654 



M O N R O. 



Monro, His own observation and experience fully con- 

 Alexander, vinced him that dissection is the only method by 

 pnmui. wn i c h a correct system of the different branches of me. 

 ""~ v '" 1 " " dical and surgical knowledge can be formed or improv- 

 ed. He also endeavoured, by maintaining mid nou. 

 rishing his favourite science from the common stock 

 of natural philosophy, to promote its growth and vi- 

 gour. Empiricism was thus prevented from continu- 

 ing to maintain its influence, and truth enabled to ac- 

 quire that ascendancy which it is entitled to claim. 



Impressed with such views, young Monro, for he 

 was then only twenty-two years of age, returned to 

 Edinburgh in 1719, and succeeded the following year 

 to the anatomical chair, on the resignation of Messrs. 

 Drummond and M'Gill, at that time professors and 

 demonstrators to the College of Surgeons, who thus 

 testified the high opinion which they entertained of 

 his qualifications, and fulfilled the promise made to his 

 fsflier. Soon after his appointment, he was induced 

 to deliver a course of lectures on anatomy, and to illus- 

 trate them by his own preparations, made under the 

 tuition of Cheselden and others. 



The following fact affords a striking proof of his 

 great abilities and sslf-possession as a public speak- 

 er. The unexpected presence of a large and respect- 

 able assembly, among whom were the presidents and 

 Fellows of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, 

 who attended the first lecture at the request of his fa- 

 ther, not only disconcerted the professor, but deprived 

 him of the recollection of what he had committed to me- 

 mory. With a view to recal his scattered thoughts, 

 he began to shew some of his anatomical preparations, 

 and determined at last to adopt such language as an 

 intimate and extensive acquaintance with the subject 

 might suggest. His great success on this occasion in- 

 duced him to adhere during the long course of forty 

 years to the same plan, and few lecturers ever surpassed 

 him in ease, elegance, and perspicuity of language. 



Provost Drummond, a magistrate of a truly liberal 

 and comprehensive mind, afforded young Monro every 

 assistance by means of his influence with the Town 

 Council, and sanctioned the plan of teaching which 

 he had adopted by frequent attendance on his lectures. 



The anatomical school of Edinburgh established on 

 such a firm foundation, and conducted by so able a pro- 

 fessor, soon rivalled the university of Leyden itself, which 

 had acquired the greatest celebrity from the exertions of 

 the distinguished Boerhaave. Mr. Monro added much 

 to the riches of Edinburgh, since his lectures were at- 

 tended by 3850 students, who must have spent, on 

 the most moderate calculation, the sum of 192,600. 

 This fact affords the strongest proof of the uncom- 

 mon success of his lectures, which were conducted in 

 the following manner. After giving a view of the 

 history of the science, examining the structure of the 

 bones and the different parts of the body in a state of 

 health, as well as the analogous .organs of the inferior 

 animals, he illustrated the whole by reasonings calcu- 

 lated to point out the nature and character of the 

 healthy functions, which he applied to the elucidation 

 of disease and the improvement of surgery. 



An hospital was still wanting, where the intimate 

 connection between anatomy, surgery, and medicine, 

 might be shewn, and his father used every exertion 

 to complete a plan on which the prosperity of the 

 rising school depended. Mr. Monro himself also wrote a 

 pamphlet, pointing out its advantages. The sum of 

 2000 was, after some time, collected, and a temporary 

 hospital erected in 17'29> which was superseded by the 



present one, whose foundation was laid in 1738. 

 Some of the principal rooms, particularly that for ope- 

 rations, were constructed according to a plan of the pro- 

 fessor. By the mutual co-operation of all classes of 

 citizens, this useful building, which is capable of hold- 

 ing nearly 300 patients, and open for the reception of 

 the sick of all nations, was completed in a shorter 

 time than could have been expected. 



Provost Drummond was appointed by the first contri- 

 butors to superintend, in conjunction with Mr. Monro, 

 the erection of the hospital. In this spacious building the 

 pupils of our professor learned to adopt humane and feel- 

 ing manners towards their patients, while they were in- 

 structed in the best mode of curing diseases. He never 

 absented himself from any dissection ; and in all instan. 

 ces of death whether from accident or disease, he not 

 only pointed out to the students the difference between 

 the healthy and morbid appearance of the various or- 

 gans, but carefully explained the practice which had been 

 adopted. The intimate acquaintance which he pos- 

 sessed of anatomy, and his knowledge of a vast variety 

 of cases, enabled him to perform surgical operations 

 with success, and gave him great superiority as a con- 

 sulting physician and surgeon. He manifested his 

 deep sense of the utility of clinical lectures, by con- 

 tinuing them with unwearied industry after that dis- 

 ease had begun which terminated his useful career. 



Mr. Monro assisted in establishing a society of phy- 

 sicians and surgeons, and six volumes of medical es- 

 says and observations were published by him as secre- 

 tary, which he considered to be the best means of in- 

 creasing the knowledge of medicine ; and when, at the 

 recommendation of Colin Maclaurin, the society was 

 enlarged by the admission of philosophers as members, 

 he contributed several valuable papers to the two vo- 

 lumes which were published during his life by the 

 Philosophical Society, under the title of Physical and 

 Literary Essays. 



His conduct to Dr. Martin, private lecturer on ana- 

 tomy at Edinburgh, exhibits a liberality of sentiment 

 deserving of imitation, since he acted toward him with 

 the greatest kindness while living, and undertook to 

 superintend the publication of his works on anatomy 

 after his death. 



Dr. Monro has rarely been surpassed as a man of 

 business, and he obtained great influence over his fel- 

 low citizens by his extemporaneous eloquence. He 

 was a director of the Bank of Scotland, a justice of the 

 peace, a commissioner of the high roads, and a manager 

 of many public charities, and fulfilled the various duties 

 which such situations require with great regularity and 

 honour. 



He was a steady supporter of civil liberty, firm- 

 ly attached to the House of Hanover, and manifested 

 great attention and humanity to the wounded officers 

 and soldiers who fell at Prestonpans. He evinced great 

 compassion and benevolence to the rebels, not only by 

 procuring pardon for them but by cheerfully affording 

 professional aid, which was of great use to those who 

 had suffered in the army of the Pretender. His friend- 

 ship with Colin Maclaurin, the friend and commen- 

 tator of Newton, who was appointed professor in the 

 year 1725, when Dr. Monro delivered his first lecture 

 in the University, affords a strong testimony of the es- 

 teem and affection in which he was held by his inti- 

 mate acquaintance. 



Mr. Monro's influence as a teacher was much increased 

 by the exterior graces of a well-formed person, and 

 gentle manners, which were combined with an amiable 



primut. 



