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THE LATE DR. FLETCHER OF EDINBURGH.
310 time suit his own private purposes. would all recollect, that on leaving pital as a student, he had published along
the hos-
They
series of
THE LATE DR. FLETCHER OF
EDINBURGH.
unfortunate operation cases in the Medical- Cltirurgical Journal, accompanied [THE biographical sketch of which the by some sharp critical remarks. It had the best effect, the very effect which he intend- following is a condensation, is from the pen ed and hoped woald be produced. Over- of Dr. LEwiNs, of Leith, who, we are intures were soon made to him from certain formed, intends to publish a copious memoir
quarters, and he at once discontinued the of his learned friend, to appear with the system. No sooner did the uproars at St. third part of Dr. Fletcher’s " Rudiments of
George’s take place, and Sir Benjamin form Physiology."] opposition school, than the worthy ba. Dr. FLETCHER, whose premature death ronet in the most handsome manner ap- has been recently announced, was the eldest pointed him (Mr. James) a professor. No son of Mr. Thos. Fletcher, merchant, of his
who had chanced to see their journal London. It was the intention of his father since, could accuse him of ingratitude, and to bring him up to his own profession, and he had now an honest pride in making the young Fletcher was placed in a countingone
Quarterly subservient to the interests of the house with that view for some time. But hospital, and in particular to that of their to a mind like his, a mercantile life was inown school. Before sitting down, he re- tolerable, and no prospect of ultimate adquested permission of the Chairman to fill vantage was regarded by him as sufficient a bumper to The prosperity of the Medical inducement to forego the gratification which Gazette, and a long and merry life to its he promised himself in the cultivation of editors, Doctors Macleod and Cummin, and science and literature. To this, therefore, he soon entirely devoted his years, and at an its few enlightened supporters." Dr. MACLEOD regretted that he could not early period gave abundant promise that, give them, consistently with the well-known in due time, he would gain for himself fame integrity of his character, so satisfactory an amongst the learned of the age. In the account of the profits of the jorrnal as he autumn ot 1813 he proceeded to Edinburgh wished, and as to the quality of the mate- to prosecute the study of medicine, having rialswhich he was in the habit of inserting, previously attended, though irregularly, the lectures of the late Mr. Abernethy and Sir they must all be aware that he was much Charles Bell, in London. In 1816 Dr. perplexed and fettered by certain parties Fletcher obtained the degree of Doctor in who compelled him to publish their trash. Medicine, after writing and publicly defend. He therefore took this opportunity of solicit- ing an inaugural dissertation " De Rei Medicæ Vicissitudinibus," which, from its ingthe strenuous aid of his friends, Sir Ben- cycel1ence, but especially from the purity of jamin Brodie, Dr. Chambers, Dr. Seymour, its Latinity, obtained the marked approbaand other eminent contributors, by whom tion of the late distinguished Dr. Gregory, he had now the honour of being surrounded. then professor of medicine in the university. Dr. Fletcher intended to settle in London, He could not help taking this opportunity an event occurred soon after he had but his that the letter which of expressing hope, finished his medical studies, which frustrahe had written to himself and printed in ted this intention, and entirely altered the the Gazette on 11 bread pills," was satisplans of his future life. The event deprived factory, (" Quite, quite,") and that all ra- him of all his patrimony, and rendered it tional men were convinced that the unfor- necessary that he should, by his talents, tunate blunder which he made in printing a provide for his immediate wants, which, nurtured in affluence, he could, to receipt for bread pills in the pharmacopoeia although his credit, make few, when prudence reof the Westminster Dispensary was a blunquired the sacrifice. der of youth, and not the immoral act of The system of teaching medicine, and the mode of granting medical degrees at this he As was still anxious that riper years. the public should not know that he conti- period (1817), were, in many respects, faulty nued to be the editor of the invaluable jour- and imperfect. The practice of conducting all examinations in the Latin language, nal, he had thought it expedient to address rendered it necessary for the candidates to the letter of explanation to " The Editor," for employ a class of men known by the name even Dr. Cummin would not permit his of grinders," who frequently did little name to appear as connected with the else than enable pupils to answer questions by rote in bad Latin. Dr. Fletcher’s knowjournal. of this discreditable practice, induced ledge The conviviality of the evening was kept him to return to Edinburgh with the view of up to a late hour, when the meeting broke establishing a system of tuition, akin to that practised at Oxford, in the way of pri. up very peacefully. "
"
311 vate tutorship, a mode of life more conge- lication in due time. Very honourable Tnernial to his literary habits, than the labour of tion has been made of thiswork by the r.. general medical practice. As soon as it was riodical press of the last three months, both
known that Dr. Fletcher had arrived in Edinburgh with the view just mentioned, the most respectable medical students flocked to him for instruction, and he was thus at once enabled to render his attainments available to supply his loss of fortune. Dr. Fletcher joined the Argyle-square Medical School in 1830, as lecturer on Physio!ogy, and latterly also lectured there on Medical Jurisprudence. He taught both of these branches of medical science in a way which has seldom been equalled, never sur- I, passed in Britain, and the number of his pupils steadily increased. In the beginning of 1836 he delivered a course of popular lectures on Physiology to a numerous audience, amongst whom were several members of the Scottish bar and the English church, and other gentlemen, distinguished for intellectual endowments. The variety and extent of information which Dr. Fletcher communicated, and the beautiful preparations and diagrams (the works of his own hands) by which be illustrated his subjects, surprised his audience. Little alas! did they think, while listening to his graphic descriptions of the structure of organized bodies, and his luminous exposition of their various functions, that his sun was to set while it was yet day with him, and before he had finished the work so energetically
in Scotland and England. It were an easy and a grateful duty to expatiate on Dr. Fletcher’s private worth, the refinement of his mind, the extent and versatility of his acquirements, and the value of his friendship; but as it is only consistent in this place to delineate his public character, the writer concludes this imperfect biographicalsketch, by repeating the opinion he formerly deliveredthat by Dr. Fletcher’s death science has lost a most industrious and successful cultivator, and the medical school of Edinburgh one of its brightest ornaments.
’i,
FEAR DURING OPERATIONS. UNSTEADINESS in a patient, during an is one of the many trying things which disturb the tranquillity of a surgeon in extensive practice. In an operation on the eye, the ear, the throat, or an artery, in a dangerous position ; or an operation for stone, or a high fracture of a limb, demanding the knife, vast responsibility rests on the composure of the sufferer. Even in bleeding, how much depends on the patient ! Wnat numbers of aneurysms, what even losses of arms, may be traced to his want of courage -that passive courage of which women may justly claim a more than proportionate share. Much also depends on the steadiness, and mild, though confident manner, in which the surgeon himself sets about his painful duty, inspiring his victim with reliance on a certainty of relief at the expense of a temporary
operation,
and auspiciously began. Dr. Fletcher’s health bad, for some time, been delicate, but he found it necessary to confine himself to the house on the 3rd of’ May; so insidiously, however, did the disease progress, that no alarm was excited on the subjec., until Dr. J. A. Robertson, on calling accidentally on business, discovered the actual condition of his friend. Other amount of suffering. These thoughts forcibly present themmembers of the profession afterwards rendered all the assistance which their art selves to my mind, on recurring to a case afforded, but in vain. Heexpired early on in military surgery, in which a man had the morning of the 10th inst., after only suffered some time from a fistula, which a week’s conn-iement to the house, and there was every hope would be cured by scarcely one entire day to his bed. The the usual very simple operation. The man immediate cause of death was an inflam- was placed in the ward with his head tomatory affection of the lungs, and the con- wards the door, to afford the operator suffidition of those organs proved to be such as cient light, and was directed to assume the must have precluded the possibility of long semiflex position, resting his hands upon a life, but it is certain that Dr. Fletcher’s in- chair. The surgeon oiled his finger, and tense application to study was the means of with that motion which is compounded of the corkscrew and the push, gently insinushortening the period of his existence. Dr. Fletcher was the author of several ated his finger into the rectum, a probe havworks of considerable merit, but we shall ing previously pointed out the course of the
I’
here only advert to that on Physiology, and on it alone his claim to professional distinction may be safely founded. Only two parts are yet published. The first on organism, and the second on life, as manifested in irritation. The third part on life, a3 manifested in sensation and thought, has yet to appear. The manuscript, though not fully prepared, is left in a sufficiently perfect state for pub-
But at the moment the bistoury by an assistant, the soldier cast a rapidly investigating glance beneath his right arm, when the light, brilliantly shed from the polished steel, caught his eye. His own immediate condition flashed upon his mind, and thoughts of instant retreat arose in his terrified mind. He instantly dashed aside the chair, and attempted to bolt, and fistula. was
handed
the hos-
They
series of
THE LATE DR. FLETCHER OF
EDINBURGH.
unfortunate operation cases in the Medical- Cltirurgical Journal, accompanied [THE biographical sketch of which the by some sharp critical remarks. It had the best effect, the very effect which he intend- following is a condensation, is from the pen ed and hoped woald be produced. Over- of Dr. LEwiNs, of Leith, who, we are intures were soon made to him from certain formed, intends to publish a copious memoir
quarters, and he at once discontinued the of his learned friend, to appear with the system. No sooner did the uproars at St. third part of Dr. Fletcher’s " Rudiments of
George’s take place, and Sir Benjamin form Physiology."] opposition school, than the worthy ba. Dr. FLETCHER, whose premature death ronet in the most handsome manner ap- has been recently announced, was the eldest pointed him (Mr. James) a professor. No son of Mr. Thos. Fletcher, merchant, of his
who had chanced to see their journal London. It was the intention of his father since, could accuse him of ingratitude, and to bring him up to his own profession, and he had now an honest pride in making the young Fletcher was placed in a countingone
Quarterly subservient to the interests of the house with that view for some time. But hospital, and in particular to that of their to a mind like his, a mercantile life was inown school. Before sitting down, he re- tolerable, and no prospect of ultimate adquested permission of the Chairman to fill vantage was regarded by him as sufficient a bumper to The prosperity of the Medical inducement to forego the gratification which Gazette, and a long and merry life to its he promised himself in the cultivation of editors, Doctors Macleod and Cummin, and science and literature. To this, therefore, he soon entirely devoted his years, and at an its few enlightened supporters." Dr. MACLEOD regretted that he could not early period gave abundant promise that, give them, consistently with the well-known in due time, he would gain for himself fame integrity of his character, so satisfactory an amongst the learned of the age. In the account of the profits of the jorrnal as he autumn ot 1813 he proceeded to Edinburgh wished, and as to the quality of the mate- to prosecute the study of medicine, having rialswhich he was in the habit of inserting, previously attended, though irregularly, the lectures of the late Mr. Abernethy and Sir they must all be aware that he was much Charles Bell, in London. In 1816 Dr. perplexed and fettered by certain parties Fletcher obtained the degree of Doctor in who compelled him to publish their trash. Medicine, after writing and publicly defend. He therefore took this opportunity of solicit- ing an inaugural dissertation " De Rei Medicæ Vicissitudinibus," which, from its ingthe strenuous aid of his friends, Sir Ben- cycel1ence, but especially from the purity of jamin Brodie, Dr. Chambers, Dr. Seymour, its Latinity, obtained the marked approbaand other eminent contributors, by whom tion of the late distinguished Dr. Gregory, he had now the honour of being surrounded. then professor of medicine in the university. Dr. Fletcher intended to settle in London, He could not help taking this opportunity an event occurred soon after he had but his that the letter which of expressing hope, finished his medical studies, which frustrahe had written to himself and printed in ted this intention, and entirely altered the the Gazette on 11 bread pills," was satisplans of his future life. The event deprived factory, (" Quite, quite,") and that all ra- him of all his patrimony, and rendered it tional men were convinced that the unfor- necessary that he should, by his talents, tunate blunder which he made in printing a provide for his immediate wants, which, nurtured in affluence, he could, to receipt for bread pills in the pharmacopoeia although his credit, make few, when prudence reof the Westminster Dispensary was a blunquired the sacrifice. der of youth, and not the immoral act of The system of teaching medicine, and the mode of granting medical degrees at this he As was still anxious that riper years. the public should not know that he conti- period (1817), were, in many respects, faulty nued to be the editor of the invaluable jour- and imperfect. The practice of conducting all examinations in the Latin language, nal, he had thought it expedient to address rendered it necessary for the candidates to the letter of explanation to " The Editor," for employ a class of men known by the name even Dr. Cummin would not permit his of grinders," who frequently did little name to appear as connected with the else than enable pupils to answer questions by rote in bad Latin. Dr. Fletcher’s knowjournal. of this discreditable practice, induced ledge The conviviality of the evening was kept him to return to Edinburgh with the view of up to a late hour, when the meeting broke establishing a system of tuition, akin to that practised at Oxford, in the way of pri. up very peacefully. "
"
311 vate tutorship, a mode of life more conge- lication in due time. Very honourable Tnernial to his literary habits, than the labour of tion has been made of thiswork by the r.. general medical practice. As soon as it was riodical press of the last three months, both
known that Dr. Fletcher had arrived in Edinburgh with the view just mentioned, the most respectable medical students flocked to him for instruction, and he was thus at once enabled to render his attainments available to supply his loss of fortune. Dr. Fletcher joined the Argyle-square Medical School in 1830, as lecturer on Physio!ogy, and latterly also lectured there on Medical Jurisprudence. He taught both of these branches of medical science in a way which has seldom been equalled, never sur- I, passed in Britain, and the number of his pupils steadily increased. In the beginning of 1836 he delivered a course of popular lectures on Physiology to a numerous audience, amongst whom were several members of the Scottish bar and the English church, and other gentlemen, distinguished for intellectual endowments. The variety and extent of information which Dr. Fletcher communicated, and the beautiful preparations and diagrams (the works of his own hands) by which be illustrated his subjects, surprised his audience. Little alas! did they think, while listening to his graphic descriptions of the structure of organized bodies, and his luminous exposition of their various functions, that his sun was to set while it was yet day with him, and before he had finished the work so energetically
in Scotland and England. It were an easy and a grateful duty to expatiate on Dr. Fletcher’s private worth, the refinement of his mind, the extent and versatility of his acquirements, and the value of his friendship; but as it is only consistent in this place to delineate his public character, the writer concludes this imperfect biographicalsketch, by repeating the opinion he formerly deliveredthat by Dr. Fletcher’s death science has lost a most industrious and successful cultivator, and the medical school of Edinburgh one of its brightest ornaments.
’i,
FEAR DURING OPERATIONS. UNSTEADINESS in a patient, during an is one of the many trying things which disturb the tranquillity of a surgeon in extensive practice. In an operation on the eye, the ear, the throat, or an artery, in a dangerous position ; or an operation for stone, or a high fracture of a limb, demanding the knife, vast responsibility rests on the composure of the sufferer. Even in bleeding, how much depends on the patient ! Wnat numbers of aneurysms, what even losses of arms, may be traced to his want of courage -that passive courage of which women may justly claim a more than proportionate share. Much also depends on the steadiness, and mild, though confident manner, in which the surgeon himself sets about his painful duty, inspiring his victim with reliance on a certainty of relief at the expense of a temporary
operation,
and auspiciously began. Dr. Fletcher’s health bad, for some time, been delicate, but he found it necessary to confine himself to the house on the 3rd of’ May; so insidiously, however, did the disease progress, that no alarm was excited on the subjec., until Dr. J. A. Robertson, on calling accidentally on business, discovered the actual condition of his friend. Other amount of suffering. These thoughts forcibly present themmembers of the profession afterwards rendered all the assistance which their art selves to my mind, on recurring to a case afforded, but in vain. Heexpired early on in military surgery, in which a man had the morning of the 10th inst., after only suffered some time from a fistula, which a week’s conn-iement to the house, and there was every hope would be cured by scarcely one entire day to his bed. The the usual very simple operation. The man immediate cause of death was an inflam- was placed in the ward with his head tomatory affection of the lungs, and the con- wards the door, to afford the operator suffidition of those organs proved to be such as cient light, and was directed to assume the must have precluded the possibility of long semiflex position, resting his hands upon a life, but it is certain that Dr. Fletcher’s in- chair. The surgeon oiled his finger, and tense application to study was the means of with that motion which is compounded of the corkscrew and the push, gently insinushortening the period of his existence. Dr. Fletcher was the author of several ated his finger into the rectum, a probe havworks of considerable merit, but we shall ing previously pointed out the course of the
I’
here only advert to that on Physiology, and on it alone his claim to professional distinction may be safely founded. Only two parts are yet published. The first on organism, and the second on life, as manifested in irritation. The third part on life, a3 manifested in sensation and thought, has yet to appear. The manuscript, though not fully prepared, is left in a sufficiently perfect state for pub-
But at the moment the bistoury by an assistant, the soldier cast a rapidly investigating glance beneath his right arm, when the light, brilliantly shed from the polished steel, caught his eye. His own immediate condition flashed upon his mind, and thoughts of instant retreat arose in his terrified mind. He instantly dashed aside the chair, and attempted to bolt, and fistula. was
handed