university of Halle, vacant by the death of the celebrated Wolf. The King of Sweden sent him the order of the Polar Star:-in fact, all the sovereigns and learned societies vied with each other in evincing their regard for the great physiologist.

Haller's health had been declining for some time; and when he perceived the approach of death, he confided firmly in that God whom he had faithfully served, and prepared himself to render to him an account of a life which had been spent in the study of nature, and in doing good to his fellow-creatures.

Haller desired his friend and physician, M. Rosselet, not to conceal from him his true situation; and this gentleman ventured to tell him, that the autumn of 1777 would probably be the period of his existence. Haller exhibited no signs of fear at the information, continued his usual modes of life, and in his last moments employed himself in marking the decay of his organs. He felt his pulse from time to time: "My friend," said he to M. Rosselet, with great tranquillity, "the artery no longer beats," (placing his finger on the pulse ;) and immediately expired. This melancholy event took place at the age of 69, on the 12th of December, 1777.

Few learned men have been born with so active a disposition, and few have lost so little time as Haller. His life was spent in his library, surrounded by his pupils, by his friends, by his fellow-citizens, his children, and his wife, whom he had inspired with a taste for the sciences, and who all were employed, under his inspection, either in making extracts from

books, or obtaining plants and animals. Such was his activity, that once when he had broken his right arm, the surgeon, when visiting him the next morning, was surprised to find him writing, with sufficient facility, with his left hand. In fact, the whole of his life was, in the strictest sense, one continued sacrifice of his pleasure and health to his love of science.

Haller's library consisted of 13,512 volumes, on anatomy, surgery, practice of physic, botany, and natural history; and about 150 manuscripts, mostly written in his own hand. These were offered to a London bookseller, a number of whom agreed to unite in treating for them; but before they had taken any farther measures, the whole were purchased by the Emperor of Germany.

CHAPTER V.

ILLUSTRATIONS AND SKETCHES OF MEDICAL

QUACKERY.

An apt illustration-Madame de Sevigné's definition of Quackery -The love of the mysterious-A decoction of flint stonesAttested cures- -Opinion of Sterne-Mr. Pott-Faith in the Physician-The vulnary powder-Anecdotes of the famous mountebank Dr. Bossy-Ignorance and impudence of bonesetters-Mrs. Mapp-Homœopathy-The Parisian QuackMantaccini-Count Cagliostro-The college prosecution of Brodum-Suggestions for the prevention of Quackery.

"IF physic be a trade," it is observed, (the speculation is put hypothetically,) "it is the trade of all others, the most exactly cut out for a rogue." There is the absence of all restraint; and the only security for the doctor's ability and fair dealing, is often what is wafted to the public in the gossip-tale of some retainer in his interest.

A transaction which a person had with his watchmaker affords an apt illustration of the principles of charlatanism. His watch having stopped, he took it

to a mechanic in order to ascertain the nature of the defect, and to have it rectified. The watchmaker armed his eyes with a microscope, and, after exhausting his customer's patience, for a considerable time being, as he thought, very sapiently occupied in examining the machinery to discover the disorder, observed that he could do no good to the watch without taking it all to pieces. It was carried to another, who, a good deal to the surprise of the owner, discovered, and honestly told him, that he had only forgotten to wind it up!

It is almost miraculous what a little learning can effect in setting off the attractions of that art (quackery), which Madame de Sevigné so comprehensively defines in one sentence, as an affair of " pompeux galamatias, specieux babil, des mots pour des raisons, et des promesses pour des effets."

The late Dr. Parr, of Exeter, defined the word, quack, to be applicable to every practitioner, who, by pompous pretences, mean insinuations, and indirect promises, endeavours to obtain that confidence, to which neither education, merit, nor experience entitle him.

There has always existed, in the human mind, an innate love of the mysterious; and mankind have, ever since the creation of the world, delighted in deception, thinking with the poet, that,

"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

A visit to a quack produces a pleasurable excite

ment. There is something piquant in the disdain for prudence with which we deliver ourselves up to that illegitimate sportsman of human lives, who kills us without a qualification. There is a delicious titillation in a large demand upon our credulity; we like to expect miracles in our own proper person, and we go to the illiterate practitioner of medicine, for the same reasons which induced our poor ancestors to go to wizards.

How true it is that

"First man creates, and then he fears the elf;
Thus others cheat him not, but he himself;
He loathes the substance, and he loves the show;
You'll ne'er convince a fool, himself is so;
He hates realities, and hugs the cheat,

And still the only pleasure's the deceit."

Walpole says that acute and sensible people are often the most easily deceived by quacks. A deceit, of which it may be said-" It is impossible for any one to dare it," always succeeds.

If the imposture required any ingenuity to detect it there might be some hope for mankind; but it actually lies concealed in its very obviousness. At the same time it must be owned, that, in some cases, no little degree of firmness is required to resist the importunity with which a nostrum is recommended. seriously declare," says Sir A. B. Faulkner," that I

* Visit to Paris.

"I