250 JOHN DUNCAN, WEAVER AND BOTANIST. 



smoothly in such unwonted circumstances as they would 

 have done to a friend on the hill-side. His auditors soon 

 became tired of it, much more from sheer inability to 

 comprehend such unaccustomed ideas, however illustrated, 

 than from the want of eloquence in the lecturer. As Mr. 

 Smith says, " every one was twice wearied before John was 

 half done." A few left the room, but the rest remained to 

 the end, "out of deference to the man, for he was a 

 universal favourite." 



In 1851, his fame as a botanist had so begun to spread 

 that he received a letter of invitation from Aberdeen, 

 asking him to assist in forming a new Natural History 

 Society there, and to bring some botanical specimens 

 with him to exhibit at the meeting. Whether he was 

 able to comply with the request is unknown, but it is 

 pleasing to learn that his merits were beginning to be 

 recognized. 



He also continued his practice of medical botany, and 

 prescribed for ailments of different kinds. He is still 

 remembered as being very successful in the treatment of 

 cuts, by means of the invaluable " Healing herb " (Plantago 

 media) ; and, in the cure of toothache, with Sneezewort 

 (Achillea ptarmicd) and with "Aligopane" (Imila helenium\ 

 and when toothache troubled any one, "John and his 

 aligopane " became a proverb and a remedy. 



But John did not neglect his old sublimer studies of 

 the firmament, for these he never did or could forget. 

 They were only subordinated to nearer studies which had 

 eclipsed the more distant. On clear frosty nights, he still 

 examined the heavens, and set his dials behind the house. 

 His want of Mathematics prevented his pursuing the 



