Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Memoir of the late Martin Barry, M.D., F.R.SS.L. and E. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
5/12
![small pox, had been extensively neglected among old and young, baithful to the promptings of his benevolent lieart, and at a sacrifice of much time and personal convenience, he vaccinated most children on the island, and after- wards extended his philanthropic mission in the same way to islands adjoining, as well as to such parts of the nearest Highlands as he found not fully ]>ro- tected by .fenner’s discovery. During his residence in Arran, and doubtless from its relation with his favourite study, he commenced the formation of an egg museum. This he afterwards extended, mitil he had at least one egg of etery liritiah bird. Owing to continued ill health, he seems to have done but little in the way of writing or original investigation during the year 1846. In 1847, he published in the Edinburgh Snv Phihsophicat Journal a jianer, previously read at the Wernerian Society, “ On the Nucleus of the Animal and Vegetable Cell.” Soon after this period, he again went to reside in Germany, and was there in the beginning of 18^, when the chair of the Institutes of Medicine, in the Edin- burgh University, became vacant in consequence of its previouseminentoccupant, Drofessor Allen Thomson, having succeeded to the Anatomical chair in the Glas- gow University. At the instigation of several scientific acquaintances and per- sonal friends. Dr Biirry became a candidate, and produced testimonials of a very high order in proof of his fitness for the professorship. As is well known, Dr Bennett was elected to tlie chair, and has ance continued to discharge its duties with a zeal and ability which have proved that the patrons n^e a most fortunate aj>pointment. Dr Barry retired before the day of election, on the alleged ground of his entertaining religious scruples against subscribing to the tests then in force. On this subject we quote his own words, extracted from a letter of resignation addressed to the natrons, and dated Edinburgh, 10th July 1848; “ Refraining from any remark on the application of the ‘ Tests’ in ({uestion in the case of a chair of this kind, quite unconnected w ith Theology. 1 have now only to tay, that my religious creed (as a member of the Society of Friends), although in harmony with all the essential doctrines of Christianity, is one that would not admit of my subscribing those * Tests; ’ and that os the experience of mv friends, who have since done me the kindness to wait upon you, accords with my own, that the ‘ Tests’ are an insurmountable obstacle to my being elected, 1 beg leave, on these grounds alone, to withdraw my appli- cation fur the appointment.” From 1840 to 18^3, he again resided much on the continent, esjtecially in I’rague, Breslau, and Giessen ; in all these places he was on intimate terms with men eminent in science and art. At this time, and ever after, he suf- fered greatly from a severe neuralgic affection, which, during certain cold and damp states of the atmosphere, involved almost every jwrt of the liody, but at other times was more especially confined to the head, neck, and arms. At the commencement of this continental sojourn, he renewed his investigations concerning muscular tissue, and, when at Bre.slau, had much intercourse with Purkinje on this and other }>oint8 involved in his views regarding ” Fibre.” These iiMiuiries resulted in the production of his well known paper in Miiller'a Arthivta of 1850, and an extended translated abstract of the same in the New PhdxHtophical Journal for August 18W. We find also, by a letter to an Edin- burgh friend, written at Giessen on the last day of December 1851, that he wjis then engaged in studies of another kind, intending, as we understood, to turn them to account in micro-chemical investigations, lie says, “ 1 have i-arely, if ever, had before me a subject so continnally, and so intensely laying hold of all my thoughts, as that to which they have been directed for the last six weeks. . . . It is with chemitlry, in the far-famed laboratory of I’rofessor (now Baron) Liebig.’’ In 1852, he revisited Scotland, and resided occasionally in Arran, Rothesay, and Edinburgh. We saw him here for the last time in the summer of 18.53. He was greatly emaciated, and suffered from neuralgic )>ain so continuously that he could not long maintain the same posture, and was olten deprived of sleep for](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24931652_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
