Oliver Goldsmith M.D. (Oxon.) and his medical age / [John N. Elliott Brown].

  • Brown, John N. Elliott.
Date:
[1931]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Oliver Goldsmith M.D. (Oxon.) and his medical age / [John N. Elliott Brown]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    2r n\ / (V> V I - * 'w/ Oliver Goldsmith, M.D. (O xon.), and His Medical Age AiS^ Ij^troduction by John- Elliott Browii, AI.B. Toronto . .' (jr' ' 'ZS ir ■j/- ^ This ^Aery great man’^—to use the words of his great friend, Samuel Johnson, lived during the second and third quarters of the eighteenth century, 1728-1774. His was a very unusual career: Born in Ireland Avhere he received his early and uni¬ versity training; taught in medicine at Edinburgh for two years ; and in Leyden and Louvain for a term; impelled by fate to tramp as a mendicant for one year, through Elanders, Erance, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and, probably, ^^Onward where the rude C?^rinthian boor against the houseless stranger shuts the door.’’ Beturning on foot to Britain, he reached Dover penniless ; walked tO' London in ten days, where he tried twice to practise the profession he wished to practise, but failed; tried school-teaching, but failed; commenced authorship, and after fearful odds, attained a magnificent triumph in literature. To account for Goldsmith’s success is a. challenge to the curious admirer of the product of his genius. Who were his forbears ? What were the early experiences of the boy ? Who were his teachers? What were his favorite studies? What books did he read ? Why did he choose medicine for a calling ? In short, what role did the age in which he lived, or any preced¬ ing age, play in influencing his steps? In the preceding century there was a general belief that there was an elixir of life—also that the grosser metals could be transmuted into gold; also in magic; also in witchcraft and in astrology. It is estimated that forty thousand were condemned to death for witchcraft in this century under a law which was iiot repealed until Goldsmith was eight years old, 183G. Astrology J. M