VOL. XLIII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. Q 



than the abdomen, it may be sufficient for the purpose. It were easy to find the 

 force with which the abdomen is distended by the dropsical lympha, by seeing to 

 what height it arose in a glass tube fixed to the trochar ; which tube being taken 

 away, it might probably be sufficient to have the medicinal liquor flow in fi-om a 

 less perpendicular height, than that to which the dropsical lympha arose in the 

 glass tube. 



^Ti Extract from the Essay on the Origin of Aviher. By John Foihergil/,* M.D. 



N°472, p. 21. 



Dr. F. remarks that after all that has been written on the subject of amber, its 

 origin is yet in a great measure unknown. Several ingenious men have searched 

 into this affair on the spot where the amber is principally gathered. They have 

 related their observations with great candour; they have given the conclusions 



• The following particulars concerning the life and writings of Dr. John Fotbergill are for the 

 most part extracted from the biographical memoir prefixed to Dr. Lettsom's elegant edition of his 

 friend's works. The concluding reflexions are by the annotator. 



Dr. John Fothergill was born at Carr-End, Yorkshire, in 1712. He was of the society of 

 Quakers. After he had gone through his grammatical education, he was apprenticed witli an 

 apothecary, and when the term of his apprenticeship was expired, he went to study physic at 

 Edinburgh, where he took his degree of M. D. in 1736. He removed to London soon afterwards, 

 and from thence made an excursion to the Continent, returning to the metropolis to settle as phy.sician 

 in 1740. While he was gradually getting into practice, the appearance of an alarming epidemic in 

 the metropolis and neighbourhood afforded him an opportunity of exercising his talent for observation. 

 This was the ulcerous sore throat, of which he published (174'8) an account describing with much 

 accuracy its symptoms and progress, and pointing out a new and more successful method of treatment. 

 He condemned the free use of the lancet, and of purging and other debilitating medicines in this dis- 

 order, and enforced the propriety of administering cordial remedies and the Peruvian bark. This publi- 

 cation brought him into gre;it repute, and his practice with his emoluments rapidly increased. He ac- 

 knowledges that Dr. Letherland had been of opinion that the ulcerous sore throat was not an inflam- 

 matory disease, but one that required a warm regimen. His biographer, however, by no means 

 admits what some have insinuated, that Dr. F. was wholly indebted to Dr. Letherland for his insight 

 into the real nature of this epidemic, and for the improved method of treatment which he laid down. 

 Some years afterwards another epidemic occurred which engaged his attention. This was the in- 

 fluenza of 1775. During that and the following year, his receipts were far greater than they had 

 ever been before. 



Of the large fortune which he had now acquired, he expended a part in the purchase of a retreat 

 at Upton in Essex; where he planted a botanic garden, which in the course of a few years was stored 

 with the rarest exotics from all parts of the world. He had afterwards another botanic garden at- 

 tached to his seat, called Lea-Hall, in Cheshire, whitlier he used to retire every year for about 2 

 months in the summer. Another part of his fortune he expended in forming a museum, containing 

 a great variety of specimens in every department of natural history, but particularly distinguished tor 

 a choice collection of shells and corals, for beautiful drawings on vellura, &c. 



Dr. F. was a member of the R. S. and was associated to some other learned institutions. He died 

 in 1780. His collected works were edited by Dr. Lettsom in 1784, forming a large 4to vol. adorned 

 with a number of elegant plates. 



Without possessing talents of a very brilliant or superior kind. Dr. F. attained the highest distinction 

 in his profession. He attained it, very deservedly, by habiU of industry and punctuality, and by 

 VOL. IX. C 



