INDEX.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE.

Retrospect 1

Progress of Discovery—Missions of individuals—Galileo, Bacon, Kepler 2

Berzelius, Davy, &c.—Combined effect 3

Difficulty of estimating individual efforts—Physiological laws 4

Meaning of events seldom seen at the time 5

Propose to point out the position occupied by Abernethy ib.

Necessity of clearly seeing what is required 6

Medical science—False ideas on 7

Birth of Abernethy 8

Goes to School 9

CHAP. II.

Predictions often erroneous—Dryden, Swift, Sheridan, Niebuhr, Galileo, Newton, Wren 11

Individuality of Abernethy 12

Schoolfellows of Abernethy 13

School reminiscences 14

Mr. Thacker's letter 15

Leaves school for London 16

CHAP. III.

Of the choice of a profession 17

Of steadiness and industry 18

Abernethy's ready memory 19

Becomes a pupil in surgery 20

Apprenticed to Sir C. Blicke 22

Early indications 23

CHAP. IV.

Sir W. Blizard—His influence 25

Abernethy's view of anatomy 26

His gratitude to Sir William 27

How expressed—Quotation 28

Demonstrates for Sir W. Blizard 28

Mode of teaching anatomy described—Mr. Pott 30

CHAP. V.

A large London hospital 21

Elected Assistant Surgeon—Important epoch in his life 33

His position—Lectures in St. Bartholomew Close 34

Dr. Maclaurin, Dr. Marshall, Mr. Pott ib.

His education as a lecturer 35

Of teaching too early ib.

Its disadvantages—His lectures soon attractive—His arrangement 36

Impresses the importance of comparative anatomy 37

His labours—Zeal and industry—Early rising 38

Shyness of Abernethy 39

Theatre built in the hospital—His winter courses given in it, 1791—Thus the founder of the school in St. Bartholomew's ib.

CHAP. VI.

Of change in all created things 41

Experiments 42

Grows vegetables in distilled water—Boyle, Fordyce—Tadpoles, observations on 43

Experiments on eggs, curious 44

On the ultimate particles of matter 44

Dissection of a whale 46

Of the absorbent vessels 47

Of glands or kernels 48

Curious cases 49

Combination of natural laws 50

Dissection—How formerly supplied 51

Curious position of heart and liver 52

Of the public aversion to the inspection of the dead 53

CHAP. VII.

Of painless diseases 56

Of insidious maladies ib.

Of his essay on lumbar abscess, &c.—Of his plan 57

How misunderstood 58

Misinterpreted by Sir A. Cooper 59

Real objects of his plan 60

Suggested by an accident ib.

CHAP. VIII.

His paper on the skin and lungs 61

Of the progress of chemistry 62

Objects of his inquiry 64

Of the uses of the lungs 65

Consequences, if mistaken ib.

Of the coverings of animals 66

Of the clothing of birds 67

Of breathing by the skin 68

Leaves, the lungs of vegetables ib.

Great importance of the skin ib.

Sanctorius, Cruikshank, Edwards ib.

Experiments of Abernethy 69

—— in quicksilver, in water 70

Carbonic acid—How formed 71

Errors on this point ib.

Experiments on his own lungs 73

Immense surface of the skin 74

Importance of relations of lungs and other organs 75

His remarks on consumption 76

Investigation required—What? 77

CHAP. IX.

Tic douloureux—What? 78

His remarks on ib.

Use of the nerves 79

Case 80

Of his paper on the consequences of bleeding 82

Comparative infrequency of 83

Abernethy's rising reputation 85

Moves to St. Mildred's Court ib.

Publishes first part of "Physiological Essays" ib.

CHAP. X.

Of his paper on injuries of the head 86

His powers of analysis ib.

Pierre Joseph Desault 87

Of Bichat's eulogium on Desault ib.

Parallel of Desault and Abernethy 88

Their solution of a difficulty 89

Abernethy's improvement 91

CHAP. XI.

His experiments on muscles, &c. 93

Of their contraction after death ib.

Of Galvanism—Its importance in aid of discovery 94

Of Fontana—His experiments ib.

Experiments of Abernethy 95

Of the respiration of fish 97

Of the temperature of animals ib.

CHAP. XII.

Expts. on animals, involving cruelty, questioned 99

Claims of physiology 100–1

Orfila, Charles Bell 101

Cruel experiments useless ib.

Spalanzani 100–3

Cruelty as opposed to the interests of science as to moral feeling 104–5

CHAP. XIII.

Abernethy on tumours 106

Simplicity of his plan 107

Importance of names—His arrangement—Defects of plan 108–9

Popular illustration 110

Analogies in vegetables 111

His paper on certain curious results of wounds in the lungs 112

His paper on mothers' marks, or nævi 114

Hunter's celebrated operation—First extension of it by Abernethy 115–6

His paper on the Heart 116

His increasing reputation—Removes to Bedford Row 117

CHAP. XIV.

His marriage 118

False reports concerning 119

His difficulty 121

His letter 122

Marriage at Edmonton 123

Lectures the same day 125

CHAP. XV.

His book on the Constitutional Origin of Local Diseases, otherwise called "My Book" 126

Slow progress of truth 127

Importance of simple facts 128

Mr. Hunter 129

Sir C. Bell—Physiology a science of observation ib.

Popular illustrations 130

Remarks on John Hunter's audience 131

Mr. Cline—His remarks on J. Hunter ib.

A great Evil 132

Mr. Boodle ib.

Important inferences and cautions—Lord Bacon 133

Names of diseases—Their importance 134

Defective nomenclature—Result of partial views which it tends to perpetuate 135

Misconceptions of his views 136–7

Popular illustrations 137–8

Subtle nature of odours 140

Vigilance of the stomach 140–1

Abernethy's illustrations of his views 141

CHAP. XVI.

Influence of digestive organs 146

Of specific poisons 147

A suggestive case 148

Mr. Boodle—Recapitulatory—Causes of failure examined 150–3

How nature deals with injurious influences 154–7

Impressions produced by "My Book"—Abernethy's increasing practice—Sir James Earle—Anecdote—Retrospect 159–63

CHAP. XVII.

Abernethy's position—His high reputation 164-

Pupils present plate—Subscribe for his portrait 167–8

Offered a Baronetcy, which he declines 169

Note from Sir B. C. Brodie 170

Anecdote—Painful impressions in prospect 171

CHAP. XVIII.

Lincoln's-Inn Fields 173

Hunterian Museum 174

Mr. Clift 175

Abernethy lectures at the College 176

His faithful representation of Hunter—His additional illustrations—Illustrations not opinions 173–80

CHAP. XIX.

Effects of anatomy 181

Bacon, Pope, Addison 182

Abernethy—Lawrence ib.

Mr. Lawrence's exordium 183

Its comprehensive fidelity ib.

Mr. Lawrence's first lectures 184

Mr. Abernethy in relation to the opinions advocated 185

Personal application by Lawrence of Abernethy's observations 186

Others engage in the discussion 187

CHAP. XX.

Review of the controversy 188

Difficulty of Abernethy's position 189

Discussion of the pupils ib.

Difficulty of Abernethy's position 190

Of "tendency" as an argument 191

Abernethy's moderation ib.

Of the poverty of language 192

Of the conduct of the College ib.

Of imputed scepticism 193

Alleged neglect of the Sabbath 194

Conduct of the College 195

Apathy of the College ib.

Abernethy's moderation 196

CHAP. XXI.

Abernethy's style of lecturing 167

Extracts from lectures 197–216

CHAP. XXII.

Abernethy as a teacher 217

Communication of ideas 218

Of simplicity ib.

Of unnecessary technicalities 219

Some lecturers very technical ib.

An example 220

A sentence from Abernethy ib.

Of tricks—Good breeding 221

Vulgarity—Abernethy's freedom from ib.

Of quantity—Expression 222

Of Metaphorical language—Mode of impressing facts—Anecdote of Dr. T. Rees—Of his stories 222–4

His dramatic power—Anecdote—Of the pathetic—Anecdote—Tone of voice never declamatory 225–7

Inconveniences of declamation—Of sympathy with the student—Of order—Favourite passages—His liveliness 228–9

His successful manner—In referring to adaptation 230–1

Inconvenience of marvellousness 232

Of the passions or feelings—Of illustrations addressed to the external senses 233

CHAP. XXIII.

Abernethy's humour—Anecdote—His self-possession—Of his excellent moral tone 234–7

Salutary impressions—Gentleness—Its importance—An important improvement—General effects of his lectures—His negative excellences very great 238–9

CHAP. XXIV.

Of immoralities of trades and professions, &c. 240

Of habit and fashion—Of conventional morality—Influence of fashion—Honesty the best policy—Of public credulity—Of legal practice 241–3

Mischief of conventional morality, Examples of—Illustrations of conduct—Decisions of doubtful operations—Moral influence of Abernethy 244–6

CHAP. XXV.

Of consultation 247

Of differences of opinion 249

Consultation—Examples of 250–2

CHAP. XXVI.

Abernethy in consultation 253

Anecdote 260

Abernethy's extension of John Hunter's operation for Aneurism 262

Abernethy in consultation 263–4

CHAP. XXVII.

Of manner 266

Of Abernethy's manner—His roughness and benevolence 268–9

Anecdotes 270–4

His liberality 275

His humanity 276

Anecdote 277

Of operative dexterity ib.

Of operating ib.

A hoax 278

Of anecdotes generally ib.

His manner considered 279

Self-government 280

Of publishing lectures 281

Extract from a letter 282

SECTION.

Appointed Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's in 1815 282

Ageing at fifty 283

CHAP. XXVIII.

The hospital system 284–7

Of operations—Of chloroform 289

John Hunter on operations 290

Hospital system resumed 221

Of apprentice qualification 292

Of imperfect records of cases 293

Of division of labour 294

Hospital system a failure—Its Various evils 295

CHAP. XXIX.

Hospital system continued 296

Abernethy and The System 296

Professor Owen—Cuvier 297–300

Discussions at the hospital 301–4

Sir A. Cooper in illustration of The System 305

Sir Charles Bell—Abernethy's disinterestedness 307

Failure and unsatisfactory result of the Hospital System—Concluding remarks 308–10

CHAP. XXX.

Influence of research in science—Its first impulses—Its higher aspirations—Its Religion 311–12

The idea of some that scientific men have a tendency to scepticism in Religion opposed to evidences of experience 313

Of the analogies of Religion and Science 314

No more avowed believers in religious truth than scientific men—Boyle, Bacon, Kepler, Newton, Locke—Many, too, of the medical profession, as Locke, Böerhaave, Linnæus, Sloane, Haller, &c. 315

Divines, on the other hand, recognize the importance of the study of the laws of nature—Cudworth, Butler, Sturm, Derham, Paley, Crombie, &c. ib.

Of Paschal, St. Pierre, Gilpin, White 316

Extracts from MSS. &c. 317

CHAP. XXXI.

Obligations to Abernethy 327–8

John Hunter 329

Hunter and Abernethy 330–1

Obligations to Abernethy 332–9

CHAP. XXXII.

Of evils and their correction 340–1

Signs of public distrust 342

Thoughts of the public 343

Homœopathy—Hydropathy 344–52

Lord Bacon—Of perceptions 353

Hopes and predictions 354

CHAP. XXXIII.

His favourite mare—House at Enfield 355–6

Wounded in dissection—His irritable Heart 357

Anecdote 358

Receives thanks of the Council—His reply 359

Letter to Sir W. Blizard 360

Of illness in medical men 361

Resigns the hospital 362

His resignation 363

Letter to Mr. Belfour 364

Memorial addressed to him 365

An interview 366

His death—Tablet to his memory 367–8

CHAP. XXXIV.

Of his character 369–70

Impressions of his character 372

Too many Gnathos 373

Abernethy's dislike of this kind of assentation ib.

Anecdote 374

Kindness to hospital patients 375

His benevolence 376

Letters, how far to be relied on as expositions of character—To Mr. Kingdon, to Mrs. Warburton, to Mrs. Abernethy 376–82

His pleasures at home with the children 383

Battledore and shuttlecock—Theatricals—Magic lantern—At Enfield—Gardening, &c. 384

Impressions of his character 385–9

Conclusion 389

FINIS

PRINTED BY J. MALLETT, WARDOUR STREET, LONDON.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

MEDICINE AND SURGERY ONE INDUCTIVE SCIENCE:

Being an attempt to improve its Study and Practice on a plan in closer alliance with Inductive Philosophy, and offering, as first fruits, the "Law of Inflammation."

In this Treatise, the Author claims to have developed the Law regulating, in a general sense, the sites occupied by diseased actions, as the highest generalization yet reached in Pathological Science.

[Highley.

AN ANALYSIS OF FEVER; IN LECTURES, In which it is endeavoured to show, by strictly logical and inductive processes, in what Fever really exists. Published hitherto only in the American "Transylvanian Journal," and the London "Medical Times."

SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT DISEASES OF THE MUCOUS CANALS OF THE BODY.

8vo.[Longman & Co.

ON THE APPLICATION OF TRACHEOTOMY, AS APPLIED TO THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LARYNGITIS.

[Longman & Co.

ON THE MODE OF DISTINGUISHING HERNIAL AND OTHER TUMOURS, OCCURRING IN THE INGUINAL REGION OF THE BODY.

[Longman & Co.

ON TUMOURS IN GENERAL; THEIR NATURE, THE MODE OF INVESTIGATING IT, AND THE TREATMENT.

[Churchill.

ON THE UNITY OF THE BODY;

As illustrated by some of the more striking phenomena of Sympathy, both Mental and Corporeal; with a view of enlarging the grounds, and improving the application of the "Constitutional Treatment" of Local Diseases.

[Longman & Co.

CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE VARIOUS FORMS OF PORRIGO,

Commonly known by the names of Tenea, Scald Head, Ringworm, &c. enforcing a more scientific and successful treatment for these usually obstinate affections.

ON THE INUTILITY OF CRUEL EXPERIMENTS ON LIVING ANIMALS, IN THE PROSECUTION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCHES.

[Hatchard & Co.