Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/220

202 of some of the plays of Euripides, by Markland. He had an opportunity of rendering an essential service to Dr. Letherland, a man of deep and very extensive learning, but of retired habits, and very little known even in his own profession, although he contributed, by his literary information, to the popularity of more than one of his colleagues. Dr. Heberden's extensive practice made it inconvenient for him to accept the appointment of physician to the queen; and the king, who had always shown towards him the greatest esteem and regard, readily adopted his disinterested recommendation of Dr. Letherland as his substitute in the situation. He died on the 17th of May, 1801, at the age of above 90 years, having exhibited, at the close of his life, the same serenity of mind which he had enjoyed through its course, and the same earnest faith in the Christian Revelation which had formed alike the rule and the happiness of his existence.

The most important addition which a superior understanding can, at present, contribute to the stock of medical knowledge, is not so much novelty as truth. New things have been presented to us, in rapid succession, during many centuries; and the most urgent want of the science is to establish what is true, and to separate the genuine from the suspicious. There is much force in the frequent remark of Cullen, that there are more false facts in medicine than false theories. Heberden perceived this state of things, and has supplied towards its relief all that a single mind could hope to accomplish. He is one of the few medical writers who may deservedly claim the title of eclectic; he had no favourite doctrines to