|
BARCLAY, JOHN, M.D., an
eminent lecturer on anatomy, was the nephew of John Barclay, the Berean,
after whom he was named. He was born in 1759, or 1760, at Cairn, near to
Drummaquhance, in Perthshire. His father was a respectable farmer in that
part of the country, and was characterized by great natural shrewdness and
vivacity. His son, John, was educated at the parish school of Muthill, and
early distinguished himself by his superior powers of mind, and by his
application. Being destined for the church, he, in 1776, repaired to the
university of St Andrews, where he became a successful candidate for a
bursary. He made great proficiency in the Greek language, then taught by
the late principal George Hill, and also discovered a partiality for the
study of mathematics, although he does not appear to have prosecuted this
important branch of science. After having attended the usual preliminary
classes at the united college of St Salvador and St Leonard, Barclay
studied divinity at St Mary’s, attaching himself to the moderate party
in the church. He studied divinity at St Andrews, under the professor, Dr
Spence, for two or three sessions, but having engaged to teach a school,
he found it more convenient to deliver the prescribed exercises before the
professor in Edinburgh. On one of these occasions there took place a very
singular occurrence, which the Doctor himself used to relate. Having come
to Edinburgh for the express purpose of delivering a discourse in the
hall, he waited upon his uncle, who was an excellent scholar. It was what
is called "An Exercise and Addition," or a discourse, in which
the words of the original are criticized – the doctrines they contain
illustrated – and it is concluded by a brief paraphrase. He proposed to
read it to his uncle before he delivered it – and when he was in the act
of doing so, his respected relative objected to a criticism which he had
introduced, and endeavoured to show that it was contrary to several
passages in the writings of the apostle Paul. The doctor had prepared the
exercise with great care, and had quoted the authority of Xenophon in
regard to the meaning of the word. The old man got into a violent passion
at his nephew’s obstinacy, and seizing a huge folio that lay on the
table, hurled it at the recusant’s head, which it fortunately missed.
Barclay, who really had a great esteem for his uncle, related the anecdote
to a clergyman a few days after it happened, and laughed very heartily at
it. Barclay wrote about this time, "A History of all Religions,"
but of this no trace was to be found among his manuscripts. Having
delivered with approbation his trial discourse, he obtained license from
the Presbytery of Dunkeld. Meanwhile he acted as tutor to the two sons of
Sir James Campbell, of Aberuchill, whose daughter, Eleonora, in 1811,
became his wife. In 1789 he accompanied his pupils to Edinburgh, where he
preached occasionally for his friends. The medical school of Edinburgh
then at the height of its reputation. Cullen’s brilliant career was
drawing to a close, and he was succeeded by the celebrated Dr Gregory. Dr
Black and the second Monro still shed luster on their respective
departments. Barclay was principally attracted to the anatomical class by
the luminous prelections of Dr Monro, and appears to have thenceforward
devoted himself to a complete course of medical study. In 1796 he took the
degree of M.D., choosing as the subject of his thesis, De Anima, seu
Principo Vitali, the vital principle having long been with him a
favourite topic of speculation. After graduation, Dr Barclay proceeded to
London, and attended the anatomical lectures of Dr Marshall, of Thavies
Inn. In 1797 he commenced to deliver private lectures on anatomy in a
small class room in the High School-yards, Edinburgh, but had to contend
with formidable difficulties; the popularity of the second Monro, and of
the late John Bell, being still undiminished amongst the students. Dr
Barclay, therefore, had few students at first; but he resolved to
persevere. The introductory lectures (which, after his death, were
published by his friend, Sir George Ballingall, M.D.) were prepared with
scrupulous care. He studied to express himself in plain and perspicuous
language, which he justly esteemed to be the chief quality of style in
lecturing. His illustrations were clear and copious, and not unfrequently
an apposite anecdote fixed more strongly in the memories of his pupils the
particular part he was demonstrating; and, at a time when it was by no
means fashionable, be never omitted to point out the wisdom of God, as
displayed in that most wonderful of all his works, the formation and
support of the human body.
Barclay’s first literary
performance was the article Physiology, in the third edition of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica. In 1803 he published a new anatomical nomenclature. This
had been long the subject of his meditation, and was a great desideratum
in anatomy. The vagueness or indefinite nature of the terms of anatomy has
been perceived and regretted by all anatomists. They have produced much
ambiguity and confusion in anatomical descriptions, and their influence
has been strongly felt, particularly by those who have just entered upon
the study. Barclay was the first who, fully aware of the obstacles that
were thus thrown in the way of students, set about inventing a new
nomenclature. The vagueness of the terms principally referred to those
implying position, aspect, and direction. Thus, what is superior in one
position of the body, becomes anterior in another, posterior in a third,
and even inferior in a fourth. What is external in one position is
internal in another, etc. These terms become much more ambiguous in
comparative anatomy. His object was to contrive a nomenclature, in which
the same terms should universally apply to the same organ, in all
positions of the body, and in all animals. It is the opinion of very
candid judges that he has succeeded in his endeavour, and that, were his
nomenclature adopted, the greatest advantages would accrue to the study of
the science. The proposal is delivered with singular modesty, and
discovers both a most accurate knowledge of anatomy and great ingenuity.
In 1808, appeared his work
on the muscular motions of the human body, and, in 1812, a description of
the arteries of the human body—both of which contain a most complete
account of those parts of the system. These three works were dedicated to
the late Dr Thomas Thomson, Professor of Chemistry in the University of
Glasgow. The last work which Dr Barclay lived to publish, was an inquiry
into the opinions, ancient and modern, concerning life and organization.
This, as we have mentioned, formed the subject of his thesis.
He also delivered, during
several summers, a course of lectures on comparative anatomy, a branch of
study for which he had always shown a marked partiality, not only as an
object of scientific research, but as of great practical utility. At one
time he proposed to the town council, the patrons of the university of
Edinburgh, to be created professor of that department of the science; how
the proposal was received is not known. The writer of the memoir of Dr
Barclay, in the Naturalist’s Library, furnishes a characteristic
illustration of the lively interest he felt in the dissections of uncommon
animals which came in his way in the Scottish metropolis. "At one of
these we happened to be present. It was the dissection of a Beluga, or
White Whale. Never shall we forget the enthusiasm of the Doctor wading to
his knees amongst the viscera of the great tenant of the deep, alternately
cutting away, with his large and dexterous knife, and regaling his
nostrils with copious infusions of snuff, while he pointed out, in his
usual felicitous manner, the various contrasts or agreements of the forms
of the viscera with those of other animals and of man." Barclay was
the means of establishing, under the auspices of the Highland Society, a
veterinary school in Edinburgh. He might be called an enthusiast in his
profession: there was no branch of anatomy, whether practical or
theoretical, that he had not cultivated with the utmost care; he had
studied the works of the ancient and modern, foreign and British
anatomists with astonishing diligence. Whatever related to natural science
was certain of interesting him. The benevolence and generosity of his
temper were also unbounded. No teacher was ever more generally beloved by
his pupils than Dr Barclay, to which his uniform kindness and affability,
and readiness to promote their interest upon every occasion, greatly
contributed. Many young men in straitened circumstances, were permitted to
attend his instructions gratuitously; and he has even been known to
furnish them with the means of feeing other lecturers.
It is a curious
circumstance, that Dr Barclay often declared that he had neither the sense
of taste nor of smell.
His last appearance in the
lecture-room was in 1825, when he delivered the introductory lecture. He
died 21st August, 1826, and was buried at Restalrig, near Edinburgh, the
family burying-ground of his father-in-law, Sir James Campbell. His
funeral was attended by the Royal College of Surgeons as a body.
A bust of Dr Barclay,
subscribed for by his pupils, and executed by Joseph, was presented to the
College of Surgeons, to which he bequeathed his museum—a valuable
collection of specimens, particularly in comparative anatomy, and which is
to retain his name. His design in this legacy was to prevent it from being
broken up and scattered after his death.
|
