Cuvier and zoology. A popular biography, with an historical introduction and sequel / [Anon].

  • Cuvier, Georges, baron, 1769-1832.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cuvier and zoology. A popular biography, with an historical introduction and sequel / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    houses, which now shook from side to side with frequent and violent rockings, or to fly to the open fields where the calcined stones and cinders, though light indeed, yet fell in large showers and threatened destruction. In this distress they resolved for the fields, as the less dangerous situation of the two; and went out having pillows tied upon their heads with napkins, which was all their defence against the storms of stones which fell around them. It was now day everywhere else; but there a deeper darkness prevailed than in the most obscure night, which however was in some degree dis- sipated by torches and other lights of various kinds. They thought proper to go down further upon the shore, to observe if they might safely put out to sea; but they found the waves still running extremely high and bois- terous. Then Pliny taking a draught or two of water, threw himself down upon a cloth that was spread for him; when immediately the flames, and a strong smell of sulphur which was the forerunner of them, dispersed the rest of the company, and obliged him to arise. He raised himself with the assistance of two of his servants (for he was corpulent) and instantly fell down dead, suffocated, as it is supposed, by some noxious vapour; for he had always weak lungs, and was subject to a difficulty of breathing. As soon as it was light again, which was not till the third day after, his body was found entire and without any marks of violence upon it, exactly in the same posture that he fell, and looking more like a man asleep than dead. Such was the end of this great man, of whose vast performances, the Natural History still extant affords a good specimen. This work consists of thirty-seven books, the first of which is a table of contents of the other thirty-six. The second book treats of the world, the elements, the stars, the winds, &c.; the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth books contain a geographical account of the whole of the then known world; the seventh book treats of the generation and organization of man, the most remarkable characters that have ever lived, and the most useful inventions; the eighth, ninth, tenth, and