LINNEAN SOCIETY OE LONDON. xliii 



January, 1860, in the 55th year of his age ; having been a Fellow 

 of the Liunean Society since the 4th of March, 1845. 



Dr. Plomley began life as a general practitioner at Lydd, on 

 Eomney Marsh, but on his becoming an Extra-Licentiate of 

 the Royal College of Physicians in 1846, he removed to Maidstone. 

 In 1849 he much distinguished himself by his courage and self- 

 devotion in the treatment of a fearful epidemic which broke out 

 among the Irish hop-pickers congregated at East Earleigh, in the 

 neighbourhood of Maidstone. Regardless of danger and fatigue, 

 he devoted himself for sixteen days and nights, almost without 

 intermission, to his painful task, in conjunction with Mr. Sedgwick, 

 Mr. Kennett, the Union Surgeon, and the then Incumbent of the 

 parish, the Rev. Archdeacon Wilberforce. In 1850, Dr. Plomley 

 was appointed Physician to the West Kent Infirmary. 



Not^vithstanding his professional occupations, he always found 

 time to devote considerable attention to natural history, and 

 especially to ornithology ; and duinng his residence on Romney 

 Marsh he made a valuable collection of Kentish Birds, comprising 

 not less than 516 specimens, all preserved and set up by himself. 

 This interesting collection, which was always liberally open to the 

 public, he eventually presented to the Dover Museum, where it is 

 shown as the "Plomley Collection." Dr. Plomley's published 

 works are of no great importance, consisting chiefly of lectures 

 addressed to the "Weald of Kent Farmers' club in the jeara 1849- 

 51, on subjects of natural history, interesting to the agriculturist. 

 They are : — 



1. A Lecture on the Structure, Functions, and Chemistry of 

 Plants. 



2. Observations on the Laws which regulate the Growth and 

 Cultivation of Grain and Root Crops. 



3. On the Blights of the British Far-m, arising from Parasitic 

 Fungi. 



4. On Hop-Blights ; including the Natural History of the Hop- 

 Fly and its Enemies. 



These praiseworthy attempts to enlighten his neighbours on 

 scientific subjects very necessary for them to be acquainted with, 

 are all highly creditable to Dr, Plomley, and the last Essay more 

 especially appears to contain some interesting original observa- 

 tions. 



Francis George Prohart, M.D., was a physician of considerable 

 eminence at Bury St. Edmunds, in which town he had long occu- 

 pied a very prominent position, and was much and deservedly 



