John Beddoe. 



XXV 



laborious investigations and profound insight into diseases of the nervous 

 system." This portrait is now in the possession of the Eoyal College of 

 Physicians. 



A marble bust (an excellent likeness by H. Hampton), subscribed for by 

 his colleagues, graces the Entrance Hall of the National Hospital for the 

 Paralysed and Epileptic, and reminds all who visit that institution of the 

 great master who has passed away, but whose name will for ever remain 

 enshrined in the annals of medical science. 



D. F. 



JOHX BEDDOE, 1826—1911. 



Dr. John Beddoe was born at Bewdley in West Worcestershire on 

 September 21, 1826, and belonged to an old yeoman stock in South 

 Shropshire. He was a quiet, sickly child and his parents very wisely did 

 not allow him to be taught to read or write, but these accomplishments he 

 picked up for himself about his eighth year. All through his early life he 

 was subject to attacks of illness which threw him back in his studies. As 

 a boy he showed an interest in geogr^hy, and was greedy of knowledge 

 and not without originality. Dr. Beddoe had a peculiarly observant mind 

 and always endeavoured to account for what he saw ; this was characteristic 

 of him from his youth, and his mental alertness and sympathy for new 

 ideas continued with him to the end of his long life. He graduated in 

 medicine in Edinburgh and London, and during this period came into 

 personal contact with a number of men already distinguished or who were 

 to become so, many of whom made a lasting impression on the friendly 

 and sympathetic student. His first paper, ' A Contribution to Scottish 

 Anthropology,' was published in 1853. A year or so later he volunteered 

 to join the Civil Hospital Staff, then being formed to supplement the 

 undermanned Army Medical Service, which could not overtake its work 

 at that stage of the Crimean War. In the course of his medical duties and 

 during the little trips that he made he came into relation with various 

 races and peoples of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, the characteristics 

 of which he duly noted. In 1856-7 he travelled through a great part of 

 Europe, gaining anthropological experience all the while. In 1857 

 Dr. Beddoe settled down to medical practice in Bristol, from which he 

 retired in 1891. During all these years he led the quiet, busy life of a 

 medical practitioner, winning the affection and esteem of a wide circle of 



