilled, but 
