LIFE of Dr BLACK. tn 



and in the impreflion he made, fubjects perplexed or intricate 

 became perfpicuous and clear of fupe'rfluous or' queftionable 

 matter. To the laft, and under fymptoms of declining health, 

 his mind gave proofs of ftrength undiminished. In fpeaking, 

 his voice, though low, had an articulation which made him be 

 diftinctly heard through every corner of a fpacious hall, crowd- 

 ed with fome hundreds of his pupils : and the Simplicity of his 

 expreffion, if not eloquence, had, to thofe who liftened for infor- 

 mation, fomething more engaging and powerful than any orna- 

 ment of fpeech could produce. 



Averse to hypothecs or vain conjecture, his fcience was a juft 

 comprehension of facts, and might be adopted by any artift who 

 confulted him, with as much fafety as he relied on any practice 

 he himfelf had experienced. His time and attention being de- 

 voted to the communications which his pupils had a right to ex- 

 pect from him, very much limited his practice as a phyfician. 

 But where he was called or could attend, his manner was Angu- 

 larly acceptable. Without flattery, or uncommon pretentions to 

 fkill, he won the confidence of his patients, and, with unaffected 

 concern for their benefit, was often fuccefsful in mitigating their 

 fufferings, if not in removing their complaints. He was, in 

 fhort, a phyfician of great repute, in a place where the character 

 of a phyfician implies no common degree of liberality, pro- 

 priety, and dignity of manners, as well as learning and fkili. 

 Never being anxious to bring himfelf forward into public view, 

 little may remain with pofterity to diftinguifh tai-m as an au- 

 thor, unlefs his executors fhould think proper to publifh the 

 notes from which he ufed to prelect, and which, notwithftand- 

 ing the fubfequent progress of fcience, may ftill be of ufe to the 

 Student, as a mod folid foundation on which to proceed in his 

 Studies. 



Among the few things pubmTied by himfelf in his own time, 

 we may reckon his Thefis or inaugural efTay, De Acido a Cibis 



Vol. V.— P. III. P orto. 



