Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 13.djvu/349

 the Nature of Fever and on the Effects of Opium, Alcohol, and Inanition.’ A second edition was published in 1799, a third in two volumes in 1804, and a fourth in 1805. The object of the book is to establish three rules of practice: that the early stage of fever should be treated by pouring cold water over the body, that in later stages the temperature should be reduced by bathing with tepid water, and that in all stages of fever abundant potations of cold water are advantageous. These propositions are supported by a large number of carefully observed cases and by passages from old medical books. Currie's is the first series of English medical observations in which clinical thermometrical observations are systematically recorded. Since the time of Galen cold bathing had been from time to time tried as a remedy, but Currie was the first exact observer of its effects, and he deserves the further credit of turning attention to the importance of repeated thermometrical observations in fever. No method of cold affusion has ever been universally adopted in England, but this book led to the use of cold water applications by many practitioners, and undoubtedly saved life in severe cases of scarlet fever and in some forms of enteric fever. The publication of the ‘Medical Reports’ had been delayed for a year by another work, a life of Burns, undertaken for the benefit of the poet's family, and prefixed to an edition of his poems. Currie had but once spoken to Burns for a few moments in the streets of Dumfries in 1792, but he was well acquainted with the surroundings of the poet. The life is praised by Dugald Stewart (Letter, 6 Sept. 1800) as a ‘strong and faithful picture.’ It narrates the facts without much art, and succeeded in its object of raising money for the widow.

In 1804 Currie's health began to fail, and he went to Bath for a visit, but, finding a short time insufficient to restore him, decided to settle in Bath. Soon, however, he grew worse and went to Sidmouth, where he died of the results of long-continued valvular disease of the heart on 31 Aug. 1805. He is buried in the parish church, with an epitaph by Professor Smyth of Cambridge, which celebrates his memorable contribution to practical medicine in the couplet:

Williamson painted a portrait of Currie for Roscoe in 1791, which is engraved in his ‘Memoir’ by his son.



CURRIEHILL,. [See, 1794–1868.]

CURRY, JOHN, M.D. (d. 1780), historian, was descended from an ancient Irish family (O'Corra) who lost their estates in the county of Cavan during the wars of 1641–52 and 1689–91. His grandfather commanded a troop of horse in the service of James II, and fell at the head of it in the battle of Aughrim. His father took to commerce. He was born in Dublin, studied medicine for many years at Paris, and afterwards obtained a diploma for the practice of physic at Rheims. Having returned to his native city, he rose there to eminence as a physician. In the hope of dispelling the prejudices against the Roman catholics, caused by the sermons annually preached on the memorial day of the Irish rebellion of 1641, he published what is described as a ‘Dialogue.’ It is probably the book entitled ‘Brief Account from the most authentic Protestant Writers, &c., of the Irish Rebellion, 1641,’ London, 1747, 8vo (, Cat. of the Library at Lough Fea, p. 132). Curry's work was attacked in a voluminous pamphlet by Walter Harris, entitled ‘Faction Unmasked, or an Answer to a Dialogue, lately published by a Popish Physician, and pretended to have passed between a Dissenter and a member of the Church of Ireland; wherein the causes, motives, and mischiefs of the Irish Rebellion and Massacres in 1641 are laid thick upon the Protestants,’ Dublin, 1752, 8vo. Curry rejoined in his ‘Historical Memoirs,’ from which [q. v.] gathered the materials for his ‘Tryal of the Cause of the Roman Catholicks’ (1761). Subsequently Curry enlarged his plan in a work entitled ‘An Historical and Critical Review of the Civil Wars in Ireland,’ Dublin, 1775, 4to, in which he gives a general view of the times from Henry II, and begins his details with the reign of Queen Elizabeth, ending with the settlement under King William. After the author's death, which occurred in 1780, a new edition, prepared by Charles O'Conor of Belanagare, Roscommon, appeared in 2 vols., Dublin, 1786 (reprinted in one volume, Dublin, 1810, 8vo).