MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 55 



perplexity and obscurity pervaded many of his views 

 and the mode by which such persons solved the di 

 ficulty, was by alleging that Mr Hunter did not un 

 derstand himself. 



It must be allowed that some of his writings are 

 far from being perspicuous, whilst others, again, are 

 clear, and readily understood. In conversation he 

 expressed himself grammatically and well, and yet 

 it is certain he never could lecture satisfactorily, and 

 that he wrote with difficulty, and often incorrectly. 

 Like some other eminent men of science, he is said 

 not unfrequently to have obtained in the revision of 

 his works the aid of friends, and of other literary men, 

 whose services he could more certainly command ; 

 and among the latter of these, the famous Smollet 

 has been named, as one who occasionally lent his 

 assistance. 



In the spring of 1776, Mr Hunter again expe- 

 rienced a very severe attack of sickness ; differing 

 from the former, but still, like it, of a singular cha- 

 racter. It originated, as the previous attack had 

 done, by violent agitation and anxiety of mind, pro- 

 duced, in the present instance, by a heavy and unex- 

 pected pecuniary loss. In the course of the day he 

 had taken a short journey in a post-chaise, during 

 which he had felt as if he had drank too much. At 

 night, he had no sooner laid down in bed, than he 

 felt as if suspended in the air, and soon after, the 

 room appeared to go round ; the quickness of the 

 motion seemed to increase, and at last was very rapid. 



