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Transcriber's note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
A carat character is used to denote superscription. A
single character following the carat is superscripted
(example: Sir Tho^s). Multiple superscripted characters
are enclosed by curly brackets (example: Y^{rs}).
MEMOIRS OF JOHN ABERNETHY.
[Illustration:
Sir Tho^s. Lawrence P.R.A. Cook.
Y^{rs}. most sincerely
John Abernethy]
MEMOIRS OF JOHN ABERNETHY,
With a View of His Lectures, His Writings, and Character;
with Additional Extracts from Original Documents,
Now First Published;
by
GEORGE MACILWAIN, F.R.C.S.
Author of "Medicine and Surgery One Inductive Science,"
&c. &c. &c.
"The evil that men do, lives after them:
The good is oft interred with their bones."
SHAKSPEARE.
Third Edition.
London:
Hatchard and Co. Piccadilly.
1856.
The Author reserves the right of publishing a Translation of this Work
in France.
London:
Printed by J. Mallett, Wardour Street.
TO THE MEMORY
OF
JOHN ABERNETHY,
THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED
BY
ONE OF HIS NUMEROUS
AND
GRATEFUL PUPILS,
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE
TO
THE FIRST EDITION.
In submitting to the Public a Memoir of a great man, it may naturally
be expected that an author should endeavour to convey to them some idea
of the associations, or other circumstances, which have prompted the
undertaking.
My father practised on the borders of a forest; and when he was called
at night to visit a distant patient, it was the greatest treat to me,
then a little boy, to be allowed to saddle my pony and accompany him.
My father knew the forest nearly as well as his own garden; but still,
in passing bogs in impenetrable darkness, the more refined topography
of a forester would be necessary; and it was on one of these occasions
that I first heard two words, "Me-ward" and "Abernethy:" the one from
our forester guide, which I have never heard since, and the other
which I have heard more frequently perhaps than any. The idea I then
had of Abernethy was, that he was a great man who lived in London. The
next distinct impression I have of him was derived from hearing my
father say that a lady, who had gone up to London to have an operation
performed, had been sent by him to Mr. Abernethy, because my father
did not think the operation necessary or proper; that Mr. Abernethy
entirely agreed with him, and that the operation was not performed;
that the lady had returned home, and was getting well. I then found
that my father had studied under him, and his name became a sort of
household word in our family. Circumstances now occurred which occupied
my mind in a different direction, and for some years I thought no more
of Abernethy.
As long as Surgery meant riding across a forest with my father, I
thought it a very agreeable occupation; but when I found that it
included many other things, I soon discovered there was a profession
I liked much better. Some years had rolled away, when, one afternoon
in October, about the year 1816, somewhat to my own surprise, I found
myself, about two o'clock, walking down Holborn Hill, on my way to
Mr. Abernethy's opening lecture at St. Bartholomew's. Disappointed of
being able to follow the profession I had chosen, looking on the one
I was about to adopt with something very much allied to repulsion,
considering everything in this world "flat and unprofitable," and
painfully depressed in spirits, I took my seat at the lecture.
When Mr. Abernethy entered, I was pleased with the expression of his
countenance. I almost fancied that he could have sympathized with the
melancholy with which I felt oppressed. When he commenced, I listened
with some attention; as he went on, I began even to feel some pleasure;
as he proceeded, I found myself entertained; and before he concluded, I
was delighted. What an agreeable, happy man he seems! thought I. What a
fine profession! What would I give now to know as much as he does! In
short, I was converted.
Years again rolled on. I found myself in practice. Now, I had an
opportunity of proving the truth and excellence of the beautiful
principles I had been taught. I found how truthful had been his
representations of them. I was, however, grieved to find that his
opinions and views were very much misunderstood and misrepresented; and
I had very frequent opportunities of seeing how much this restricted
their application, and abridged their utility.
Some few years after his death, I tried to induce some one to endeavour
to correct the erroneous impressions which prevailed in regard to him;
but to do Abernethy full justice, _would require a republication of
his works, with an elaborate commentary_. This was a task involving
too much time, labour, and expense, for any individual to undertake;
whilst anything less, however useful or instructive to the public, must
necessarily subject the author to a criticism which few are disposed to
encounter.
But as it appeared to me that scruples like these stood in the way of
that which was alike just to the memory of Abernethy and useful to the
public, I was resolved at all hazards to undertake at least a Memoir
myself. I shall say little of the difficulties of the task. I feel
them to have been onerous, and I believe them to have been, in some
respects, unexampled.
Apologies for imperfections in works which we are not obliged to write,
are seldom valued: the public very sensibly take a work for what it is
worth, and are ultimately seldom wrong in their decision. I have only
said thus much, not in deprecation of criticism, so much as to show
that I have not shrunk from what I deemed just and useful, on account
of the somewhat oppressive sense I entertain of the risk or difficulty
which it involves.
The scientific reader may, I fear, think that, in endeavouring to
avoid too tedious a gravity, I may sometimes have been forgetful of
the dignity of biographical memoir; but, in the difficulty of having
to treat of subjects which, however important, are not always of the
most popular kind, I have been obliged sometimes to think of the "_quid
vetat ridentem_." In the very delicate task of discussing subjects
relating to some of my contemporaries, I have endeavoured simply to
do Abernethy justice; and, beyond what is necessary for that purpose,
have avoided any quotations or other matter calculated unnecessarily
to revive or rekindle impressions which may as well be dismissed or
forgotten. It may appear to some, that, in my remarks on the present
state of professional affairs, I have been too free. I can only say,
that I have stated exactly what I feel. I am earnestly desirous of
seeing a better state of things; but I have no idea that we can
materially improve that which we are afraid to examine.
I have to express my warmest thanks to several gentlemen for the
readiness with which they have contributed their assistance; my most
grateful acknowledgments to my respected friend, Mr. Fowler of Datchet,
and his son, Mr. Alfred Fowler, Mr. Thacker and Mr. Tummins of
Wolverhampton—three of them being old schoolfellows of Abernethy; to
Mr. White, the distinguished head master of Wolverhampton School, whose
acceptable services have been further enhanced by the ready kindness
with which they were contributed; to Mr. Belfour, the Secretary of the
Royal College of Surgeons, and Mr. Stone, the Librarian, I have to
express my best thanks for their kind assistance; and to the latter
especially, for many very acceptable contributions.
I have also to acknowledge the kind interest taken in the work by Mr.
Wood of Rochdale, Mr. Stowe of Buckingham—old and distinguished pupils
of Abernethy. My best thanks are also due to Dr. Nixon of Antrim, not
only for his own contributions, but still more for the personal trouble
he was so kind as to take in relation to some particulars concerning
the ancestors of Mr. Abernethy; to Mr. Chevasse of Sutton Coldfield,
for very acceptable communications; and to Mr. Preston of Norwich. Nor
must I omit to express my obligation to several gentlemen whom I have
consulted at various times. My thanks are specially due to Professor
Owen. My old friends and fellow-pupils, Mr. Kingdon, Mr. E. A. Lloyd,
Dr. Barnett, Mr. Skey, and Mr. Welbank, have shown as much interest in
the work as their opportunities allowed them, and will please to accept
my best acknowledgments.
G. M.
_London, September 20, 1853._
PREFACE
TO
THE SECOND EDITION.
The indulgent reception which the Public and the Profession have been
pleased to accord to these Memoirs having already rendered a second
edition necessary, the volumes have been carefully revised. This has
enabled me to correct some typographical errors, and so to modify
certain passages, that, whilst the narrative remains essentially the
same, it may be in some points presented in an improved dress. I have
also availed myself of the opportunity of making some additions and
corrections, which, though few, are not unimportant.
Although not unacquainted with the fact that Mr. Abernethy had declined
the honour of a Baronetcy, no allusion was made to it in the first
edition; because I was not then in possession of such evidence as
appeared to me necessary in relation to a circumstance that had not
fallen within my own knowledge.
By the kindness of the family, I have been enabled to correct an error
in regard to those who were present in his last moments; which, if in
an historical point of view immaterial, is by no means so with regard
to the feelings of those whom it more immediately concerns.
G. M.
_The Court Yard, Albany,
Nov. 14, 1853._
PREFACE
TO
THE THIRD EDITION.
In publishing a third edition of these Memoirs, I have to express the
grateful sense I entertain of the indulgence with which they continue
to be received.
Since the appearance of the second edition, Miss Abernethy has
kindly placed at my disposal the few papers which Mr. Abernethy had
preserved; and I trust that the additions they have enabled me to
make, may not prove unacceptable. Besides circumstances of minor
interest, interspersed through the volume, there are some of great
importance. The facts relating to the marriage of Mr. Abernethy not
only disprove a number of idle reports, but offer another contribution
to the general kindness and sincerity of his character. In selecting
a few extracts from his thoughts on Religion and Morals, I have been
desirous of placing on record some of Mr. Abernethy's sentiments on
these all-important questions, without forgetting that I am writing
the Memoirs, not of a Divine, but of a _Philosophical Physiologist_
and _Surgeon_. In like manner, in the accompanying observations which
I have submitted on the relations of Science and Religion, I have
restricted myself to little more than a Layman's repudiation of a
vulgar error. Some little anxiety to impress this may be excused, lest
it should be supposed that an argument has been stated in a few pages,
which, even in an abridged form, would require a volume; besides being
inconsistent with the more measured objects of a Biographical Memoir. I
have carefully avoided quoting any papers which, either by opinion or
otherwise, reflected on the conduct of any party; and I have taken some
pains to render this unnecessary. No man could be more sensitive than
Abernethy with regard to any imputation on his honour; but that once
satisfied, I am persuaded that nothing would have been more unwelcome
to him than that his Memoirs should have contained, unnecessarily,
one word that should offend any one; nor anything more acceptable
than its avoidance under circumstances of provocation. I have had to
contend with difficulties which I need not particularize; it is far
more agreeable to express the gratitude I feel for that sympathy and
assistance which have placed papers and documents at my disposal, with
a generous confidence which, though scarcely easy sufficiently to
appreciate, I trust it is impossible knowingly to abuse.
Should it appear that, in my anxiety to avoid disagreeable discussions,
I have left any subject imperfectly handled, as regards the high
character of Mr. Abernethy, I should of course avail myself of the
documents now in my possession. I trust, however, nothing of the
kind may be necessary. Having long thought it would be interesting
to many persons, old pupils and others, to record his manner in his
later days, when delivering his Surgical or Evening Lectures, as well
as the position he was so accustomed to assume when enunciating the
fundamental axiom of that improved Surgery of which he was the author,
I have added the lithograph at page 219. For this artistic sketch I am
indebted scarcely less to the painstaking than to the genius of the
late Mr. Charles Blair Leighton, who, as stated in the text, did not
live to realize those expectations of future excellence to which his
talents had given rise. Mr. Leighton, after a short illness, died in
May, 1855.
G. M.
_The Court Yard, Albany,
November, 1856._
MEMOIRS.
[Illustration:
My dear Sir
I return you my best Thanks for your Book which you did me the favor
of sending. I have read the new Matter with which I am well pleased. I
feel also obliged to you for your kind Wishes, & asure you that they
are on my part reciprocal I am a cripple with Rheumatism & good for
nothing but still remain
My dear Sir
Y^{rs}. most sincerely
John Abernethy
Enfield
26 April
To George Macilwain Esq^{re}]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. 1