BAILLIE, MATTHEW. 



BA1LLT, JEAN SYLVAIJf. 



Lino,' are singularly illustrative of bar ttyle, w> varied, yet always 

 to simple and to well. 



In the year of her death, her work*, which began to appear before 

 the doee of the 18th century, being (till young in public esteem, the 

 herself superintended their collective publication. prefixing a vigorous 

 and able introductory discourse. Her work* have been reprinted 

 ainc her death in a single volume with a brief memoir. 



BAILLIE, MATTHEW, an eminent anatomitt and phytioian, wa 

 born on the 27th of October, 1761, at the msnie (or parsonage) of 

 ShotU, in 1-anarkshire, Scotland. His father was the Rev. Jamee 

 Baillie. at that time clergyman of the parish of Shotts, and hi* mother, 

 Dorothea Hunter, titter of the celebrated anatomists William and 

 John Hunter. Soon after bit birth bit father was removed to the 

 charge of the parish of Bothwell, and subsequently to that of Hamil- 

 ton, and after being tome time there he was elected professor of 

 .liviuity in the University of Glasgow. Matthew's education wat 

 carried on at the school at Hamilton, and at Glasgow University. 



Though originally inclined to adopt hit father'* profession, or to 

 enter the bar, hit uncle, Dr. William Hunter, then the most eminent 

 teacher of anatomy in London, held out such inducement! as deter- 

 mined him to choose the medical profession. Measures were Uken at 

 Glasgow to procure for him an exhibition to Balliol College, Oxford, 

 which it in the gift of the professors of the University of Glasgow. 

 The drath of his father about this time, and the consequent diminu- 

 tion of the family income, rendered such assistance very desirable. It 

 wat at last obtained, and in March 1779 he intimated by letter to 

 bit uucle, that he wat ready to proceed to Oxford. This letter, asking 

 advice at to hit studies tud conduct on his first entrance into life, 

 display* good tease, correct principle, and a degree of tender feeling 

 towards hit mother and sisters, which be continued to exhibit through- 

 out tha whole of his and their live*. 



i m I,U way to Oxford he visited London, and for the first time saw 

 hit distinguished uncl<*, from whom ho received directions respecting 

 hit studies, which he protecutod for an entire year at Oxford*. But 

 subsequently he visited the university only at term time, tpendiug the 

 intervening period* in London with hit uncles, whose lectures ho 

 attended, at well at those of other eminent toachen in other 

 departownU of medicine. Two year* after he had commenced hit 

 studies in London, he became a teacher in hit uncle't anatomical 

 theatre in Great Windmill-street, in the capacity of demonstrator. 

 About a year after thit time Dr. William Hunter died, and bequeathed 

 to hit nephew the use of hit splendid museum, hit anatomical theatre 

 and house in Great Windmill-street, as well as a tmall estate in 

 Scotland (which Baillie generously gave up to his uncle John Hunter) 

 and an annuity of loot a year. Dr. Hunter, a short time before bis 

 death, told hit nephew, " that it wot his intention to leave him but 

 little money, at he had derived too much pleasure from making hit 

 own fortune to deprive him of doing the same." 



Baillie, after the example of hit distinguished relative!, devoted 

 him** lf with indefatigable industry and unremitting diligence to tho 

 work of investigating the healthy structure of the human body and 

 its functions, at well at the deviations from thit in the various morbid 

 structures which are presented in the dissecting-room. The knowledge 

 thus acquired proved the foundation of his future usefulness and 

 fame, and from hit own experience bo was accustomed to inculcate 

 the duty of medical practitioner* to make themselves minutely 

 acquainted with anatomy and physiology. In 1785, two yeart after 

 Willism Hunter's death, Baillie, in conjunction with Mr. Cruick shanks, 

 gave bit first course of anatomical lectures. So well wat be qualified 

 fur the office, although only in bit twenty-fifth year, that tha number 

 of pupils at the school wat equal to the number which attended the 

 leeturrs uf William Hunter. In his introductory lecture* he Mem* 

 to have anticipated the now universally received opinion, that the 

 vital actions of the body, morbid at well at healthy, are carried on in 

 the extreme vessels, or more minute tissue* of the organs. " It must 

 have occurred," he observe*, '' whenever men were diipo-ed to reason 

 on the subject, that the action* of an animal body are not to be 

 referred to the larger parts, but to the smaller, of which these are 

 compos- d. Hence the examination of minute structure is evidently 

 Dor* connected with physiology, and if ever the latter it to be known 

 at all, It must be through the medium of the former." He took every 

 opportunity of preserving morbid structure, and thus formed a museum 

 of great value. This collection, which now enriche* the College of 

 Physicians of London, was liberally presented to that body by Dr. 

 liailli" during hit lifetime, along with 4001, to keep it in a pro|>er 

 state of preservation. To the same body, in hi* will, ho bequeathed 

 hit mrdicsj library. 



In 1787, though only a Bachelor of Medicine, be wat appointed 

 physician to St George's Hospital, and two yean afterwards be received 

 bit degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oxford, upon 

 which he became a Fellow of the College of Physician*. In 1788 he 

 married Sophia, the second daughter of Dr. Denman, at that time a 

 very eminent accoucheur in London. In the performance of hit im- 

 portant duties at 8t George'* Hospital, hi* assiduity and natural 

 powers of observation, aided by bit great knowledge, hi* clear percep- 

 tion, and correct reasoning powers, toon mad* him highly distinguished 

 for hi. power of discriminating diseases in the living body, or in what 

 U UotuucaUj term* tb. diajnoai.' of di WM et. 



To render the collection* of hit uncles, at well at hit own, useful to 

 the public, he, in 1795, published hit ' Morbid Anatomy,' ' a work 

 which, whether we consider the subject or the manner in which it it 

 treated, bat been justly estimated at one of the mott practically use- 

 ful and valuable acquisitions to medical science." (Wardrop.) ft *a* 

 toon translated into French, Italian, and German. About four year* 

 after the appearance of thit work he began to publish engravings for 

 its illustration : these, as well as the work itself, will remain a lasting 

 memorial of the zeal, the industry, and the talents of their author. 

 He alto edited William Hunter's work on the ' Gravid Uterus' (left in 

 manuscript), to which be made some additions. To a second edition, 

 published in 1797, of his ' Morbid Anatomy,' he added the ' Symptoms' 

 of the different morbid lesion* described in it, so fw at they were 

 known. In 1799 he resigned hit office of physician to St. George's 

 Hospital, and gave up bit anatomical lectures, his time being i-ntiu-ly 

 occupied in the practice of hit profession. 



The progress of a physician is proverbially slow ; and though no 

 man laboured more in early life than Dr. Baillie, and no one ever 

 commenced under more favourable circumstances, he was nearly forty 

 years of age before be found himself fully established in pi 

 Hit progress from this time was rapid and his success complete. 

 Pitcairu, having been obliged to relinquish hit practice and retire to 

 a warmer climate, recommended Dr. Baillie to his patienta ; and though 

 Dr. Pitcairn wat able to return partially to discharge the duties of his 

 profession, the death, which occurred in 1809, of this able physician 

 made a most favourable opening for Dr. Baillie. On this accession of 

 practice Dr. Baillie removed from Windmill-street to Grosvenor-ttreet. 



Dr. Baillie added to hit great facility in diagnosis a knowledge of 

 the precise effects and extent of the powers of medicines. He excelled 

 in the art of delivering his opinion on a case, being concise, clear, and 

 practical, his language simple, and remarkably free from technicalities. 

 His manner wat natural and unassuming, yet decided aud impressive; 

 and he was the same to all persons and on all occasions. He wat more- 

 over remarkable for the considerate attention which he paid to the 

 feelings of hit professional brethren, more particularly to the youugur 

 member* of the profession. The consequence was, that he uever 

 lessened the confidence of the patient in his ordinary attendant, while 

 he himself acquired the good will aud esteem of all whom he nut in 

 consultation. '' He used to narrate, in the most open manner, the 

 history of his own life, and to describe to the younger members of 

 the profession the rocks and shoals which he had met with, contrasting 

 these with his loug-looked for but ultimate success. He pointed out 

 the necessity of competency, of integrity, and of industry, aud the 

 slow progress of the most eminent uiuu who had gone before them ; 

 and, on the other hand, the transitory fame of all those who had ever 

 attempted to gain professional reputation as if by storm." 



During the period when he was most fully occupied, he frequently 

 exhibited however much irritability of temper ; but any display of 

 this kind wat followed by sincere compunction, and by efforts to make 

 reparation to those who had suffered from it. It it difficult to say 

 whether, in caes where he considered remuneration for hit services 

 beyond the meant of the patient, his generosity, or tho delicacy with 

 which he carried it into effect, was the greatest Hia refined regard 

 for the feelings of the objects of his kindness greatly enhanced its 

 value. It was no unmerited eulogium which was passed upon him 

 by his distinguished contemporary Sir H. Davy, when he said of him, 

 " his highest ambition was to be considered aa an enlightened and 

 honourable physician : his greatest pleasure appeared to be in pro- 

 moting the happiness and welfare of others." Hit physical frame was 

 feeble, compared with his mental powers. He was uuder the middle 

 stature, and of rather a slender form. His countenance was marked 

 with a great deal of sagacity and penetration. Ho continued in the 

 unremitting exercise (with a few occasional exceptions) of hi* profes- 

 sion till the spring of the year 1823, when he became affected with 

 chronic inflammation of the trachea (or windpipe), for which he went 

 to Tuubridge, aud afterwards to his estate in Ulouceater-hirr, where 

 he died on the 23rd of September 1823, in the sixty-third year of 



Dr. Baillie wat frequently called upon to render hi* professional 

 to members of the royal family. The Princess Amelia, 

 George III. (on whom he attended for ten years), and the 1'rinc. BS 

 Charlotte of Wales, appointed him their physician. His I: 

 erected a monument to him, with a suitable inscription, in West- 

 minster Abbey. 



I'r. IJaillie't work* were published in 2 volt. Svo, London, 1825, 

 edited by Mr. Wardrop, who prefixed a sketch of his life, from which 

 most of the above particulars are taken. A posthumous volume, of 

 which only 150 copies were (according to directions in his will) printed, 

 but not published, contains his two introductory lectures to his anato- 

 mical claw, 1785: his Uulttouiau lectures on the nervous system, 

 delivered before the College of Physicians in 1794; and tome brief 

 observations on a number of disease*, in which he communicates the 

 result of his experience. 



BAILIA-, JEAN SYLVAIN, was born at Paris, September 15, 1736. 

 Having become acquainted with Lacaille, Uailly was led to attach him- 

 self to the study of astronomy ; but dazzled by the success of a young 

 friend, the youthful Bailly paid for a brief space ardent court to the 

 tragic mute. He had, in hit 16th year, composed a couple of tragedies ; 



