1916] Robinson,— The Doctors John Brickell 227 



of the earlier description of the same plant as Gelsemium. The 

 article is prefaced by the editorial note: " The following article is from 

 a letter, just received, from Dr. Brickell, of Savannah, whose Botanical 

 Communications we shall always be happy to admit." 



2) Theory of Puerperal Fever. Hex. 1, ii. 15-17 (1799). 



3) Botanical Intelligence from Dr. Brickell, of Savannah, in the 

 State of Georgia, addressed to the Editors. Hex. 1, vi. 327-8 (1803). 

 In this paper Brickell describes under the name Stellandria Glabra 

 the plant which appeared during the same year in Michaux's Flora, ii. 

 219, as Schisandra coccinea. Brickell also mentions a new species of 

 Samolus, and states that Kuhnia occurs with distinct anthers — an 

 observation acute for the period. At one point in his article he refers 

 to "my friend Mr. Stephen Elliott." 



4) Effects of Alkalies on Poisons. Hex. 2, ii. 441-2 (1805). 



5) Sketches relative to the Natural History of the Blood and a 

 Theory of Gout, communicated by John Brickell, M. D. of Savannah, 

 to Dr. Mitchill. Hex. 2, vi. 45 (1809). 



Muhlenberg in his Catalogue, on page iv. of the preface (1813), 

 gives a list of friends and correspondents who had assisted him by 

 communicating specimens or seeds. Among these appears "Brickell, 

 (John) M. D. from Georgia, deceased." 



It therefore became clear that the Dr. John Brickell in question 

 wrote articles from 1798 to 1809 and had died before 1813. 



Records, perhaps wholly unconnected with our subject, were found 

 showing that there was a student of the name John Brickell at Colum- 

 bia College in 1774 and that a John Brickell was recommended for an 

 appointment in the United States army in 1782. 



From the facts here assembled it seemed clear that the Dr. John 

 Brickell in question was of a later generation than the man of the 

 same name who wrote in the first half of the 18th century the Natural 

 History of North Carolina. However, no precise information being 

 available as to the dates of birth or death or regarding possible rela- 

 tionship of these two men, the problem was turned over to Miss Mary 

 A. Day, the experienced librarian of the Gray Herbarium. Dr. 

 George E. Richards of Boston also very kindly made search at the 

 Boston Medical Library. Finally, in reply to a letter of inquiry 

 addressed by Miss Day to the Georgia Historical Society, an organiza- 

 tion with headquarters in Savannah, the following highly satisfactory 

 letter was received. 



