Life and character of the celebrated Mr. Martin Van Butchell, surgeon dentist and fistula curer, of Mount-street, Berkeley-square.

Date:
[1803]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Life and character of the celebrated Mr. Martin Van Butchell, surgeon dentist and fistula curer, of Mount-street, Berkeley-square. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    sarily clear, it precluded them from coming into general use.—This kind of spring-waistcoat he now weai*s, or rather bis shirt, his waistcoat, his breeches and stockings, are all in one piece or contexture of elastic worstead, all white from head to foot, which, contrasted w-ith his bushy beard, had one time nearly thrown, not a lady, but the stouter heart of a gentleman into a degree of terror, approaching nearly to fainting. This occurred in consequence of the former going into Van Butchell’s stable when he was stand- ing behind the door, and as it happened, without his coat, having at the same time a white cap on, and being without his boots. He likewise projected a surcingle for race horses, which was presented to bis hlajesty, and consecpiently spoken of as a most ingenious contrivance. Mr. Van Butchell, for many years past, being noted for the singularity and eccentricity of his manners, never ex- cited more attention than after the death of his first w ife ; w hom, for the extreme affection he bore towards her, he was at first determined should never be buried. Ac- cordingly, with the assistaiicx; and direction of Dr. Hunter llie celebrntcd Anatomist, a ter embalming the. l>ody, he kept her in her wedding clothes a considerable time in the paiionr of his own house, which, on that account, had the honour of being visited by great numbers of the nobility and gentry, wiio soon found, tliat though it was quite l'orcit;n to the intentions of hlr. Van Butclrell to make a shew of his deceased wife, some consideration would not be a disagreeable return for the trouble and attendance which these visits occasioiuxl. ■V Home, sav, this resolution of keeping his w ife nnbnried, was occasioned b}’^ a clause in the marriage settlement, dis- p.osing of certain property u'hile she reclamed above grovml. Hoav far this may be ffict, wc will not decide; but we are now well-informed that she is since buried. One singn- krity in his manner of impo.sing terms upon his wives, is remarkable,