MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 
55 
P®r|)lexity and obscurity pervaded many of his views ; 
®®d tile mode by which such persons solved the dit- 
ficulty, was by alleging that Mr Hunter did not un- 
derstand himself. 
It must be allowed that some of his writings are 
from being perspicuous, whilst others, again, are 
*-'®ar, and readily understood. In conversation he 
Expressed himself grammatically and well, and yet 
**■ Certain he never could lecture satisfactorily, and 
that he wrote with difficulty, and often incorrectly. 
'Ite some other eminent men of science, he is saiil 
|'®t unfrequently to have obtained in the revision of 
t'a Works the aid of friends, and of other literary men, 
t'^hose services he could more certainly commanil ; 
^t'd among the latter of these, the famous Smollet 
^ been named, as one who occasionally lent his 
assistance. 
If* the spring of 1776, Mr Hunter again expe- 
^'Cnced a very severe attack of sickness; — differing 
®f*i the former, hut still, like it, of a singular cha- 
'"‘feter. It, originated, as the previous attack hud 
doi 
duced 
by violent agitation and anxiety of mind, pro- 
in the present instance, by a heavy and une^ 
Pccted pecuniary loss. In the course of the day he 
‘ taken a short journey in a post-chaise, during 
"cl* he had felt as if he liad drank too much. At 
^'Sht, he had no sooner laid down in bed, than lie 
"s if suspended in th.e air, and soon after, the 
""*n appeared to go round ; the quickness of the 
seemed to increase, and at last was very rapid. 
