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ABERNETHY, JOHN, an eminent
writer on physiology. The birth and parentage of this gentleman were so
obscure, that it is impossible to say with certainty whether he was a
native of Ireland or of Scotland. It is even affirmed that he was himself
ignorant of the country of his birth. Upon the supposition that he was
born in Scotland, his name is introduced in the present work. The date of
his birth is given loosely as 1763-64. His parents having brought him in
his infancy to London, he commenced his education at a day-school in
Lothbury, where he acquired the elements of classical literature. Having
afterwards been bound apprentice to Mr Charles Blick, surgeon to St
Bartholomew's Hospital, he had the advantage of attending that noble
institution, where he eagerly seized every opportunity of making himself
practically acquainted with his profession. He also had the advantage of
attending the lectures of Mr John Hunter, at the time when that gentleman
was commencing the development of those great discoveries which have made
his name so famous. The curiosity which those discoveries excited in the
public at large, was felt in an uncommon degree by Mr Abernethy, whose
assiduity and ardour as a pupil attracted the notice of the lecturer, and
rendered the latter his friend for life.
While as yet a very young
practitioner, his reputation procured for Mr Abernethy the situation of
assistant-surgeon at St Bartholomew's, and he soon after commenced a
course of lectures in the hospital, which, though not very successful at
first, became in time the most frequented of any in London, so as to lay
the foundation of a medical school of the highest reputation in connection
with this institution. On the death of Sir Charles Blick, his former
master, Mr Abernethy, now considered as the best teacher of anatomy,
physiology, and surgery in the metropolis, was elected surgeon to the
hospital.
The first publications of
Mr Abernethy were a few Physiological Essays, and one on Lumbar Abscess,
which, with some additions, formed his first volume, published 1793-97, in
8vo, under the title of "Surgical and Physiological Essays."
These were characterized by the same strong sense, and plain and forcible
illustration, which marked everything that flowed from his tongue and pen
till the end of his life. In 1804 appeared another volume, entitled,
"Surgical Observations, containing a classification of tumours, with
cases to illustrate the history of each species; an account of
Diseases," &c.; and, in 1806, "Surgical Observations, Part
Second, containing an account of Disorders of the Health in general, and
of the digestive organs in particular, which accompany local diseases, and
obstruct their cure." The fame of these treatises soon spread, not
only throughout England, but over the continent of Europe; and the French
surgeons, especially, did homage to the masterly spirit they evinced. Bold
and successful operations, practical and lucid descriptions, original and
comprehensive views, all combined to enhance the great reputation of the
author, and to elevate the character of the national school of which he
was so bright an ornament.
In 1814, Mr Abernethy
received what might be considered as the highest honour which his
profession had to bestow, in being appointed anatomical lecturer to the
Royal College of Surgeons. An anecdote illustrative of his sound integrity
is told in reference to this era of his life. A fellow of the college
having remarked to him, that now they should have something new, Mr
Abernethy seriously asked him what he meant. "Why," said the
other, "of course you will brush up the lectures which you have been
so long delivering at St Bartholomew's Hospital, and let us have them in
an improved form." "Do you take me for a fool or a knave?"
rejoined Mr Abernethy, "I have always given the students at the
Hospital that to which they are entitled - the best produce of my mind. If
I could have made my lectures to them better, I would instantly have made
them so. I will give the College of Surgeons precisely the same lectures,
down to the smallest details." In the year of this honourable
appointment, he published, "An Inquiry into the Probability and
Rationality of Mr Hunters Theory of Life; being the subject of the two
first lectures delivered before the Royal College of Surgeons of
London." The aim of these lectures was to elucidate the doctrine
previously laid down by Mr Hunter, that "life, in general, is some
principle of activity added by the will of Omnipotence to organized
structure, an immaterial soul being superadded, in man, to the structure
and vitality which he possesses in common with other animals." Of
this work, it is generally allowed that the intentions are better than the
philosophy.
Previously to this period,
Mr Abernethy had published other treatises besides those already named.
One of the most remarkable was, "Surgical Observations on the
Constitutional Origin and Treatment of Local Diseases, and on Aneurism,"
8vo, 1809. His memorable cases of tying the iliac artery for aneurism are
detailed in this volume; cases which may almost be said to form an era in
adventurous surgical experiment. Mr Abernethy also wrote works on
"Diseases resembling Syphilis, and on Diseases of the Urethra;"
"On Injuries of the Head, and Miscellaneous Subjects;" and
another volume of Physiological Essays. He was likewise the author of the
anatomical and physiological articles in Rees's Cyclopedia, previous to
the article "Canal." Among his various accomplishments, must be
ranked a considerable acquaintance with chemistry; and one of his numerous
honours is the having, in company with Mr Howard, discovered fulminating
mercury.
Besides his business as a
lecturer, Mr Abernethy enjoyed a vast and lucrative practice as a surgeon.
His manner in both capacities was marked by many eccentricities,
but particularly in the latter. He could not endure the tedious and
confused narratives which patients are apt to lay before a consulting
surgeon, and, in checking these, was not apt to regard much the rules of
good-breeding. Considerable risks were thus encountered for the sake of
his advice; but this was generally so excellent, that those who required
it were seldom afraid to hazard the slight offence to their feelings with
which it was liable to be accompanied. Many anecdotes of Mr Abernethy's
rencounters with his patients are preserved in the profession. The two
following are given in Sir James Eyre's recent work, "The Stomach and
its Difficulties:" - "A very talkative lady, who had wearied the
temper of Mr Abernethy, which was at all times impatient of gabble, was
told by him, the first moment that he could get a chance of speaking, to
be good enough to put out her tongue. 'Now, pray, madam,' said he,
playfully, 'keep it out.' The hint was taken. He rarely met with
his match, but on one occasion he fairly owned that he had. He was sent
for to an innkeeper, who had had a quarrel with his wife, and who had
scored his face with her nails, so that the poor man was bleeding, and
much disfigured. Mr Abernethy considered this an opportunity not to be
lost for admonishing the offender, and said, 'Madam, are you not ashamed
of yourself to treat your husband thus; the husband, who is the head of
all, your head, madam, in fact?' ‘Well, doctor,' fiercely
retorted the virago, 'and may I not scratch my own head?' Upon this her
friendly adviser, after giving directions for the benefit of the patient,
turned upon his heel, and confessed himself beaten for once." But
abruptness and rudeness were not his only eccentricities. He carried
practical benevolence to a pitch as far from the common line as any of his
other peculiarities. Where poverty and disease prevented patients from
waiting upon him in his own house, he was frequently known, not only to
visit them constantly, and at inconvenient distances, without fee or
reward, but generously to supply them from his own purse with what their
wants required. Perhaps the most striking, out of the numerous anecdotes
which have been related of him, in illustration of his eccentricities, is
one descriptive of his courtship, or rather of his no-courtship.
"While attending a lady for several weeks, he observed those
admirable qualifications in her daughter, which he truly esteemed to be
calculated to make the marriage state happy. Accordingly, on a Saturday,
when taking leave of his patient, he addressed her to the following
purport: - 'You are now so well that I need not see you after Monday next,
when I shall come and pay you my farewell visit. But, in the meantime, I
wish you and your daughter seriously to consider the proposal I am now
about to make. It is abrupt and unceremonious, I am aware; but the
excessive occupation of my time, by my professional duties, affords me no
leisure to accomplish what I desire by the more ordinary course of
attention and solicitation. My annual receipts amount to £-, and I can
settle £- on my wife; my character is generally known to the public, so
that you may readily ascertain what it is. I have seen in your daughter a
tender and affectionate child, an assiduous and careful nurse, and a
gentle and ladylike member of a family; such a person must be all that a
husband could covet, and I offer my hand and fortune for her acceptance.
On Monday, when I call, I shall expect your determination; for I really
have not time for the routine of courtship.' In this humour the lady was
wooed and won, and the union proved fortunate in every respect. A happier
couple never existed."
After a life of great
activity, and which proved of much immediate and remote service to
mankind, the subject of this memoir expired, at Enfield, on the 20th
of April, 1831. |
