PATRICK RUSSELL, M. D. 
xi 
After a residence of about twenty years at Aleppo, he resolved to revisit his native 
country. He travelled chiefly overland ; and he rendered his journey through Italy and 
France interesting and useful, not only to himself, but eventually to his countrymen, by 
minutely examining all the principal lazarettos in those countries, and inquiring into 
their regulations, and general management. The proper care of the sick in all public hos¬ 
pitals was always a subject he had much at heart. 
Soon after his return to England in 1 7 72, he went to Edinburgh, where he remained 
some time, having views of settling as a physician in that city. Afterwards, however, by 
the advice of the late Dr. Fothergill, (who was always in habits of intimate friendship 
with him, as well as with his elder brother,) he removed to London, on account of the 
wider sphere it offered for professional exertion. 
In London he remained till the latter end of the year 17 81, when affection for his bro¬ 
ther, Mr. Claud Russell, whose precarious state of health at that time required constant 
and particular attention, induced him to sacrifice his flattering prospects in the capital, and 
accompany his brother to the East Indies. 
There he resided principally at Vizagapatam, his brother having been appointed to the 
highest office in that settlement. Plis time and attention were, in a great measure, devoted to 
the natural history of that country, which had been hitherto little explored. Dr. Koenig, in¬ 
deed, (whom Dr. Russell met in June, 1 7 82, atTranquebar, on the Coast of Coromandel), had 
for some years been employed by the Honourable the East India Company in the botanical 
department: and Dr. Russell has, in a Preface which he wrote to the first fasciculus of 
Coromandel Plants, born ample testimony to the zeal and success of that botanist.' 5 On 
Dr. Koenig’s death at Jagrenatporum, in June, 1 7 85, the Governor of Madras communi¬ 
cated to Dr. Russell, in very flattering terms, his wish that he should accept of the ap¬ 
pointment of Botanist or Naturalist to the Company. Fortunately for science, the Doctor 
accepted the offer, through the persuasion of his brother, Mr. Claud Russell. This was in 
November, 1 7 8 5. During the three following years Dr. Russell was indefatigable in his 
researches, turning to the best account the facilities afforded by his appointment, not con¬ 
fining his attention to the vegetable kingdom, but eagerly collecting, figuring, and de¬ 
scribing the Fishes and the Serpents of the country. 
In the botanical department, he began by submitting to the Governor of Madras an 
extensive plan for acquiring information concerning such plants of the country as are put 
to any economical use. He proposed that letters should issue from the highest authority, 
inviting the gentlemen, particularly of the medical department, resident at the different 
stations, to transmit every information in their power concerning such useful plants, 
accompanied with specimens of each plant, including the leaf, flower, and fruit, with a 
view to publication. This plan having met with the sanction both of the Madras Go¬ 
vernment and of the Medical Board, was immediately commenced. 
It is well known that serpents are numerous in the East Indies, and that the bite of 
some species produces the most direful effects. With the humane view of enabling any 
one, though not a naturalist, to distinguish a poisonous from a harmless serpent, and 
thereby relieve the anxious doubts and fears of many who might happen to be bitten, he, 
in the end of the year 1 787, drew up a distinct description of the peculiar organs to be 
observed in the mouth of a poisonous serpent, illustrated with figures. These descriptions 
and figures were published by order of the Government of Madras, and copies transmitted 
* John Gerard Koenig was, it is believed, a native of Courland. He was a pupil of the illustrious Linnaeus. He visited 
Iceland in 1765 ; and Linnaeus named a curious little plant discovered in that remote island, in honour of him, Komigici 
Icelandica. 
