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JOHANN DAVID SCHOPF.

By EDWARD KREMERS, for this Lloyd Library Bulletin.

The author of the "Materia Medica," reproduced in this number of the" Bulletin of the Lloyd Library," was born March 8, 1752, in Wunsiedel, a smalltown in Bavaria, but then belonging to the independent margraviate Baireuth,the same village which eleven years later became the birthplace of one of Ger-many's great men of letters, Jean Paul Richter. His early education he receivedin Wunsiedel and in the gymnasium at Hof. At the age of eighteen he matricu-lated in the University at Erlangen, which had been founded by the MargraveCarl Friedrich Wilhelm of Ansbach in 1743. In addition to medical studies hepursued the natural sciences, more particularly botany, zoology, and mineralogy.Johann Christian Daniel Schreber, known as the second Einneus, who was Pro-fessor of Medicine and Director of the Botanical Garden, was his teacher. Afterthe completion of the triennium he was given the doctor's degree, in 1773, thetitle of his dissertation being: "De medicamentorum mutatione in corporehumano praecipue a fiuidis."

He was not content, however, to settle down to the practice of medicine,but continued his studies at the University at Berlin. Among other studies, heattended a course of lectures on forestry. In order to Supplement his universitystudies, he undertook, in 1774, a lengthy tour through the "Erzgebirge," Bo-hemia, to Prague, Vienna, Idria, Triest, Venice, and Padua. At all times andplaces he endeavored to increase his knowledge of medicine and the naturalsciences, and to make the acquaintance of scientific men. The return voyagewas made through Switzerland. At the age of twenty-five he settled down atAnsbach, but his heart's desire was to see still more of the world, and we findhim planning a trip to India, when an event occurred that caused him to changehis plans, and, fortunately for our early American materia medica, directed hisSteps to the new world.

The Declaration of Independence Struck no responsive cord in the hearts ofsome of the rulers of the petty principalities of that geographic conception thenknown as Germany. Some of these, "fathers" of their countries sold theirsubjects to England to be sent to this country for the purpose of subjectingthe rebellious colonists. On this side of the Atlantic they are commonly knownas the Hessians. Of the 30,000 mercenaries thus sold, Christian Friedrich CarlAlexander, Margrave of Ansbach, who was sorely in debt, contracted to supply1,285 men. This was early in 1777, at the time Schöpf was planning his tripto India.

These soulless transactions were not only denounced by the people of Ger-many, but were made a stench in the nostrils of the guilty petty princess by the