This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com ASketchoftheLifeandWritingsRobertKnox,Anatomist HenryLonsdale V ROBERT KNOX. t Zs 2>. CS^jC<^7s><7 A SKETCH LIFE AND WRITINGS ROBERT KNOX THE ANA TOM/ST. His Pupil and Colleague, HENRY LONSDALE. ITmtfora : MACMILLAN AND CO. 1870. / *All Rights reserve'*.] LONDON : R. CLAV, SONS, AND TAYLOR, PRINTERS, BREAD STREET HILL. TO SIR WILLIAM FERGUSSON, Bart. F.R.S., SERJEANT-SURGEON TO THE QUEEN, AND PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND. MY DEAR FERGUSSON, I have very sincere pleasure in dedicating this volume to you, the favoured pupil, the zealous colleague, and attached friend of Dr. Robert Knox. In associating your excellent name with this Biography, I do honour to the memory of our Anatomical Teacher. I also gladly avail myself of this opportunity of paying a grateful tribute to our long and cordial friendship. Heartily rejoicing in your well-merited position as one of the leading representatives of British Surgery, I am, Ever yours faithfully, HENRY LONSDALE. Rose Hill, Carlisle, September 15, 1870. PREFACE. Shortly after the decease of Dr. Robert Knox (Dec. 1862), several friends solicited me to write his Life, but I respectfully declined, on the grounds that I had no literary experience, and that there were other pupils and associates of the Anatomist senior to myself, and much more competent to undertake his biography : moreover, I was borne down at the time by a domestic sorrow so trying that the seven years since elapsing have not entirely effaced its influence. My hopes of seeing an historical record of Knox lay chiefly with his distinguished pupil Professor John Goodsir, with whom I had conversed on this subject in 1864, and whose remark at the time was pretty much as follows. " Well, Lonsdale, it (the biography) should be clone by one or both of us : you knew Knox's character and viii PREFACE. thoughts better than any one ; I'll gather his science, and show the import of his teachings." Unfortunately, the amiable Professor made no progress in the work ; and, greatly to the loss of, the science which he adorned, he followed his master to the grave in March 1867. Towards Christmas of the same year, the Rev. Joseph Goodsir, an eminent scholar and divine, honoured me with the trust of writing his brother John's biography. In sketching the history of my friend and companion Goodsir, Knox's presence oft came visibly before me, and with it arose the wish to do justice to his character and memory. In January 1868, an advertisement appeared in the Anthropological Review, announcing that a Life of Dr. Knox was in preparation, and information was solicited to render that Life more complete. On inquiry, Dr. James Hunt disclosed himself as the writer, and with great courtesy not only offered to give way to what he was kind enough to designate my superior claims, but furnished me with Knox's correspondence for the years 1860-62, excerpts from which will be found in Chapter XIX. PREFACE. In 1868 my pen was occupied with the memoir of Professor Goodsir, and in completing the Life of Sir James Graham. Wishing to see a better known name than my own attached to Knox's history, I would gladly, as late as October of that year, have persuaded my friend Sir William Fergusson, Bart, to become the biographer of his great teacher : his engagements, however, were too important to permit of such an undertaking; so that the work declined in 1863 even tually comes to be done by me in 1870. Dr. Knox only a short time before his death destroyed numerous letters and manuscripts ; what was left, though of much less avail than had been anticipated, was kindly placed at my disposal by the only surviving member of his family, his son, Mr. Edward Knox. The gist of the information thus furnished me is contained in the first chapter. Whilst courteously acknowledging words of encou ragement received from various quarters, I regret to say that the direct aid afforded me has been compa ratively small. My cordial thanks are due, however, to PREFACE. my friends SirW. Fergusson, Bart, Dr. David Skae, of the Morningside Asylum, Edinburgh, and Dr. James Adams, of Glasgow, for both anecdote and narrative. Many friends, like the late Dr. Adams, sen., of Edin burgh, from whom I learned something of Dr. Knox's career previous to 1834, have passed beyond my grateful acknowledgments. Some historical record, however imperfect, was due to a man of Dr. Knox's eminence, the great notability of the Edinburgh Medical School during the third and fourth decades of this century. He was without dispute the ablest anatomical teacher of his day. The character of a man so scholarly and many-sided, so original and versatile in thought, so broad and comprehensive in views, is not easily portrayed ; and all that can be said of the present effort is, that an honest wish not to extenuate, nor set aught down in malice, has been the guiding principle. A more popular cast might have been given to his biography by saying less about his scientific career, and more about his personal traits ; on the other hand, to have passed over his zoological PREFACE. labours with too light a hand would have been unjust to his professional status. It was imperative to notice, however briefly, his varied march over the vast domain of art and literature, as well as science. A chapter has been devoted to the early history of the Anatomical School of Edinburgh, to enable the reader to comprehend the injustice of the stigma cast upon Dr. Knox by the West Port atrocities, which happened to culminate in the rooms of his anatomical establishment. I would gladly have kept the Resur rectionists out of sight, and all remarks bearing upon the history of transactions both painful and harrowing to the general sentiment ; but to have written Knox's Life without a clue to the events which damaged his name and destroyed his prospects, would have been as incongruous as playing the Shakesperian Hamlet and omitting altogether the part of the Ghost. The fault of the Resurrectionist system — a terrible blot upon our social status as a Christian nation — lay with the Executive Government of the country, who for half a century proved deaf to all remon PREFACE. strance, and evinced not the slightest regard for the science of medicine till the anatomical affairs of the kingdom fell into a state of fearful chaos. As an English boy on the Scottish borders, I was nur tured in the anatomical prejudices of the day, and these prejudices were still fresh in my mind in 1834 when I joined Dr. Knox's class. It was from this cause probably that, during many years' intercourse with the Anatomist, I used to find myself instinctively studying his character in the hope of obtaining a clue to the shadows of his public career ; and those who knew our friendly relations will at once concede my claim to be considered fairly conversant with his inner life and opinions. Throughout my medical probation the mode of conducting anatomical establishments previous to and after the passing of the legislative Act of 1832 oft engaged my attention. Now my opportunities were ample, and it may be said unusual, for knowing what has been so unhesitatingly advanced in this volume on all matters pertaining to the operations of the Resurrec tionists and their employers. Nor was I less cognizant PREFACE. of the character of the proletariat population of the Old Town of Edinburgh. On my becoming Dr. Knox's partner in 1840, the anatomical affairs of the city were in a state of confusion ; and before the winter session commenced, the Associated Professors and Teachers of Anatomy and Surgery (Professors Monro, Sir C. Bell, Sir Geo. Ballingall, Drs. Knox, Handyside, Duncan, and others) did me the honour of appointing me their Secretary and Treasurer. This onerous and anomalous position gave me large insight over a period of five years ; at the same time I acted as Physician to the Royal Public Dispensary, and had charge of the largest and worst district of Edinburgh (including a great portion of the High Street and Cowgate, the whole of the Grassmarket, West Port, &c.). The re lapsing fever which prevailed as an epidemic in 1843 brought me daily in contact with the filthiest dens of the city, and a population indescribably brutal and debased. Indeed in my walks through the worst parts of Paris, Rome, Naples, Stamboul, Cairo, and Jerusa lem, I do not remember seeing anything so shocking PREFACE. in the relations of humanity as was presented to me in the capital of Christian Scotland during the summer of 1843. This explanation seemed necessary, as some persons may be disposed to view the picture of Edinburgh " low life " as a little overcharged ; whilst others, and those possibly nearer the mark, will opine that the curtain is only partially drawn up, and that some of the more tragical shadows are not presented on the canvas. The work has been a labour of love, or it would never have been done. It will constitute a reward for the pains bestowed upon this volume, the greater part of which has been written whilst suffering from impaired health and sorely-tried vision, if the reader can be induced to rely on the data it contains, and accept the sentiments based thereon — it may be a little bluntly, but not less honestly expressed.