LIFE of Dr BLACK. m 



and in the impreflion he made, fubjecfls perplexed or intricate 

 became perfpicuous and clear of fupe'rfluous or" queftionable 

 matter. To the laft, and under fymptoms of dechning health, 

 his mind gave proofs of ftrength undiminifhed. In fpeaking, 

 his voice, though low, had an articulation which made him be 

 diftinftly heard through every corner of a fpacious hall, crowd- 

 ed with fome hundreds of his pupils : and the fimplicity of his 

 expreflion, if not eloquence, had, to thofewho liftened for infor- 

 mation, fomething more engaging and powerful than any orna- 

 ment of fpeech could produce- isa-^ 3nj ai bgtuiici' 



Averse to hypotliefis or vain conjedlure, hfs Icience wa«r a jnrf 

 comprehenfion of fads, and might be adopted by any irtift who 

 confulted him, witli as much fafety as he relied on any pradice 

 he himfelf had experienced. ^ His time and attention being de- 

 voted to the communications which his pupils had a right to ex- 

 pedt from him, very much limited his pradlice as a phyfician. 

 But where he was called or could attend, his manner was Angu- 

 larly acceptable. Without flattery, or uncommon pretenfions to 

 fkill, he won the confidence of his patients, and, with unaffeft^d 

 concern for their benefit, was often fuccefsful in mitigating their 

 fufterings, if not in removing their complaints. He was, in 

 fhort, a phyfician of great repute, in a place where the charadler 

 of a phyfician implies no common degree of liberality, pro- 

 priety, and dignity of manners, as well as learning and fkilJ. 

 Never being anxious to bring himfelf forward into public view, 

 little may remain with pofterity to diflinguifla tern as an au- 

 thor, \inlef6 his executors fhould think proper to publifh the 

 notes from which he ufed to preledl, and which, notwithftand- 

 ing the fubfequent progrefs of fcience, may ftill be of ufe to the 

 fiudenj, .as a.moft folid foundation on which to proceed in his 

 ft^diep..no■t . 



Among the few things publShed by himfelf in his own time,- 

 we may reckon his Thefis or inaugural eflTay, De Acido a Cibis 



Vol. v.— p. III. P orto. 



