581 



forming, at the request of foreign physiologists, an abstract of 

 them, to be published in Germany. Some portion of this work 

 occupied his last hours, and he appeared to have a satisfaction in 

 having done with it, as one leaving the world*." 



The private circumstances of Dr. Martin Barry were such as 

 enabled him to dispense with the pursuit of the practice of his 

 profession as a means of support. The proportion of his time so 

 saved was devoted to the poor, and chiefly in connexion with some 

 public institution. In the year 1844, after the publication of his 

 most original and important observations, and after receiving the 

 high testimonial of the Royal Medal from the Royal Society of 

 London, he accepted the office of House-surgeon to the Royal Ma- 

 ternity Hospital in Edinburgh ; and Professor Simpson, the director 

 of the institution, speaks of Dr. M. Barry as " our invaluable 

 house-surgeon, and a gentleman to whose talents, zeal, and hu- 

 manity the hospital is deeply indebted for its prosperity." Dr. M. 

 Barry reared up diligent students, notwithstanding the harassing 

 nature of the duties of a midwifery pupil ; and his kindness, 

 promptness, and unweariedness in rendering aid to the poor dis- 

 tressed parturient females in Edinburgh have made his name still 

 gratefully remembered amongst them. 



From 1849 to 1853, Dr. Barry's health, and especially his eye- 

 sight, having become affected by his close and persevering studies, 

 he was induced to return to the continent, and resided successively 

 at Gottingen, Giesseu, Breslau, and Prague. At the latter city he 

 resumed his microscopic studies of muscular fibre, with the co- 

 operation of his friend Professor Purkinje ; and the result of their 

 combined researches is given in M filler's Archives for 1850, and in 

 a translated abstract in the Philosophical Journal for August 1852. 



In that year he revisited Scotland, and resided occasionally in 

 Arran, Rothesay, and Edinburgh. His friends deeply grieved to 

 witness, in his emaciated frame, the evidence of progressive malady. 

 He suffered much from neuralgic pains, being deprived, therefrom, 

 of rest for nights in succession. In the autumn of 1853 he finally 

 took up his abode at Beccles, Suffolk, near his brother-in-law, 

 Dr. Dashwood, who married Dr. Barry's only sister. Soothed and 

 sustained by the devoted attention of his affectionate relatives, he 

 * Biographical Memoir in the Edin. Med. Journal. 



