Doctors of Samuel Johnson and his court / by James P. Warbasse.

  • James Peter Warbasse
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Doctors of Samuel Johnson and his court / by James P. Warbasse. 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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    tlircr ami Censor of the College in 1779. As a physician in London he failed utterly, and died in poverty, after an earnest struggle for success, at the age of forty-eight years. Richard Warrex, M.D., F.R.C.P., (i73i-i/97), was physi- cian to George III., and enjoyed a practice so large and remu- nerative that when he died he left one hundred and fifty thou- sand pounds to his family. He was a shrewd, practical man like Radclift'e, but a man of culture ami broad learning. He enjoyed- the friendship of such distinguished men as Dr. Tohn- son and Lord North, and attended Johnson in his last illness. Thom.vs Lawrexck, M.D., F.R.C.R., (1711-1783), it was to whom Roswell refers as The learned and worthy Dr. I.aw- rence, whom Dr. Johnson resj)ected and loved as his physician. ” It was to Lawrence that Johnson wrote for information in the case of Dr. Menis against the Royal Infirmary. He studied anat- omy under hrank Nicholls, whom he succeeded as lecturer upon anatomy at O.xford. He also lectured on anatomy in London, and was elected president of the Royal C\>llege for seven con- secutive years. He was held in esteem attained to by few among his colleagues, yet as a physician he did not succeed in develo]fing a practice. His medical knowledge and skill were of the highest order, and were recognized by his confreres, but the public failed to discover his talents. Sir John Hawkins said of him, He was a man of whom in respect of his i)iety, learning, and skill in his ])rofession, it may be almost .said the world was not worthy, inasmuch as it suft'ered hi> talents for the whole of his life in a great measure to remain unem])loyed, and himself to end his days in ,'^orrow and obscurity. He reus aboi'c the arts hy Zi'liieli f'of'iilarity is acquired.” John.son said of him, Lawrence is one of the best men whom I have known. He was a man of strict piety and pro- found learning, but little skilled in the knowledge of life or manners, and died without even having enjoyed the recognition he so justly deserved. L^pon the death of I^awrence’s wife, Johnson addres.sed to him, in his bereavement, one of the most graceful and chaste letters which our literature possesses. Among Lawrence’s contributions to medical literature are a “Life of Harvey” and a “Life of Frank Nicholls.” Frank Nichoi.es. iM.D.. F.R.C.P. (1699-1778). was an anatomist and lecturer upon anatomy at Oxford and London. His original knowledge and charm of delivery attracted atten- tion to his lectures from far and near, and he was one of the