Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 8.djvu/54

2 a stranger in Edinburgh, resolved to establish himself at once as a physician in the northern capital, instead of commencing his career in some more humble district. He accordingly took a house in Nicolson Street, and as a general or family practitioner his reputation continued to grow from year to year without interruption. Even this, however, was not enough for his active and benevolent mind; and therefore, notwithstanding the increase of business, and its tempting emoluments, he gave much of his time to attendance on the poor, as one of the medical officers of the Royal Public Dispensary. Still deeming his own personal exertions insufficient, he would not rest until he had imparted his enthusiasm to others; and therefore, when his reputation in clinical knowledge had gathered round him a host of pupils emulous to follow his example, he divided the city into districts, to each of which a few of these students were attached for medical superintendence. In this way, while the health of the humblest of the population of Edinburgh was cared for, an efficient class of experienced physicians was trained for the kingdom at large. Besides this important service, on being appointed vaccinator along with Drs. Gillespie and Bryce, he was enabled to take with them an active part in introducing the practice of the Jennerian discovery into Scotland.

At length, when after a course of years, the professional experience and reputation of Dr. Abercrombie hahad [sic] reached their height, an event occurred by which it was hoped their excellence would be duly honoured. This was a vacancy in the Chair of Medicine in the university of Edinburgh, occasioned by the death of Dr. Gregory in 1821. On this occasion Dr. Abercrombie added his name to the list of candidates, while his friends were sanguine in the hope of his success. But town-councils are not always infallible judges of scientific attainments, and his application was unsuccessful. The following list of his writings, which he presented to the Provost and Town-Council of Edinburgh, on announcing himself as candidate for the Chair, will sufficiently show how his hours of literary leisure, amidst a throng of professional occupations extending over the preceding course of years, had been occupied and improved:—
 * 1) On Diseases of the Spinal Marrow.
 * 2) On Dropsy; particularly on some modifications of it which are successfully treated by blood-letting.
 * 3) On Chronic Inflammation of the Brain and its Membranes, including Researches on Hydrocephalus.
 * 4) On Apoplexy.
 * 5) On Palsy.
 * 6) On Organic Diseases of the Brain.
 * 7) On a Remarkable and Dangerous Affection, producing Difficulty of Breathing in Infants.
 * 8) On the Pathology of the Intestinal Canal. Part I. On Hens.
 * 9) Ditto. Part II. On Inflammation of the Bowels.
 * 10) Ditto. Part III. On Diseases of the Mucous Membranes of the Bowels.
 * 11) On the Pathology of Consumptive Diseases.
 * 12) On Ischuria Renalis.

After the decease of Dr. Gregory, Dr. Abercrombie although unsuccessful in his application for the Chair of Medicine, succeeded him as consulting physician, in which situation his services were often in demand, not only in Edinburgh, but over the whole of Scotland. He was also appointed physician to the king for Scotland—a mere title, it is true, but at the same time one of those honorary