74 MEMOIR OP JOHN HUNTER. 



there are few cases, the history of which has aeen 

 more fully recorded ; a fact of which we cannot give 

 a stronger proof, than by stating, that of the bio- 

 graphy drawn up by Sir E. Home, more than a third 

 part is occupied with this subject. 



We do not of course enter into medical details, 

 and only remark generally, that Mr Hunter was a 

 very healthy man for the first forty years of his life, 

 and with the exception of the threatening on the 

 Inngs, which was the ostensible cause of his going 

 abroad, he had no complaint of any consequence du- 

 ring that period. After this, followed the attacks of 

 1 773 and 1 776, which we have formerly described, and 

 which appeared to leave few if any unpleasant traces 

 behind them. In 1785, he suffered a third attack, 

 which was again brought on by anxiety of mind, and 

 which, though slight at first, became more and more 

 formidable, and was in truth the first of a series of 

 painful spasmodic attacks, arising from disease of the 

 heart, which at last terminated fatally. We avoid 

 particulars, and only remark that the attacks were 

 frequently attended with severe pain, and fits of 

 swooning. Towards the commencement they were 

 usually brought on by sudden exertion, but ere long 

 they were induced by the most trifling causes. 



Whenever his services were required, Sir E. Home 

 was ready to act as his close attendant ; his active 

 assistant, and the general superintendent of his va- 

 ried pursuits. Though the attacks gradually be- 

 came more frequent, yet their violence did not in- 



