A reply to a recent publication against him, purporting to be the "Report of the Committee of the London Infirmary, for Curing Diseases of the Eye."

  • Adams, William, Sir, 1783-1827.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A reply to a recent publication against him, purporting to be the "Report of the Committee of the London Infirmary, for Curing Diseases of the Eye.". 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.

    18/51 (page 12)
    1-2 my publication of Mr. Russell's leltcr, referring to Mr. Saun- ders's refusal in 1809, to make known his mode of cure to the Commander-in-Chief, for the benefit of the army, or to allow me to do so, in compliance with tlie request of General Thewles. But the production of that letter, they rendered necessary to the vindication of my character against their own unjust aspersions, in what purported to be a Report from the London Eye Infirmary, respecting my conduct on that occasion. In no respect, however, have I directly or indirectly questioned the purity of Mr. Saunders, or censured his name, unless it be deemed censure to assert my own right,—unless it be deemed a depreciation of his fame, and inconsistent with the gratitude which I owe to my friend and preceptor, to alledge that which I have proved,—namely, that 1 have improved upon his practice, that I have advanced the science to which his life was devoted. Were Mr. Saunders alive, he would, I am confident, readily acknowledge, and liberally and openly patronise the improvements and discoveries which his professed advo- cates pertinaciously and publicly deny, although they well know, that my instruments and operations are now employed by their own surgeons at the infirmary. Mr. Saunders would be incapable of publicly condemning what be privately practised; but he was in feeling, principle and character, different, very different indeed from those who affect to be his admirers and imitators. This adoption of my practice appears from the following statement, which was made by a gentleman, a pupil of the London Eye Infirmary, before a numerous class of students, who were attending my lectures at the York Hospital on the 8th instant. There were also present my two as- sistants and an eminent physician, who noted the particulars of this statement—and a copy of whose notes I have in my possession.