MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 51 



found none in either arm. He now thought his 

 complaint serious, and several physicians were sent 

 for, his brother, Sir G. Baker, and many others ; but 

 none could find a pulse. The pain still continued, 

 and he found himself at times not breathing. Being 

 afraid that death would soon take place if he did not 

 breathe, he produced voluntarily the act of breath- 

 ing, the sensitive principle, with all its effects on the 

 machine, not being in the least affected by the com- 

 plaint. In this state he continued for three quarters 

 of an hour. At length the pain abated, the pulse 

 returned, though very weak at first, and involun- 

 tary breathing was restored. In two hours he was 

 perfectly recovered, and his health was scarcely im- 

 paired during the next three succeeding years. 



In 1773, Mr Hunter determined to become a 

 public lecturer on the theory and principles of sur- 

 gery, his reasons for which were usually explained 

 as often as he began his course. He stated, that he 

 had so frequently been compelled to hear his opi- 

 nions either incorrectly quoted, or delivered as the 

 discoveries of others, that he found it absolutely 

 necessary himself to explain them systematically. 

 At the same time, he dwelt much on the advantages 

 every man derives from putting his thoughts in writ- 

 ing. He compared it to a tradesman taking stock, 

 without which he neither knows what he has, nor 

 what he needs. For two years he read his lectures 

 gratuitously to the pupils of St George's Hospital, 

 and in 1775 publicly delivered them in his house 



