Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/103

Rh fraud, and explained the mode by which it was enacted, in an advertisement which he published in Manningham's Journal. During the period that Dr Douglas lectured on anatomy, he was waited upon by Mr, afterwards the celebrated Dr William Hunter, who solicited his advice in the direction of his studies. Pleased with his address, and knowing his industry and talents, Dr Douglas appointed him his assistant, and invited him to reside under his roof; an invitation which Mr William Hunter could not accept, until he had consulted Dr Gullen, with whom he had previously arranged to enter, when he had finished his education, into partnership, for the purpose of conducting the surgical part of his practice;— but his friend Dr Cullen, seeing how important to him would be his situation under Dr Douglas, relinquished cheerfully his former agreement; and young Hunter was left at liberty to accept the situation he desired. He thus became the assistant of, and found a kind benefactor in Dr Douglas; who must have been amply rewarded, had he lived to see the high fame to which his pupil attained. Thus often it happens, that the patron and preceptor of an obscure and humble boy, fosters talents which afterwards rise and shine even with greater brilliancy than his own. Dr Douglas not only attended to the practical duties of his profession, but excelled in what may be termed its literary department. He was an erudite scholar, and published a work entitled "Bibliographiæ Anatomicæ specimen, seu Catalogus pene Omnium Auctorum qui ab Hippocrate ad Harveium rem Anatomicam ex professo vel obiter scripsit illustrarunt." This work appeared in London in the year 1715, and was republished in Leyden in 1734, which edition was enriched by several important additions from the pen of Albinus, Portal, in his history of anatomy and surgery, thus eulogises this valuable work "c'est le tableau le plus fidele, et le plus succinct de 1'anatomie ancienne. Douglas fait en peu de mots 1'histoire de chaque anatomiste, indique leurs editions, et donne une legere notice de leurs ouvrages; sa liste des ecrivains est tres etendue c'est ouvrage est une des meilleurs inodelles qu'on puisse suivre pour donner 1'histoire d'une science et j'avoue que je m'en suis beaucoup servi." Haller, when in London, visited Dr Douglas, and informs us that he was highly pleased with his anatomical preparations; particularly with those which exhibited the motions of the joints, and the internal structure of the bones. A tribute of admiration from such a man as the illustrious Haller cannot be too highly appreciated; he observes, that he found him "a learned and skilful person ; modest, candid, and obliging; and a very diligent dissecter." Besides devoting his attention to those departments of his profession in the exercise of which he was most particularly engaged, Dr Douglas seems to have pursued botany, not only as a recreation, but as a graver study. In the year 1725, he published " Lilium Sarmiense," or a description of the Guernsey lily. His work, descriptive of this beautiful flower, appeared in folio, illustrated by a plate, and is an admirable monograph. He also analysed with peculiar care the coffee seed, and published a work entitled "Arbor Yemensis," a description and history of the coffee tree, which may still be consulted as containing a great deal of curious and valuable information. We also find in the Transactions of the royal society of London, that he contributed to that work, a description of the flower and seed vessel of the Crocus Autumnalis Sativus; and an essay on the different kinds of Ipecacuanha. In addition to these labours, more or less connected with his immediate professional avocations, we find that he collected, at a great expense, all the editions of Horace which had been published from 1476 to 1739. Dr Harwood, in his view of Greek and Roman classics, observes, that "this one