TWO HIGHLAND PROTEGES OF DR "ARCHIBALD PITCAIRNE I

By C. P. FINLAYSON, M.A. Keeper of Manuscripts, Edinburgh University Library

* Among the papers of the Reverend Colin Campbell of Achnaba (Argyllshire), there are some letters and notebooks relating to his eldest son Patrick and to his nephew Archibald Comrie who were students of medicine together in Edinburgh at the beginning of the eighteenth century and proteges of Archibald Pitcairne. Colin (1644-1726) was of a self-effacing, other-worldly disposition, which found its main outlet in mathematical speculation : James Gregory and his nephews David and James, John Craig, George Cheyne, Archibald Pitcairne, Colin Maclaurin, and even, it is said, Newton himself, were among his correspondents. But Patrick's temperament, as often happens, ran quite counter to his father's ; in place of intellectual genius he was gifted with a zest for the present, which, if naive and earthy, sometimes gives his trivial jottings the power in an intimate flash to recreate the atmosphere of those student days of the past. The father was a graduate of St Andrews (1661), but Edinburgh, with its Royal College of Physicians and distinguished body of surgeons, was a natural choice for a prospective student of medicine. The mere presence of Archibald Pitcairne, however, would probably have sufficed to sway Colin in favour of Edinburgh, for he was not only " the Honour of his Profession in Scotland," but also a distinguished mathematician, and already one of the correspondents through whom Colin sought with touching earnestness to keep abreast of events in the world of learning. To have his son near the great Pitcairne was, for Colin, perhaps the next best thing to being there himself. Archibald Comrie, Patrick's cousin, came from Finlarig in Perth- shire. He was probably the elder of the two for he graduated M.A. at Edinburgh in 1698, the year Patrick entered the University. A small pocket notebook of Patrick's belongs to this period of his career. As well as the first three Satires of Persius and themes in Greek and " Latin, it contains a lively section headed Some litle Sports This consists of a list of receipts in the usual vein of the period, the following examples being sufficient to show its scope :?

" To make that no dog shall barck at yow.?Take an herb that is called Serpentine and they shall not bark at yow.

* Kindly deposited in the University Library by his descendants, Miss E. B. K. Gregorson and her sister, Mrs. Sillar, in 1949. TWO HIGHLAND PROTEGES OF DR ARCHIBALD PITCAIRNE 53

"To know if a sick person shall die or not.?Take gray netles while they are green and put them in the patients urin, and if they remain green he shall live, and if they wither, not. " That one shall not be drunck.?Drink the juice of yerrow fasting, and he shall not be drunk for no drink and if yow were drunk it will mak yow sober. "To tak away haires.?Anoint the rough place that is shaven with the blood of a black otter, and hair shall never grow there. " A ready and easy way to try whether a maide be a pure virgin or not.? Tak roots of read neattles and stamp them small: and mix the juice thereof with ale, and let her drink therof, and if it do remain with her she is a maid otherways she is not. " To kill lice and nits.?If yow straw the powder or scraping of a hearts horn upon the head or cloath of him that is trubled with them all the lice and nits will presently dye. " How to mak ane old woman fart about the house without any hurt.? Put some ants eggs in hir broth or drink and she will trump about bravely."

Patrick's selection of receipts reveals a medical bias as well as a decidedly macabre sense of humour, but the philosophy course was a necessary preliminary to the more academic study of medicine and four more of his notebooks are devoted to the dictates of Regent William Law. In one containing Ethics, however, he has made room " for a copy of Gervase Markham's account of How to make the best sort of bird lyme," and on another page of the same notebook, in more serious mood, he has listed the contents of his private library :?

" Patrick Campbell. A catalogue of my books. a gilded bible P : (Alexius) Pedemontanus de Se[c]retis a latine plasm (psalm) book in prose Colloquia Erasmi a Xenophon in greek another book of Seven languages an hibrew grammer a whole course of philosophy, viz. Logicks, metaphysicks, ethics and physicks Ricenii (Reineccii) compendium Theologiae also ane Ethics m:s: ane Inglish bible."

But, alas, Comrie coming across this unusual example of scholarly zeal in Patrick's vigorous scrawl, has mockingly added in his regular delicate hand a Latin catalogue of some rude fictitious titles :?

" Catalogus Librorum Patricii Campbell Empt. Edinburgi Ex Typis Georgii Mosman.* Impr. Tartaretus de modo Cacandi Burgius de Arte Textoria Fredericius de Modo Crepitandi, etc."

* The Edinburgh printer and bookseller.

VOL. LX. NO. I D 2 54 C. P. FINLAYSON

Patrick finished his philosophy course in 1701 but he did not graduate. At that time the University provided no systematic course in medicine. Instruction in elementary anatomy, indeed, often formed

(rfyWlv* if fry-fa'**.

THE ANATOMY CLASS

From Archibald Flint's notebook containing dictates by Regent James Pillans in Edinburgh University, 1672. Edinburgh University Library Edinburgh University Library

" " part of the general philosophy course, and in a historiated initial in an Edinburgh student's dictate book of 1672 we can see such a class in progress, but students who wished to specialise in medicine at University level had to go abroad, e.g. to Leyden, Utrecht, etc. Patrick may well have spent a few years on the continent, though by TWO HIGHLAND PROTEGES OF DR ARCHIBALD PITCAIRNE 55

1704 he was certainly in Edinburgh studying the local theory and practice of medicine. Sibbald, after getting a foreign doctorate in " less than three years, says, After I came home I made it my business, by my acquaintance with some of the Apothecaries and Chirurgions, to informe myself of the method of practice in use amongst the Physitians here, and gott the coppie of the courses of Physick they appointed in most diseases, and of the receipts most in use among them." Patrick kept a small notebook for this very purpose. It contains receipts ascribed to William Eccles, Robert Trotter, John Smellholm, James Murray and Adam Gairdines, but most commonly the author is indicated by the initials A.P. representing Archibald " " Pitcairne, and it was mainly on converse with him that Patrick depended for his medical education in Edinburgh. Other notebooks in Patrick's hand containing extracts from the works of Borelli and Bellini, the eminent continental iatrophysicists, and of Paul Hermann, Professor of Botany at Leyden, are no doubt the fruits of reading prescribed by Pitcairne. Comrie has made use of a blank leaf in one 01 these books to draft a high-flown, metaphysical love letter :?

" Madam, Perplexing Thoughts and darkning doubts hath rais'd a storm in my Intellectual world, and have nigh made it once deluge again, and unhinged its poles, disturb'd the harmonious Notes of its weell tun'd Sphaeres, and generally has introduced a perfect ataxie in its frame and obscurity in its brightness and sadness in its Serenity." Comrie had had the laugh on Patrick in his catalogue of books, but this time Patrick has slyly turned the tables by inserting below the " heading of the letter, viz. For Mrs. Margarite Campbell at Kilbryde," the following mock prescription :? Testicul: Arch: Comrie X* pp1 Testicul: equi X1 pp1 M: f: pulv. ad stimuland: $ rem.* ?a vivid, if crude, snapshot of the give and take of student friendship 250 years ago. The following letter from Patrick to his father in 1704, reveals that " " keeping company with the convivial Pitcairne was an expensive, though, no doubt, diverting, way of learning. Patrick is pleading for a remittance and cleverly sugars his appeal with several layers of mathematical and local news which he well knew would be like honey to poor Colin away on the far side of Ben Cruachan :? Edinburgh Aprill 18 th " Dear Father, i7?4- " Yow seemed to find Fault with me in your last about my English Journey. But ye know it is my Imployment (and still my duty in such a caise as it was) 56 C. P. FINLAYSON to use all possible at least laufull Means to recover Peoples that are in Danger of there Lives on there own Charges. " I spoke to Dr. Pitcairn just now to see if he would writt to yow, but he * says it is needless for him to write to yow untill he will send yow Mr Craegs paper anent Fluxions, and some others of Dr. Cheyns,f which he expects dayly from London. I had the occasion last night to be in Company with Mr. Areskin t one of the Regents, who told me he had one of Mr Newtons Books de Luce et Coloribus,? which his brother had sent him from London, who is one of the Royall Society their, of whom Dr. Mead || makes mention in that little book of mine about Poisons which yow have by yow : but I understand that there is non of them corned to Dr. Pitcairns hands as yet for he said to me, when I made mention of it to him, that he had non of them as yet, but that they would be in Toun shortly to be sold. I shall endeavour to procure a line from Pitcairn to yow when ever these papers comes to his hands. I goe to see Mr. Grigorie now and then who Intertains me most kindly with too many Compliments, but I dispare to procure any Line from him To trouble yow with as he says, and suppose I will, I fancie there will be noe Solution of Problems in it. " ** Corquhin hes his service to yow; and he would be content that yow would send him Patricks ft nativity as soon as possible. " As for my part now, I am still busy at some thing or another either as to theory or practise. There is noe great practise here for the present as to Chirurgery of which I would be most curious. I have seen Ane Amputation performed ; as saw also some broken legges and Armes ; some large Tumours opened, and such like, but these things are not halfe so frequent as I would wish. I will not be much the better of any Converse lie get in this place, for I have not money to keep company with them, notwithstanding I halfe starve my selfe. Suppose I will have as much money as will keep me here till June or July, yet I want money to buy some Draugs, and some Chirurgicall Instruments which I cannot spare in caise I will goe home to the Country

* John Craig-, the Scottish mathematician, was Vicar of Gillingham. His complete work De Calculo Fluentium Libri Duo, etc. was not published until 1718. t Dr George Cheyne. The work referred to is Fluxionum Methodus Inversa sive Quantitatum Fluentium Leges Generaliores. Ad Celebemmum Virum Archi- baldum Pitcairnium, Medicum Edinburgensem. A Georgio Cheynaeo, M.D. cH R.S.S. London, 1703. t Charles Areskine, Regent in Edinburgh University from 1701 until 1707, when he became Professor of Public Law. ? Opticks : or a Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light, etc. London, 1704. || A Mechanical Account of Poisons in Several Essays. By Richard Mead, M.D., F.R.S. and Physician to St Thomas's Hospital. London, 1702. The reference is to the Preface, p. 4. U James Gregory, brother germane to David Gregory, whom he succeeded as Professor of Mathematics in Edinburgh. In a letter to Colin Campbell, dated " 29th May 1699, he writes : I knew not till this spring you had a son with us, els on him and used all rethorick to invite to the I had forced my acquaintance my him study of the mathematicks, of which none of yours can miss to be very capable." He evidently failed to match Colin's demands in a mathematical correspondent, as Patrick has divined. ** Colin Campbell of Carwhin, W.S. ff Probably Patrick Campbell of Barcaldine. TWO HIGHLAND PROTEGES OF DR ARCHIBALD PITCAIRNE 57

again that time ; so I hope yow will consider my circumstances. We are to * have a publick dissection shortly beginning again fryday next, which I fear will stand me Ten shill: sterl: I expect Mr. Fyfe f will quite me for a Bottle of wine or two, for the Liberty of his shope, for I am sometymes servisable to him. " I hear the Duke of Argulls $ Corps are to be interred privatly att Kilmun against the first of May, and the young Duke is not to come doun untill the buryall be over, but Immediatly thereafter. This Lochinell ? told me. Young Lochinell || is recovering pretty well now, and I hope past all danger. Yow may tell Pat: Campbell if he will be in that Country when this comes to your hands that the party that was Quartering on him for the excyse is raised and that his horse is not sold as yet but that he is as cliver in the feet as ever. Adieu. Pat: Campbell.

" You may acquaint Pat: Campbell that his wife would writt to him were it not that I was not sure if it would come to his hands while he would be in that Country; for she expects him home shortly."

'Colin must have received this letter with very mixed feelings? pleasure in its news of the town, and annoyance at its sad tale of the cost of medical education, but he welcomed unreservedly the paper on which it was written, for he has filled all the available space with the workings of some problem in higher mathematics. Besides being a notable mathematician the Reverend Colin Campbell had some skill in medicine, but as his parish was far-flung and he himself in hi:j sixtieth year, he was no doubt glad to delegate this side of his work to his son on his return home early in the summer of 1704. Patrick's departure from Edinburgh seems to have left a noticeable gap in Pitcairne's convivial circle to judge from the conclusion of a " letter from Pitcairne to Colin Campbell dated 6th June 1704: I wish your son were here once again." Patrick, however, was not entirely cut off from the Capital, for his friend, Archibald Comrie, stayed on for a time and kept him posted in the local news. The strong character and international reputation of Pitcairne seem to have made

" * Described in the Records of the Royal College of Surgeons as a Course of Anatomie publickly performed in the Chirurgion Apothecaries Theatre, 22 April 1704." Nine operators gave demonstrations on successive days, the epilogue being given by Pitcairne. j David Fyfe, surgeon. He was one of the operators in a course of anatomy given in 1702. Patrick hoped to gain admission to the Theatre in the guise of one " " of Fyfe's apprentices, after squaring matters in the tavern. } Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll. He had died on the 25th Sept. 1703 at Cherton House, nr. Newcastle, and his body had been interred temporarily at Duddingston in November of that year. Kilmun is the traditional burial place of the Argyll family. ? Alexander Campbell of Lochnell. || Duncan (later Sir Duncan). *[| Patrick Campbell of Inverinan, writer. He was subtacksman of the inland excise of Argyll and Bute, and had evidently fallen into arrears with this work. 58 C. P. FINLAYSON a deeper impression on Comrie than on Patrick. Both had probably imbibed some of his Jacobite politics, but Comrie, in addition, had become a thoroughgoing disciple of the iatrophysical theory of medicine, hence his earnest wish to understand any relevant mathematical advances. The following letter to Patrick was probably written in July 1704:? " Dear Campbelle " I received your Letters both, and shall take care of your Shoes. I'le warrand yow I have keeped your book for yow likeways, so that the first occasion yow gett write for me and yow shall have these and Something else that I know will be takeing to your Father and yow both, but it's with this Condition that your Father will give me a Clavis to it and something like Elements for it, for yow'll see it's wrote by way of a letter only to Doctor Pitcairn and contains nothing but the Problems, and Calculations. When I get occasion I shall send it to your Father and yow, and I expect no less after yow have perused it than to know your Fathers mind of it, for * Mr. Sanders and I have been upon it, and I expected he should have unfolded the algebraicall Riddles of it, but upon application I perceived his Method was a little antiquated, and he was such a Stranger to Cheyn's way of calculat- ing that he knew not so much as his Characters, nay not the Title of the Book. There are 3 problems especially I would gladly understand in it and the method of finding them out analytically and they are these (to give yow a taste of the book) pr. 1. Linearum, arearum, superficierum et solidorum centra gravitatis invenire, prob. 2. Linearum, arearum, superficierum & solidorum centra percussionis seu oscillationis invenire, prob. 3. Areas & longitudines curvarum invenire. " Yow will see how usefull ane exact Method of Calculating these things will prove in the Animal Oeconomie as to the Solids and Canals. All I doe is that I conceive a little what he would be at, and his Method of calculating and some gross guess of the Use of such Problems, but to follow the calculation Kara 77080.9 "f" is more than by my smattering of Mathematicks and algebra I can pretend to, but I crave assistance for such noble Theories. I shall say no more of it but to satisfy your Curiosity a little further give yow the Title of the book Fluxionum Methodus Inversa sive Quantitatum Influentium Leges Generaliores,^ etc. I had it from a Gentlman that got it out of Cheyn's own hand at London in a Complement. It's weell bound and the value is 12 sh: Ster: " I shall write to yow at greater lenth when I get a surer occasion, only as to our Laird & these little affairs I'm still the same thing, but I join in more with our other Clubb, Dr. John and Dr. Grhame and the Ballzie.? Grham is comeing this Week or the next to sett up here and I perceive they design to Clubb against his Lairdship, and yow know a Single Young Fellow like me will think it my Interest to Clubb with them too. I cannot positively say

* William Sanders had been for a time (1676-88) Professor of Mathematics at St Andrews. t Step by step. t See footnote + on p. 6. ? I have not been able to identify these people with any certainty. The Laird was evidently a Surgeon-apothecary who, like Alexander Monteath, had made some enemies. TWO HIGHLAND PROTEGES OF DR ARCHIBALD PITCAIRNE 59

how it will do yet, but only for the time. Patients I find are on a good Supposi- tion that he will not readily like to come from his Young Lady, and because of great projects by her will not mind busieness so closely, and yow may be sure some people will study to propagate the Suppositione. However, Nox dabit Consilium. I am not much of her acquaintance yet but really the Lady seems to be affable & agreable enough. He stays still at home & wee * Lesson perpetually. Wee will have done with our pharmacy in a Lesson or tuo and then to the Surgery and no more for me. Oh ! Campbelle. I want yow mightily many a time to disburthen my weary mind of perplexing Thoughts of all kinds, yow understand me ; but, however, wee'll meet before hills meet. Expecting to hear fully from yow with the first at our great fair, I am

as ever

Your own Cousin & Affectionate Comerad

A. Comrie

who will be sure to espouse the Interest of P:C: The Doctor | is in my Chamber just now and gives his service to yow as " doeth Mar: War: $

(continued at a later date)

" I have not told when I wrote this that yow may still take as new. This line was wrote on ane other occasion which failled so I keeped it by me waiting some occasion. " I received your last. I am perfectly angry at yow that yow ply not the mathematicks closlyer than yow say yow do. When I goe from this place which I design should be in a month or so I have some unresolved thoughts of seeing yow at your Fathers if I thought I would be welcome. If I doe come as I fancy I may I'll readily stay a Month at the Mathematicks & algebra for I'm intirely devoted to that study now, and designs to put my mind in that way of thinking all this Summer till I think of goeing Somewhere else. Mr. Mungo Murray in Loggirate prompted me to goe to your Father to converse with him a while, and so does the Doctor ? and all that wishes weell to my Educatione. Yow may expect me."

Comrie did carry out his intention of visiting Patrick and his father and it is to the latter that he writes after his return home to Finlarig in Perthshire in February, 1705 :?

" Please tell Peter if he please to correspond with me I'le acquaint him with he is so any new thing in Medicine that's goeing. But since much for practice, and that I hear the Variolae are rageing in his dominions, I'le send by the

" " * If lesson is used in its usual sense Comrie was an instructor in pharmacy at this time. + Pitcairne. I Probably the abbreviation stands for the name of one of Patrick's old flames. ? Pitcairne. 60 C. P. FINLAYSON next the newest practice in Montspellier, Holland or Scotland, to subdue those haereditary Rebellions . . .

I am

Reverend & Dear Sir,

Your affectionate Friend & Unproficient Scholar,

A. Comrie."

Comrie seems to have found the father a more kindred spirit than the son. He continued his scientific study of medicine at Rheims * where he graduated M.D. in 1713 and matriculated at Leyden in the following year, though by then in his thirties. Patrick's energy and practical ability found their proper field in his Highland practice, " and he was still active in 1752 when he appears as chirurgeon in " Lome among the witnesses at the trial of James Stewart for the Appin murder.f

* Innes Smith. Scottish students of medicine at the University of Leyden, p. 51. t Mackay, D. N., Trial of James Stewart, p. 50.