SIR JAMES Y. SIMPSON. 



years. He had joined an old friend, John Reid, who then 

 lodged with Dr. Macarthur, in No. i Adam Street. One of 

 the first books he bought on coming to Edinburgh was " The 

 Economy of Human Life," for which he paid ninepence. He 

 vas strictly economical, and kept an exact note of his expenses, 

 which at the end of the session he submitted to the family. 

 The rent of his room was not more than three shillings a-week. 

 His little cash-book contained such entries as the following : — 

 " Vegetables and ' Byron's Beauties ' ; " " Finnen Hadies, 2d. ; 

 and Bones of the Leg, ;£i, is. ;" "Subject, £,2 ; Spoon, 6d. ; 

 and Bread and Tart, one shilling and eightpence ; Fur Cap, 

 i4sh. ; Mary's Tippet, 2sh. and 6d. ; Duncan's 'Therapeutics,' 

 9d. ;" "Snuff, ijdj and a book on 'Early Rising,' 9|d." 

 One of his father's letters to him, written in 1826, ran as 

 follows : — 



" My Dear Son, — I am glad to hear by John Pearson that 

 you are well. I intended to be in Edinburgh this month, but 

 I find it is out of my power. Be so good as write me Avhat 

 money you will take to bring you out James, I am now 

 turning old, and wearing awa' like the snaw among the thaw. 

 I have had a weary winter, but will be glad to see you at 

 Bathgate." David Simpson died in 1839. 



He attended closely, and benefited largely from Professor 

 Liston's surgery classes. It was while attending Liston's 

 surgery classes, and witnessing the operations, "that he first 

 oegan to grope after means for the alleviation of pain when the 

 patient was in the hands of the operator. After seeing the 

 terrible agony of a Highland woman under amputation of the 

 breast, he left the class-room, and went straight to the Parlia- 

 ment House to seek work as a writer's clerk." So the question, 

 " Can anything be done to make operations less painful ? " 



