A tribute to the memory of Dr. William Hawes / [William Hawes].

  • Hawes, William, 1736-1808
Date:
1808]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A tribute to the memory of Dr. William Hawes / [William Hawes]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and utility of an Institution of this kind had been very early seen by Mr. Hawes; and therefore he had laboured to promote it, with a diligence and an ardour that would ever do him honour. Indeed, be-r fore the establishment of this Society, he had publicly advertised rewards, for no¬ tice to be brought him of any persons in such situations (within a reasonable dis¬ tance from his own habitation) as those who are now the objects of this Institution ; which was the strongest demonstration of his solicitude to promote so benevolent a design ; and that afterwards, by joining with his worthy colleague, Dr. Cogan, in adopting the necessary measures for esta¬ blishing the present Institution, he had performed a real service to his Country.” In 1780 was published, his third edition of an “ Examination of the Reverend John Wesley’s Primitive Physick;” in which the absurdities and dangerous re¬ medies recommended by that venerable and (on many other accounts) respectable Wri¬ ter were acutely exposed by a combina- nation of irony and serious argument, In 1780, or 1781, he removed to Pals¬ grave Place ; and commenced pi'actjce as a Physician; the degree of Doctor of Me¬ dicine having been conferred upon him some time before. In 1781, Dr, Hawes published “ An Ad¬ dress to the Legislature, on the Importance of the Humane Society;” and, by his steady perseverance, and personal endea¬ vours, he lived to see most of his objects realized, as conducive to the restoration of suspended animation. About the same period, appeared his *c Address to the King and Parliament of Great Britain; with Observations on the General Bills of Mortality.” These useful and interesting publica¬ tions gradually raised the reputation of the Author to the notice of many learned, as well as benevolent, characters. In the same year, he was elected Physi¬ cian to the Surrey Dispensary; and about the same time, commenced his M dieal Lectures on Suspended Animation; and was the first, and perhaps the only, per¬ son that ever introduced the subject as a part of medical education * which he elu¬ cidated under the following heads : I. To instruct the younger part of the Faculty how to preserve human life in every critical circumstance, wherein the vital powers are liable to be suspended; and to urge the importance of the en¬ quiry, ou every principle of Christianity, national policy, and humanity. IT. To consider the sundry derange¬ ments which suspend the action of the principal vital organ, the brain, the heart, or the lungs ; together with the various means for restoring their respective functions. III. An inquiry (so far as relates to the present subject) into the effects of the animal, vegetable, and mineral poisons; their deleterious power in suddenly de¬ stroying the vital functions ; and the most approved methods of preventing or cor¬ recting their baneful effects, when received into the human body, fV. The modes of recovering persons from syncop®, inebriation, trance, drown¬ ing, suffocation by the cord, or noxious vapours, intense cold, or lightning. V. Important reflections on still-born children, and the most efficacious modes of restoring vital action. VI. The various symptoms of apparent death, which sometimes supervene in acute diseases, but which might frequently be surmounted by suitable measures, speedily adopted and vigorously pursued ; and lastly, the usual signs of death con¬ sidered, and those which are certain dis¬ tinguished from those which are more equivocal, &c. These Lectures were closed by a pro¬ posal of bestowing prize-medals, suggest¬ ed by the ardour of his mind, and founded by his munificence; and in October 1782, the gold medal was awarded, by four re¬ spectable Physicians, to Dr. Richard Pear¬ son, of Birmingham, and the silver me¬ dal to a writer whose paper was signed Humanitas. Since that period similar prize-medals, bestowed by the Medical Society, have given rise to the invaluable works of Pearson, Goodwin, Coleman, Rite, and Fothergill. In 1782, Dr. Hawes removed to East- cheap ; and (having been elected Physi¬ cian to the London Dispensary in 1785) to Bury Street, in 1786; and to Spital Square in 1791. In 1793, when the manufactories of cot¬ tons had so far superseded those of silks* as to occasion temporary want, and even beggary, among the artisans in Spital - fields, Dr. Hawes singly stood forward; and, principally by his activity, 1200 fami¬ lies were snatched from ruin. His public ad¬ dress on that occasion is worth preserving; SPITAL-FI ELDS WEAVERS. IVe have been requested to insert the following Letter, written by Dr. Hawes to a popular Clergyman ; being convinced, that the humane tendency of it will excite the compassion of such as possess the ability of relieving the miserable. Distress in this Country needs but complain, and Relief makes an immediate appearance. The same generous minds who so lately gave the wretch¬ ed Emigrant protection—-who laudably made provision for the Widow and Orphan of the brave War riot, and are yet employed in yielding ease and comfort to those who still survive to protect our liberties and property, will not safer a numerous body of useful Artisans„