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BIGGAR, from a remote period,
has had a staff of medical men. So early as the fourteenth century, mention
is made, in a charter, of Simon the Physician of Biggar. We know very little
regarding the Biggar doctors, however, prior to the beginning of last
century. At that time Andrew Aikman flourished as a surgeon in Biggar. The
earliest notice that we have of him is on the 28th of June 1720, when he and
James Thrypland were brought, before the Bailie’s Court, and fined ‘in the
soume of fyve punds Scots to the fiscall,' for having, in the course of
casting peats in Biggar Moss, encroached on their neighbour’s room. In 1723,
he and his family appear to have been greatly annoyed by William Liddell, a
horse-couper, one of those restless and outrageous individuals who give
their neighbours and the powers that be a great amount of trouble. He
therefore arraigned him before the Bailie’s Court; and Luke Vallange, the
presiding magistrate, condemned him, under a penalty of ‘fyve hundred merks
Scots,’ to keep the doctor, ‘and his wife, bairns, family, and others,
harmless and skeathless, in their bodyes, lives, goods, and geir, and not to
molest him nor his in any sort, directly or indirectly, in tyme coming.’ Mr
Aikman was an active member of the Biggar Lodge of Freemasons, and, in 1726,
held the office of boxmaster. He died on the 8th of April 1730, in the
forty-fourth year of his age.
Drs William Baillie and
William Boe were distinguished physicians at Biggar during a considerable
part of last century. Biggar, during the time they flourished, acquired some
celebrity as a medical school. It was a common practice at that time, for
young men who wished to acquire a knowledge of the medical art to serve an
apprenticeship to some eminent practitioner. The fame of these two Biggar
worthies drew round them many young men, some of whom distinguished
themselves in their profession in after years. We may specially refer to Dr
Robert Jackson. Mr Jackson was born at Stonebyres, near Lanark, in 1750, and
was a near relative of the late William Jackson of Coulter Mill, and his
brother James Jackson, who for nearly half a century was well known in the
streets of our towns and villages as a blind minstrel. Old James had a fine
musical ear, and sung a number of popular Scottish songs, accompanying
himself on the fiddle. We ourselves conversed with him a short time previous
to his death; and it was gratifying to find that, amid all his vicissitudes
and wanderings, and even when he had ‘grown weary and old,1 he still
retained a lively recollection of the men and incidents of a former
generation connected with the Biggar district.
Robert Jackson received his
elementary education at a small school at Wandel, and afterwards at the
Parish School of Crawford, then taught by a Mr Wilson, a teacher of some
local celebrity. In 1766, he came to Biggar to study the medical art under
the care of Dr Baillie. After remaining some time at Biggar, he proceeded,
for the further prosecution of his medical studies, to the University of
Edinburgh, then enjoying a high reputation, on account of the genius and
learning of several of its professors, such is Munro, Cullen, and Black.
After the completion of his college curriculum, he went abroad in pursuit of
employment, and encountered such a variety of difficulties, disasters, and
adventures, as to invest this period of his life with a most engrossing
interest He, however, surmounted them all, and gradually rose to eminence.
He wrote some valuable treatises on contagious fevers in jails, ships,
hospitals, etc.; and a number of medical reports on climate, sanitary
arrangements, and hospital diseases. By his writings and personal exertions,
he effected great reforms in the treatment of soldiers, and therefore was
generally spoken of as ‘ the army physician.’ He died at Thursby, near
Carlisle, on the 6th of April 1827, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.
Another surgeon, who was a
good deal about Biggar last century, and who for upwards of thirty years
worshipped every Sabbath in the Burgher chapel of that town, deserves to be
here noticed. This was the well-known James Meikle. Mr Meikle was born at
Carnwath on the 19th of May 1730. From his earliest years, he was of a
serious and devout turn of mind, and spent much of his time in secret prayer
and reading the Scriptures. In his fifteenth year he heard a sermon
delivered by one of the Secession fathers, and this made so strong an
impression on his mind, that he was led to make inquiries regarding the
opinions and proceedings of the new sect. The result was, that he joined Mr
Horn’s church at Daviesdykes, and continued a staunch adherent of the
Secession Church ever afterwards. The leading aim of his early years was to
be a preacher of the Gospel; but the poverty of his family, and the death of
his father in 1748, formed an insuperable barrier to the attainment of his
wishes. Through the efforts of a gentleman who took an interest in his
advancement, he was, at one time, elated with the hope of enjoying a bursary
at one of our universities; but he was doomed to disappointment so soon as
it was known that he was a Seceder. He therefore devoted himself to the
study of medicine; and soon afterward commenced practising in Carnwath as a
surgeon and apothecary, with the view of earning a subsistence, and
procuring means for the prosecution of his theological studies.
His income from the
profession on which he had now entered was small and precarious, and
therefore he formed the resolution of going to sea, and serving as a
surgeon’s mate on board of a man-of-war. After various disappointments, he
left Carnwath on the 10th of March 1758, and having passed an examination at
Surgeons’ Hall, London, was appointed second surgeon’s mate to the
‘Portland,’ a 50-gun ship, lying at Portsmouth. Mr Meikle was now introduced
to scenes which his soul utterly abhorred. The officers and crew, being men
of immoral habits, were constantly guilty of profane swearing, excessive
intoxication, gross debauchery, and Sabbath profanation. Amid all the
wickedness by which he was surrounded, he nobly maintained his integrity,
and found time to compose a great part of ‘The Traveller,’ ‘Solitude
Sweetened,’ 'The Secret Survey,’ etc., which were afterwards published, and
which will long preserve his name among our Scottish worthies. He continued
in the ‘ Portland ’ four years. During that time he visited various parts of
the world, and was present at two engagements, in which victories were
gained over the French.
Mr Meikle returned to
Carnwath on the 24th March 1762, and immediately joined the newly-formed
congregation at Biggar. He attended regularly every Sabbath, and had thus to
travel a distance of fourteen miles. He seems to have enjoyed great pleasure
in meditating on divine things on his journeys to and from the church. In
reference to this exercise, he on one occasion says, ‘ It was a sweet day,
and no disturbance but from a wandering heart; ’ and on another, ‘ I had
pleasure in meditation: the sermon was divine and edifying.’ On the 18th of
August 1779, he married Agnes Smith, daughter of a farmer in the
neighbourhood, of Carnwath. She belonged to a small body of Antiburghers,
who, previous to 1760, had erected a chapel at Elsrickle, a village about
midway between Biggar and Carnwath, but lying a little to the east of the
direct road. Previous to entering into this marriage relation, he and his
future partner signed a series of articles regarding their conduct to each
other. One of them was as follows, viz.: ‘ As there is a difference of our
views in some things, instead of suffering this to breed discord and
contention between us, let it beget in us a proper concern for the divisions
of Reuben, and continued supplication for the peace and prosperity of Zion;
that, as there is one Lord, so His name may be one in all the earth.’ It was
in this truly Christian spirit that he conducted his wife on Sabbath
mornings to the little Antiburgher chapel at Elsrickle, and, after
worshipping at Biggar, returned by that village in the evening, and
accompanied her home. It was in the same spirit of toleration and liberality
that, on several occasions, he exerted himself to procure pecuniary
contributions for the support of the Rev. J. Anderson, the pastor of the
little flock of which his wife was a member. Mr Meikle was ordained an elder
of the Biggar congregation in July 1789, after he had been twenty-seven
years a member, and held this office till his death, which took place on the
7th December 1799.
Dr James Boe, Dr Bertram, Dr
Benton, and Dr Wilson are Biggar surgeons still remembered by the older
portion of the inhabitants. Biggar at present has a number of meritorious
medical practitioners; but the only one of them who has distinguished
himself as an author, is Mr Robert Pairman. Mr Pairman was born at Biggar on
the 23d November 1818. His father is Mr Robert Pairman, merchant, who,
daring a long life, has been characterized for his integrity, and his calm
and Christian deportment.
The Doctor received the
rudiments of his education at Biggar Parish School, then taught by the late
Mr Richard Scott. At the age of twelve, he was sent to a classical seminary
in Edinburgh, at which he studied for four years. He matriculated as a
medical student in the University of Edinburgh in November 1834, and
finished his curriculum, and obtained his diploma, in 1838. At the close of
that session, he carried off several very distinguished prizes: first, one
of two medals awarded by Professor Lizars to the two most distinguished
students of his class for proficiency in surgery; second, the highest prize
in the class of Dr George A. Borthwick, Lecturer on Clinical Medicine at the
Royal Infirmary; and third, the first prize in the Materia Medica Class, of
nearly two hundred students, conducted conjointly by Dr J. ArgyLe Robertson,
and Dr W. Sellar, F.R.C.P., Lecturers at the Argyle Square School of
Medicine.
On leaving the medical
schools with these distinguished honours, he immediately settled in his
native town, and commenced practice. Amid the toils and disquietudes of the
life of a country surgeon, he has found leisure to compose several valuable
little works. The first, published in 1848, is entitled 4 Sceptical Doubts
Examined.1 This work is in the form of a dialogue, and states* with great
plainness and perspicuity, and with many happy illustrations, the deistical
doubts which are apt to arise in the mind of a young and ardent inquirer;
and the telling and conclusive solution which can be given to these doubts
by a person of learning, experience, and religious convictions. His next
work was a popular ‘Exposion of Asiatic Cholera,' which he delivered before
the Biggar Athenseum, on the 20th March 1856. This treatise contains a dear
elucidation of the manifestations and effects of this mysterious disease,
the proofs which can be adduced in support of the theory that it has its
origin in a damp and foul condition of the atmpsphere, and the methods which
ought to be adopted for its prevention. This work called forth very hearty
commendations, both from medical men and the public press* A third work of
Dr Pair-man’s is a series of four tracts on * Fever Poisons in our Streets
and Homes,’ which were composed at the request of the Glasgow City Mission.
They have been extensively distributed, not merely by the Society for which
they were originally written, but by other kindred institutions.. For
instance, the Ladies’ Sanitary Association of Aberdeen, in the year 1859,
circulated 2000 copies. Several' passages from these tracts, that appeared
in a work by Miss Brewster, having attracted the notice of the Committee of
Council cm Education, J. S. Lawrie, Esq., one of the officials connected
with that Committee, addressed a communication to the author in 1858,
requesting permission to make extracts for educational purposes. To this
request the Doctor readily acceded, his great object in composing them
having .been to lend his aid to the movement for the instruction and
temporal elevation of the poorer classes of society. This application must
have been a source of gratification to the worthy Doctor as well as to his
friends, as it showed that his labours were recognised and appreciated in
the very highest quarters. The tracts are written in the Doctors usual
clear, shrewd, earnest manner. They are divested of all perplexing
technicalities, so that all classes can read and understand them with ease.
They treat of themes of the highest* importance to the health, happiness,
and social amelioration of the community^ and therefore deserve to be
scattered broadcast among all ranks, the rich as well as the poor.
It gives us pleasure to
notice a medical gentleman^ a native of Biggar, who has risen lo
distinction. This is Dr John Brown,' son of the late Rev. Dr John Brown of
Broughton Place, Edinburgh. Dr Brown was born ki; the Secession Church
manse, Biggar, on the 22d of September 1810. He lived at Biggar till his
twelfth year. Being educated privately, he did not mix much with the
adventurous, and perhaps somewhat mischievous, youths, who at that time
flourished in the little town; but, nevertheless, we know that he retains a
very lively recollection of the scenes and the men with whom he was familiar
in his early years. In 1822, he removed, along with his father, to
Edinburgh, attended the High School and the University of that city, took
his degree as on M.D., and for some years was connected with a medical
institution in Minto House, Argyle Square. He entered ait length into the
marriage relation, and set up his staff as a physician in the same city; and
there he still lives, and enjoys a very respectable amount of practice.
Dr Brown, however, has
achieved higher fame as a litterateur than as a physician. He had long been
known as a person of mark and likelihood,—as a contributor to some of our
most popular periodicals, —and as possessed of that warm devotion to letters
and study that has characterized his family for three previous generations;
but it w&s not till he published the first series of his ‘Hosro Subsecivre,’
in 1859, that his reputation as a literary man was established. This work
consists of a collection of literary, scientific, metaphysical, and
professional papers, composed, as their general title imports, at spare
hours,—hours snatched from the toils and fatigues of a laborious profession.
These papers are written in a free, hearty, dashing style, with a disregard,
we are sometimes apt to think, of the usual rules and conventionalities of
literary composition; but still with a precision and correctness which, on
examination, we cannot hut admire. They stamp the author as a bold,
independent thinker, as possessing a clear insight into the intricate
workings of the human heart, and capable of ranging from a vein of singular
quaintness and humour to a flow of most gentle but touching pathos. His tale
of ‘Rab and his Friends/ which has been widely circulated in a separate
form, which has been translated into German by Mrs Montague, and sent forth
with attractive pictorial embellishments, from the pencil of George Harvey,
Noel Paton, and other distinguished artists, has fascinated many a heart,
and drawn a tear from many an eye. It is to his connexion with Biggar that
we owe this charming tale. He was solicited, through the medium of his
uncle, the Rev. Dr David Smith of the North United Presbyterian Church,
Biggar, to deliver a lecture before the members of the Athenaeum of that
town. He consented, but, like many persons in a similar predicament, he felt
a difficulty in selecting a suitable topic for discussion. He at length
fixed on the story of Ailie, a story that had made a profound impression on
his own heart, and over which he had often thoughtfully pondered. He sat
down to his desk one midsummer evening at midnight, and by four o’clock next
morning he had committed it to paper. ‘I read it to the Biggar folk,’ he
says, ‘in the school-house, very frightened, and felt I was reading it ill,
and their honest faces intimated as much in their affectionate and puzzled
looks.’ A second series of ‘Horae Sub-secivae ’ was published about two
years ago, and was also well received. A new and large edition of these
papers, in one volume, somewhat abridged, has just (March 1862) been issued,
and has at once been taken up by the trade, which is a proof of the high
estimation in which the Doctor’s writings are now held by the public.
Dr Brown, after the
reformation effected a few years ago in the management of the University of
Edinburgh, had the honour of being elected one of the Assessors of the
University Court, which consists of eight members. He received this honour
from W. E. Gladstone, Esq., the Rector. The following is a copy of Mr
Gladstone’s letter to Dr Brown, appointing him to this office:—
‘November 25, 1859.
‘Sir,—I take the liberty of
requesting that you will permit me, as Rector of the University of
Edinburgh, to nominate you as an Assessor and member of the University
Court.
‘Not having upon you the
claim of even the slightest personal acquaintance, I may with the more
freedom assure you, that I prefer this request upon public grounds alone,
under the influence of an anxious wish that, in the exercise of every power
with which I may be intrusted, I may be enabled to direct it steadily and
solely towards the good of the University.
‘I have the honour to be,
Sir, your faithful servant,
‘W. E. Gladstone.
‘John Brown, Esq., M.D.,
etc., etc.’
Mr Gladstone's grandfather,
as formerly stated, was a Biggar man. His ancestors, for generations, held a
prominent place in that town, not merely as men of substance, but as active
useful members of the community, and leaders especially in all
ecclesiastical movements. It was, therefore, a singular coincidence—a
coincidence of which the Rector himself was probably unaware—that a native
of Biggar should have been nominated to the office of Assessor by a
gentleman descended from an ancient stock of Biggar men. |
