284 The Gold-Headed Cane. 



parations. He was at one time professor of anatomy at Oxford, 

 and author of a treatise De Anima 3Iedicd." — (p. 102 — 104. ) 



We pass over some annusing anecdotes in the chapters 

 dedicated to Askew and Pitcairn, and shall approach the 

 death-bed of the latter, of whom a most amiable portrait is 

 previously drawn. 



" Pitcairn had never published anything himself ; hut the pecu- 

 liar and melancholy privilege was reserved for him, to enlighten 

 his profession in the very act of dying. On the thirteenth of 

 April, he complained of a soreness in his throat; which, however, 

 he thought so lightly of, that he continued his professional visits 

 during that and the two following days. In the night of the fifteenth, 

 his throat became worse, in consequence of which he was co- 

 piously bled, at his own desire, and had a large blister applied 

 over the throat. On the evening of the sixteenth, Dr. Baillie 

 called upon him accidentally, . . . and even then observed no 

 symptom that indicated danger. But the disease advanced in the 

 course of that night, and a number of leeches were applied to the 

 throat early in the morning. At eleven o'clock in the forenoon. 

 Dr. Baillie again saw him. His countenance was now sunk, his 

 pulse feeble and unequal, his breathing laborious, and his voice 

 nearly gone. In this lamentable state, he wrote upon a piece of 

 paper, that he conceived his windpipe to be the principal seat of 

 his complaint, and that this was the croup. The tonsils were 

 punctured, some blood obtained, and a little relief appeared to 

 have been derived from the operation. Between four and live 

 o'clock in the afternoon his situation seemed considerably im- 

 proved; but soon afterwards a slight drowsiness came on. At 

 eight, the patient's breathing became suddenly more difficult, and 

 in a few minutes he was dead. This was the first case of this pecu- 

 liar affection of the throat that has been distinctly recognized and 

 described. It was an inflammation of the larynx. . ." — (p. 148.) 



Dr. Baillie was remarkable for clearness of expression in 

 the delivery of Lectures, and conveyed his information to 

 his pupils in the most simple language : — 



" For this talent he was greatly indebted to the assiduous in- 

 struction of his uncle, w^ho spared no pains in cultivating in his 

 young pupil a habit of ready and exact explanation; and was 

 accustomed to teach him in this manner : — ' Matthew, do you 

 know anything of to-day's lecture?' demanded Dr. Hunter of his 

 nepheAv. — * Yes, sir, I hope I do.' * Well, then, demonstrate to 

 me.* — * I will go and fetch the preparation, sir.' ' Oh, no, Mat- 

 thew, if you know the subject really, you will know it whether the 

 preparation be absent or present.' Dr. Hunter then stood with 

 his back to the fire, and his nephew demonstrated." — (p. 153.) 



We shall close our quotations with some detached sen- 

 tences from the observations with which the President accom- 



