Page:A biographical dictionary of eminent Scotsmen, vol 8.djvu/94

42 wonderful as that of the circulation of the blood, astonished the whole medical world: it was a revelation that had remained unknown till now, and when announced, could not be controverted; and under this new guidance, practical anatomists were directed to the proper seat of the ailments that came under their notice, as well as taught the right mode of cure. His theory, which was published in 1821, in the "Philosophical Transactions," in the form of an essay on the "Nervous System," produced immediate attention, and when its value was appreciated, attempts were made to deny him the merit of the discovery. Fortunately, however, for his claims, he had printed a pamphlet for distribution among his friends, as early as 1811, in which the principal points of his theory were already announced; while his letters, written to his brother upon the subject, were sufficient to put to flight the numerous pretenders who claimed the discovery as their own. His subsequent publications on the "Nervous Circle," and "On the Eye," completely established the existence of a sixth sense, by which we are enabled to ascertain and estimate the qualities of size, weight, form, distance, texture, and resistance.

Bell had now reached the summit of his ambition, and established for himself a European reputation. His suggestions and improvements were adopted in every country where the healing art was studied as a science, while the leading men of the Continent united in testifying to the value of his labours. In 1824 he was appointed to the Senior Chair of Anatomy and Surgery in the London College of Surgeons, while his treatises on "Animal Mechanics," and "On the Hand," and his "Illustrations of Paley's Natural Theology," secured that professional distinction which seemed capable of no farther extension. On the accession of William IV. to the throne, it was resolved to commemorate this event, by conferring the honour of knighthood upon a few of the most eminent scientific men of the period, and in this chosen number Bell was included, with his countrymen Brewster, Leslie, and Ivory. An opportunity now occurred for Sir Charles Bell to return to Scotland after an absence of thirty two years, by an offer in 1836 of the professorship of Surgery in the university of Edinburgh, which he accepted. It was his prevailing desire, notwithstanding his wide and lucrative practice in London, to have leisure for prosecuting his scientific researches, and to prosecute them among the friends of his youth, and in the place where they had commenced. But unfortunately he found Edinburgh too limited a field for his purposes, and especially for a new and great work upon the "Nervous System," which he wished to publish, with numerous splendid illustrations. Instead of this, he was obliged to content himself with a new edition of the "Anatomy of Expression," which he greatly extended and improved, in the course of a tour through Italy, during the interval of a college session. He also published his "Institutes of Surgery," containing the substance of his lectures delivered in the university. In 1842, during the vacation of summer, Sir Charles left Edinburgh on a journey to London; but, on reaching Hallow Park on the 27th of May, he died suddenly the same night. The cause of his death was angina pectoris, brought on, as was supposed by his friends, from disappointment, chiefly arising from the new Medical Reform Bill, which he believed was hostile to the best interests of the profession. His intellectual originality, acuteness of perception, and steady perseverance, by which he attained such distinguished reputation and success, were connected with an amenity and gentleness of disposition that endeared him to the circle of his friends, and the society in which he moved. An excellent portrait and striking likeness of Sir