x] of the Nervous System. 287 



Francis Glisson, of whom I have already said something more 

 than once, but of whom I must now speak in more detail. 



Born in 1597 at Rampisham in Dorset of a good family, 

 Glisson entered in 1617 as a scholar at Gonville and Caius 

 College, Cambridge, where for a while he threw himself with 

 vigour and success into the usual learning of the place, taking 

 office in his college in 1624 as Fellow, in 1625 as Lecturer on 

 Greek, and in 1629 as Dean, though not in holy orders. Later 

 on, the publication of Harvey's work in 1628 being possibly the 

 determining cause, he turned his mind to medicine, and be- 

 coming in 1634 Doctor of Medicine was in 1636 appointed 

 Regius Professor of Physic. He appears to have carried out 

 his medical studies in London, for there is no evidence of 

 his ever having like Harvey gone abroad. Though for some 

 time he practised as a physician in Colchester, the greater 

 part of his life was passed in London, where he was very 

 active at the College of Physicians, of which he became Fellow 

 in 1635, and Reader in Anatomy in 1639V He was one of the 

 small band of men who 'used to meet in 1660 at Gresham 

 College to discuss natural knowledge, and who two years later 

 founded the Royal Society.^ He seems to have spent very little 

 time at Cambridge, treating his professional duties somewhat 

 lightly. Though he held his chair until his death, Dr Brady 

 being appointed his deputy in 1675 ; there is no evidence of his 

 ever having delivered any courses of lectures ; yet he appears to 

 have attended at Cambridge from time to time " to keep acts " 

 when candidates presented themselves for the degree of Doctor 

 of Medicine. In 1650 he petitioned the University for five 

 years' arrears of salary, apparently the years 1643-4 to 1648-9, 

 when, living at Colchester, he was wholly absent. Probably 

 life at Cambridge was distasteful to him ; the University was 

 very strongly Royalist, and Glisson was a pronounced Presby- 

 terian. While at Colchester he served as elder of the church 

 at the neighbouring village of Lexden ; and being shut up in 

 1648 in Colchester with the Royalists in the memorable siege 

 of that place, was chosen by the besieged authorities as a very 

 suitable member of the deputation sent forth to treat with 

 Fairfax on the terms of surrender. While in London he did 



