342 NugcB Chirurgiccp, ^c, 



seems very natural from her origin and history ; but that she 

 should be on visiting terms with decent people, and keep quality 

 company, is as unnatural. Mr. Pott, who wrote with the pen of 

 a master, has noticed this in no very gracious terms : — ' We all 

 remember,' says he, * that even the absurdities and impractica- 

 bility of her own promises and engagements, were by no means 

 equal to the expectations and credulity of those who ran after 

 her ; that is, of all ranks and degrees of people, from the lowest 

 labourer or mechanic, up to those of the most exalted rank and 

 station ; several of whom not only did not hesitate to believe 

 implicitly the most extravagant assertions of an ignorant, illi- 

 beral, drunken, female savage, but even solicited her company ; 

 at least, seemed to enjoy her company.'" 



*' TAR WATER. 



" Bishop Berkeley, who brought this remedy into fashion, was 

 greatly aided by the faith of the clergy, who preached it up in all 

 quarters. Among these, none was more strenuous than Dr. Young, 

 the author of the ' Night Thoughts.' ' They who have expe- 

 rienced the wonderful effects of tar water,' says he, * reveal its 

 excellencies to others. I say reveal, because they are beyond 

 what any can conceive by reason or natural light. But others 

 disbelieve them, though the revelation is attested past all scruple, 

 because to them such strange excellencies are incomprehensible. 

 Now give me leave to say, that this infidelity may possibly be 

 as fatal to morbid bodies, as other infidelity to morbid souls. I 

 say this in honest zeal for your welfare. I am confident, if you 

 persist, you'll be greatly benefited by it. In old obstinate chro- 

 nical complaints, it probably will not show its virtue under three 

 months ; tho' secretly, it is doing good all the time.' 



" Such was the universality of its power, that it was good for 

 man and beast, and a sure remedy for the plague .'" 



After this miscellaneous and amusing collection, we arrive 

 at the Memoirs, which is not a dry. biographical record of 

 birth, death, parentage, and education, but a lively sketch 

 of characteristic particulars of eminent medical men. We 

 will select a few of them . 



'* BUTTER. 



" Mr. John Whitehurst (author of an ingenious theory of the 

 earth) was the means of Dr. William Butter's settling at Derby, 

 where he (Mr. W.) then resided. Mr. Whitehurst had met at 

 Buxton with Lord Hopetown, who had asked him what physicians 

 were at Derby, and upon his telling him, that there could not be 

 a finer opening, as the two physicians there had both declined 

 practice, his Lordship said it would be a good place for Butter ; 

 and shortly afterwards, the Doctor made his appearance loaded 

 with recommendations, and among others, with one from Dr. Hope 



