& i^. 



MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTglC 57 



V 



the former, seems to have entirely eluded both his 

 own ingenuity and the acumen of the faculty ; nor 

 does it appear that medicine proved of the slightest 

 benefit. As soon as he was able he went to Bath, 

 where, however, he staid but a short time, being 

 very anxious to resume his various employments ; 

 and in a few weeks he got well. 



Mr Hunter was now advancing rapidly into pub- 

 lic celebrity: he still enjoyed the patronage of his 

 brother, at this time in the highest credit with the 

 Royal Family and the high nobility; and in 1776 

 he had the honour of being appointed Surgeon Ex- 

 traordinary to the King ; and, ten years afterwards, 

 was gazetted as Deputy Surgeon-General to the 

 Army. Professional success, however, was never 

 the ultimate aim of his ambition ; and he prosecuted 

 it with ardour, mainly as affording the necessary 

 means for the attainment of those scientific objects 

 on which his soul was centred. The emoluments of 

 his profession were unremittingly lavished on these 

 objects, and every moment he could redeem from 

 his necessary engagements was devoted to his scien- 

 tific pursuits. The results of these labours were 

 most abundant. 



In 1773, at the request of Mr Walsh, he dissect- 

 ed the Torpedo, and laid an account of the electrica, 

 organs before the Royal Society. 



A young elephant presented to the Queen by Sir 

 Robert Barker, having died, the body was given to 



