BROWN. 



Brawn, which completed the breach between the professor 

 1 and his quondam friend. Without better information 

 than can be easily obtained at present, we cannot 

 pretend to decide how far Brown's allegations may 

 be founded in truth, or if Dr Cullen had not some 

 cogent reasons for having withheld his support on 

 the occasions stated. It is not improbable that the 

 ularities of the former might have had their 

 share in determining Dr Cullcn's conduct, even 

 if we adopt the very partial statement made by 

 Brown's advocates. The whole of Mr Brown's 

 speculations with respect to professorships hav- 

 ing failed, he applied most diligently to grind- 

 in <r, and employed the manuscript of hia " Ele- 

 menta Medicines," as his text-book. His most san- 

 guine expectations were exceeded by the progress 

 which his opinions made among the students. Nor 

 is it at all wonderful, when we consider the materi- 

 als which compose the great body of medical stu- 

 dents in the university of Edinburgh. 



In the autumn of 1779, Brown took the degree 

 of Doctor of Medicine at the University of St An- 

 drew's, dreading lest his rupture with the pro- 

 fessors of Edinburgh would thwart his wishes, had 

 he attempted to realise them there. St Andrew's is 

 celebrated for conferring degrees without residence, 

 or even previous study, if the candidate be recom- 

 mended by two physiciana known to the univer- 

 sity. 



About this period, the contest between his parti- 

 zans and those of his opponents, were carried to the 

 highest possible pitch. The zeal of one party to 

 convert, and the distaste of the other to be convert- 

 ed, produced all the effects consequent on such ex- 

 treme absurdity. No man possessed of common un- 

 derstanding, would quarrel with another for differ- 

 ing with him on medical topics. But, strange to 

 relate, many duels were fought to determine whe- 

 ther opium was a stimulant or a sedative. 



Probably about this time Dr Brown discovered, 

 that the medical practitioner, who devotes himself to 

 thg useful though unambitious pursuit of his pro- 

 fession, must anticipate no higher reward than the 

 ephemeral applause which success, even in. the hands 

 of a blockhead, cannot fail to procure ; while those 

 who venture into the dangerous regions of medical 

 speculation and controversy, may not only enjoy all 

 the advantages that result to their less ambitious 

 brethren, but have the further satisfaction of being 

 regarded as the founders of systems equally vague, 

 hypothetical, and untrue, as those of their prede- 

 cessors. The foregoing conjecture is in some mea- 

 sure coHfirmed by the publication of the first edition 

 of the " Elementa Medicines" in 1780. 



The next five years do not appear to have been 

 occupied by any remarkable event. In 1785, the 

 Doctor instituted the masonic lodge of the Roman 

 Eagle. His views have been variously stated ; bift 

 it is scarcely fair to seek for motives, when we have 

 some of considerable weight assigned in the obliga- 

 tion signed by all the members of this institution. 

 During this period, as well as every other, Dr 

 Brown's inattention to his concerns involved him iu 

 continued difficulties; and once, it is recorded by 



one willing to palliate every error, he was reduced to 

 the necessity of concluding a course of lectures in 

 prison, to which his imprudence had carried him. 

 Borne down by this continued train of misfortune 

 and misery, he left Edinburgh with a wife and eight 

 children for London, there hoping to retrieve nis 

 lost opportunities of comfort. Soon after his arrival 

 in the metropolis, he delivered three successive courses 

 of lectures at the Devil's Tavern ; but being scan- 

 tily attended, his profits were small. He also re- 

 ceived a small sum from Johnson of St Paul's Church- 

 yard, for the translation of his " Eleinenta Medi- 

 cines." 



It seems that a paltry intrigue disappointed him 

 with regard to a situation offered to him by the 

 Great King of Prussia ; and a still more paltry re- 

 venge cast him into the King's Bench prison. By- 

 some means, too, it is said, that on a former occa- 

 sion he lost the appointment to the Professorship of 

 Medicine in the University of Padua. 



During this unfortunate man's confinement in the 

 King's Bench, he was solicited, by an eminent London 

 bookseller and four associates, to contrive some nos- 

 trum, for which his name would secure an extensive 

 sale. The coadjutors never making any specific pro- 

 posal as to the quantum of reward to be received by 

 the Doctor, the business was dropped. It is said 

 that their intention was as knavish as it was illiberal. 

 Availing themselves of Brown's necessities, they in- 

 tended to increase his difficulties so much as to ren- 

 der any sacrifice acceptable. Then the nostrum 

 might be had on easy terms. The liberality of two 

 gentlemen, Mr Miller, and Mr Maddison of Charing- 

 cross, averted this overhanging calamity ; and, in 

 the course of the year 1788, Dr Brown was resto- 

 red to his family, in Golden-square. There he com- 

 menced a new set of speculations. He published 

 a translation of his Eleinenta Medicines ; he propo- 

 sed a new edition of his Observations ; a Treatise on 

 the Gouty and on the Operation of Opium on the 

 Human Constitution ; a new edition of the Ele- 

 menta, with additions ; A Review of Medical 

 Reviewers, as the labours of the first year : 

 and, as those of the second, a volume of notes and 

 illustrations of the Elementa ; a second volume of 

 Observations ; and as much practice as he could get. 

 In the midst of these anticipations of industry and 

 of success, a stroke of apoplexy put an end to his 

 life on the 7th October 1788, in the fifty-third year 

 of his life. 



That Brown was a very extraordinary man, can- 

 not be doubted. His early acquirement of know- 

 ledge ; his unwearied diligence, and acuteness of rea- 

 soning, point him out as a man fitted for a high 

 sphere; but his irritability, his intemperance, his 

 want of religion, and of a due attention to the claims 

 of his rising family, lessen the respect which his ta- 

 lents create. His faults appear in spite of the veil 

 which affection has attempted to draw over them. 

 None of his errors are more striking than his total want 

 of prudence : his fate proves, very decidedly, the 

 truth of Johnson's celebrated observation, ** that no 

 thing can supply the want of prudence ; and that 

 negligence and irregularity, long continued, will 



Urow. . 



