Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 3.djvu/145

Rh his death, of seeing his views on the subject in a fair way of being realized." On the death of Dr James Gregory, which happened in 1821, Dr Duncan, who had long served his majesty when prince of Wales in that capacity, was appointed first physician to the king for Scotland.

The royal college of physicians in 1324, as a signal mark of respect and favour, re-elected Ur Duncan president; but he had now attained that advanced age when men find it necessary to retire from the more active cares and anxieties of the world. He, however, continued so long as he could command bodily strength to participate in the business of those institutions which had been his pride in earlier life. More especially it was his pride to continue his physiological lectures in the university ; and to pay that attention to his pupils which always showed the natural kindness of his heart. He made a point, like his venerable preceptor Dr Cullen, of inviting them to his house, and cultivating a friendly and confidential intercourse with them. It was his custom to invite a certain number to be with him every Sunday evening, which he intimated by little printed circulars, twenty or thirty of which he would issue at a time, taking his pupils in the order they entered to his class, until every one had been invited. On these occasions he conversed cheerfully and freely with them on all subjects ; a practice which is surely encouraging to the pupil, and calculated to increase rather than diminish his respect and attachment towards the professor. His kindness of heart was indeed unbounded. He never heard of a pupil having to struggle against the ills of poverty, or being in any kind of distress, that he did not exert himself to emancipate him from such difficulty; and many now live whose feelings of silent gratitude are the most appropriate homage to his memory, " While his benevolence fell with the warmth of a sunbeam on all who came within the sphere of its influence, it was more especially experienced," says Dr Huie, " by those students of medicine who came from a distance, and had the good fortune to attract, or be recommended to his notice. Over them he watched with paternal solicitude. He invited them when in health to his house and his table. He attended them when in sickness with assiduity and tenderness, and when they sunk the victims of premature disease, the sepulchre of his family was thrown open for their remains."

He was in some respects eccentric; but there was not an eccentricity or custom he adopted which did not indicate that some generous or good feeling was the ruling principle of his actions. In addition to the institutions to which we have alluded, of a grave character, Dr Duncan established the Esculapian and Gymnastic clubs, at which, by assembling round the social and convivial board, it was intended to soften down those asperities and inimical feelings which, proverbially and from the most ancient time, have been imputed to medical men. With the same object in view, and to encourage a taste for experimental research, in the year 1782 he founded the Harveian Society, to which, for a period of forty-seven years, he discharged the duties of secretary. This society, which still flourishes, proposes annually a question, or the subject for an essay; and an honorary reward, consisting of a gold medal and a copy of the works of the great exemplar, is awarded to the successful candidate. The adjudication takes place publicly on the anniversary of Harvey's birth day, which is afterwards commemorated by an elegant convivial entertainment. Before adjudging the prize, the secretary is appointed to pronounce an eloge on some deceased ornament of the profession; and among others, those read by Dr Duncan on the lives of Alexander Munro primus, Alexander Munro secundus, and Sir Joseph Banks, merit particular notice. Dr Duncan occasionally stepped