ATTACKED BY AGURE. 129

aniversity. Here he highly distinguished himself
by his skill in anatomy, and the anxiety he dis-
played in the acquisition of every kind of know-
ledge relating to the physical sciences. He after-
wards visited Paris, with a view to prosecute hig
studies there, and formed some valuable friendships
with men of kindred taste for science. Returning
to Leyden, he took the degree of M.D. in 1667 .
and published his “ Thesis on Respiration.” At
this time he began to practise his invention for
injecting the arterial vessels with wax, variously
coloured; a method from which anatomy has de-
rived very important advantages. While thus most
diligently occupied, he was attacked with a quartan
ague, Which reduced him very low, and compelled
him to discontinue for a time all his engagements.
On his recovery he entirely relinquished the study
of the human anatomy, and devoted himself wholly
to the dissection of insects, in which he was singu-
larly dexterous. An opportunity now presented
itself, affording him the option of an advantageous
settlement. It is thus related by his biographer:
“In the year 1668 the Grand Duke of Tuscany,
being then in Holland with M. Thevénot in order
to see the curiosities of the country, came to view
those of Swammerdam, and surveyed them with
the greatest delight. On this occasion our natu-

ralist made some anatomical dissections of insects
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