The complete works of John Hunter, F.R.S (Volume 1).

  • Hunter, John, 1728-1793.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The complete works of John Hunter, F.R.S (Volume 1). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    INTRODUCTION TO THE LIFE. Besides several brief memoirs of John Hunter which have ap- peared in various works of general biography, his life has already- been written at considerable length by three different authors. Neither of these publications, however, furnishes us with more than a very imperfect account of his character, either as a private in- dividual or as a Natural Philosopher. The memoir by Sir Everard Home, prefixed to the work on In- flammation, is a scanty outline, almost wholly devoid of those characteristic anecdotes which form so essential a part of biography, and which his near connexion with Mr. Hunter would have enabled him to introduce; whilst nearly a third part of the whole is occu- pied with a detailed account of his various illnesses. The memoirs by Dr. Adams, and Mr. Jesse Foot, stand in singular contrast to each other, the former displaying everywhere marks of indiscrimi- nate and unbounded partiality towards Mr. Hunter, the latter of bitter hostility, leading to the most flagrant misrepresentations of facts. It appeared, therefore, if not necessary, at least appropiate and desirable, to prefix to this new and revised edition of his writings, a full and impartial account of this eminent man. It is known to most of those who have kindly furnished informa- tion for this work, that Mr. Palmer did at first intend himself to have? undertaken the office of Mr. Hunter's biographer: and he feels that some apology is due to those from whom he received commu- nications under this supposition, for transferring the task to another. A want of sufficient time to execute the task was the chief, if not the only reason, for his declining to fulfil his intention; and it was only when satisfied that such was the fact that I consented to engage in an undertaking which I should gladly have seen continued in more able hands. In fulfilling the charge with which I have been entrusted, 1 have endeavoured to avail myself of all the information respecting Mr. Hunter to be found in preceding publications ; nor have I scrupled lo adopt the opinions of others regarding him where I thought them correct. 3