Medico-chirurgical Review and Journal of Practical Medicine

CONSIDERED IN ITS DIFFEREN PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ANIMAL SERIES. Memoir 1, 2, and 3. By J. Wharton Jones, F.R.S. Philosophica Transactions, Part 2, 1846.

WE rejoice to find that the researches of one of the most distinguishe physiologists of the English school, have been published in a collectiv form; and have thus been rescued from the kind of neglect in which the have for so long a period been allowed to remain. For this act of posthu mous justice, the best acknowledgements of all who are interested, no les in the claims of merit than in the diffusion of sound scientific knowledge are due to the Council of the Sydenham Society, who have, by this an other selections, evinced a just appreciation of the leading objects for the promotion of which this flourishing institution was established. It was an ac peculiarly becoming such an Association, at an epoch when so many kin dred minds have, in all parts of Europe, given a new and philosophic direc tion to the science of organisation, to vindicate the claims of our country man as a fellow-labourer in the same field, and as an original observer o the highest order. Owing to causes which it is difficult entirely to explain but among the most influential of which may be placed the early death o Hewson, and the blaze which surrounded the two Hunters, the full value o the researches of this most sagacious investigator, not merely as regard the properties of the blood, touching which only he is known to the majori ty of readers, but as bearing upon some of the highest problems in physi ology, have never yet been properly recognised. The satisfaction we have just expressed, is considerably heightened by perceiving that the editor to whose charge these "Works" have been committed, has entered upor his duties with a jealous care of the reputation of their author; allowing no occasion where the claims of Hewson demanded vindication, to pass by unheeded; and never omitting to proclaim how frequently he had entered upon those paths, which, followed out in subsequent times, have conducted more than one observer to the highest distinction in the temple of science No. 107

The cautious, minute, and accurate experiments upon the changes induced in the red corpuscles by saline solutions, by water and other fluids, to which we shall subsequently revert, and which appeared so little promising of great results at the time when they were made, might, had Hewson's valuable life been spared, have led to the discovery of the endosmotic powers of organic membrane, ultimately revealed by the admirable researches of Dutrochet, and to which the phenomena just noticed are so closely allied.

"His researches concerning the use of the glands without regular excretory ducts show the marks of an active and ingenious mind, and I believe first indicated a rational method of research into this important and recondite branch of physiology. His observations on the lymphatic glands are in the same spirit; and his doctrine of central particles, so long looked upon as visionary, was a step far in advance of the age in which he lived."-P. xlvii.

Those who are well acquainted with the full scope of Hewson's inquiries, will recognise the justice of the following passage, in which Mr. Gulliver, in alluding to his early death, and to that of his talented and honest friend, Magnus Falconar, observes, "had these two ingenious men lived to continue the inquiry which they had so successfully begun, it is not improbable that the important results obtained by Schwann would long since have been anticipated in this country; for, as I have elsewhere remarked, the researches of the German physiologist show that what Hewson propounded of the blood-corpuscles particularly is applicable to the tissues generally, and that the cell-nucleus of the present day is but another term for the central particle of Hewson."-P. xlviii.

If to these instances it be added that Hewson was the first to determine the true figure of the red corpuscle; the first to examine accurately the fluid of the lymphatic system and of the thymus gland; the first distinctly to describe the pale corpuscles or lymph globules, as they are often called, of the blood; to say nothing of the many important facts he discovered respecting the lymphatic vessels, the fibrin and red corpuscles in the process of coagulation, and other valuable researches which it is unnecessary further to specify; if, we say, all this was accomplished by one person who lived only to his 35th year, enough has been adduced to justify the high estimation in which it is clear Hewson was held by his contemporaries, and by the limited number of modern anatomists who were, up to the present time, thoroughly acquainted with his labours.

The biography of the good and great, with whom our author may justly be classed, is one of the most delightful and instructive departments of literature; and among the other obligations we owe Mr. Gulliver for this admirable volume, not the least is the gratification he has afforded us by the interesting sketch he has prefixed of Hewson's life, mingled as it is with allusions to several of his intimate friends and contemporaries, foremost among whom stands the illustrious Franklin. It is a touching incident that the materials for this sketch were collected by the affectionate care of Mrs. Hewson, a woman of superior intelligence, to whom, indeed, Dr. Franklin addressed some of his best letters on philosophy. We extract the following particulars from a letter written by this estimable person to Dr. Simmons, and originally published by him in his life of Dr. Hunter.

1847]

Biography of Hewson.

"Mr. Hewson was born at Hexham, in Northumberland, on the 14th Novembe O. S., 1739. He received the rudiments of his education at the grammar-scho in that town under the Rev. Mr. Brown. His father was a surgeon and apothe cary in the place, and much respected in that neighbourhood. With him M Hewson acquired his first medical knowledge. Being ambitious to increase the knowledge, he placed himself first under an eminent surgeon in Newcastle, M Lambert, and afterwards resided some time at London, Edinburgh, and Paris His subsequent acquirements are sufficient to prove that he visited those place with a true love of science and desire of attaining eminence in his profession

"A better son and husband, or a fonder father than Mr. Hewson never ex isted. He was honoured with the friendship of many respectable persons now living, and the late Sir John Pringle showed him singular marks of regard. "Mr. Hewson's manners were gentle and engaging; his ambition was fre from ostentation, his prudence was without meanness, and he was more covetou of fame than of fortune."-P. xiv-xv.

The details of the professional career sketched in this letter are soon re lated. In 1759, Hewson came to London, lodged with John Hunter, and attended the Anatomical Lectures of Dr. William Hunter, at a house i Covent Garden.

"Hewson's diligence and skill soon recommended him to the favourable notic of the brothers; and when Mr. Hunter went abroad with the army, early in 1671 he left to Mr. Hewson the charge of instructing the other pupils in the dissecting room, by which means, as Mrs. Hewson remarks, he gained money at an ag when most students in surgery are only spending it.

"He entered himself a pupil at Guy's and St. Thomas's Hospitals and a tended Dr. Colin Mackenzie on midwifery, and Dr. Hugh Smith on physic. I gratitude to the liberal confidence of his father, Hewson was justly careful of hi money, and this prudence continued through life, though not so as to check th growth of generosity; for no man ever exercised his profession with less avidity of gain; he disdained every species of meanness, and possessed a judiciou liberality which elevated his character. His father had the happiness of living t reap the fruit of this care.”—P. xv.

Hewson subsequently (in 1762) studied at Edinburgh, and on his retur entered into partnership with Dr. Hunter. In the Summer of 1765, h visited France; on March 8, 1770, was elected a Fellow of the Roya Society; and in the November of the same year, he received the Copley Gold Medal "for his papers on the lymphatic system in birds, amphibiou animals and fishes." In 1769, Dr. Hunter finished his building in Wind mill-street, where Hewson had a small apartment allotted to him. Mr Gulliver has very appropriately alluded to this celebrated place in the fol lowing words:

"The Windmill-street School no longer exists; but it will be preserved from oblivion by the names of the eminent men who lectured there. Among thes the future historian of anatomy and physiology in England will have to com memorate William Hunter, Hewson, Cruikshank, Sheldon, Baillie, Brodie Charles Bell."-P. xvi.

We now approach the close of these brilliant prospects, which are thus depicted by a distinguished contemporary. "In viewing the situation o our associate at this period," says Dr. Lettsom, "the most gratifying pros pects presented themselves, where genius and industry were rewarded with

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