4 
Proceedings of the Royal Society 
fond of natural scenery, and particularly attached to the English 
Lake country, and it would have been 'better if he had indulged 
his taste more in that direction. We think, too, that in another 
respect he denied himself some enjoyments which might have 
done him good. A certain quietness, if not shyness, of disposition 
seemed to indispose him to much social intercourse, and he 
seems not to have betaken himself with any degree of interest to 
extra professional pursuits. We hold that every hard-working 
man is the better for a considerable amount of social recreation, and 
for that relaxation which arises from the prosecution of collateral 
pursuits. 
Though not much known as a scientific man beyond the limits 
of his profession, Dr Begbie distinguished himself, we believe, by 
several excellent essays, both of a pathological and of a thera¬ 
peutical kind. We must, of course, on this subject speak entirely 
from hearsay; but we understand it is generally considered that 
his volume of “ Contributions to Practical Medicine ” contains 
much that is valuable and original. His essays on Fatty Degen¬ 
eration of the Heart, and on Ansemia and its consequences, have 
been specially mentioned to me as having excited great attention, 
and obtained much praise. 
In one position which he occupied Dr Begbie was very promi¬ 
nently useful, and deserves to be specially pointed out for general 
imitation. I refer to the office which for nearly forty years he held 
as medical adviser to the Scottish Widows’ Fund Assurance Office. 
In saying this, I do not wish to give him any preference over his 
brethren who, among ourselves, hold similar situations. That 
would not only be invidious, but utterly unjust; for I know that 
all the Edinburgh offices, and I have no doubt the Scottish offices 
generally, are in this respect aided by advisers of the greatest 
skill, assiduity, and conscientiousness. But the Scottish Widows’ 
Fund is, I believe, our oldest Edinburgh office, and certainly one 
of our most prosperous, and I cannot resist this opportunity of 
saying, without disparaging the merits and services of officers of 
another class in such institutions, that the character and conduct 
of their medical adviser must always be of the utmost importance 
to their prosperity. Some recent occurrences have opened our eyes 
to a danger that we were apt to forget, that those who profess to 
