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BURNS, JOHN, M.D.,
a distinguished medical writer, and elder brother of Allan, the subject
of the preceding notice, was born in Glasgow, in 1774. He was descended
from a family of the name of Burn; his grandfather, John Burn,
was a teacher of English in Glasgow, and the author of an "English
Grammar," bearing his name, a work highly popular as a school-book in
the west of Scotland about a century ago. His father was the Rev. John
Burns, D.D., who, as has been already mentioned, was minister for
upwards of sixty-nine years, of the Barony Parish of Glasgow, and who
died in 1839. John, who was the eldest surviving son of Dr. Burns, was
born in 1775. He began his professional studies in Glasgow, and
continued them in Edinburgh. He had just completed his studies when the
Glasgow Royal Infirmary, in which he was the first surgeon’s-clerk, was
opened for the reception of patients in 1792. His favourite department
of medical science was surgical anatomy, in which he made remarkable
progress. He soon began to give instructions to others, and was the
first private teacher of anatomy in Glasgow. His lecture-room was
originally at the head of Virginia Street, at the north-west corner,
behind the present Union Bank. At that period, and for thirty years
afterwards, subjects for dissection could only be obtained by violating
the repose of the dead; a practice most demoralizing to those
immediately engaged in it, and not unfrequently productive of unpleasant
consequences to lecturers and students. An affair of this nature having
transpired in connection with the lecture-room of Mr. Burns, proceedings
were instituted against him by the authorities, but were quashed on his
coming under a promise to discontinue his lectures on anatomy. His
younger brother Allan, however, took up the anatomical lectures, and
John began to lecture on midwifery. The lecture-room of the brothers was
removed to a tenement built on the site of the old Bridewell, on the
north side of College Street. They were both successful as lecturers.
Allan’s style was monotonous and unpleasing, but his demonstrations were
admirable. John’s manner was the more agreeable, his knowledge was
exact, his views were practical, and his lectures were interspersed with
anecdotes and strokes of humour which rendered them highly attractive to
the students. Dr. Burns now began to exhibit the fruits of his studies
in a series of important contributions to the literature of his
profession. His first publication of note was the "Anatomy of the Gravid
Uterus," which appeared in 1799. This was followed in 1800 by two
volumes on "Inflammation," in which he was the first to describe a
species of cancer, which is now known by the name of "fungus hoematodes."
These two works stamped their author as an observing, original, and
practical inquirer. They were followed by "Observations on Abortion," in
1806; "Observations on Uterine Hoemorrhage," in 1807; and by the most
popular of all his medical writings, "The Principles of Midwifery," in
1809; a book which has been translated into various languages, and has
passed through numerous editions. In 1828-38 appeared the "Principles of
Surgery," in two volumes, a work which cost Dr. Burns much pains, but
did not meet with corresponding success. He likewise published a popular
work on the "Treatment of Women and Children."
Dr. Burns married, in
1801, the daughter of the Rev. John Duncan, minister of the parish of
Alva, in Stirlingshire. He continued to lecture on midwifery till 1815,
when the Crown instituted a regius professorship of surgery in the
university of Glasgow, to which chair he was appointed, and discharged
its duties till the close of his life. In 1810 his wife died, and he
remained a widower during the forty years that he survived her. By her
he had four children, the youngest, Allan, named after his uncle, was
born in January, 1810.
At an early period in his
professional career, Dr. Burns became surgeon to the Royal Infirmary,
and distinguished himself by the nerve with which he operated. He
subsequently became the partner of Mr. Muir, and, after that gentleman’s
death, of Mr. Alexander Dunlop, a connection which brought him into
excellent family practice. His son, Allan, followed the medical
profession, and, having completed his studies, after a residence of
three years on the Continent, he commenced practice in 1832. With an
intimate knowledge of medical science, and a strong love of anatomical
pursuits, he was rising fast into eminence, when intermittent fever,
caught in the prosecution of his duties, carried him off after a short
illness, in November, 1843, in the thirty-fourth year of his age. It was
not till his son entered upon public practice, that the subject of this
memoir took out his degree, which he had previously refused to do. He
was shortly afterwards elected physician to the Royal Infirmary. He had
subsequently considerable practice as a consulting physician. Dr. Burns
had, however, been gradually retiring from the labours of his
profession, when the severe affliction, caused by his son’s death, befel
him. He then gave up everything but his professorial duties, devoting
much of his time to carrying out the views of the principal and
professors of the college as respected the medical school—and, in token
of their gratitude, he was requested by the Senatus to sit for his
portrait, which, having been painted by Mr. John Graham Gilbert, was
placed in the Hunterian museum of the college.
Early in life, and while
yet a student in the university of Edinburgh, his mind was imbued with
those religious principles which regulated his whole career, and
sustained him amidst many afflictive bereavements. To the religious
world he became favourably known by a work entitled, "The Principles of
Christian Philosophy," which has gone through several editions, and
promises to hold a permanent place in religious literature. In this
treatise, the author illustrates the following propositions:--"Man is
created for a future state of happiness; the means by which a future
state of happiness is procured; what is required of man that he may
obtain it; nature of, and preparation for, the future state of
happiness; personal and relative duties; the duties men owe to God; the
admonitions and consolations afforded by the Christian religion." The
principles of the work are thoroughly scriptural and evangelical; its
style is elegant, chaste, and grave; its spirit earnest and solemnizing.
It is the utterance of a heart much exercised in affliction, and
intimately conversant with the sources of true and permanent
consolation. It gives expression to remarkably elevating yet sober
conceptions of the heavenly felicity, and dwells with touching interest
on the prospect of the re-union of the ties of affection severed on
earth. "The Christian Philosophy" is at once meditative, devotional, and
practical, and to many "mourners in Zion" the author must often have
proved himself "a son of consolation."
Dr. Burns also published
another religious book, entitled, "Christian Fragments." Although
brought up in the Church of Scotland, of which he was an elder, he
became a member of the Episcopalian Church, and died in its communion.
His end was sudden and melancholy. He perished in the wreck of the Orion
steam-boat, on her passage from Liverpool to Glasgow, on the 18th of
June, 1850. Having finished his course and kept the faith, he was
removed from the world in the attitude and exercise of prayer. He had
reached the mature age of seventy-five.
Dr. John Burns was F.R.S.,
and a member of the Institute of France, and of several other scientific
institutions in various countries. In politics, he was a staunch
Conservative. He was of a cheerful disposition, was a great favourite
with his patients, and towards his professional brethren he behaved on
all occasions in the most honourable manner. In person he was under the
middle height, with grey flowing locks, and his dress was scrupulously
neat and antique. Few individuals in Glasgow were unacquainted with his
exterior, and thousands who knew little of his professional attainments
were yet familiar with his appearance as a venerable medical gentleman
of the old school. His eldest and only surviving son, Lieutenant-Colonel
Burns, of the second Queen’s Regiment, died at the Cape of Good Hope
towards the close of 1853. |
