332 Biographical Sketch of 



reading, his vast field of observation, his natural prompt- 

 ness and extraordinary accuracv, joined with habits of 

 acute correct reasoning and judicious reflection, he pub- 

 lished but comparatively few works on professional sub- 

 jects. His experience and practice were very considerable, 

 as the relief of the poor deeply engaged his feelings, and 

 drew from him those interesting accounts of "Two cases of 

 retroverted uterus," addressed to Dr. Hunter, and pub- 

 lished in the 5th volume of " Medical Observations and 

 Inquiries," 1776; a " Case of difficult deglutition occa- 

 sioned by an ulcer in the oesophagus;" and of a " Species 

 of erysipelas followed by gangrene which appeared in in- 

 fants at the British Lying-in Hospital." The last two 

 cases were described in the first and second volumes of 

 " Medical Communications," published bv Johnson in 

 178-1 and 1796. His " Observations on extra uterine cases, 

 and on ruptures of the tubes and uterus," which appeared 

 in the Medical Journal, vol. viii. for 1787 ; and also a pa- 

 per read to the Royal Society, and puMished in its Trans- 

 actions for that year, on "Numerous Births," demonstrate 

 his intimate acquaintance with both nature and art, his 

 applicable knowledge of all that had occurred in his own 

 practice, or that of bis friends or correspondents in Paris, 

 Montpellier, Italy, Vienna, Germany, and St. Petersburgh. 

 But, unlike the modern case-coining physicians of literary 

 notoriety, his time was too much occupied in professional 

 practice, in conscientiouslv discharging the duties of a 

 mcdecin expectant, to waste it in transcribing and polishing 

 feis journals for the press ; he was actuated by a different 

 spirit; the recovery of his patient engrossed his whole care 

 and attention, without any regard to literary fame; the 

 production of a flowery narrative, the rounding of a period 

 for some new publication, or multiplied editions of a trea- 

 tise on a fashionable disease (for among the doctors fashion 

 is as paramount as with the milliners and mantua-makers) 

 in order to afford opportumties of repeatedly advertising his 

 name, were considerations very far beneath him. In this 

 age of speculation and adventure such things, however, are 

 too common; but the interests of society require that they 

 should be stigmatized, and that the memory of those who 

 virtuously spurned them should be endeared. The sons of 

 Britain sigh under the dire effects of modern charlatanism ; 

 and should the manufacture of physic doctors continue to 

 flourish as it has done of late, ail the apprehensions of Mr. 

 Malthus and his votaries, respecting overgrown population, 



must 



