CHAPTEE XII 



AMPUTATION OF WEDGWOOD'S RIGHT LEG 



IN narrating the life of Josiah Wedgwood frequent 

 reference has been made to the attack of virulent small- 

 pox from which he suffered, as a boy of eleven years 

 old, in 1741, and to the legacy of incessant and fre- 

 quently excruciating pain which it entailed on him. 

 In addition to this, however, the disease left other 

 sequelae in an impaired constitution, and partial blind- 

 ness, as well as other ailments, from which he never 

 completely recovered. 



It is necessary to bear in mind the terrible affliction 

 thus caused to a nature so active and energetic as 

 Josiah Wedgwood's. The enforced idleness of body 

 could not subdue his indomitable perseverance, but 

 only afforded the opportunity for that cultivation of 

 mind which had been denied him in earlier years. The 

 accident on his journey to Liverpool brought about his 

 introduction to Dr. Turner, and through him his ac- 

 quaintance with Bentley, and such men as Dr. Priestley, 

 Dr. Aikin, the Heywoods, the Percivals, Mr. Wyke the 



