Sir William Collins, surgeon and statesman / by Arthur Salusbury MacNalty.

  • Arthur MacNalty
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Sir William Collins, surgeon and statesman / by Arthur Salusbury MacNalty. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    getting a mount with the Heythrop hounds developed a lasting love for hunting. At the age of 18, with only a few shillings in his pocket, he set off for London with a friend, Thomas Honour, to seek his fortune. One is reminded inevitably of the similar quest undertaken by Samuel Johnson and David Garrick in 1737. William Job obtained a situation with Mr. Yarde of 28, Lamb’s Conduit Street, Holborn. In eighteen months he learned, as he recorded, “ not only to groom a horse, but the art of healing the sick, together with every other part of the profession, embracing Chemistry, Geology, Pharmacy, Anatomy and all minor operations of surgery such as bleeding, cupping, dressing and extracting teeth.” He also read French, Latin and Greek. He then became apprenticed to Mr. Francis Fowke, L.A.C., M.R.C.S., of 6, Berkeley Square, who had an extensive and aristocratic general practice. He left Mr. Fowke in 1841 and took the licence of the Pharmaceutical Society after attending the lectures of Dr. A. T. Thomson on botany and G. Fownes on Chemistry. In the latter part of the year he became assistant to a chemist, Mr. Richard Mills, at 123, High Street, Camden Town. In 1842 he opened a business of his own at 135, High Street, Camden Town, styling himself “ operative and dispensing chemist. Cupping, Bleeding, Teeth Extracted.” This depar¬ ture was followed by success, and like his friend, Sir William jenner, who then kept an open chemist’s shop in Albany Street, Collins at 24 years of age, decided to become a regularly qualified medical practitioner. He entered himself at University College Hospital, then in its first youth, with Liston, Samuel Cooper, Sharpey, Elliotson, Quain and Todd Thomson on its staff. When acting as assistant to Robert Liston, Collins accompanied that brilliant surgeon to operations, and with him was summoned to the last duel fought in England. This was on July 1st, 1843, at the Brecknock, Camden Road, when Colonel Fawcett was mortally wounded by Lieutenant Monro. Collins was also present on December 22nd, 1846,
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