200 Short Biographical Notice of the late 



borders as eminent agriculturists. Whilst he was still a child 

 his father removed to Ilderton, near Wooler, in Northumberland, 

 and here his earliest years were spent. His father died early, 

 and Mrs. Johnston carried on the business successfully after his 

 decease. 



George Johnston, the subject of the present notice, was sent 

 to school first in Kelso, and afterwards to the Grammar School 

 of Berwick, where he was under the tuition of Mr. Gardiner, a 

 teacher of some celebrity, who died at a very advanced age only 

 a few months before his gifted pupil. From Berwick he went to 

 the High School at Edinburgh, and in the year 1812 or 1813 

 commenced his medical studies in that city as a pupil of the 

 celebrated Dr. Abercrombie. During his stay in Edinburgh he 

 lived with Dr. Macrie, the distinguished historian and biographer 

 of John Knox, who was a distant relation of his. 



At the conclusion of his apprenticeship he became a member 

 of the College of Surgeons, and afterwards visited London for 

 the sake of hospital practice. Here he also studied under the 

 celebrated anatomist Mr. Brooks. On his return to the North 

 he commenced practice at Belford, a small town in Northum- 

 berland, where he met with the amiable and accomplished lady 

 whom he afterwards married, and to whose ready pencil so many 

 of his subsequent works are indebted for most of their illus- 

 trations. 



In the year 1819 Dr. Johnston took his degree as Doctor of 

 Medicine, and soon afterwards became a Fellow of the College 

 of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He then removed to Berwick, where 

 he established himself as a physician and speedily became one of 

 the leading medical men in that town. Here he remained, de- 

 voting himself with unremitting application to the duties of his 

 profession, until his death, which took place on the 30th of July 

 last, at the age of 58. 



The immediate cause of Dr. Johnston^s death was paralysis, 

 but he appears to have been indisposed for a considerable time. 

 About two years ago, when visiting some patients in the country, 

 he was exposed to a heavy shower of rain, which caused a severe 

 cold, followed by general debility, from which he never entirely 

 recovered. Some weeks since, he was advised to seek repose and 

 relaxation from the anxious duties of his profession at the well- 

 known Bridge of Allan, and it was here, about a fortnight before 

 his death, that he experienced the attack under which he finally 

 succumbed. He was removed to his residence in Berwick, where 

 he shortly afterwards -fell into a state of unconsciousness, which 

 lasted with but few and brief intervals until, on the morning of 

 the 30th July, he calmly passed from the scene of his labours. 



Upon Dr. Johnston^s scientific merits we need scarcely dwell 



