Sir James Y. Simpson / by Eve Blantyre Simpson.

  • Simpson, E. Blantyre (Evelyn Blantyre), 1856-1920.
Date:
[1896]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sir James Y. Simpson / by Eve Blantyre Simpson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    are three poets, half a dozen litterateurs, and as many celebrated doctors, some Americans. That mercurial gentleman with the small eyes and sharp face and Jeffrey-looking head, who is rattling away with such volubility and quicksilver action, is Professor Blackie. The tall Danton-faced man now speaking to Professor Hodgson is Aytoun. The sculptor is waiting to ask the opinion of the many-sided Professor which of these sketches should he do in marble. That quiet creature in black with the beautifully balanced head, who only listens, is an authoress of great promise. We are still learning the last price of provisions at Melbourne, from the Australians who have come from the land of gold in search of what gold cannot buy, when a carriage at full pace stops,—in a moment Dr. Simpson enters. * With a few genial nods, shakes of the hand to the nearest, he begins to despatch the coffee and roll put ready for him, while a brother Professor at one ear pro- pounds a question of University discipline, and a soldier just arrived from the seat of war [the Crimea] is giving him, at the other, the anecdote with which before evening the doctor will, in abrupt episode of consultation, have amused a hundred patients. In ten minutes the indefatig- able Professor is again professional. Beckoning some patient, he disappears to the consulting-rooms, or news comes by telegraph that some poor peasant's wife, in some far village, is in the dangerous stage of some medically interesting calamity. There are none-knows-how-many wealthy invalids waiting their turn, but kind-heartedness and the delights of a desperate case prevail, and the doctor is off across the Forth, and will not be back till midnight.' 8