1809. ] 
which is detained on the tongue, and the 
guticle will be severely burned; and, on 
the contrary, if it be too cold, it will not 
vaporize the saliva sufficiently to create 
that repulsive force, which prevents the 
contact of the tongue and iron, and a 
blister will be raised. 
The proper heat, therefore, at which 
the experiment may be safely performed, 
is a blood red, taking care to hold the 
poker or iron in such a way as to insure 
the degree of expertness necessary. 
The other experiment, with melted 
_Tead, may be as easily performed as the 
one just stated; the finger not being so 
powerful a conductor of caloric to feel any 
effect from passing it mstantly through, 
provided none of the particles adhere to 
it; which may be prevented by rubbing 
the finger with chalk or whiting previous 
to the experiment, 
Memoirs of the late Thomas Beddoes, M.D. 
43 
With respect to skimming melted iron 
with the hand, I can only observe, that to 
question the veracity of a positive asser- 
tion, is always unpleasant ; but whoever 
has had an opportunity of seeing this 
metal in a state of fusion, must be con- 
vinced of the impossibility (without a 
miracle) of attempting the experiment. 
London, Your’s, &c. 
Jan.16, 1809. EK. Lyprarr. 
P.S. I beg to return my sincere thanks to 
your correspondent X. in the Magazine for 
September last, for his excellent answer to 
my enquiries, in a former number, relative to 
*¢ Accidents by fire, and the best mode of 
treatment in cases where medical aid cannot 
be immediately procured.” ‘The instant ap 
plications, as well as the subsequent treate- 
ment he recommends, are so simple and easy 
to be remembered, that they cannot fail to be 
of great utility. 
MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS. 
SOME accounT of the late THOMAS BED- 
DOES, M.D. Of CLIFTON. 
¢¢ Nil actum reputans, si quid superesset 
agendum ” Lucan, 
T has long been the fashion to remark, 
that the lives of literary men are best 
made known by means of their works, 
and that they afford little or no portion 
of that amusement which is to be found 
in the memoirs of those who have taken 
a more active part in the busy scenes of 
actual life. We agree indeed with Ci- 
cero*, that nothing is better calculated 
for entertamment than “ variety” and 
“ vicissitude ;” but even these are to be 
met with in the ‘“‘ many-coloured lives” 
of a studious career; and if to these were 
but added, a description of his pursuits, 
his avocations, and above all, an account 
of the progress of his intellectual re- 
searches and attainments, we fear not to 
assert, that the memorrs of such a man 
might be rendered to the full as enter- 
taining, and infinitely more instructive, 
than the flippant pages of a modern no- 
vel. In fine, to apply this train of rea- 
soning to the subject of the present ar- 
ticle, if the late Dr. Beddoes, like the late 
Bubb Doddington (Lord Melcombe) had 
but kept a “diary” similar to what we 
have now hinted at, there is little doubt 
but that it would have abounded with 
_ * © Nihil est aptius ad delectationem lecto- 
yisy quam tempoxum yarictates, fortuneque 
vicissitudines.”? 
‘ were engaged in trade. 
curious anecdotes, valuable speculations, 
the details of an extensive course of me-= 
dical study, and many admirable hints 
towards the perfection of the healing art, 
and the consequent alleviation of the mul- 
titude of calamities which “ flesh is heir 
to.” Without further preface, we shall 
first give an account of such facts as we 
have heen able to collect of his life, and 
then endeavour to present a brief ana- 
lysis of his works. 
Thomas Beddoes was born at Shif- 
nal, in Shropshire, about the year 1754 
or 1755. His relations were respectable 
and opulent people, nearly all of whom 
The father was 
a tanner, but seems to have been deters 
mined in early life that the son should 
receive an excellent education, so as to 
be fitted for a higher sphere in society. 
Accordingly, after obtaining that species 
of knowledge usually procured in the 
provincial schools, the distant prospect 
of Oxford terminated the visto of his 
classical prospects. 
In consequence of the laudable ambi- 
tion of his friends, he was sent thither; 
and there is still a report extant at this 
university, that the settlement of the 
young Tyro was wholly entrusted to the 
care of an uncle. On entering the grand 
mart of Jearning, with which, as well as 
its inhabitants, he was utterly unac- 
quainted, he instantly presented himself, 
along with Thomas, at the gate of St. 
John’s, and ringing the bell, asked, J if 
: there 
