Page:The growth of medicine from the earliest times to about 1800.djvu/470

 known of Sydenham's weakness in regard to facing his duty, if he himself had not stated the facts. This famous epidemic, as is well known, was accompanied by an appalling mortality.

Andrew Browne, a Scotch physician of good standing, entertained serious objections to some of the advice given by Sydenham in the treatise entitled "Schedula monitoria de novae febris ingressu," and, in order to learn more precisely what the author's views on the subject really were, he decided to run down to London for a day or two. Sydenham gave him such a cordial reception and made his stay in the metropolis so pleasant that he remained there several months—instead of a day or two. "And when I returned to Scotland I felt contented and joyful as if I were carrying back with me a valuable treasure."

As an instance of his thoughtful kindness, it is related that Sydenham had occasion to treat a poor man who lived in his neighborhood for an obstinate bilious colic, but his employment of narcotics did not effect very much in the way of relief. "I felt moved by pity for this poor man in his misery; and accordingly I loaned one of my horses to him in order that he might take long excursions on horseback."

Sydenham had no eagerness for professional honors, although he appreciated highly those which came to him spontaneously. As already stated at the beginning of this sketch, the degree of Doctor of Medicine was not conferred upon him by Cambridge as a mere honorary affair, but was won by him after he had passed through the regular course of training required of all candidates for this degree. His case, however, was peculiar in one respect: he waited until after he had been in active practice several years before he decided to pass through the course of training required. He was not a member of the College of Physicians of London, and he held no official position at Court.

The following summary may serve to convey some idea of Sydenham's views regarding pathology and treatment.