MEMOIRS OF 



difcernment, the ikill, fpirit, and decifion, 

 which marked the long courfe of his fuccefs- 

 ful practice, were firft called into a&ion, 

 and brilliantly opened his career of fame. 

 The late Mr. Inge of Thorpe, in Stafford- 

 fliire, a young gentleman of family, for- 

 tune, and confequence, lay fick of a danger- 

 ous fever. The juftly celebrated Dr. Wilks 

 of Willenhal, who had many years poflefTed, 

 in wide extent, the bufinefs and confidence 

 of the Lichfield neighbourhood, attended 

 Mr. Inge, and had unfuccefsfully combated 

 his difeafe. At length he pronounced it 

 hopelefs ; that fpeedy death mufl enfue, 

 and took his leave. It was then that a 

 fond mother, wild with terror for the life 

 of an only fon, as drowning wretches catch 

 at twigs, fent to Lichfield for the young, 

 and yet inexperienced phyfician, of recent 

 arrival there. By a reverfe and entirely 

 novel courfe of treatment, Dr. Darwin gave 

 his dying, patient back to exiftence, to 



health, 



