I Account o( '^HE LIFE AND WORKS Maister Peter Lowe, The F'Hii c" . '• ' <" Faculty of Physicians and "^ ! 3 of dasgow. JriNi:.A\SON, 1^1. D. GLASGOAN JAMES MACLEHOSE & SONS, yi'.bliahrro lo the alnibcrsitii. icSS.). •^1 i rUf^*«^ bTTiK AciiMi * S.:^. feoa ■ Faintm.] .nth* pcM««i:3i :*' Hi* F»ci>hT e¥i[S PETE IS (IQDWlffE ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WORKS OF /Ibaister pctct %o\qc, THE FOUNDER OF THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF GLASGOIY. BY JAMES FINLAYSON, M.D., Honorary Librarian to the Faculty of Physicians and Surf^eons, Glasgovr ; Physician to tJie Glasgow Western In/innary ; Physician to the Royal Hospital /or Sick Children in ClasgCM ; Late Honorary President of the Glasgow University Medico-Chirurgical Society^ 6fc. GLASGOW : JAMES MACLEHOSE .S: SONS, JJublisIuvs to the clnibcrsiti], 1889. BioavJi.J 'Z 100 PREFACE. As Honorary Librarian to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, I have naturally had my attention directed to Peter Lowe's works, and during the last 13 years I have made various attempts to explore this obscure subject. Wiien the students of the University did me the honour of electing me Hon- orary President of the Glasgow University Medico- Chirurgical Society, I thought an account of the Life and Works of our first notable Surgeon might sen'e as a suitable Address to those studying medicine in Glasgow. I intended at that time, while the details were fresh in my memory, to write out from my notes the Address which I had given to them in November, 1886. A combination of circumstances prevented this being done : with the delay which had unavoid- ably occurred, the idea of expanding certain portions of the Address led to still further delay. This repeated postponement added much to the labour of working up such a subject by one constantly disturbed by arduous work of a more practical nature ; but it has not been without its advantages, for even during the printing of this Memoir a few additional details of some importance have been acquired. I have to acknowledge much assistance rendered to mc in this work. Dr. W. H. Hill, the Clerk of our Faculty here, has supplied many references of value, and has verified some of the quotations from old legal documents. Mr. A. Duncan, the Secretary of the Faculty, has given me access to the Minute Books, and has aided the inquiry in a great many ways. Sir James Manvick gave me permission to have tracings reproduced of Peter Lowe's Autographs. Dr. J. 13. Cowan obtained from the late Mr. James Stirling, of Cordale, some documentary evidence, connected willi that family, of great importance. Dr. C VI Creighlon, of J.ondon, was good enough to send me his notes bearing on Peter I -one's translation from Hippocrates, and also to look up for me, in the British Museum, some further i)oints on this subject. Prof. John Ferguson, of Glasgow, and Dr. Wickham I>egg, of London, likewise furnished, from their stores of bibliographical knowledge, some help in this inquiry. My friend Mr. T. Windsor, of Manchester, forwarded, at my request, some notes which he had accumulated on Peter Lowe and his works ; these I have printed in an Appendix. My nephew, Mr. Archibald Fleming, made several searches for me at the Register House in Edinburgh. In addition, I am under very special obligations to one of my Clinical Assistants, Dr. John Love, who during the last year has made a multitude of inquiries and extracts for me ; during the printing of these sheets he has com- pared the quotations and verified the references whenever the books quoted could be obtained in Glasgow, except in a few cases where I did so myself: it seemed important to aim at as much accuracy as possible in this respect. The Council of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons gave me permission to have Peter Lowe's Portrait reproduced by the Photogravure process ; and I have to acknowledge the kindness of the friend who supplied two litho- graphic drawings. J. F. 2 WoonsiDi; Place, Glascow, August, 1889. CONTENTS. TAGF. Introduction: Peter Lowe's Tomb, j " Chirurgerie" (1597) and "Spanish Sicknes" (1596), 3 Probable Date of Birth — Residence Abroad — Arrival in London, - - - ^6 Arrival in Glasgow, - - 18 Foundation of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. • - - 20 Incidents in Life in Glasgow, -...--.-. 25 Wife — Family — Descendants, - - . 26 Date of Death, 29 Bibliography, ------ 31 Unpublished or Lost Works, - 40 Name — Titles — Portrait, ... 4,9 Astruc's Strictures — Accusation of Writing for the People in English, - - 58 Appendix No. I.— Charter by King James VI. to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 66 Appendix No. II. — Letter from Rev. John Hamilton Gray to Dr. J. G. Fleming, Glasgow, 68 Appendix No. III.— Letter from Dr. A. Dureau, Paris, to Dr. James Finlay- son, Glasgow, ...-.-..--. 70 Appendix No. IV. — Notes on Peter Lowe l)y Mr. T. Windsor, Manchester, with comments by Dr. J. Finlayson, - - "i ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Photogravure, by T. & R. Annan & Sons, of a Portrait of Peter Lowe, in the possession of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, Frontispiece. Lithographic Drawing of Peter Lowe's Tomb, - 2 Photo-lithograph of the Title-page of the Second Edition of the " Chyrvrgerie," 4 Lithographic Drawing of Peter Lowe's Gauntlet Gloves, with Silver and Gilt Embroidery, 28 Photo-lithograph of the Title-page of the " Spanish Sicknes," from the copy in the Library of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow (the line injured by the binder is DOM. 1596), 30 Photo-lithograph of the Title-page of the First Edition of the " Chirurgeric," from the Copy in the Library of the Royal Medical nnd Chirurgical Society of London, 32 Photo-lithograph of the Title-page of the First Edition of the " Presages," - 38 Two Facsimile Specimens of Peter Lowe's Autograph, 49> 50 THE LIFE AND WORKS OF MAISTER PETER LOWE. MAISTER PETER LOWE. On entering the gate of the churchyard which surrounds the Glasgow Cathedral, a visitor to that fine building may notice that the third tomb- stone on the right is in better preservation than its neighbours, and that its curious inscription can be easily made out. The property of this tomb was acquired by the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow in 183.1, from the representatives of Peter Lowe's descendants. At that time iron railings ' of some height existed in front of the stone, but these are now removed, and the present appearance of Peter Lowe's tomb is very well represented in the drawing annexed, which was prepared for this memoir. The inscription on the upright stone is repeated, in part, on a flat stone on the ground, with slight variations in the spelling of some of the words ; although it has been frequently reproduced, especially in various works on the history of Glasgow, it is necessary to give it here, and it is so quaint and interesting that it can well bear repetition. ^ These are shown in a photograph in the possession of the Faculty in Glasgow, and also in Fairhairn's drawings : A'elics of Ancient Archittrture and otht-r Pictiircsqiif Scenes in Glasgcau. Publis/ied and Lithographed in Colours by Miller ^ Buchanan, from li'atef Colour Dra'vings by Thomas Fairbairn \Glasgor,i.'\ 1S49. Rc-issucd by David Hrycc & Son, Glasgow, 1885. The latter volume contains " Photo-Engravings" of the drawings. In the 1849 issue we have, in the drawing of the tomb, 1512 instead of 1612 : and in both issues we have 13. L. instead of P. L. The recent looking title, "Doctor Peter Low, The Founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons," w.ns no doubt added when the Faculty acquired the |)ropcrly. l6l 2 P . L lOHN . LOW IAME8 • LOW DOCTOR PETER LOW THE FOUNDER OF THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS Stay • Passenger • And • Viow • This • Stone For • Under • It • Lyis • Such ■ A ■ One Who - Cuired • Many ■ Whill • He • Lieved SoE • Gracious • He ■ Noe • Man • Grieved Yea • When ■ His ■ Phisicks ■ Force • Oft ■ Failed His ■ Plesant ■ Purpose Then • Prevailed For Of His • God • He • Got • The • Grace To • Live • In • Mirth ■ and • Die • In • Peace Heavin ■ Hes His ■ Soul • His • Corps this ■ stone fciGH • Passinger • And • Soe • Be ■ Gone Ah Me I Gravell Am And Dust And To The Grave Deshend I Most O Painted Peice Of Liveing Clay Man Be Not Proud Of Thy Short Day The inscription on the flat stone is as follows : the slight differences in the spelling here probably account for some of the variations in the reproductions of the inscription. Who • CvRED • Many • Whill He • Lieved So • Graciovs • He • No • Man • Grieved Zea • When ■ As • Phisicks • Force ■ Oft ■ Favled His • Pleasant • Pvrpose ■ Then • Prevayled For • Of • His • God • He • Gott ■ The • Grace To • Live • In • Mirth • And ■ Dye ■ In • Peace Heaven • Hes • His ■ Sovl • His • Corps ■ this • ston Sygh • Passinger ■ And • So ■ Be • Gonc , -,^^iA • -til'' i "^ j/Sw^ , PETER LOWE'S TOMB. "ChIRURGERIE" (1597; AND "SPANISH SlvJKNES" (1596). Peter Lowe's reputation, beyond the neighbourhood of Glasgow, rests chiefly on his work on " Chirurgerie " (1597). This seems to have been the first original systematic treatise on the " Whole Covrse of Chirurgerie," published in the English Language, or indeed in any language in this country.^ Various partial treatises, as on Syphilis and Gunshot wounds, had indeed been published in English, and Peter Lowe himself had issued during die previous year, a little book on the "Spanish Sicknes" ; but his new work aimed at going over the whole of Surgery, which was then rising into great importance as a branch of the healing art so far distinct from medicine. He likewise presented to our countrymen the first English translation of any of the Hippocratic writings, — the "Prognostics," or, as he calls them, "The Presages of Diuine Hippocrates" ; this was bound up with all the editions of his " Chirurgerie." In thus breaking through traditional usage and writing in the language of his countrymen who were to profit by his work, he was, as we should now say, clearly in the right path ; but this laying open of knowledge to " Young Chirurgions " and common people seems to have exposed him to much vituperation at the time, and for more than a century after he was dead, as will be shown, hereafter, in speaking of Astruc's criticisms. The form which the Treatise on " Chirurgerie " takes is that of a dialogue as if at an examination, or during the preparation for an examination, at the College of Surgeons in Paris. In the first edition (1597), the tw6 " Inter- loquutors" arc Cointret, the Dean of the Parisian College, and Peter Lowe himself. In the second edition (161 2), they are changed to Peter Lowe and " lohn Lowe, his Sonne," who is represented as being prepared for the Paris examination ; it is, howewer, almost certain that his son was then much too young for any such work, and it is probable that he never became a surgeon. A curious slip occurs in the very first chapter of this dialogue, where " lohn " refers to the "Spanish Sicknes" as if it had been written by himself instead of by his father. The difticulties, indeed, of keeping up the literary form of ^A translation of a work on Surgery appeared earlier : the title (in part only) is copied from the American "Index Catalogue." WKva-icnwxG.—" 77u nobU expfr^■cme of the " vcrtHom handy warkc of Siirgeri practysyd and compyUd by the moost experte mayster Jheromc '^ of Bruytuioyke .... Fol. Loudon, 1525." the dialogue were evidently felt to be so great, that it is often, for whole chapters, or even whole books, completely suppressed. The first question is as follows ' :■ — Fc. Yee might haue perceiiicd by my former discourse touching the originall of Chyrurgery [Chapter i] and the excellency thereof, the great desire I haue to profit you therein, and to giue good example to all those who would professe the same. In consideration whereof, I am determined to conferre with you in that matter, seeing leisure doth permit me, as also because I am mindful! to cause you to remaine in Par/s for your further instruction, and passing of the degrees there accustomed in the sayd Arte, for the which I will in these three Books following, as also in euery generall chapter ensuing, set downe so briefly as I can, the forme and method that the Doctors of Chyrurgerie in Fan's vseth, in their first examination called the examina- tion tentatiue, where the Prouoste of the sayd Colledge, and sixe other Maisters that hee will choose, will examine you exactly vppon the whole groundes of Chyrur- gerie, according to the which form I will begin & demand of you in few words, the whole principall points of Chyrurgerie : but according to Cicero, seeing all doctrine whatsoeuer which is grounded uppon reason, should beginne at the definition, to the end we may the better vnderstand that whereof we entreat, first then will I aske of you what is Chyrurgerie ? [Lib. i. Cap. 2, p. 4.] In going on to discuss the peculiarities of the various periods of human life, we come across the following quaint commentary on the last chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes.- Of Age. — .... This last age is set downe in Eccle. 12. lie thou wise, Salomon. With such a braue Allegorye, that nothing in the world can bee found so excellent, for the which I shall set it downe at large in this place. Haue mind (saith he) of thy Creator in the daies of thy youth, or in the dales of aduersity : Come, while the Sunne is not darkened : nor the Moone : nor the starres : nor the cloudes returne after the raine : When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bowe ihemselues. And the grinders shall cease, because they be few in number : and they shall waxe darke which looke out ^ These quotations from the " Cliiiurgerie " are from the second edition. - His interpretation is essentially similar to the traditional one current from early times : "The Midrash understands the watchers of the house, of the knees of the aged man : the " men of strength, of his ribs or arms : the women at the mill of the digestive organs : those "who have become few of the teeth : the women looking out at the window, of the eyes." Dclitzsch : Commaitary on the So/i^ of Songs and Ecclesiastcs. (Translattd) Edinburgh, 1885, p. 406. See also a curious and most elaborate treatise by John Smith, M.D., Kin^ Solomons Fortraiturc of old agi, wherein is contained a sacicd anatomy both of sonl and bcdw London, 1666. DISCOVRSE Hi OF THE WHOLE ART ' """ Of Chtrvrgerie. Wherein is exactly let dovvne the Definition, Caufes, Accidents, Frognolti- cations, and Cures of all forts o^ Difeafesjbothin genciall-and particular, which at rinytiir.e hereto, forchauebeeiiprac^izrdbyany Chinirgion : Accor- ding to ^le opinion of ;ill the ancicnr profeflois of :h.n Science. which ii not onelyprGjicabiefor Chyt'urgions ; hut 4ffo far all forts of people J both fsr preHtntm^ of fu.l(ntjfi ; and r tiov trie ff h(a! tb . Compiled by Pet r r. L o w-. ScortifhmanjDoclorinuic facultic oi Chinirgeric at Pafts : and ordinary Cl-.vrur^ion to the French King and Wavjrrf. Whervy.to ts adJgdthe rule ofm4l^it7£ Rtmtatti fhich Cbirur. ^f^ns doe ctmmonly zje : wtrhtheTrefngts of 'D'tuine Hyppocrarcs. The fccoiid Edition ;cnriec'lcH.and much augmented, an<< enlarged ^y the Author. C A T L ON DON', Printed by Thomas Pur foot, Atv Dcm. 1612. j5 m m tei ^-j-^O 5 by the windowes, and the dores shall b^ shut without, bccriuse of the base sound of the grinding. And all the daughters of Singing shall bee abashed, also they shall bee affraide of the high things : And feare shall be in the way : And the Almond tree shall flourish : and the Grasshopper shall be a burden : and concupiscence shall be driuen away : while the Siluer Cord is not lengthened, nor the Golden Ewer broken : nor the pitcher broken at the well : nor the wheile broken at the Cesterne, and dust returne to the earth as it was, and the Spirit to God that gaue it. This is the true description of the last age, which is admirable, and required a good Anatomist to expound the same : the Allegorie foUoweth. Haue mind (saith he) of thy creator in y ^ dayes of thy youth, while the Sun is not darkened : that is to saye while the eyes haue not lost their sight : nor the cloudes returne after the raine, which is, when the eyes hath long wept, their passeth before them grosse thicke vapours like clouds. When the keepers of y"" house shal tremble : which is. when the armes and handes which are given for the defence of man, are failed. And the strong men shall bowe themselues : which is, the legges wherevppon the whole body stands, doth bowe and becommeth weake. The grinders shall cease : that is, the teeth which breaketh and grindeth the meate, shall be decayed. And they shall waxe darke which looke out by the windowes : that is, when the eyes are ouerwhelmed with some cataract or taye which couereth the prunall called the windowe of the eye. The doore shall be shut without, by the base sound of the grinding : that is, the chappes and lips which cannot well open, and the chanells whereby the meat doth passe, groweth narrow. And he shall rise at the voice of the bird : that is, olde people cannot slecpe but doe rise at the crowe or calling of the cocke. And all the daughters of Singing shall bee abased : which is, when the voice doth decay. The Almond tree shall flourish : that is, the head and beard of all people becommeth all white. The Grashoppcr shall bee a burden : which is, when the legges groweth great, swelling, and tumitied with aboundance of colde watery humors. Concupiscence shall be driuen away : which is to say, olde people shall haue little or no appetite to meate. When the Siluer Cord is lengthened : that is, when the marrow that goeth along the backe groweth supple, and boweth the backe forward. When the Golden Ewer is broken : that is, the heart which containclh y"^ artcriall bloud and vitall spirits, shall be weakened. The Pitcher broken at the fountaine : that is, the great vaine Caue, that may no more shoote bloud from the liucr, which is, the Spring that humecteth the whole body in such sort, that it serueth no more than a broken vessell. The whcele broken at the Cesterne, that is, the Nerues and bladder doth growe so weake, that they can no more rctaine the warter. When all these things do arriue the dust returnelh to the earth as it was, which is, when the matcriall body returneth to the earth : and the Spirit shall turnc to God that gauc it. [Lib. i. Cap. 2, p. 30.] The next extract is interesting as showing the curious and mystical methods of cure current at that time: tiicsc were evidently valued by J'cier Lowe at their true wortli, and the dry luimour of the closing sentences reveals to us the existence of a class of patients at that early time, which is probably even now not wholly extinct. The extract further illustrates a leading feature in Peter Lowe's work. Again and again, he puts down methods and ideas which he had little or no faith in himself, for at that time the influence of authority was still strong, and the writer probably felt a great responsibility in wholly setting aside recognized methods, although believing but little in them himself; more- over, as we will see in future extracts, he was afraid that passing over or rejecting certain methods might be set down to ignorance or want of experience on his own part. Of the fluxion of blood at the Nose.— ^ .... lohn Lebot approoueth the hearbe bis malua or Agrimonia to hold in the hand on that side the blood floweth at. As also he counsaileth to write on the forehead of him that bleedeth (with his owne blood) consummatum est. Hieronimus Cardanus who hath more curiously than diuinely written, doth counsaile in great fluxe of blood to pronounce these words following, thrice ouer. Sanguis mane in te sicut Christus fecit in se. Sanguis fnane in ilia vena sicnt Christus in sua Pccna. Sanguis viane Jixus sicut Christus quando fuit crucifixus. This forme of cure by words I do not alleage here so much, for any effect I look shal ensue therevpon, as for to content a number of ignorant, arrogant people, who neither will suffer paine, giue leisure, or reward more expences for their health, but do ignorantly vpon presumptio imagine that all diseases should bee helped at their pleasure : To such people and to none other, haue I set downe their remedies by words, which I hope in some measure shall satisfie them. [Lib. v. Cap. 26, p. 183.] The following will appear *' fabulous " to most readers, as it did to Peter Lowe, but here again, as explained in connection with the last quotation, he puts it down for what it may seem worth. Some there be who follow the opinion of the Egyptians in obseruing of dayes which are inuented by them, and are called dies A£gyptiaci, who were of opinion, if any had fallen sicke or been hurt in such dayes, they should hardly haue escaped : the which appears to me to be fabulous. Neuerthelesse according as they haue written I will repeat them I read in an old Philosopher Arabian, a man of diuers rare obseniations, who did remarke 3. Mondayes in the yeere to bee most vnfortunate, either to let bloud or beginne any notable Worke, viz. the first Monday of Aprill the which day Caine was borne and his brother Abell slaine. The second is the first Monday of August, the which day Sodome and Gomorrha were confounded. The third is the last Monday of December, the which day ludas Iscariot was borne, who betrayed our Sauiour lesus Christ to the lewes : these three Mondayes with the Innocents day, by diuers of the learned are reputed to be most vnfortunate of all dayes, and ought to be eschewed by all men for the great mishaps which often doe happen in them : and thus much concerning the opinion of our ancients ef dayes. [Lib. ix. Cap. 2, p. 373-] Great interest was excited among surgeons of the i6th century by the peculiarities of gunshot wounds and burning by gunpowder. Here again we find the good common sense of our author asserting itself as is showTi in the following extract : — Of Wounds doone by Gun-shot. — .... These wounds come indifferently to all parts of our body whereof there are diuers opinions : some thinke that there is venenosity in the powder, and burning in the bullet, which is false, for the things whereof the powder is ordinarily made, as Brimstone, Saltpeeter, coales of diuers sorts of trees, Water, Wine, and Aquauite, haue no venenosity in them : likewise there is no burning in the bullet, for if the bullet of lead being shot a great way, should burne, through heat would be melted it selfe. I haue cured diuers within these thirty^ yeares of diuers nations, which haue followed the warres in Fraunce, and other Cuntries, in the which I haue found no more difficulty then in other contused wounds ; so 1 thinke these accidents come onely by contusion and dilaccration of the flesh, and not by any venenosity, or vstion : yet there may be some extraordinary mixtion in the powder, which causeth venome, for the which wee take some other indication, according to the thing. [Lib. vi. Cap. 5, p. 301.] The next extract seems to refer to subcutaneous emphysema — a rare accident in childbirth. Of the tumor in the necke or cragge called Br\ncoceli, or Hernia Gvttvris. — ... . As for the other kindes of it, if that auaile not, you shall haue recourse to my Booke of the disease of Women, by reason oftentimes it happeneth to them in time of their trauailing, by stopping of them to crye in the time of their extreame paine, the which Booke God willing shortly shall come to light. [Lib. v. Cap 40, p. 216.] The following is evidently a case of pyaemia, very graphically described. Of the scituation of the three Vaines in the arme, the way to open them, and their effects.— .... Once I saw in opening of this [vena mcdiana] the ncrue pricked, of the which within the space of 4. dayes after there came a soft tumor in the Omoplat, with a relaxation of the ioynt, as also all the ioynts of the body, for the which the dcepe profounding is forbidden by Avicen.and Rasis. [Lib. ix. Cap. 4, p. 381.] ' In the first edition (Lib. vi. Cap. 5) "within these tcnnc yeeres of diuers nations which hauo followed the waires in Fraunce." 'J'hc following gives an account of the Royal touch for the King's Evil. Scrophvla;.-- .... This disease is called the Kings Evil, which is alleadged by Frenchmen to be cured by their King after this forme : the diseased first is viewed by the Chyrurgions, who fmdes it to bee the kirncUs or Kings Evil, then the diseased is set on his kiiccs, and presented to the King, who maketh a crosse on his forehead with his hand, saying : Le roy te louche, Dieu ie garrie which is to say, the King doth touch thee, God make thee whole. [Lib. v. Cap. 39, p. 215.] The story of the opening of an aneurysm by an ignorant barber, after its true nature had been recognized and announced by Peter Lowe and one of his colleagues, affords a fine opportunity for our author's sarcasm as directed against such " ignorants." The story is told in a very effective manner. Incidentally the influence of syphilis in favouring the occurrence of aneurysmal disease is alluded to. There are also some points of interest in connection with the names and dates. Aneusrisma.— .... Those which are superficiall in the exterior parts, as the head, legs, and amies, may be knit, and are curable : those which are profound and interior, in the breast, as often happeneth to those who sweat excessiuely of the venerian sicknesse, and otherwise : also those in the necke vnder the armes and rootes of the thighes, and when there is great dilataion of the artiers, are not curable, but death ensueth within few dayes, or at the least are very perillous, as saith Paulus: and if the tumor be opened, the patient dyeth presently. This happeneth oftentimes by the vnskilfulnes of ignorant Barbors and other abusers, who meddle with this art, who ruine a number of people through their ignorance, as I haue often scene ; such ignorants doe esteeme all tumors that are soft, should bee opened as common Aposthumes. I remember in Paris in Anno 1 590. there happened such a disease to a valiaunt Captaine (my great friend Captaine Bayle, who was one of the chiefest Captaines amongst the Spaniards at Paris) on the right side of his cragge, for the which, I a Chyrurgion Maior^ to the regiment, was sent for, and found it to bee an Aiieusrismey so not to bee touched ; of the which opinion was my good friend Andrew Scot,'' who was a great Practicioner at Paris for y'= time, and wel exercised in the art of Chyrurgery, we did ordaine remedies to let the encrease of it, which receipt being sent to the Apothecary, who before had scene the sayd Captaine, did thinke it no meete medicine for an Aposthume (as he tearmed it;) so presently he sent for an ' In first Edition, " Chirurgian ordinarie." 'In first Edition, Lib. v. Cap. 14, " of which opinio was also my com^zny on Andrew Scot a man verye expert in his art who was at that time in great practise at Paris, and now Chirurgia to the King of Scotland." ignorant Barbor* like vnto himselfe, who did sweare vnto the Captaine that they had sawes and charmes for all sores, so without further tryall did open it with a Launcet to auoide the matter (as they thought) which being done, the spirit and bloud came forth with such violence, that the Captaine dyed in fewe howers after. I doubt not but in these Countries diuers such errors are committed by ignorants. [Lib. V. Cap. 41, p. 217.] In the next extract we have cases from the author's experience both in Paris and Glasgow, and the course of malignant disease, in its recurrence after oper- ations for its removal, shows that in this respect the i6th and 19th centuries had some resemblance. Of Cancer ... Carsinoma. — . ... As for topicall remedies, and if it be in fit places, some do counsaile to cut it in such sort that there remaine no roote nor portion thereof : if so be, it must be taken in time before the vaines bee filled with that humor, otherwise it will bee residue, as I haue often remarked, for the which I will giue you two examples. In Paris a gentlewoman named Madame Butrow, in the yeere of our Lord God 1591. who had a Canker in her thombe, for the which I made amputation in presence of Master Marescot and Martin, doctours of Phisicke, with Leifort, and Peter Doctors of Chyrurgerie, I stayed the fluxe of blood and cured the wound soone therafter, which being closed, within 8. wcekes after it brake out in the plye of her arme, and under her oxter with such malignity and intoUerable paine, that notwithstading of all remedies as well generals as particulars shee dyed within ten weekes after. In like manner I had a Gentleman in Glascoe vnder my cure, in the yeere of God 1603. called lames Campbell, who had a Canker in the plye of his arme, which was caused partly by the application of cold venomous remedies, by the which it did grow in short space to such bignes and corosion, through the acrimonie of that humor, that it did both corrode vaines and articrs, with great iluxe of blood and other dangerous simptomes, for the which I did cut off the arme within three inches to the head of the Brachium, and did cure the wound perfectly. But in short time after, it brake out vnder his arme and in his pappe with such intolerable paine, that he liued scarce three moneths after. These two examples I thought good to set downe, that the yong Chyrurgion be not oucr-rash in promising, before he try the nature of the disease, and the part where it is : as likewise, that all men should eschew the handes of abusers, &c., &c. [Lib. iv. Cap. 16, p. 117.] While Peter Lowe was in France great improvements in Surgery had been introduced and popularized by Ambrose Pare. Amongst these one of the Mn the first Edition, he says more playfully, "he sent for his brother the gloriouf Barber. " lO most important was the use of the Ligature.' This was recommended by our Author, as shown in the following extracts, although spoken of somewhat slightingly by Wiseman,^ a subsequent writer, who is often called the " Father of English Surgery." liut where there is putrifaction, we stay the fluxe of blood by Cauters actuals, and where there is no putrifraction, malignity, nor humor venomous, we vse the ligatour. ... In amputation without putrifaction, I find the ligatour reasonable sure, prouiding it be quickly done. To doe it, first thou shalt cause the assister as I haue said, to hold his fingers on the vaines, letting one loose, on the which thou shalt take hold with the backe Decurbin, taking a little of the flesh or muscles with it : then put through a needle with a strong thread, knit with a double knot, tying a little of the flesh with the vaine, which will make it hold the better, etc. [Lib. iv. Cap. 7, P- 93-] In connection with the treatment of Dropsy we again find him appealing to his own experience of the dangers attending a particular line of treatment. The following extract is interesting also as showing that although throughout his work he magnifies the office of the surgeon he does not despise the " learned Phisition." Hydropsie. — .... Some in the sayd disease doe counsell to make incision, the which I haue often scene, but with euill successe, and not to bee vsed, as being reiected by Trallianus, Gordonius, and others. The manner of the incision is this : the sicke must bee commodiously placed, then the ouecture must bee made eyther with Bistory, Launcet, or Cauter, three ynches vnder the nauill, towards the flanke on either side, eschewing the Lima alba, and extreamities of the muscles of the epigaster, and the nerues and tendons of Musculi erecti, for in hurting of those, grieuous accidents may follow, as feuer, dolour, difficulty to consolidate the wound, sometimes death, as I haue ofte remarked in y^ great Hospital of Paris, and other parts : the incision must be very little, taking good heed you picke nether vaine, artier, nor intestine, put a hollow tent in it, with a broad head made of Siluer or Gold, euacuate the humor by little and little, stoppe the tent with a cloth or water- '" Taught me, as I interpret it, by the suggestion of some good angel. For I neither •'learned it of my masters nor of any other man. . . . And thus I wish all Chirurgions to " doe. For it is not in our Art as it is in Civil! affaires that Prescription, Law, or " Authority should prevail over right reason." — Rhead : An explanation of the fashion and use of three and fifty instruments of Chirvrgcry. Gathered out of Ambrosius Paretis, and done intoEnsilishfor the behoofe of young Ptactitioners in Chirurgery, by H. C. London, 1634, pp. 116, 117. -Sruerall Chirguricall Treatises, by Richard Wiseman. London, 1676, p. 453. II spunge after it be handled, and apply vpon it a plaster of Diacalcithios mixed in wine. Paulus counselleth, if the Hydropsie commeth from the intestins, to make the incision in the Nauill. There are many other things which may be spoken of this matter, which I leaue to the learned Phisition being more phisicall than Chirurgicall : yet by reason that sometimes it falleth vnder the Chyrurgions handcs, I thought good thus much to intreat of it. [Lib. v. Cap. 45, p. 226.] The quotation which follows, on the treatment of Hernia, illustrates Peter Lowe's method, already referred to, of giving descriptions of operations con- demned by himself in case certain " deceauers " will say he cannot do the operation. The curious way in which personal opinion and observation are mixed up with references to recognized authorities is very striking. Interocele. — .... In this disease there is great abuses commited by a number of vn = skilfull ignorant people, voyde of all good conscience and feare of God, who for euery simple kind of rupture, makes incision and cuts away the production of the Periton and Stone : if the dissent be on both sides, they cut otT both the stones, which renders a man sterile, and causeth the haire of the beard to fall : and if yong ones bee cut on both sides, they haue no beard at all, besides they beeuer feeble and small voyced like vnto women, as sayth Aristotle. Besides that, oftentimes in cutting the sicke dyeth, chiefly when the dilatation is great. Sometimes the Intestine sticketh to the Periton, which they knit altogether, and cuts away the production : after the which the sicke avoydeth y'' excrements at the mouth & dyeth most miserably. The stones are ordayned by God for generation of mankind, and are called by Aristotle and Galen principall members. Hesiodorus and Constantinus say, who soeuer doe vse these members lewdly and wilfully in fleshly lyking, more than is graunted for law- full generation, hee doth wrong to the Father of Lyght, and shall haue no company with the blessed, but on the contrary the paines of hell, as sayth Saint Ambrose. Then seeing the worthinesse of those parts,and the opinion which both the Diuines and others of the learned, is thought of them : What shall we y' are Christians thinke of those ignorants, who altogether cut away all those parts without hope of recouerj-, and that for a little piece of money. Such should be seuerely punished, and not to haue company with Christians. Yet perhaps some of these deceauers will say that I speake, for malice, because I cannot doe that operation : for answere to such, I haue often times seene that operation done, and haue diuers times done it my selfe, the which I doe now repent in committing such a haynous sinne. For satisfaction of malicious people, who perhaps may thinke as those deceauers doe, I will in few termes set downe the forme of that operation. — [Then follows the description of the operation. Lib. v. Cap. 56, p. 249.] Various specialties, as we would now call them, are dealt with in this Treatise : in particular, there are several chapters on Kye disease with woo«l- 12 / cuts showing the " needles to abate the cataract," and various personal experiences of this operation on ])atients named in the text.^ There are also sections on diseases of the ear and teeth. In connection with the latter we find that the author puts aside the old notion of worms in the teeth giving rise to the pains of toothache. This subject gives him a fine opportunity for miscalling " the common Barbor Chyrurgions," for whom as we shall subsequently see he had a great contempt. Galen saith, amongst all maladies and passions which are not mortall, that of the teeth is most painfull vnto man, for the proximitie and communication that the nerue hath with the braines and membraines : thereof some haue beene of opinion, that there are wormes which do engender in the teeth, and cause great paine, perswading the common people to the same : by which opinion the common Barbor Chyrurgions doe commit great errour in plucking out of innumerable teeth which might well serue. There are no wormes that procure this dolour, but onely corrosion of the nerue by the acrimonie of the humor, as may be perceiued after the tooth is plucked out, and broken, y* end of the nerue which is inserted in it, is corroded a growing red, which nerue is subtill and delicate, that you would thinke it to mooue, &c. [Lib. v. Cap. 29, p. 189.] Even the mysteries of dentistry and the fixing of artificial teeth were not unknown to our author, although he tells us " sieldome practised." It happeneth oftentimes that diuers of the teeth are loosned and fallen out, either by strokes, falles, or defluxion of humors from the head, with great deformity, imped- ing the pronounciation of the speech : for remedie whereof we make artificiall teeth of luory. Whales bone or hounds teeth, which shall be fastened by a wyre or thread of gold, passing the wyre or threed betwixt y^ whole tooth on either side next adiacent, then put the artificiall tooth in the part, then knit the thread fast through about the ends of the thread, and cut it so neere as you can : if any portion rest vncut, passe it betwixt the whole tooth, that the tongue or lippes be not hurt by it. I am not mindful! to insist in this practicke as I might, because it is sieldome practised. [Lib. v. Cap. 30, p. 194.] The following obser\-ation is interesting, from a biographical point of view, as showing the author's presence at the battle of Sandlis; but it proves also that he did not neglect the instruction obtainable from post mortem examination. This case and many other cases cited by him refute the criticism passed on ' E.g.^ ' ' Likewise a Seruitour of the Lord of Craiggie Wallase, who had a Tay on his Eyes the space of nine nioneths or thereabouts, which was sufficienilie ripe, so I did couch it, and restored him in hke manner to his sight." 2nd Edition, p. 167. 13 Lowe, by certain writers, that his work was based on authority rather than on personal experience and observation.' Of Wounds in the head. — .... The fift kind of fracture, is called counterclift, that is, when the cleft of the bone is in the part opposite to the sore, and of all fractures this is the worst, and deceaueth most the Chirurjiion, for in it there is no signe but coniecture, and by feeling of the hurt man, in oft putting his hand on the place, and if he got the stroake with violence, falling after he got it, and did vomit, notwithstanding there be no cleft where he got y'= stroke. I haue knownc sundry dye in this case, chiefly at the battle of .Sandhs in Fraunce a valiant Captaine of Paris, who had a stroake on the right parietary, who, notwithstanding of all handling by skilful! Chyrurgions, dyed within 20. dayes, at which time his Cranium was opened, and there was found great quantity of blood vndcr the left parietarie, with a cleft in the same. [Lib. vi. Cap. 11, p. 314.]' Bound up with all the various editions of the " Chirurgerie " there is a translation into English of the Prognostics of Hippocrates, or as Peter Lowe calls them the " Presages." He also translated the " Protestation and oath of diuine Hippocrates." The chief interest which attaches to this production consists in its being apparently the first translation into English of any of the Hippocratic writings.^ Even as a translator he could not forget that he was a surgeon, and so he renders the Greek word tarpo's, " Phisitian Chirurgion " or " Mediciner Chirurgion," etc. The translation is at times somewhat quaint but does not seem to call for quotation.^ The fact that Peter Lowe took tlie ' " . . . base plutot sur rautorite des anciens et des modemes que sur son experience proprc." Dictionnaire Encyclopedique des Sciences Mcdkalcs. Paris, 1S69. Art. "Lomc, Peter." ^ The following among various other passages had been marked for quotation but are omitted here : tliey will be found of interest on looking them up. The references arc, as before, to the 2nd Edition — See pp. 56-57, where the subject discussed is illustrated by quotations from Juvenal and from Solomon. At page 136, there is a case in Paris in 1583. At jiagc 137, there is the case of the " reuerend father lohn Ueton Archbishop of Glasgow," seen in Paris with " the famous and learned mediciner, D. Black wootl," where " the noble man rccoucreth his health, to his great contentment." At page 222, the cure of " lohn Buchan, Maistcr of the Song Schoole in Glasgowe." At page 310, we have the incubation of HyilrophoMa rcfctrcti to : "I knew a boy in London bitten with a madde dogge, and beeing well sixe weekcs dyed afterwardes. " . ' The next seems to have been " The Aphorisms of Hippocrates translated into Eti^tsh by S. II., London, 1610 ' : sec Dr. Adams, " 7 he Genuine Works of Hippocrates.' Vol. I, p. 52, London, 1849. * Comjiaic pp. 39 and 55 of this Memoir for further details. 14 trouble to translate this work into English seems to afford another proof that he was really anxious to afford to young surgeons in this country means of acquiring, in their own language, a knowledge of their art, which would other- wise be inaccessible to many of them : this is a point to which reference must be made later on. The "Spanish Sicknes" (1596)^ is the earliest work by Peter Lowe of which there are any known copies in existence. Like the others it is in English. It is a mere pamphlet, and although evidently giving the results of personal observation of the disease and special means of cure, both medical and surgical, it has been broadly hinted that its publication was for the purpose of making known his appearance in this country after a long absence in France. The facts seem to be that he had on hand, at the same time, various works, and that he found it easier to send out this one first, so as to prepare the way for his more ambitious work on Surgery. This book is a small quarto of 42 pages. It consists of two parts : the first deals with the origin, signs and treatment of the disease, and the second with various complications arising in it requiring surgical treatment. It was published in London in 1596, and is printed in small type (not black letter). The author followed the custom of those he lived so long with in France, in calling it the " Spanish Sicknes," although he was aware that " There are "some ignorant mahcious peoplewho call it the French sicknes,- without any " cause or reason " (Cap. 2). In his remarks as to the various views on the origin of the disease he says : " the most probable of all is the opinion of the " Spanish Historiographers, and also diuers other learned men that haue " written of the same : who doe report that it was brought among the "Christians, after y^ natiuitie of our Lord, 1492. by a Spaniard called " Christophorus Columbus, with many other Spanyards, accompanied with " some women who came from the new found lies occidentalls " (Cap. 2). Throughout the treatise the author speaks as one who had observed the ^ For photo-lithograph of title page see p. 30 of this Memoir : the last line injured by binder is dom. 1596. 'In the 2nd Edition of the " Chyrvrgerie," p. 257, however, he himself speal Compare a similar quaint hint in the " Chyrvrgerie," 2nd ed. p. 330, " Many ignorant " Barbers faile herein, thinking one l IkkiW witli a few details as to its contents. ] lUl'lioi^raphiiC AuatotitinC s/^niniti:. Cm (t ft sluiiio Jo(obt Ihut^lai, Londini, 1715, p. 170. B is the date of three dedications or prefaces by him in English, and of one in Latin in that volume. Arrival in Glasgow. Our next clue to his movements is rfforded by the I'urgh Records of Glas- gow, from which it would appear that in the spring time of 1598 he had come to practise in Glasgow, for the minute dated 17th March, 1599, seems to imply the renewal of a contract, made with him the year before, for attending the poor in the town. "17 March 1599. It is aggreit of new and contractit betuix the towne and " Doctor Low for iiij'''' merkis money be yeir " {Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgoiv. Glasgow, 1876, p. 191). Other evidence of his appearance in Glasgow in 1598 is afforded by the amusing record of his coming under the notice of the Presbytery. Thirty years absence " in Fraunce and other Cuntries " was apt to make even a " Scottish- man " forget the severity of ecclesiastical discipHne in his native country at that time. It will be seen from the curious extract from the MS. Session Records, vol. iii. p. 274, kept m the Presbytery House at the Tron Church in Glasgow, that Peter Lowe not only had been sent to the "piller," for what reason is not specified,^ but had even there shown such levity so as to merit a repetition of the punishment, and above all it appears that he neglected to satisfy the " thesaurer " who was ordered to be paid before Maister Peter was to be allowed his other two Sundays at the pillar. 8th August 1598. The Presbiteri orderis Mr. Peter Lowe, Doctor of Chiiurgerie to be convenit before ye Sessioun thair to asser for his etrie on ye Piller, not having satisfyed ye Thesaurer of ye Kirk, and w'out his instructions, and not behaving him on ye piller as becumes, and furder to mak as yet two Sondayes his repetance ^ According to Wodrow, in his Biography of Mr. David Weems, this punishment was awarded for various ecclesiastical offences, many of them of a trivial character ; see Wod- row's Biographical ''Collections," Vol ii. Part 2, (Maitland Club) Glasgow, 184S. The following may serve as illustrations : — " Nov. 28, 1583, the Session appoints a man to stand " in the pillar for lying in the kirk-yard in time of sermon" (p. 35). Again, " Feby. 26, " 1601, the Session discharges all speaking evil of the dead, or casting up the faults of the " dead who have suffered for their demerites to the living, under pain of standing two dayes " in the pillar, and being fined at the will of the Scs»ic)n " (p. 72). 19 on ye Filler, and first to satisfie yc Thesaurer, as ye said Scssioun hes ordcnit him to do.^ Other indications of a more professional character are not wanting of his presence in Glasgow, We find that in April, 1599. just after renewing their contract with him, the magistrates seem to have been deeply impressed with the need of " medical reform " in their midst, inasmuch as many were practising medicine and surgery who had not "cunyng nor skill to do the same."- Their Board was not such as would carry great weight now-a-days, consisting as it did of three bailies and three clergymen, duly specified, with apparently other experts not named (" vtheris cunyng men of that arte "), who were to examine those practising in the town as to their competency. The clergj-men referred to were the Principal of the College, Mr. Blais Lowery, and ^!r. John Blakburne, who seems to have been much esteemed as a teacher, as the Council desired in 1601 to retain him in town as " master of the Grammcr Schole." (Compare Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Ghsgo7i\ Clasgow, 1876, pp. 214 and 226). We cannot doubt, from what subsequently happened, that the inspirer of this medical reform was Peter Lowe, and that he was himself one of the experts. 14 April, 1599. The provest, bailleis, and counsale, at desyre of the scsiiono. ministrie, and elderisthairof, being informit of medicinersandchyrurgianesquhadaycle resortis and remanis within this towne, and ar not able to discharge thair dcwtcy thairintill, inrespect thai have not cunyng nor skill to do the same, and for evading of inconuenientis that may follow thairupon, hes deput and assignit thir persones onderwrittin of the counsale to concur and assist the ministrie, certane of the scssione. and vtheris cunyng men of that arte, to examinat and tak tryall of all sic pcrsouncs as vsit or salhappin to vse the said arte within the towne in tyme cumyng, and with thair advyis and consent to tak the tryall thairof, viz., the thrie bailleis James Forrett, Alexander Baillie and Thomas Peltigrew, to convein with thir persones of the minislrie, viz., the thrie ministeris, the principall, Mr. Blais Lowery and Mr. John Hlakburne wpon Weddinsdye nixt eftir the preiching in the Blakfreir Kirk, and to 'Extract supplied by Dr. W. H. Hill, Clerk to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgcon>. Glasgow. - The Kirk Session seems to have been aroused, in the same way, the year before.—'* Scpl. " 14, 1598, the .Session think it good that the University, Ministers, and Trcsbitry take " cognitioii who are within the Toun that pretend to skill in medicine : that those who have "skill may be reteaned and others rejected." Wodrow's Biographical ^' CoU<;hcu< (.Maitland Club) Glasgow, 1848, Vol. ii. I'art 2 (Life of Mr. David Wccms). i'. 70 rcpoitc. {I'.xtracts from Ike Records of the Burgh of Glasgow. Glasgow, 1876 I'P- 192-193-) Foundation of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Peter Lowe had, however, much higher conceptions of medical reform than could be met by any such board as that just referred to. His \\Titings abound with references to all sorts of " abusers," ^ " deceiuers," " ignorants," " simple Parbcrs, and other ignorant fellowes," " Empirickes," &c. His mind seems to have reverted on his return to this country, with some feeling of envy, to the excellence of the Parisian College of Surgeons ; he tells his late colleagues there, in a Latin preface to the first edition of his " Chirurgerie," dated from London, that he had not found in these parts such accomplished practitioners as with them.- He seems to have set himself to obtain from King James the Sixth, a charter founding some such College as that of Paris, for the benefit of the West of Scotland, in which he had now settled ; and in the preface to the second edition of his " Chyrvrgerie," dated "from my house in Glasgow, the 20. day "of December, in the yeere of our Lord God. 1612." he was able to say that "It pleased his Sacred Maiestie to heare my complaint about some fowerteene " yeeres agoe vpon certaine abusers of our Art, of diuers sorts and ranks of people, 'whereof we haue good store, and all things fayling, vnthrifts, and Idle people "doe commonly meddle themselues with our Art, who ordinarily doe passe without " either tryall or punishment. The matter being considered, and the abuse waighed "by his Maiestie and Honourable councell, thought not to bee tolerated, for the " which I got a priuiledge vnder his highnes priuie seale, to try and examine all " men vpon the Art of Chirurgerie, to discharge, &; allow in the W'est parts of " Scotland, who were worthy, or vnworthy, to professe the same." This " priuiledge " or charter was dated as " Written to the Privie Seil, "Penult Novemb', 1599." In this charter his majesty King James vi. by ^Of these he recognizes and describes "eight or nine diuers sorts," see preface in his "Chyrvrgerie," 2nd edition, "To My very Worbhipfull, learned, and well experimented "good friends, Gilbert Primrose," &c. "Of those abusers, there are eight or nine diuers "sorts .... The fift sort vaunts to be skilfull in such like diseases, by experience vpon " themselues, alleadging them to be most skilfull in the cure of the french Poxe, because he " was cured himselfe sundry times of the same disease The eight sort who hauing "almost drunken out one of his eies, and vseth some few remedies for the same, professeth " himselfe to be a fine Eynest." *"In his partibus non inveni viros tam peritus hujus scientirc quam apud vos." " thir our lettcris, makis constitutis and ordinis Maistcr Peter Low, our " Chirurgiane and chief chirurgiane to ourc dearest son the Prince, with the "assistance of Mr. Robert IlamiUone, professoure of nicdecine, and their " successouris, indwelleris of our Citie of Glasgow," full powers to supervise the practice of medicine and surgery in the West of Scotland. This charter is, in a sense, the most important work of Peter Lowe, as after nearly 300 years it is still a living force in our midst, and we can see his hand in the provisions, which are conceived in a very comprehensive spirit. The charter will be found printed in full in the Appendix. It has been sometimes erroneously stated that this charter incorporated the surgeons and barbers jointly.^ From what we have gathered of Peter Lowe's part in obtaining this from the King, we would be much surprised at any such combination being formed at his request ; for his contempt for Barbers comes out as strongly as for other " Ignorants." It has been shown on other grounds that the Barbers had no position under the charter of 1599 at all : it was only subsecjuently that the combination was effected and ratified, although this gave rise to great difficulties, which led to a final disjunction in 17 19.- No doubt even at the beginning the Barbers were recognized as " a pendicle of Chirurgerie," but their admission was qualified strictly so that they were " not to meddle with anything forder belonging to chirurgerie under the pain '* of five pund toiies qiioties " : or " to use only in time coming, barberising, " polling, &c., without furder privilege or points," &c.'' The following extracts will show the reader how unlikely Peter Lowe was to obtain a charter to associate himself with the Barbers whom he so much despised. 1 See, f.g:, Crawfurd's Siv/ch of the Rise and Progress of t/u Trades^ House of Glasgmv: Glasgow, 1858, p. 28. I5y some error 1559 is given instead of 1599, in the "Cirant or Seal of Cause " in 1656, and this has accentuated the mistake by suggesting an earlier charter from King James at a date (1559) which is clearly impossible. See Extracts J rom the Kdordi of the Burgh of Glasgo^v. Glasgow, 1881, p. 342. 2 The Barbers were not, however, erected into a separate municijvil >ncori>orntion till 1722. See Crawfurd ; Iih\ eit. ' See as to this an Address on the OriQin and liarly Ilistyryof the Faculty of rhysieians and Surgeons of Glasginv. By William Weir, M.D., Glasgow, 1864. See also a History of the Faculty, in MS., by Mr. Alex. Duncan, the Secretary to the Faculty, which is not yet re.ady for publication. " These faiills arc committed by some simple Barbers, and other ignorant fellovves, " who although they knowe tlicmsclues to be ignorant, yet beeing most arrogant, not " onely in this, but also other sicknesses, doe take vpon them to cure and heale euery " disease, hauing their oncly recourse to the dyet, by the which they ruine infinit " number of people. . . . Aske them the reason, they will aunswer you that they " haue cured many, but ncytlier doe they speake of the reason, nor of those that they '' havic killed. God defend all Christians from such a kind of Empirickcs. ' (^Spauis/i Sicklies, Cap. 13.) In the passage already quoted (p. 8) about the fatal opening of an Aneurysm, he refers to the '' vnskilfulness of ignorant Barbors and other " abusers, who meddle with this art, who ruine a number of people through their " ignorance, as I haue often scene" : in continuation of his narrative he says the apothecary who saw the case " sent for an ignorant Barbor like unto himselfe," or as he puts it more playfully in his first edition, "he sent for his brother, the glorious Barber." (Lib. v. Cap. 14, in first edition of " Chiruri^erie") Again in his second edition he says : " For there are some, who being voide of knowledge or skill, promise for lucres " sake, to heale infirmities, being ignorant both of the diseases and the remedies *' thereof. These faults be often committed of some, who vsurping the name of Chyrurgion, being vnworthy thereof, haue scarce the skill to cut a bearde, which ^'properly pertaincth to their trade." (" Chyrvrgerie," Lib. i. Cap. 2. p. 7.) From these indications it is clear that Peter Lowe would never have desired a joint incorporation of Barbers and Surgeons. We have now, however, to grasp what were the provisions aimed at for the regulation of medical and surgical practice in the West of Scotland. I. IMaister Peter Lowe and Mr. Robert Hamiltone and their successors, had power to " sumonnd and convene " " all personis professing or using the said airt of " Chirurgie, to examine thame upon thair literature, knawledge and practize : ''gif they be fund wordie to admit, allow and approve thame, give thame testimonia " according to the airt and knawledge." We have here clearlv an examining and licensing function as regards Surgery with power to put down irregular practice, or any practice beyond the special limits allowed by their surgical licence, and they had power to fine " in case they be con- tumax." (See First provision in Charter.) H. With respect to the exercise of Medicine those nominated in the Charter had powers similar to the Medical Council at present, in acting as Registrars, as it were, ascertaining that the professors of medicine were duly authenticated by " ane testi- " monial of ane famous universitie ouhair medecine be taueht, or at the leave of 23 "oure and oiire dearest spouse chief medicinarie." (Sec Fourth provision of Charter.) III. The Charter further gave very complete power for the supervision of the sale of drugs : it is provided " that na manir of personis sell onie drog-is within the Citie " of Glasgow, except the sam be sicluit be the saidis visitouris [Peter Lowe and " Robert Hamiltone] and be William Spang, apothecar, under the p;ire of con- " fiscatioune of the droggis." (See Fifth provision of the Charter.) IV. Even more strict supervision of the sale of poisons (" retoun poison, ascnick, or sublemate") was provided by the Sixth provision of the Charter. V. Medico-legal functions were also imposed by the Charter, for "the saidis " visitouris sail visit everie hurt, murtherit, poisonit, or onie other persoun tane awa " extraordinarly." They were to report to the magistrate and so a kind of " inquest " was thus founded. (See Second provision of the Charter.) VI. The Charter further imposed on those nominated another public duty, viz. : " to visite and give counsell to pure disaisit folkis gratis." (See Seventh provision of Charter.) VII. The " saidis visitouris " and " thair bretherene " were exempted from serving on assizes, armour bearing, etc. (See Lastly of Charter.) On surveying the scope of this charter from our ])oint of view at the present (lay we cannot fail to be struck by its comprehensive policy and by its antici- pation of many ideas only recently carried out, as for example, an official supervision and register of degrees, the supervision of druggists, and s])ccial care as regards the sale of poisons. The inquiry into murders and accidents seems to combine the functions of an Inquest and of the " Fiscal " in a way not yet adequately carried out in Scotland, while the provision for the poor antici- pated, so far, the medical relief of the poor law acts. The Ciiarter founding the Faculty was dated November 29th, 1599, and it was submitted to the magistrates of Glasgow on February 9th, 1600. It wa.s then endorsed by them " provyding that the same nor na actis tliat thai sal- " happin to mak salbe preiudiciall nor hurtful! to the commouiieweil and liberie " of the towne." 9 February, 1600. The provest, baillcis and counsale, viz., Thomas .Muir, [and eleven others] present, haveand inspectioune and advyscand with the priuilcgci* and statutes of our vSoucrane Lordis letter of gift and facultc grantit to maistcr Petir Low, chyrurgian, niaister Robert Ilammilioune, William .Spang and thair successouris, profcssouris of thair artcs, touching llir lilx rto of th.ur artcs, ginntit 24 be his Maicstic to thamc and thair succcssouris, as in the said letter of gift vndcr the privcy seale at Icnlhe beris, hcs promcsil to hald, haue, concur, fortifie, and mcntcine thame and thair successouris and Hberteis grantit to thame in the same in all poyntis in tyme cuming ; provyding that the same nor na actis that thai salhappin to mak salbe preiudiciall nor hurtful! to the comrnouneweil and liberte of the towne. {Extracts from the Record of the Burgh of Glasgow. Glasgow, 1876, p. 202.) The actual beginning, however, of the Faculty was not for two years later, as appears from the first minute ; — 3 June, 1602, " w*in the Blackfreir Kirk . . . " Compeirt, Mr. Peter Low." The explanation of this delay is found in the absence of the founder in France, in connection with the embassy of the Duke of Lennox or Montrose ;^ this appears from the following minute of the magistrates and council who graciously allowed him to " injoy his pensione," notwithstanding his absence from tlie town. 18 June, 1601. The baillie and counsale present, at the special requeist and desyre of my Lorde Duikis grace, hes licenciat and gevis licence to maister Peitir Low, chyrurgian, to pas in company with my Lorde Duike as ambassadour appoyntit to France, and dispensis with his absence and not remanyng of the said maister Peitir, and that he may injoy his pensione of the towne, and that quhill the xi of November nixtocum, but preiudice of his contract in caice of his returnyng or soner at the said tyme as sal happin his lordschip to returne. {Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow. Glasgow, 1876, p. 223.) It is no part of the purpose of the present memoir to trace the history of the Faculty wliich the present accomplished secretary of the Incorporation has already begun to write ; but, it may be stated that Peter Lowe, although the first named in the cliarter,was never president of the body; his name appears, however, in the minutes repeatedly as one of the "quarter-masters." Many years after his death a minute shows that his memory was still held in veneration, for the copy of his work in the Library was ordered to be handsomely bound 1 There is some account of this Lennox embassy in The History of the Church aiid State of Scotland, by J. Spotswood, Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews. 4th edition, London, 1677, p. 467 ; see also a note in Spotswood's life prefixed to this volume. Spotswood, then Parson of Calder, was appointed Chaplain to Lodowick, Duke of Lennox, in this expedition, and he subsequently became Archbishop of Glasgow. The embassy started in July, 1601. It was merely of a ceremonious character. There is mention made of Sir Thomas Ereskin and Sir William Levinston of Kilsithc, but of no others, although a great train of Scotchmen met them at S. Denis. 25 and retained jealously within the building.i This copy (of the 4th edition), with its elaborate special binding, is still in good preservation. The admission of his son and grandson, under special conditions, points likewise to the veneration cherished for his name.^ Incidents in Life in Glasgow. That Peter Lowe was a citizen of much influence in Glasgow is evident from his having been one of those named in the great arbitration which resulted in the settlement of the dispute between the two corporations in our city known as the "Trades' House "and the "Merchants' House." In the "Letter of Guildry," as this Decreet Arbitral is called, dated 6th Feby., 1605, Mr. Peter Low and Mr. Robert Hamilton both appear along with other eight names as having been nominated " for the haill craftsmen and their assistants." From this we infer that the Incorporation of Physicians and Surgeons had already taken rank, in a sense, as part of the Trades' House. In the list of Burgesses of Glasgow alive, in Feby., 1605, prepared in connection with the above arbitration, there is a division into those of Merchant Rank and Craft Rank, the latter being classified according to their callings ; and, under " Mediceneris," we find only two Burgesses, viz., Mr. Robert Hamiltoune and and Thomas Reid.^ Why Peter Lowe does not appear in this list, although his name is affixed to the " Letter of Guildry," does not appear. The name of Peter Lowe occurs in the Burgh Records in connection with his " Pension," or the payment made to him for atteniling the poor of tlie town, and in the accounts for x6o8, we read : — * " Gifin upone the last day of August, to Mr. Petir Lou, chyrurgin, for his pensioun " in Anno. 160S, acldcttit be the toun to him, confonne to anc warrand. liii,^ vis. viii(;ow, |S66, pp. 29-98. * Memorahilia of the City of GlaS'^oftv. Glasgow, iSGS, p. 55- 26 The last (jntry in the Hurgh Records of Glasgow is the ominous one of a fee paid to him for "bovvelling" the Laird of Houston, lately Provost of Glasgow.i This term of " bovvelling " is used in the chapter in Peter Lowe's " Chirurgerie," in connection with the process of embalming.^ 26th May, 1610 .... the said James Braidwod debursit and gaif furth the said sowme [foiirtie pundis money] to maister Petir Low, pairtlie for his fey and pairtlie for the expensis maid be him in bowelling of the lard of Howstoun, lait provest thairfoir the said James be this present act is dischargit of the said sowme resauitbe him as said is, and siklyke ordanis ane warrand to be direct to Robert Hogisyard, thesaurer, vndir subscriptioun of the clerk, to ansuer Mareoun Steward of the sowme of xxxvij li. xs. as for wyne and vthir expenssis furnist and maid be hir the tyme of the said provcstis bowelling. {Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow. Glasgow, 1876, p. 314.) Wife — Family — Descendants. The last reference we had to Maister Peter Lowe's connection with the ecclesiastics of the city was not, perhaps, altogether creditable to the Founder of the Faculty, for it is clear that at that time he had not " satisfied the Thesaurer " ; but he must have succeeded about this time in satisfying the " Parson of Glasgow " himself, for we find that he obtained his daughter in marriage. The exact date of the marriage has not yet been ascertained, but certainly it was before the year 1604, for we find the following entry in the " Record of Seisin " for the Burgh of Glasgow : — ^ " Wiemis et Andersonne coniiges. 9th August 1604. Helena Weymis, spousa *' Magistri Petri Lowe Chirurgii, et dictus Magister Petrus, pro suo interesse, nee non Magister David Weymis, pater dictae Helenae," &c. His father-in-law, Mr. David Weems, was notable as being the first Presby- terian minister in Glasgow after the Reformation. He was several times Rector of the University of Glasgow (between 1593 and 1602) and " w^as presented ^ His appointment as Provost is thus referred to in the Burgli Records, 12 November, 1608, " the rycht honorable Jhone Ilousloun of that Ilk in provest for this yeir to cum." - " Chyrvrgerie, " 2nd edition, p. 367. 'This extract has been verified by Dr. W. H. Hill, Clerk to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons: it is from the Protocol book ofArchd. Heygait, 1587-1604, in the Archives of the City of (ilasf^ow. 27 "to the Parsonage and Vicarage by James vi. ist, and adni. ii Deer., " 1 60 1 : at his last appearance in the Kirk he is mentioned as 'now aged,' " and died Father of the Church 10 Sept., 161 5." " His residence was in the " Rottenrow, and in the lodging formerly occupied by the Prebendary of " Carstairs." " He is styled Parson of G. in April 1582." ' Peter Lowe's wife must have been much younger than himself, and after his death she married Walter Stirling, whom she also survived. We know that she was alive in 1658 from the following extract from the Burgh Records : " 12 Jan. 1658 .... anent the claim perscwed be Helen Wcyniis, first relict to •' umquhile Mr. Peter Lowe, professor of physic and burgess of the said burgh, thcre- ' after relict of the deceased Walter Stirling, one of the lait baillies of the samyne." - Peter Lowe had a son John. He is introduced as one of the " Intcr- loquutors " in the 2nd Edition of the " Chyrvrgerie." The name of his son merely replaces that of Peter Lowe himself, which is used in the first edition, and no doubt its introduction was a mere literary form, as at that date the son must have been too young to study medicine. We find, however, that this son John was actually admitted to the membership of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in 1636, although he did not take his seat till 1652. He ;ittended the meetings thereafter pretty regularly. There is, however, much doubt as to whether he was really a surgeon at all.-' In the minute admitting liim (29 June, 1636), there is nothing said regarding the usual examination or entry fees. The record is to the following effect, that the Faculty from the " respect they had to beir toward the said umqle Mr. Peter and the rather bccaus he 'Extracts from '^ Fasti Ecclesiu: Scotiauur," by Ik-w Scott, Edin., 18CS, vol. ii. p.-irt i, IMge 3: also, "Synod of Glasgow and Ayr. High Church, St. Mungo's, or Cathedral. 1562. David " Wemis trans, from Ratho, enlcred after 29lh June... It is stated 23rd Jan, 1571, ' he hcs '• seruit in the ministerie of the said citie the space of ten zeris bipast.' " The allusions to Mr. David Weems in Wodrow's Biographical " ColiiCthm" are cvidcnlly imperfect : in vol. ii. part 2 (Maitland Club), Glasgow, 1S48. he is s|X)ken of as having diet! ill 1605 or 1606 (p. 79), but in the Appendix (p. ix.), he is traced as living in 1609. - Copy of a certified extract supplied by the late Mr. James Stirling, of Cordalc. It occurs. \\ iih others, in the printed papers entitled, " Abstract of the Evidaice iuhmittni to a Jury oh " behalf of Andrew Stirling, Esquire, of Drtimpellier, claiming to be sen ed Hctr- Male in general '' of Robert Stirling of Jiankeyr, and Lettyr of Lettyr-Stirling in the county of Stirling, who " died in the year 1537." This Law Paper is dated loih Keby., 1S18. •' Described as a " Merchant ": see Appendix, No I\'. 28 " was tlic principall procurer to this vocation of ye Letters of visitation under the " Privi Scale they hcvc aumitit the said John frcn;aa who hes given his oath " confornic to ordor : yis for ye benefit of his children." ^ At that time certain privileges were attached to the membership of such an Incorporation, and the last clause of the minute may be interpreted as indicating a benefit conferred on the son and the grand-children of the founder, although perhaps the member thus admitted may not have had anything to do with medicine or surgery. Certain it is that the son of this John Low was admitted in 1677 "for the same cause, having the same veneration for his grandfather," although he was really a lawyer in Edinburgh (see Appendix, No. IV.). These cases, so far as the records are known, are the only in- stances of admission to the Faculty of persons outside of the medical profession. It is probable that the names on Peter Lowe's tombstone, as shown on the sketch, are those of his son and grandson, — John and James just referred to. This grandson James had a son (or brother ?), Peter, a writer to the signet in Edinburgh ; the latter married a daughter of John Gray, Esq., of Carntyne ; their children, William and Annabella, died without issue, so that the family became extinct. Some property, including Peter Lowe's tomb, came thus into the family of the Grays, and the Faculty purchased the tomb from the Rev. John Hamilton Gray, Rural Dean of Chesterfield.^ This gentleman presented the Gauntlet Gloves belonging to Peter Lowe which had been preserved in the family, and his grandson, Capt. Anstruther Thomson, has still in his possession a small silver snuff-box, the property of Peter Lowe, the lid of which had been lost, but has been replaced by a bloodstone. The gloves are preserved in the Faculty Hall, Glasgow, and a drawing of them is here given.^ 1 See Dr. Weir : Address on the origin and early history of the Facidty of Physicians and Surgeons. Glasgow, 1864, p. 18. Also, Copy of Minutes, Transcribed by Dr. W. H. Hill, in possession of the Faculty. - A letter by this well-known genealogist on this subject is given in the Appendix, No. II. ■* The gloves are embroidered with gilt and silver thread. They closely resemble some shown in the Bishop's Palace collection at the Glasgow Exhibition of 1888, as belonging to the time of James I. See also Gloves, their annals and associations, by S. William Beck, London, 1S83 ; and "Some Historic Gloves," by the same author; The Magazine of Art : London, vol. x., 1887, p. 24. PETER LOWE'S GAUNTLET GLOVES. 2 9 Date of Death. There are many curious points raised in trying to fix the exact date of Peter Lowe's death. In various histories of Glasgow this lias been given as 1612, apparently upon the authority of the tombstone which bears this date at its head. But this date is not definitely given on it as that of his death ; and it has been suggested that he might, like many others, have accjuireil the grave and even erected a tombstone there, for some reason, during his life- time. When the subject came to be discussed in full view of his work on " Chyrvrgerie," and especially of the preface to the second edition, dated from his "house in Glasgow," 20th day of December, 1612, it was felt that some doul)t might exist ; for although every-day experience tells us that 1 1 days may readily enough suffice for a fatal illness, it seemed not unlikely that in such an event some allusion to his death, at the very date of the publication of the work, might have appeared in an elegiac stanza amongst the various commendatory verses which figure at the beginning of the volume. At that time communication was so slow between Glasgow and London that if the dedication and preface were really written in his " owne house in Glas- gow, the 20. day of December, in the yeere of our Lord God. 16 12." and if he died within that year, the work cannot possibly have been actually published till some little time after his death ; but of this the volume bears no trace. ^ On searching the list of deaths of the Parisian Surgeons, in the '^ Index Funereus Chiriirgoritvi Parisioisii/m ab anno 1315. ad annum 1729."^ we find the following entry of his death: — '■'M. I'etrus LOU VET, Scotus, Mcdico-Chirurgiis pra:stantissimus. Obiit 30. Jiinii, anni 1617." This precision in an official record might have seemed amply conclusive on this point ; but probably the date given was that on which the intelligence of his death was received in Paris, long after his decease. Our local records in ^ The change of the beginning of the Scottish year from 25lh March to January 1st can- not account for this, as this change began on January 1st, 1600. - Sec Richcnhes cH/i<""-' Scor' Ambroise Pari ; sixiesme edition, Paris 1607. Les Oewres de Chirvrgie de lacqves Gvillenuav, avec les portraits et figvres de tovtes les parties dv corps huinain et dcs instruments necessaires au Chintrgien. Paris 1598. Peter Lowe, p. 10 p. 92 p. 96 (Artificial legs) P- 99 p. 161 p. 170 p. 176 (Syringe) p. 187 (Hare lip) P- 193 p. 205 p. 227 p. 230 p. 241 (Anatomical) p. 246 (Hernia) p. 2S3 p. 2SS (Suture) p. 31S P- 340 p. 349 (Skeleton) p. 377 (Veins) P- 379 P- 395 Par^. p. 328 pp. 717, pp. 904, PP- 346, p. 602 718 905 616 613 382 447, 448, 345 716 SS9 Guillemeau. P- 143 PP- 145. 151 P- 145 P- 153 P- 153 p. 371 p. 381 pp. 612, p. 292 PP- 371. P- 143 p. 149 p. 147 p. 147 p. 145 P- 50 p. 122 p. 308 pp. 424, p. 380 p. 368 PP- 342, PP- 237, P- 137 P- 143 pp. 137 bis, 141 P- 63 p. 379 p. 147 P- 153 35 afterthought, as there is little allusion, if any, to the figures by Peter Lowe in his text. Many of them are the same as those reproduced by Rhead in 1634 from Ambrose Pare' {A Description of the Body of Man. With the Pnutise of Chirurgery, and the use of three and fifty Instruments. London 1634.) The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th editions of the " Chirurgerie " are by no means scarce. The appearance of a fourth edition of such a work, 57 years after the first, would seem to indicate the great reputation of the treatise. In Cooke's '* Mellificium Chirtirgia or the Marrow of ?>iany good authours^" London, 1648, the author speaks in his preface of " Low" as one of the English authors from whom he had " collected." In Watt's '^ Bibiiotheca Britan?iica" Edin., 1S24, there is a detailed state- ment as to the translation of Lowe's " Chirurgerie " into various languages. No verification of this statement has been found anywhere, after a wide search. The error is the more curious inasmuch as Watt was closely connected, as President, with the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, founded by Peter Lowe, so that we must suppose he took some special interest in his works. The entry is so important that it is given nearly in full : — " Lowe, Peter, a native of Scotland, and Founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow ; died there in 161 2. — The whole Course of Chirurgerie. Peter Lowe, &c. Lond. 1596,' i597) 1612, 1634, 1654, 410. This is con- sidered to be a book of very great merit, and was translated into a variety of languages, and printed in Fr. 1612 ; Port. 1614 ; Gunz. 1634. Port. 1657.— An Easy, Certain, and Perfect Methodc to Cure and Prevent the Spanish Sickness, &c. Lond. 1596, 4to." The first notion on reading this entry casually is that Watt is giving the dates of the foreign editions; but, of course, a work issued here in Deer., 1612, could scarcely be translated and published abroad in the same year. Besides, what is "Fr."? and what are " Port." and "Gunz."? An idea (sub- sequently found to be erroneous), occurred to the writer that " Fr." might be a misprint for " Hr.," and this again a contraction for the Bibliographer, Haller. On consulting Mailer's " Bibiiothcca Chirurgica" Tom. i., Basileae, 1774, p. 273, the following entry was found : — "Peter Lowe a discourse of the 7uholc art of chirurgery.. .nil the presages of Hippocrates London 1597.4- Ames, (lego alias whole course of chirurgerie). ' This date seems to be an error, possibly from a confusion with the dale of the ** Spanish Sickncs." — J. F. 36 Adduntur a Portalio editiones 1612.4. 1634.4. a Gunzio 1614.4. 1657.4. additur dcnii|ue a Gunzio accessisse hie chirurgicas formulas." ^ It seemed, even from this, very likely that Watt had, in preparing his work, copied some notes from Haller. But the identity of the passage is placed beyond doubt on comparing Haller's entry in his " Bibliotheca Mediciiuz Practic(B," Tom. ii., Basileae, 1777, p. 324, we there find : — " Pet. Lowe Scotus, chirurgus, Ejus easie certain and perfect method to cure and prevent the Spanish sickness London, 1596. 4. Rejectis aliis, mercurii usum internum commcndat, pilulas, medicamenta sua arcana, decoctum lignorum, composita. "Ej. the whole course of chirurgie whereunto are annexed the presages ot Hippocrates Lond. 1597. 4. Tr. 161 2. 4. Port. 1614. 4. Gunz. 1634. 4. Port. i657- 4 - Gunz." The portion here underlined for our present purpose, is identical with ' The reference by Haller is to Ames the bibliographer. See Ames and Herbert, vol. 2, pp. 1033 and 1002 : Typographical Antiquities, or an Historical Account of the Origin and Progress of Printing in Great Britain and Ireland, in three volumes. London : MDCCLXXXVI : — " 1596. Peter Lowe, Scotchman, Arellian, doctor in the facultie of chirurgerie in Paris, chirurgion to Henry IV, king of France and Nauare. His easy, certain, and perfect methode to cure and preuent the Spanish sickness, whereby the learned and skillfull may heal many other diseases. Quarto." James Roberts, London, 1596. " I597- -Ihe Whole Covrse of Chirurgerie, wherein is briefly set down the Causes, Signes, Prognostications and Curations of all sorts of Tumors, Wounds, Vlcers, Fractures, Disloca- tions and all other Diseases vsually practised by Chirurgions, according to the opinion of all our auncient Doctours in Chirurgerie. Compiled by Peter Lowe, Scotchman, Arellian Doctor in the Facultie of Chirurgerie in Paris, and Chirurgian ordinarie to the King of Fraunce and Nauarre. Wherevnto is annexed The Presages of Diuine Hippocrates " Thomas Purfoot or Purfoote. London, 1597. " '597- The Booke of the Presages of deuyne Hyppocrates, deuyded into three partes. Also the protestation which Hyppocrates caused his schollars to make. The whole collected and translated by Peter Low Arellian Doctor, etc. 1597... Quarto." Thomas Purfoot or Purfoote. London, 1597. In the first edition of Ames in 1749, references are found at pages 341 and 334 to these two works respectively. The references made to Peter Lowe by Portal and Gunzius are copied in page 37 of this Memoir, from which it will be seen that there is an error made in quoting Gunzius. Haller, in another. work, Bibliotheca Anatoniica, Tom. i., Lond., 1774, p. 323, has "Peter Lowe discourse of the whole art of surgery. Lond. 1612.4°. Dougl. Habct etiam anatomica figuras venarum cutanearum, sceleti, alia." 37 the entry in Watt, except that tlie figure 4 (for quarto) is omitted. And, further, that what Haller printed " Tr." appears in Watt's book as " Fr.," • a very natural error in copying or in printing from MS. On looking at the entries in Haller it was at once found that " Port." and "Gunz." meant Portal and Gunzius, the Bibliographers. It was also evident that in Watt's entry these names had become separated from their appropriate dates ; for " Gunz.," at the end of Haller's entry, could only refer to " 1657. 4." This date, indeed, is itself partially an error. Instead of 1614 and 1657, as the editions said to be quoted by Gunzius, in Haller's two entries, there should be only one date, viz., 1654, which is a kind of combination of the two erroneous years, for Gunzius only quotes the 4th edition, and gives the year correctly as 1654.2 The editions quoted by Haller from Portal in this entry are those of i6i2 and 1634, which are perfectly correct.^ So far "Port" and ''Gunz." are plain, and the " Tr.," in Haller, is evidently the " Fr." of Watt. Clearly this also must stand for some Bibliographer in Haller's entry. On consulting Tarin's bibliographical work, for any reference to Pcicr Lowe, it was found that he gives the edition of 161 2,* not that of 1597, as we ' But really " Tr." in Watt's manuscript, as shown in the sequel. * Bibliothtca Gvnziana : Dresden, 1755, p. 314. [29]" 68. A Discourse of the whole art of Chyrurgery, compiletl by Peter I^owe, where unto is added the Rule of macking remedies which Chirurgions doc commcnly use, with the Presages of divine Hyppocrates, the fourth Edition, corrected, and mucli aniendet, Lomlun, 654. 4. E[nglischer] B[and]." No other edition is quoted by (lun/ius. * Portal, Histoire de F anatomic ct de la chirurgit. Tome ii. Paris, 1770, j). 162 : "Lowe (Pierre), Chirurgien de Paris & de Henri IV, a publie un ouvragc (jue Nf. <.\c Haller annonce sous le titre suivant. In the Faculty of Chirurgie at Paris, Chir. to Henry IV, e.isy certain and i)rcsent mcth.xi to cure and prevent the Spanish sicknes. Lond. 1596. A Discorrse of the Whole Arte of surgcris Londini 161 2, 1634, in 4. On trouve dans cet ouvrage quelques details Anatomiques." Again, in his '■'■Tableau Chronologique'" (Tome vi. Part 2, p. 757; Paris, 1773) Portal jrives, — " Lowe (P.) Whole course of Chirurgerie. Lond. 1597, in 4. Heister. il>i.l. 1613, 1634, 1654, in 4." •• Tarin : Dutionnaire anatoiniqtu suivi I utu bibliothiqui attiitonii^tu d phytu>lo£i,)ut. Paris, 1753 : " Lowe (P.) discourse of the whole art of .Surgery. Lfjndon, 1612." 38 might have expected from the letters "Tr." following that date in Haller's entry : but in his other work already quoted (Bibliotheca Chirurgica) Haller refers to Ames (not Tarin) as his authority for the 1597 (or first) edition. It is clear we must believe that "Tr." stands for Tarin, as quoted by Haller. Having traced the details of Watt's entry to Haller, it seemed a plausible theory that Watt had noted this properly enough, but that in the publication of his great work, after his death, the editors had misunderstood the memo- randum, and had themselves inserted, through some confusion of ideas, the clause about the translation into various languages. Unfortunately for this hypothesis, Watt's MS. is preserved in the Free Library of Paisley, where he practised before coming to Glasgow : the MS. is nicely bound up in many volumes, and the entry there, evidently in Watt's own neat handwriting, is almost exactly as it appears in the printed work. ^ Why Watt came to assert the publication of Lowe's treatise on " Chirurgerie " in various languages, or why contractions for the names of Bibliographers should be printed as if they were places of publication remains a perfect puzzle, especially when we know that Watt must have been specially interested in this author and his w^orks, as the founder of the Faculty with which he himself was connected. The Presages of Deuyne Hyppocrates, 1597, 1611, 1634, 1655. (See ^ There is a long MS. of Watt's in the Library of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, so that his writing is known. The entry in Watt's Manuscript, vol. viii., is a/w/^j/ the same as in the printed volume of his " Bibliotheca," but, on critical examination, it is found that Watt wrote " Tr." (as in Haller) and not " Fr." as printed : it is also noteworthy that the word " in," before " Tr.," does not occur in the MS. ; also he writes " about 1612," instead of " in 1612." The figure i before the title of the *' Spanish Sicknes " was probably to indicate that it was to precede the other work (as being earlier) when the MS. was printed : — "Low Lowe Peter, a Scotchman & Founder of the Faculty of physicians and surgeons of Glasgow, in 1599. Died about i6i2. [A space is left blank here in MS. for title. Many of the titles in the MS. were printed slips and pasted in : this one may have fallen off, so leaving a blank.] Considered to be a book of very great merit, was also translated into a variety of other languages, and printed Tr. 1612. Port. 1614. Gunz. 1634 Port 1657. I Easy, certain, and perfect Methode to cure and prevent the Spanish Sickness," &c. Lond. i^g6. 4to. 7 HE mi ^?B BOOKE OF THE PRE- ^3 SJ^ fages of deuyiie Myppoaates t^^, 5!^4u!.^ dcijyticd iiJto three pnrccs. Alfoihe fc^^iK «|^'\f protefhtion which /{yppocmrfs ^fj^ A^^^^ cavpdInsSchollers /•Vy. to make. J^THE WHOLE NEWLY COL- Jfe Icardand Trnnfiatcd by TETEF^ Wf^.oS L 0;^ Arcllun 1)Ater tn thcfu- 5^i'liG cutti,f of (hirnrg^aie m P A R. ! S." ?S^ 39 photo-lithograph of title-page of the first cdilion.') Aithougli these translations appear with a separate title - page, they arc, so far, an integral part of the " Chirurgerie," as appears from their incorporation in the title-page of the latter. They are referred to by Littre, " Oeuvrcs completes (THippocrate," Tome II. p. 106. Paris, 1840 : Also by Dr. Adams, " 77ie Genuine IVorks of Hippocrates^' \o\. i, p. 49. London 1849. The title-page of the " Presages " in the first edition l)cars the same date as the "Chirurgerie" (1597), and the dedication has the same date as tlie other, 20 April, 1597. But in the second edition the title-page of the '* Presages " is dated a year earlier than the " Chyrvrgcrie," viz. 161 1, and the dedication has also a date nearly a year earlier than the " Chyrvrgerie," viz. 7 Novr., 161 1. In the 3rd edition the title-page of the " Presages" has the same year as the " Chyrvrgerie," viz. 1634, and the 4th has the year following (1655 instead of 1654.) The first edition of the " Presages " is dedicated to " Robert Lorde Senipik, Sheriffe of Renfrowe and Baily of the Rcgalilie of Pastlay," &c. The second edition is dedicated to tlic " Arch-bishop of Clasgow " (Spotswood -). From information kindly supplied to the writer by Dr. C. Crcighton, of London, it would appear to be certain that Peter Lowe made his translation from the French version of Canappe [or CanapeJ published in Lyons in 1552^ : the correspondence with the French translation is very close,'* and the order ' The following is a copy of the title-page of 3ril Edition : — The I Presages | of | Divine Hippocrates. \ Divided into three parts. With the ( I'ro- teftation or Oath which Hippocrates \ caufed his Schollers to make at their | entry with him to their studies | The VVIiole Collected and Trauslated \ by Peter Iatmc Scoltifl»-m.in, | Doctor in the Facultieof | Chyrurgery in Paris \ At London, | H Printed by Thomas Pvk- FOOT. I An. Dom. 1634. -The same who was chaplain to the Duke of Lennox in the embassy to Paris in 1601 which Peter Lowe accompanied, lie was Archbishop of Glasgow from 1603 to 1615. .Sec Jlistory of tJie Church and State of Scotland, by J. Spotswootl, 4th Edition, Lomlon, 1677 ; Author's Life : and also Appendix p. 46. 3 The writer has not seen this French translation. The following is the entry copied from the British Museum Catalogue of Printed IJooks. "Canape (]cm\) — Opuscules dednvrs "■' Antheurs Medkins redigez ensemble pour Ic prou/it et utilite des Chiiur^iens rnc Lowe's. Com- pare pp. 13 and 55. 40 of the Life, the Oath, and the Presages is the same. The "life" of course affords the strongest proof of the source of the translation,^ but Dr. Creighton, who has compared them, says that the paragraphs and headings throughout are the same.^ Unpublished or Lost Works. The "Spanish Sicknes," and the various editions of the " Chirurgerie," with the translations from Hippocrates bound up with them, are the only works actually known to have been published by Peter Lowe. But in these works themselves the reader is referred to various other treatises by him ; some of them are referred to so repeatedly or so definitely, and at times spoken of in such a way as to lead one to suppose that they must actually have been published. Of these, we have (i) The Poore Mans Guide; (2) a Treatise on Parturition, and on the Diseases of Married Women and Maidens, including a section on the diseases of young children ; and (3) The Booke of the Plague. BooKE OF THE Plague. — The Plague was from time to time very prevalent in Scotland, and just about the date of Peter Lowe's coming to Glasgow it attained alarming proportions.^ It is not wonderful, therefore, that he thought of writing a Treatise on the subject, but there seems to be only one reference to this book, viz., in the " Chyrvrgerie," 2nd Edition, Lib. 5, Cap. 66, p. 264, when speaking of the Plague he says, " whereof (God willing) you shall heare " the Cure in the Booke of the Plague." From this it is clear that this book ^ The last two or three words in the French life are omitted, and Zeno appears in Lowe's translation as Pereno, by a misprint. According to Dr. Creighton's notes, this " Life " does not appear in the Latin of Rabelais from which Canappe seems to have made liis translation. - See Dr. Creighton's article on "FalstafTs Deathbed," in Black-wood's Magazine, for March 1889: Dr. Creighton furnished the writer with extracts in support of his statements there given. In Book ii. Peter Lowe has a special heading "To presage oi A' eesing in feuers": in this he follows Canappe, who has a heading " De Sternutation, &c. ," although no such heading occurs in Rabelais' version, which he used, or in that of Copus on which it is founded. (Dr. Creighton, in his article, quotes tlie date of the French translation as 1533, — perhaps the first edition. ) ^ See Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgcai.': Glasgow, 1876, p. 206; "Statute, glengoir," 3 May, 1600. 41 was not then published, and as we have reason to beheve that the author did not long survive the issue of his second edition in 1612, and as this seems to be the solitary reference to this " Booke," we may fairly assume that it was never published, although very likely begun by him in MS. The Infantment. — The Treatise on Diseases of Women is in a very different position. It is referred to repeatedly in the " Spanish Sickncs," and in the " Chirurgerie," indeed in both editions of the latter, not only in the prefaces^ but also in various sections ; it is, at times, spoken of so definitely, and with such precise reference to various details to be found in it, that one might suppose it to be certain that it had been actually published. Thus speaking of rupture of the veins, in his first edition, he says, " as oft happeneth " to women in their travell, for the which I have treated at lehth in tlie treatise " of womes birth." (Lib. 5, Cap. 34 ; compare 2nd Edition, Lib. 5, (Jap. 69, p. 267.) A critical examination, however, almost proves that this work had not then been published. The great variety of names under which it is spoken of leads one to suspect that it had never been actually issued as a book. In the preface to the "Spanish Sicknes,""'' he speaks of "my Booke De partu muiienim" ; and in Chap. 21, of "my treatise of T/w Infantment''' ; while in Part 2, Cap. 4, he calls it " the Treatise of The sicknes of 7i'omen." In the preface to the first edition of the " Chirurgerie," he speaks of " my Treatise " of the help of women in the time of their infantmet, with the curatio of such "diseases as happen comonly to maides and maried wome"; and in the preface to the second edition, " the treatise of the helpe of Women in their " Infantment, with the curation of such diseases as happen to maydcns, and "married women." Elsewhere, in the second edition, we have it called " my Booke of the disease of Women," (2nd edition " Chyrvrgcrie," p. 216); " Booke of Infantment," (p. 242); " my treatise of the sicknesse of women," (p. 9); and "the Booke of Diseases of Women," (p. 219). In the first edition, we find " my Treatise of the deliverie of women where I intrcatc of * In the Preface to the 1st Edition of the "Chirurgerie," we rc.id of certain "work* esteemed by such learned men as have scene them " ; this may c.iiily l»c unl as referring to the MSS. in his possession. ■^ In the dedication he says, "I intend hecreaftcr to pub!isl» dtucrs other l«H>kc» o( Chirurgie." 42 those diseases which commonly liappcn to yong children," (Lib. 5, Cap. 11); and again, " the treatise of womes birth," (Lib. 5, Cap. 34). From this loose way of naming the book we might almost infer that it had as yet no accurate title ; but we gather from definite statements in the preface " To the Covrteovs Reader," in the " Spanish Sicknes," that it was not then published, for he there refers both to it and to the " Chirurgerie," as in the future ; " I purpose, heereafter, (if God prolong my dayes with happie successc) ** to make you pertakers of my labour in the whole course of Chirurgerie, and " my Booke De partti multerum : by whose helpe, I doubt not, but many "women shall ease, & shorten their course in trauaile "; and again, in chapter 21, he says of the " treatise of The Infant/nefit, the which by Gods help, shall ** be shortly put in print." Even in the second edition of his " Chyrvrgerie," dated December, 1612, we find him speaking thus of this "Booke of the disease of Women " — " the which Booke God willing shortly shall come to " light " (p. 216). As there is reason to believe that Peter Lowe died within a year or so of the publication of this edition, we may be almost sure that the work was never published. PooRE Mans Guide. — The Poore Mans Guide is a work in whose exist- ence, from the evidence derived from Peter Lowe's other books, there is strong reason to believe. It is always spoken of definitely under exactly the same title, even the spelling being very uniform, although in the 2nd edition of the ** Chyrvrgerie," at pp. 259 and 367, we find " Guyde." Once, indeed, we are referred to " the mans Guide " (ist Edition of '* Chirurgerie " Lib. 5. Cap 19) but this is evidently a mere slip. The strongest argument for the actual existence of this work is the way in which it is referred to in the " Spanish Sicknes," at least half-a-dozen times,^ for the details of remedies, and even for the most important remedy of all, — his own " confection." - In the first edition of his " Chirurgerie " published in the following year, he still refers to " the poore mans guide " where, he says, the composition of the confection is " set down," ^ and again fifteen years later, in the second edition, the same reference is made.* Nevertheless it is extremely doubtful if this work was ever actually ^ Part I, Cap. 18, 20, 21, 22 ; Part 2, Cap. 2, 4. " 1st Edition, Lib. 5, Cap. 12. ^ Part I, Cap. 21. ■* 2nd Edition, p. 214. 43 published ; for the argument is equally strong for its existence at the time of the publication of his first two works in 1596 and 1597, as at the later date of 16 1 2 when the second edition of his " Chyrvrgerie " appeared. But we find in the prefoce written by William Clowes for the first edition in 1597, that he speaks of Peter Lowe being then " fully determined to publish in the English tongue, other very briefe & i)ithie workes of Chirurgerie : " At the same time he says " hee hath of late performed one other Treatise being extant, and is intituled by him. The Cure of the Spanish sickenesse." It is scarcely conceivable that he would refer so pointedly to one treatise being extant if there were already two or more : much more likely is it that the Poore Mans Guide and the Book of the Infantmcnt were those which he was " fully determined " to publish, and that Clowes who was " one of her Maiesties Chirurgions," was among the " learned men " referred to by Peter Lowe in his preface to the same work, as having seen and " esteemed " the above-named works. The Poore Mans Guide is referred to again and again in this first edition ^ of the *' Chirurgerie " ; and as in the " Spanish Sicknes," the references are to most important points of treatment. There is no reason to believe that the Poore Mans Guide was published between the issue of the first and second edition of the " Chirurgerie," for his other two works are referred to by him in almost similar terms in the prefaces to the two editions : any argument from the allusions in the preface or text of the second edition must apply equally to those in the first, and the statement of Clowes is strongly against any work of Peter Lowe's in addition to the " Spanish Sicknes," having been published at that time ; it has been shown already pretty conclusively that the Book of the Infantmcnt was not published at 1612 : the chances are that the "Poore Mans Guide " was in the same con- dition as both are spoken of in the same way. There seems, indeed, some indication that both books were in a state of tlux, special sections bcmg transferred, from time to time, from one to the other, or to the treatise on " Chirurgerie." Thus in the first edition (Lib. 6, Cap 4) in connection with certain remedies we are told we "shall heare in the introductio to & > 1st Edition, Lib. 6, Cap. 4 ; Lib. 6, Cap. 10 ; Lib. 7, Cap. 9 ; Lib. 7, Cap 10 ;^ Lib. 7 (really it should be S), Cap. 4 ; Lib. 5, Cap. 10; Lib, 5, Cnp. 12; Lib. 5, Cap. iS : L»b. 5, Cap. 19 ; Lib. 5, Cap. 21. 44 Chirurgerie in the poore mas guide " ; whereas in the same book and chapter of the 2nd edition there is no reference to the Poore Mans Guide, but only to the " last Booke," no doubt " The Tenth Booke," much extended in this issue, wholly consisting of a list of remedies. In the same way, under the Chapter on the maladies of the teeth and the remedies by means of extraction or artificial teeth, we are referred in the first edition to the Poore Mans Guide; but in the second edition the subject is dealt with more fully, and no reference is made to the above treatise, but on the other hand, in reference to bad teeth, he says he will "entreate further in my Booke of the Infantment " (ist Ed., Lib. 5, Cap 10 ; 2nd Ed., Lib. 5, Cap. 31). Again as to " Condiloma," he says in the first Edition, " haue recourse to Celsus. Or to the mans Guide." " In the second edition we read " haue your recourse to Celsus,ox to my Booke of the Infantment" (ist Ed., Lib 5, Cap. 19 ; 2nd Ed., Lib. 5, Cap 48). In a similar way, under " ani precedentia," he says in the ist Edition " have recourse to iht poore mans guide " (ist Edition, Lib. 5, Cap. 31); while in the 2nd Edition he says "haue your recourse to my booke of Infantment in the Chapter of the diseases of yong Children " (Lib. 5, Cap. 50). The mere form of phrase used by Peter Lowe in referring from one treatise to another, does not count for much,' for it is almost certain that the four works were being prepared concurrently (Spanish Sicknes, Chirurgerie, Poore Mans Guide, and Infantment) ; the following reference to the extraction of stone from the bladder, however, almost implies that even at the date of the second edition of the " Chyrvrgerie " the section referred to in the Poore Mans Guide was unwritten, and so of course that this work was unpublished in 161 2, to say nothing of 1597 when the first edition appeared. It is S])ecially worthy of note, as bearing on this point, that there is no section on the extraction of stone in the first edition at all, and so of course no reference to the other work in this connection. ^ For example we find the following phrase in the "Spanish Sicknes" (Part 2, Cap. 2,) " For the which you may haue recourse to my Chirurgie, Chapter of gangrene," and it might be argued that this implied the possibility of referring to this book, which was not published till the following year. In his " Chyrvrgerie," 2nd Edition, p. 257, he uses the future tense : " as you shall heare in my Booke of the Spanish or French sicknesse," — a work published 16 years before ; again, at p. 267, he says, "the which I haue entreated at length in my Booke of the diseases of women," although elsewhere, p. 216, he says it is not yet published. 45 " As touching the extraction of 'the stone, it requirclh a long discourse, for the which I meane to deferre it to the Poore mans guyde " (Lib. 5, Cap. 63, p. 259). We are thus led to believe that this book also was unpublished in December, 161 2 ; and as the author died within a year or two at most the chances are that it was never actually published. But although the Poore Mans Guide has apparently never been seen in a printed form, we are able to guess pretty well what its nature was. It was evidently a collection of Receipts for the treatment of disca.se. A reference occurs in the first edition of the " Chirurgerie " (Lib. 6, Cap. 4), to " the poore ** mas guide," for details of certain remedies named ; in the second edition, j). 300, this is altered to, "as you shall heare in the last Booke," that is in "The Tenth Booke of Antidotaries Chyrurgicall," which is composed ot receipts, and was much extended in the second edition ; in particular in this edition he gives " Unguentum Apostolorum," one of the remedies referred to at page 300. Of special remedies, whose composition is given in the Poore Mans Guide, we have Peter Lowe's " Electuary " or " Confection," (" Spanish Sicknes," chap. 21; "Chirurgerie," ist Edition, Lib. 5, Cap. 12; and 2nd Edition, Lib. 5, Cap. 39, p. 214). Again he speaks of "my powder callctl Puluis Indicus, set downe in The poore mans guide, verie propper for manic other diseases also," ("Spanish Sicknes," Cap. 18); further on we read "a little of my pouder set downe in T/ie Poore mans guide, called Puluis NcapoUtanus, most excellent for diuers vlcers," (" Spanish Sicknes," Part 2, Chap. 2); in like manner concerning " Arabick powder," "The composition of it, which will endure the space of three moneths, with the true administration of the same in diuers sicknesses, are set downe in my Treatise called The poore mans guide,'' ("Spanish Sicknes," Cap. 22). In another chapter, he says, " you shall take three graines of my j)Ouder called Puluis Tartarianus, or else halfe an ounce of mine electurary. The preparation of both is set downe in the Poore mans guide,'' (" Spanish Sicknes," Cap. 20). ^Ve arc likewise referred to the Poore Mans Guide for the prescription of "the emplastcr vcnetirum," in both editions of the "Chirurgerie," (Lib. 6, Cap. 10, and Lib. 6, Cap. 11, p. 319) ; this reference seems to have been required, for on referring to the tenth book of "antidotaries chyrurgicall," we do not find this one among the other " emplastcrs." In both editions of the "Chirurgerie." in connection 46 with " oylc of roses, with whites of egs," he says, " as ye shall find in the poore mans guide," (Lib. 7, Cap. 9). We can even trace one of these prescriptions ; in the first edition of the " Chirurgerie," (Lib. 7, Cap. 10,) he says : " I have set downe a secrete in the poore mans guide, to heale all kindes of burning in a shott time with one emplaister onely"; the receipt given on page 305 of the second edition, in the chapter on burning with gunpowder, seems to be the one referred to ; for in the part of the second edition corresponding to that where the reference is given to the " poore mans guide " in the first edition, he says : " I haue set downe a remedie in the Chapter of burning by Gunpowder which doth cure all kinds of burning in short time with one plaster onlie," (Lib. 7, Cap. 10, p. 347). Another of these prescriptions can be traced. In the first edition of his " Chirurgerie," speaking of " Hidrupsie," he says : " I have set downe an excellet remedie in the poore mans Guide for the curation of this disease, if the fault be not in the liver, whereby I healed many in Paris during the time of the siege," (Lib. 5, Cap. 18) ; in the corresponding part of the second edition, pp. 225-226, the actual formula is given, and he says " I did cure sundry at the siege of Paris, by a remedy which I brought from a Turke, who was bondssslaue to Dondego de varro Viador^ Generall of the Spanish regiment there." The Poore Mans Guide was evidently, however, not merely a list of prescriptions but was also a guide to their use, as is plain from some of the quotations just given. It probably had headings of diseases with the appropriate remedies. Of this we get a trace in the " Spanish Sicknes," (Part 2, Cap. 4), where we find the treatment of Reples, Satyriasis and Priapismus, consigned to the Poore Mans Guide, and similarly " Condiloma " is relegated to the Poore Mans Guide in the first edition- at least, and " ani precedentia "^ also. 1 See Mr. Windsor's note in Appendix, No. iv. ^ Lib. 5, Cap. 19 ; in the second edition, p. 234, it is said to be dealt with in the " Booke of the Infantment." ^ Lib. 5, Cap. 21 "poore mans guide in the Chapter of diseases of young children in these partes" ; in the second edition it is referred to the " booke of Infantment in the Chapter of the diseases of yong Children," p. 238. 47 In addition to the receipts and remedies, we are referred to the I'oore Mans Guide for details as to three things not clearly coming under this category. One indeed is probably closely allied to this — viz,, the embalming of dead bodies ; — " If thou woudest embalme them to continue Fourescoore yeares, or more thou shall fmde an easie and perfit waye to performe the same in the poore mans Guide. "^ The main part of the instructions probably referred to preservative materials, and a " searecloth " for the purpose, as indicated in the chapter on this subject in the " Chirurgerie." It is possible, indeed, that embalming was practised by those outside, or almost outside, of the surgical world - and so appropriately enough relegated to the I'oore Mans Guide ; we know, however, that Peter Lowe himself obtained a fee from the town for " bowelling " the Laird of Houston.^ The next matter concerns the treatment of bad teeth. In the first edition of the " Chirurgerie," this subject is dealt with very shortly ; and he adds — *' As for the maladies of the teeth, the way to correct and helpe their defor- niitie, to drawe the corrupted, and put artificiall in their place, ye shall heare at length in the Treatise of the poore mans guide,^' (Lib. 5, Cap. 10). In the second edition the subject is dealt with much more fully, and details are given as to artificial teeth being inserted. Curiously, however, he says he will curtail his remedies for the treatment of the " mouldy, blacke, hollow, or euill fauoured tooth," "by reason I am to entreate further in my Booke of the Infantment." (2nd Edition p. 198.) It is not clear why this subject should be taken up there, although the trouble given by bad teeth during pregnancy is well known, and the subject of teething in young children was always regarded as very important. It seems plainer why it 1 1st Edition of "Chirurgerie." Lib. 7 (re.nliy S) Cap. 4. In the 2nd Edition, p. 367, " but if any would haue them to continue embalmed, for to endure lOO. or 120. ycarcs, you shall find a perfect w.iy to doe the same in my Booke called The ixwre mans (luydc." -Thus in 166S Matthew Miller received a partial licence from the Faculty in tJ last"* " for the applica^nc of coulters and ventosis, the cuiring of simple wounds, and the embalm- ing of corpes." (See MS. Minute, March 13th, 1668.) 3 "Bowelling" is used in this sense at p. 367 of 2nd edition of the " Chyrvrgcric." See Extracts from the Records of the Bur^h of Glasgmv. Glasgow 1876 p. 314- 48 might come into such a work as the Poore Mans Guide, as the pulling of teeth was a common practice amongst barbers. The third matter referred to the Poore Mans Guide is, with our present notions, still more extraordinary, viz., the extraction of stone from the bladder. This subject is not dealt with by Peter Lowe at all in the first edition of his " Chirurgerie," and when he comes to it in his second edition he says " it requireth a long discourse, for the which I meane to deferre it to the Poore mans guyde," p. 259. Why one of the capital operations in surgery should be referred to a book with such a title seems no doubt puzzling ; but lithotomy at that time in this country, and even in Glasgow, was practised as a specialty by those who were in no technical sense surgeons ; even much later than Peter Lowe's time we find the following entry : — "27th March, 1688. — The said day there was ane testificat produced in favor of Duncan Campbell, subscryvit be the haill doctors and most part of the chinirgianes in toune, of his dexteritie and success in cutting of the ston, as also in sounding with great facilitie, and hes given several! proofes therof within this burgh, whilk being taken to the said Magistrats and Counsell their consideration, they nominal and appoynt him to cutt such poor in toune as he shall be desyred be the Magis- trats, in place of Evir M'Neil,^ who is become unfit to doe the same through his infirmitie." {^Memorabilia of the City 0/ Clasj^otu ; Glasgow, 1868, p. 258.) From this we see that a " Stonecutter," as he was called, was even encouraged by the " most part of the chirurgianes," and so we need not wonder so much at Peter Lowe giving directions of a popular kind for the operation in the Poore Mans Guide. He was not the man, however, to sepa- rate such an important operation from the rest of surger)', and so, while defer- ring it to the Poore Mans Guide, he says " In the meane time the skilfull Chyrurgion may take aduice with Marianus Sanctus, Parens, Petrus Franco, and diuers others, who haue learnedly written of that matter." ' He was admitted to the Faculty in a qualified manner. Octavo Augusti 1656. " Anent the tryeall of Iver M'Neill chirurgiane who has bein in use these ten yearis or therby bygaine in cutting of the stone. They upon sight of severall creditable testificates did licentiat him alleneilic to exerce the cutting of the stone w*iii the boundis conteint in llier gyft-" 49 Name — Titles — Portkah-. Name. — The spelling of the name as "Lowe" or "Low," seems to have been a matter of indifference. This is well shown in the title pages of the first edition of the "Chirurgerie" and of the "Presages"; in the former it is " Lowe," in the latter " Low." In the headings of the various books of his "Chirurgerie" it is "Low" in the first edition, and "Lowe" in the second. In the Burgh Records of Glasgow the form used is "Low"; on one occasion we find " Lou." Probably his usual style of writing it while abroad was with the terminal e, and this was no doubt sounded by French- men, as indicated in the French form " Petrus Louvet" already (luotcd from the '■'■Index Fujiereus." More than one si)ecimen of his signature exists in (Glasgow in legal documents, and two of these are reproduced here.' The pronunciation of his name abroad can be readily gathered from the word "Louvet," and from Astruc's " Lowce," - but in this country it prob- ably varied. Occasionally, no doubt, it was pronounced as the name is pronounced in England at the present time ; this is indicated in one ol the verses "in praise of the author": " Low is ihy name, high growcs thy fame," where the antithesis is sufficiently plain to guide us in the pronunciation. In other verses we have a clear indication that liis name was pronounced ^The first signature is from a "Deed of Agreement amongst the Incorp)mlccnts Iwhmj; to Anderson's College Museum Trustees, but are at present in the City uf Cl.isi^cw ,\r«.hivo for safe custody. ^See p. 59 of this Memnir. n 5° in the same way as the Scotcli (or old English) word for flame,^ and indeed, as the proper name " Low " was until quite lately almost universally pronounced in Scotland, viz., as in the word AhLOir. Thus " G. Baker, one of his Maiesties chiefe Chirurgians in Ordinarie," writes " in praise of the author," " Then doctor Lowe thy Lampe doth giue such Hght " ; and " Thomas Churchyard Esquier " probably refers" to^ a rush-light when he says : — " not worth a rush Where Low, but showes his name." These allusions to his name clearly refer to the brilliancy of the light or fire of his surgical genius, and the word " Lanterne " is also coupled in this way with his name.^ ScoTUS. — The title " Scottishman " or " Scotchman " is repeatedly used in his " Chirurgerie " in the title pages and at the headings of the various books of the second edition. In the heading to his verses, "Jacobus *' Haruoeus...seremissimse Reginte Chirurgus Primarius" calls him " Britanno- Scotus." In the " Index Funeretis " we read " Petrus Lou vet, Scotus." Matthias ^ calls him " Petrus Lowe, Glascuensis," but this is probably due to the terminal phrase in the preface to the second edition of the " Chyrvrgerie." Maister. — The title " M' " or " IMaister " is constantly prefixed to his name in the Burgh Records, in the Faculty Minutes, in the " Letter of Guildry " Minutes, and in the Faculty Charter. In the Latin extracts ' In Burns' '* Epistle to a young friend," we read : — " Tlie sacred lowe o' weel-plac'd love," "See among the verses the Anagram " Let Power" where it is said "■Loaves Lauterne can Ldl Pcnvcr to your life." ^ CoiisJ'cctus Historia-: Medicoruin Clironolo^iciis. Gottingae, 1761, p. 378. 51 already 1 given we read " Magister." This title seems to have been some- what equivalent to the modem Magister Artium,- and we find it applied habitually to Peter Lowe's colleague, " Mr. Robert Hamiltone," and to many clergymen, including Peter Lowe's father-in-law, " Mr. David Weems." It is very strikingly adhered to, when any such names occur, even amongst long lists of others not distinguished in this way, and in the Charter and in the Minutes we often read of the " said Mr. Peter." In his preface " To the friendlie Reader," William Clowes also uses it and speaks '• in " praise and commendation of the Authour of this Treatise, M. Peter Lowe " Doctour in Chirurgerie," etc. Even in his signature attached to legal documents he prefixes " M' " as shown in the reproductions here given. Doctor. — The title " Doctor in the Facultie of Chirurgerie in Paris " given with but slight variation on the title page of the various editions of the " Chirurgerie," of the Hippocratic " Presages," and also of the "Spanish Sicknes," would seem an easily understood title; but Astruc, whose object it was to disparage Peter Lowe in every way and to represent him as no better than a quack, makes two difficulties in accepting this title as genuine;^ (i) Because there never was a FactUty of Surgery in Paris; and (2) Because the "Community" of Surgeons, which did e.xist there, never created Doctors but Masters of Surgery only. When the matter is inquired into, however, it is found that whatever may be said on the merits of this bitter dispute, the term " Faculte " was claimed by the "Community" of Surgeons, and that the title "Docteur" as well as "Maitre" was equally claimed by them. The accusation of Astruc is one, therefore, really made against the well-known body in whose Index Futiercus " Petrus Louvet " appears.* * See Records of " .Seisin," p. 26 of this Memoir. '"M.igistri, qui vulgo doclores in Theoloi,Mca vcl ali.a I'acult.itc. r.nssim." Ducangc : C/ossar/um mediae et ittjiniae Latitiitatis. Paris, 1S45. •'Astruc: De morbis zemiris. Editio sccunda Vcncta. Vcnctiis, 1748. Tom. 2, p. 2Sj. " Arroganter sane, ne dicam ineptc." Sec also p. 59 of this memoir. * See Kechoches critiques et historiques sur rorigiiie, siir Us divers Aots, et sur let fivf^rh de la chirurgie en France. [F. Qucsnay.] Paris, 1744- "II est done <}vidcnl que le " nom dc Facull^ etoit dQ i la Sociitt^ dcs Chirurgicns," p. 69. "On ixrul done " inf^rer du laiigage des Jugcs ordinaircs, que Ics Chirurgieiis sonl McihItcs dun C'.-.VV^y " (5r= d'uiie facu'tc. lis sont, dc I'avcu dc ccs Jugcs, MaUrcs, />i;. A. .'..•» j, lu.nStc':, 52 "CllIRUROIAN ORDINARY TO HeNRY THE EOURTII, THE MOST CHRISTIAN "King oe Fraunce and Nauarre"; " Chirurgian ordinarie to tlie most *' victorious and christian King of P'raunce and Nauarre " ; " ordinary " Chyrurgion to the French King and Navarre"; these are the sHghtly different forms under which he gives this title, and in the preface he speaks of his *' following the French King my Master." William Clowes also speaks of Peter Lowe as " Chirurgion unto the French King " in the preface to the first edition of the " Chirurgerie." The title seems plain and definite enough and has escaped Astruc's sceptical criticism. Accord- ing to Dr. A. Bureau, of the Library of the Academy of Medicine in Paris, it appears that he did not figure in the list of ordinary surgeons of King Henry IV., that is of the paid surgeons, but he adds that he may, as a foreigner, have received an honorary appointment; indeed, we might infer something of this kind from his continuing to call himself " ordinary Chyrurgion to the French King and Navarre " sixteen years after he left France, and two years after Henry's death.^ Chief Chirurgiane to Prince Henry. — In the Charter to the Faculty, James VI. calls " Maister Peter Low, our Chirurgiane, and chiefe chirurgiane to oure dearest son the Prince"; this was in 1599. Whatever may be the meaning of the words "our chirurgiane" (probably merely complimentary) it is clear that he was not one of the Chief surgeons to the Monarch 2 from " Docteurs" p. 227. The subject is gone into with great detail in this volume, but these short quotations are sufficient for the present purpose, which is to show the bona fides of Peter Lowe in using the title, and the animus of Astruc in accusing him of arrogance and absurdity in doing so. ^ See the letter of Dr. Bureau in Appendix No. III. The writer does not know where to search for the list of surgeons to the French King. King Henry was murdered 14th May, 1 6 10. ^Who these were we learn from Peter Lowe himself in the 1st edition of his *' Chiruigerie," Lib. vi., Cap. 10, '■'Gilbert rrimrose and John A'essmiih Chirurgians to "the King of Scotland men very expert in this operation [Trepanning] like as in all "operations chirurgicalls. God increase the number of such learned men in this Land." In the first edition of the "Chirurgerie" (Lib. v., Cap. 14) he speaks of Andrew Scot as Chirurgion to the King of Scotland. (See p. 8 of this Memoir.) Compare 2nd edition, p. 320, where he mentions George Baker as surgeon to his " most sacred maiesty " (James I.), and this edition has a dedication to "Gilbert Primrose, Sergeant Chirurgian to the Kings Maiestie ; lames Ilarvie cheif Chirurgian to the Queenes Maies^tie, &c." 53 the contrast indicated in his being called " chief chirurgiane " to the prince. This prince was the lamented Henry, Prince of \\'ales, for whom King James wrote the " Basilikon Doron," and whose death on November 6th, 1612, at the age of 18^ years, caused much commotion from its suddenness and the suspicions current ; " some said a French physician killed him ; " others, he was poisoned.^ " But whatever blame or suspicion attended the illness and the treatment, Peter Lowe was free from these as he was then in Glasgow, and indeed his office of " chief chinirgiane " to the Prince no doubt lapsed on the removal of the Court to London. This is probably the reason why Peter I.owe made no use in his " Chyrvrgerie " of the titles named in the Charter of the Faculty. The probability is that he obtained them at the time *' it pleased his Sacred Maicstie to hearc " my complaint," as he says in his preface, about the irregular i)ractitioncrs in the West of Scotland. In any case, it is extremely unlikely that he was appointed to any position in the Court before his return to Scotland, and so he could not use the titles in the " Spanish Sicknes " or the first edition of the " Chirurgerie " (1596 and 1597), which were iniblishcd while he was in London. By the time he published the second eilition, in 161 2 the Court had removed to London, and the signature of Ilammon appears as " Medicus Ordinarius Principis " in the memorandum of the jjost-mortem examination of the Prince which was made in London about six weeks before Peter Lowe's i)reface was written in Glasgow. Chirurgion Maior. — This term (" Chirurgian ?naior to the Spanish Regi- ments at Paris ") seems to have been a well-recognised title.^ In a passage already quoted (p. 8) he speaks of himself in the second edition as " I a Chyrur- gion Maior" ; curiously enough in the first edition he says in the same passage " Chirurgian ordinarie"; but in the pref:ice to the same ediiiun he again uses the term "Chirurgian Maior."-' It is [lerhaps in connection with this term of * According to Dr. Norman Moore this was a case of Typhoiil Fever : 7 he illn/ss and death of Henry Prime of Wales in 16 1 2. A historical case of Typhoid Fner. London , 18S2, p. 5. - See e.g., in the " Index Funcreus Chirur^^oruin rurisicnsiuni," unilcr Ik-rlhcrcau, where, it is said, " Kegioruni castrorum iS: exercituum Chiiurgi Majoris Memoir. 56 tlie capital of a county of that name in Scotland ! ' It is not certain that Aslriic was sincere in this profession of ignorance, as his disingenuous remarks on Peter Lowe's Doctorate in the Faculty of Chirurgerie in Paris, already dis- cussed, lay him open to suspicion. A suggestion has been made - that the name refers to the Earl of Errol (or Arrol), and in support of this a quotation, " Arellius : Earl of Errol, high con- stable of Scotland," is given from Irvin's Nomendatura? The family name of the Earls of Errol was Hay, and it is not easy to imagine what connection Peter Lowe could have with this family, but Mr. Windsor suggests that Arellian means a native of the town of Errol, in Scotland.* Another speculation has been suggested to the writer that " Arellian " might refer to Paracelsus, from one of his names, — Aureolus — and so it would be equivalent to Peter Lowe calling himself a Paracelsist or Theo- phrastist. This seems extremely improbable, as authors were not in the habit of labelling tlmnselves as Paracelsists. Moreover, the name " Aureolus " is one of the less known names of Paracelsus, and the spelling of " Arellian " deviates considerably from this word.* It has been held that " Arellian " is an Anglicised form of Orleanais or Mcdiais Aufclianiis, meaning thereby of the Orleans School. The old name of this town was " Gebanum Aurelianum " (derived as supposed from the Emperor Aurelian), and it was subsequently converted into Orleans. It is (juite certain that " Aurelianensis " means " of Orleans," "^ and we find this term applied to Guillemeau, and others, in the "Index Fiinereus" already ^ Astruc : De viorbis Vemreis : Editio Secuntla Veneta. Venetiis, 1748, Tom. 2, p. 283. " Petrus Lowa;, Scotus, ^;v//ww«j (quod vocabulum non satis video quid valeat, nisi forte signiticet Auctorem hunc oriundum esse ex uibe Ayre qure Caput est Comitatus cqgnominis in Scotia)." - Found in MS. on the fly leaf of the copy of Peter Lowe's " Chyrurgery " {4th Ed.) in the Library of the University of Glasgow. ^ Irvin : Histoi-ue Scoticis Novioulatura : Glasgow, 1819, p. 21 ; also in the first edition, Edinr., 1682, p. 18, where the spelling is " Earl oi Arrol,'' &c. * See Appendix No. IV. '' No doubt we find in some titles " Areoli" (without the u), and also " Aurelium " (with- out the o) : see entries No. 76 and No. 213 ; iMook, Theophrastus Paracelsus, Eine kritische Studie. Wiirzburg, 1876. ■* In same w.iy as " Arelatensis " of Aries, etc. 57 quoted from. It would seem, however, that as thus applied, in this list, it refers to the place of birth rather than the place of study, and Peter Ix)\vc figures there not as " Aurelianensis," but as " Scotus." According to Dr. Bureau,^ the force of " Arellian," as used by Peter Lowe, is that he belonged to the College of Orleans, which received a number of English medical men at that time. He states that he has seen Peter Ix^we's name in various manuscript records about 1596 wliich he had examined personally. The term would, therefore, be somewhat etiuivalent to an Oxford graduate calling himself " Oxonian." In a treatise by Israel Harvetus, who practised medicine in Orleans, we find on the title page " Audore \ Israele Harveto | Medico Aurelian. | " ^ This is a pretty near approach to " Arellian," and it shows that such a title was sometimes affixed by an author to his name, although no doubt it was uncommon. The mere variation in spelling " Arellian " without the u is probably of no great consequence as the word occurs thus even in I^tin. ' This solution of the " Arellian " mystery is perhaps not (juite conclusive,* but in the absence of any better explanation one is glad to accept it pro- visionally, and the title " Medico-Chirurgus " fits in with such a theory. \N'hy it should have been so completely dropped in the second edition of the " Chyrvrgerie " likewise remains a puzzle. * See his Letter in Appendix, No. III. * Demonstratio vcritat'ts doctrimc Chymicir. Aihrrsus loan. /Ciolani Comfy Trnf. John Ferguson; the contraction is probably for " Aurelianensi " for in this other work wo h.ivc "Israelis | Harveti | Medici Avrelianensis | Defensio Chyniice | . . . Etincastlcni | Civliclmi Bavcyneti | Medici item Aurelianensis \ Nolationes | Parisiis, MDCIIII." ' Ur. Wickham Legg kindly furnished a reference : " Ex concilio arcliancnsi," mcininf; the Council of Oilcans : Lihcr aact-rdotalis de officio sacftdotis. . . . secundum ritum SitncU Roinanc et apostolice ccclcsic. Vcnctiis, Victor a Rabanis, 1537, nicnsc ni.aio. Folio 273, recto. ■• The President of the Archeological and Historical Society of Orleans (M. Tranchau), in a private letter, expresses a difficulty in accepting this theory of Arellian. lie refers to the memoirs published hy Socic'tc d\4i^i unit uir, Sec. Tome 15, Orleans, 1S73, for an account of the Orleans School of Medicine. The writer has not been able to consult these himself, but from what he can learn they do not seem to contain anything lieariiig on Peter l.owe. A'nirnAfs stir rOriginc et I' Evolution de V EnscigncmetU ct de la JVatii/M de la MAleiine em Frame. Examcn de deux Kcgistrcs concernant le ColUge de Midecine J" Orleans, f\tr M. Eu^. Bimhenfi. Also, Rapport stir V Etude qui pn'cidc, par M. Charpii^non. 58 l^)UTKArr.-— The portrait of" Doctor Peter Lowe" which hangs at present in the Faculty Hall, in (Glasgow, cannot be traced to its origin. i No doubt the present portrait is a copy made in 1S22 from some ancient portrait, now lost ; this copying may account for the symmetrical plan, as to size, of the three portraits of the three members, named in the Charter, now existing,— a large portrait of Peter Lowe and two smaller portraits, of similar size, of " Mr. Rob. Hamiltone," Professor of Medicine, and of "William Spang," Apothecary. From a minute dated 3rd Novr., 1795, we find that the Faculty's "valuable collection of ancient portraits were fast going into decay," and measures were taken to prevent this. All of these " ancient i)ortraits " are now lost. On April ist, 1822, an order was made "to get the portraits of the three first members of the Faculty, Drs. Hamilton & Low, and Mr. Spang, copied and placed in the Hall." ^ A Photogravure of the oil painting in the Faculty Hall at Glasgow is prefixed to this memoir. AsTRUc's Strictures. — Accusation of Writing for the People in English. Occasional reference has already been made to Astruc's comments on Peter Lowe, but perhaps they should now be dealt with as a whole. In the second edition of his work De viorbis vcnereis (Tom. 2, Venetiis, 1748, p. 283), Astruc gives an account of Peter Lowe's treatise on the " Spanish Sicknes," as this comes within the scope of his work. The following are the passages of a personal character : — ^ 1 It must be remembered, however, that there is a hiatus in the Faculty's minutes from 28th June, 1688, to Sth November, 1733, owing to their destruction by fire ; some reference to the acquisition of the first portrait might occur there. 2 3rd November, 1795. Dr. Wright, tlie Praeses, represented that their "valuable collection of ancient portraits were fast going into decay "; upon which the Faculty " leave it to him to put them in a proper state, but not to lay out much money upon them." 1st April, 1822. A Committee of the Faculty at that time charged with the duty of having the Hall in St. Enoch's Square repainted and furnished anew were also instructed " to get the portraits of the three first members of Faculty, Drs. Hamilton & Low, and Mr. Spang, copied and placed in the Hall." In the accounts of that year there is an item: — " By three Pictures and frames, £^c) los." The minute of 1795 indicates the existence of "ancient portraits," from which these copies were no doubt made. ^ Compare also footnotes pp. 59 and 61. < 59 " Petrus Lowjc, Scotiis, Arcllianus, (quod vocabulum non satis video quid valeat, nisi forte significet Auctorem hunc oriundum esse ex urbe /Ivre, (jux Caput est Comitatus cognominis in Scotia), se ijjse vocat Doctoirm in fand- tate Chirurgice Farisiensi, arroganter sane, ne dicam incptc,* cum nulla sit LuteticX Parisiorum, fueritve unquam Facultas C/iintri:;ue, scd Com mutt Has tanlum Mai^istrormn C/iiriiri^oruin : Communitasque ilia Doctores nullos crcet, creaveritvo olim, ?>ii(\ Jurat os tantuni Magislros C/tirurgiie, ut in ceteris Europx Civitatibus solenne est. Ceterum Auctor ipse narrat in Praifationc Chirurtpte sutc anglice scriptre, et editcB atino 1612, in 4, se Chirurgiam exercuisse annos 22 in Flandria, Gallia et alibi: Se chimrgum ut aiunt, majorem fuisse annis duobus Legionis Hispanoe, quK Lutetirc in prxsidio collocata erat, scilicet annis 1588 & 1589,- cum Urbsa perduellibus tenerctur,{iui nomine sacri fccdcris, vulgo La Sainte Ligiie, adversus Rcgem suum rebellavcrant : Se dcinde Hcn- rici iv. Galliarum Regis Chirurgum ordinarium fuisse annos sex, nempe ab anno 1590 ad annum usque 1596, quo Londinum vcnit, ubi Librum cdidit, dc quo mox. Jamvero, quo tempore in Scotiam redierit incertum, scd certum tantiim ex Pra^fatione modo laudata Glosgovia;, in Scotia ilium commoratum fuisse anno 16 12, quo Chirurgiam suam cdebat. Quid illi postca succcsscrit necjuc scio, neque scire euro. [Here follows the title with an account of the contents of the " Spanish Sicknes."] " Sed hccc satis superque, ex quibus liquet hunccc Chirurgum non alio con- silio scripsisse, quam ut vc7iditaret falso antidotum nomine, &• verbosis acquirerd sibifamavi stropiiis,^ iis scilicet artibus, quas a Circulatoribus adhiberi novimus, 1 In his index, p. 604, he has : — ^* Doctor in FacultaU Chirurgix Parisictisi : Arrogans vel potius ineptus litulus, quem sibi sumit rclius Lowe." '[Siege of Paris, 15S9-90 : Haydn s Dutiouary of Dates, iSth ctlitinn, London, 1SS5 : Art., ra)is.\ •'' This phrase which he prints in italics but without a reference, seems to have been a jn^cal favourite of Astruc's. lie applies it to at least three other authors suinm.arisctl in this same volume (see pp. 425, 452, 501). In the last of these he gets a double value nut of the |»a8- sage I)y quoting the first half at the top of the p.ige and the second in the middle. At page 452, he gives it in due p0elic.1l form : — " Ut vcnditard falso autidctum ucintuf, Et verbosis ^.cqmvcxci sil'i faritam strof his." In two passages he gives the reference to Thxdrus : in one to Lib. I, lab. 14 : in another 6o & qure Circulatores decent, sed quibus nihil esse puto Viro probo indignius, cum nihil sit quod animum magis ostendat vanum, mendsLcem /a /si'/o^uum & ut cum Plauto ^ loqui pergam, tiirpilucricupidum." Stripped of the denunciation the charges are: (i) That Peter Lowe calls himself "Arellian," the meaning of which it appears is unknown to Astruc : how far we can trust this alleged ignorance is doubtful, for he professes a similar ignorance about Doctors in the Faculty of Surgery in Paris, of whose existence he was only too well aware.^ He makes the absurd suggestion that " Arellian " may mean a native of Ayr, but this may also be thrown in by way of contempt. (2) He accuses Lowe of calling himself " Doctor of the Faculty of Chirurgerie in Paris," there being no Faculty of Surgery there at all, while the Co?>imu?iitas of Surgeons did not make Doctors but Masters of Surgery. This was really a matter of dispute between the Physicians and Surgeons of Paris, as corporate bodies. Astruc knew well enough that the terms " Faculty " and " Doctor " were claimed by the Surgeons, but he ingeniously (or rather, disingenuously) uses his version of the case to pour contempt on an individual member of the body to whose claims he was opposed. (3) He says that Peter Lowe was guilty of practices natural enough in " Circulatores " (or peripatetic quacks) but unworthy of an upright man. The only point he can allege in support of this is the absence of the prescriptions for the " Confec- tion " and the " Arabick Powder " which are said to be found in the " Poore to Lib. I, Fab. 24. The former is the correct reference, although the numbering varies in different editions. The Fable is headed Ex Sutore Medicus, and the original reading is : — " Et venditaret falso antidotum nomine, Verbosis acquisivit sibi famam strophis." Astruc's printing with italics was no doubt to show where he had altered the words to meet the structure of his own sentence. By applying such phrases, from this fable of Phicdrus, to Peter Lowe, Astruc could show at the same time his contempt for the Scottish Surgeon, who dared in 1596 to write in his own language, and his hatred of the Parisian College of Surgeons, to which he belonged ; he likewise could display his own high classical attain- ments, and his knowledge of Phsedrus, whose lines he thought so apt that he used them over and over again. ^ Astruc is careful to show his learning by giving his authority for this word in a footnote : " In Trinummo, Act i.; Seen. 2." '■* See page 51 of this Memoir. 6i Mans Guide."' If the crime of describing methods of treatment well enough known already ^ was so great, why should Astruc devote three large quarto pages of his own valuable work to a summary of Peter Ix)we's little book ? But what were really the causes of Astruc's anger and contempt ? 1. Probably because Peter Lowe wrote in English, so as to be understood by his own countrymen, so far back as in 1596, while he, Astruc, in 1740, was still writing in Latin (2nd Ed., Paris, 1740). 2. Because Peter Lowe belonged to a body in Paris against which Astruc and all his class had a personal and traditional animosity, aggravated, no doubt, by the claim of the Surgeons to treat the disease known as the " Si)anish Sicknes " ; some of these upstart surgeons had even the temerity to mainUiin that their rivals should be excluded entirely from this branch of practice, all to the pecuniary loss of the physicians and of Astruc in their number, who had himself gone to tlie trouble of writing a huge treatise, in two volumes, on the subject in question.^ 3. Astruc had been engaged in bitter controversy with Pitcairn, another ' Astruc says of these : — " Cujus pr;vparandi rationem repetendam esse monet ex Lihro quorlam alio suo, anglicc scripto, cui titulus est The poor mail's Guidf, hoc est, Manuductio primere posse." ' See his remarks on the "dies Aegyptiaci," already quoted, p. 6. See also his remarks on Saints and Pilgrimages, " Chyrvrgerie," and YA., p. 246. ' "Chyrvrgerie," 2nd Edition, p. 143. * " Chyrvrgerie, '■' 2nd Edition, p. 399, ^3 scarcely competent to follow their trade, must needs try to make money out of the sick ; while many others were " permitted to vse charmcs, lyes, execnblc oaths, mortiferous poyson, fallacious and vncertaine experiments, wlicrcby they destroy both friend and foe, euer detracting the true professors of the Art" » His effort to educate " all young springing Plants " in the art which they had chosen was regarded by Clowes as a proof of Peter Lowe's " entire aflection and unfayned zeale " : the possession of a book which they could read and understand, with illustrations of instruments and operations from the Parisian novelties of Ambrose Pare, must have been of the greatest service to those surgeons who tried to teach their pupils the practice of their art. This emanci- pation of Surgery from the dead languages was not approved of, apparently, by many who were already within a close profession, and so we find indica- tions of the most violent denunciations against those who wrote in Knglislu According to Clowes, in his preface to Peter Lowe's first edition, " they have plounged themselves againe and againe in the flouds and sireanies of unquencheable hatred against all men whatsoever (English or Straungers) tliat publisheth foorth bookes of Phisicke or Chinirgerie in the English tongue." Clowes, however, who was in the same condemnation, for writing in English,' expresses his " thankfulncsse unto the Authour of this Treatise, but most specially for publishing the same in our English tongue " as " a grat benefile unto the coutrey and commonwealth." In his own preface in 1597, Peter Lowe says : — " Some men perhaps more respecting their owne priuet gaine than the publique profit will thinko that I should haue cOcealcd those things as did the ££ij>/ia/is, by writing in letters Bydrographicks" \^ he justifies his method, and goes on to say " as in good will and love I haue done this, so the well disposed will cesure it in the best sort, and where fault is they will in friendly and charitable manner correct and amend the same, the ignorants I would desire onely to put to their hand and doe better." In all the medical works published at that time in English the authors were much afraid of abusive criticism on this account, and Peter Lowe seems to have been specially 1 See preface to 2ncl Edition of the " Chyrvrgcrie." 'He wrote in English, on gunshot wounds, iS.c., A pivjUablt ttnd Hdtitant bwkt «/ obscn'atioits. London, 1596. ' Corrected into " Ilicroi;lii>hiiiues '" in i)itface In 2nd Eililion. 64 favoured by the denunciations of many who, according to Clowes, " haue most unseemely behaved themselves behind his backe chiefely about the answering of this present booke before a sort of them had ever scene him, or understood whereof he intreated .... and yet some of these hideous Monsters in humanitie, are as it were fallen asleepe, in their owne beastly ignorance." Peter Lowe's ideas seem to have gone beyond the intention of aiding the education of young surgeons, and of those practitioners who might be unable to read Latin and French authors. The title page to his second edition bears that the work "is not onely profitable for Chyrurgions; but also for all sorts of people : both for preuenting of sicknesse ; and recouerie of health " \ and in the " Spanish Sicknes " (Chap. 12.) he says : — " Now seeing by Gods helpe, I haue found out things so profitable for the recouerie of health, in an infinite number of people, I will not hide it, but publish the same so plainly, that euery man by his owne industrie, may attaine to the knowledge heereof." His projected book with the title of " The Poore Mans Guide " indicated a further effort in the direction of self treatment, without having recourse to ignorant deceivers, by those who were unable to procure really skilled atten- dance. He probably saw that for a long time to come, even with the restrictive powers he had obtained for the Glasgow Faculty, such irregular practitioners must abound there and elsewhere. In thus placing works of medicine or surgery in the hands of laymen, at that time, we must remember that although the readers might, indeed, be comparatively poor, yet in order to read and understand such works considerable education and intelligence were then required, and this, of course, was an important safeguard. We may, therefore, safely conclude that Peter Lowe's motives in publishing his work on Surgery and his translation from Hippocrates were laudable. What advantage, of a base or even of a personal kind, was he likely to reap, especially from his second edition, which he had enlarged and illustrated so fully ? In Glasgow and its neighbourhood, where he was settled, he was clearly facile princeps in all surgical matters, and at his age no transference to higher spheres of practice was likely, or even desirable. The pecuniary reward from the sale of such a book can scarcely have been worth consideration, unless medical authorship was then much more lucrative than now. Clearly he was actuated by the feeling (call it vanity, if desired) that from extensive reading with long observation and practice, both at home and abroad, he had much 65 to communicate, especially to young surgeons, and that even intelligent lay- men might, by his works, be saved from illness and also Irom the hands of incompetent practitioners. His guiding motives seem to have been the repression ot quackery and the education of young surgeons to such a standard that the practice of surgery might soon reach the same level in his own country which it had attained amongst his friends and former associates, the " Doctors ot (Jhirurgerie in Paris." 66 APPENDIX No. I. CHARTER BY KING JAMES VI. TO THE FACULTY OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF GLASGOW.^ JAMES, be the Grace of God, King of Scottis, to all Provostis, baillies of burrowis, scheriffs, stewaitis, baillies of regalities, and otheris ministeris of justice within the boundis following, and their deputis, and all and sundrie otheris ouir leigis and subditis, quhom it efferis, quhase knawledge thir our letteris sal cume, greiting, Wit ze we, with auise o oure counsall, understanding the grit abuisis quhilk hes bene comitted in time bigane, and zit daylie continuis be ignorant, unskillit and unlernit personis, quha, under the coUour of Chirurgeanis, abuisis the people to their plesure, passing away but tryel or punishment, and thairby destroyis infinite number of oure subjectis, quhairwith na ordour hes bene tane in tyme bigane, specially within oure burgh and baronie of Glasgow, Renfrew, Dumbartane, and oure Sheriffdomes of Cliddisdale, Renfrew, Lanark, Kyile, Carrick, Air and Cunninghame ; For avoiding of sik inconvenientis, and for gude ordoure to be tane in tyme cuming, to have made, constitutit and ordanit, and be the tenoure of thir our letteris, makis, constitutis, and ordinis Maister Peter Low, our Chirurgiane and chief chirurgiane to oure dearest son the Prince, with the assistance of Mr. Robert Hamiltone, pro- fessoure of medecine, and their successouris, indwelleris of our Citie of Glasgow, Gevand and Grantand to thame and thair successoures, full power to call, sumonnd, and convene before thame, within the said burgh of Glasgow, or onie otheris of ouir said burrowis, or publict places of the foirsaids boundis, all personis professing or using the said airt of Chirurgie, to examine thame upon thair literature, knawledge and practize ; gif they be fund wordie, to admit, allow, and approve thame, give them testimonial according to the airt and knawledge that they sal be fund wordie to exercise thareftir, resave thair aithis, and authorize thame as ' From a Notarial Copy in the Possession of the Facjlty. 67 acrordis, ami to dischar^^e thanie to use onie fardcr nor lliey have knawlcdge passing thair capacity, laist our subjectis be abusit ; and that every ane citai report testimonial of the minister and eldris, or magistratis of the parochin quhair they dwell, of thair life and conversatione ; and in case they be contumax, being lauchfullie citat, everie ane to be unlawit in the soume of foriie pundis, lotics quoties, half to the judges, other half to be disponit at the \ isitoures plesure ; and for pay- ment thairof the said Mr. Peter and Mr. Robert, or visitoures, to have ourc uihcrc letteris of horning, on the partie or magistriates quhair the contemptuous pcrsonis duellis, chargeing thame to poind thairfoire, within twentie four houris, under the pain of horning ; and the partie not haveand geir poindable, the magistrate, under the same pain, to incarcerate thame, quhill caulioun responsall be fund, that the contumax persune sail compir at sik day and place as the saidis visitouris sal! appoint, gevan trial of thair qualifications ; .\i.r/, that the saidis visitouris sail visit everie hurt, murtherit, poisonit, or onie other persoun tane awa extraordinarly, and to report to the Magistrate of the fact as it is : Thirdlie, That it sail be leisum to the said visitouris, with the advice of their bretheren, to mak statutis for the comoun wciU of our subjectis, anent the saidis artis, and using thairof faithfullie, and the braikeris thairof to be punshit and unlawit be the visitoures according to their fait : Fordlie, It sail not be leisum to onie mannir of pcrsonis within the forcsaidis boundis to exercise medicine without ane testimonial of ane famous univcrsitie quhair medecine be taught, or at the leave of oure and oure dearest spouse chief medicinarie ; and in case they failzie, it sal be lesum to the saidis visitouris to challenge, perseu and inhibite thame throu using and exercing of the said airt of medecine, under the pain of fourtie poundis, to be distributed, half to the Judges, half to the pure, toties quoties they be fund in useing and exercing the same, ay and quhill they bring sufficient testimonial as said is : Fythlie, That na manir of pcrsonis sell onie droggis within the Citie of Glasgow, except the sam be sichtit be the saidis visitouris, and be William Spang, apothecar, under the pane of confiscatioune of the droggis : Sexilie, That nane sell retoun poison, asenick, or sublemate, under the pane of ane hundred merkis, excep onlie the apothecaries quha sail he bund to tak cautioun of the byaris, for coist, skaith, and damage : SnYn//if, Yat the saidis visitouris, with thair bretherene and successouris, sail convene every fir^t Monond.u of ilk moneth at sum convenient place, to visite and give counsell to pure disaisit folkis gratis : and, /asi of all, Gevand and grantand to the saidis visilouri^ indwellers of Glasgow, professouris of the saidis airtis, and thair bretherene, p"nt and to cum, imunite and exemptioune from all wappin shawengis, raidis, oisti*. beiring of armour, watching, weirding, stenting taxationis, passing on assises, inquestis, justice Courtis, scheriff or burrow cnuilis, in actiounes criminal or cival, notwithstanding of oure actis, lawis, and constitutionis thairotT. except in gcvinu yairr counsall in materis appertaining to the saidis airtis: ORDAININ*; you, all the foresaidis provestis baillies of burrowis, sheriffis, stewartis, haillics of regalities, and otheris ministeris of justice, within the saidis boundis, and zourc deputi*. to assist, fortifie, concur and .lefend the saidis visitouris, and their posterior, pro- 68 fessouiis of the foresaidis artis, and put the saidis actis maid and to be maid to executioun ; and that our otheris letteris of our sessioun be granted thereupon to charge thame to that effect within twentie four houris nixt after they be chargit thairto. Gkvin under oure previe seill, at Haliruid house, the penult day of November, the zeir of God javc. and fourscore ninetcin zeiris, and of oure regun the threttie thre zeir. Per Signaturam manu S. D. N. Re- gis, nee non manibus Dominorum Ducis Lennoca; Thesaurarii ac Scaccarii Dicti Dom- ini Regis Subscriptam. (Written on the Tag thus) Litera Mag"ri Petri Low, Chirurgi Et Mag"ri Roberti Hamiltone Professoris Medici na;. (Written on the back thus) Written to the Privie Seil, Penult Novemb' 1599. J. Hay. APPENDIX No. II. FROM REV. JOHN HAMILTON GRAY TO DR. J. G. FLEMING, GLASGOW. BoLSOVER Castle, Chesterfield, i2,tk October, 1862. Sir, I am not descended from Dr. Lowe, founder of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, and am not aware of any descendant of his now living. Some of his descendants were also the descendants of my family, and in conse- quence of that connection my grandfather or father became possessed of his burial- place in the Churchyard of the Cathedral. This burial place, which has a quaint old tombstone, I sold in 1833 or 1834^ to the Faculty of Surgeons or Physicians in 1 2th May, 1S34.— J. F. 69 Glasgow, I think the former. I considered that on the whole they, as being the doctor's children in one sense, were the best entitled to be guardians of his mortal remains. This arrangement I certainly should not have consented to, if I had been actually descended from him. Dr. Lowe's grandson or great-grandson (probably the former) was Peter L( wc, Esq., W.S., in Edinburgh, and he married a sister of my great-grandfather, the daughter of John Gray, of Dalmarnock and Carntyne, who died a hundred and fifty years ago. The issue of the marriage was a son, ll'illiam Lowe, who had valuable property in America which he lost in consequence of his hiyalty to the British Government during the American War. He died without issue towards the end of last century, and a daughter, Annabella, also died unmarried. Tliey were I believe the last descendants of the Doctor. This William Lowe left to my family his ancestor's tombstone and burial place. A copy of his work on Medicine containing much curious matter, also a pair of very singular old embroidered gloves, also a silver snuff-box with a tortoise-shell lid, which being broken I have supplied its place with a bloodstone. In the beginning of the volume which I have mentioned there is a portrait of Dr. Lowe, which is not an engraving but a water-colour drawing of no value in itself, done by some member of my family sixty or seventy years ago. It is a copv from some painting of him in Glasgow, either in the College or belonging to the Faculty of Physicians or Surgeons. I have heard my father say that about seventy years ago when Pinkerton was publishing his portraits of Illustrious Scots- men he proposed to him to include Dr. Lowe. However this was not done. I do not know what Dr. Lowe's armorial bearings were, or whether he had any. I do not think that there was a family of ancient landed gentry in .Scotland of the name of Lowe. There are ancient gentlemen's families of this name in England, who of course have armorial bearings. Whether the Doctor was descended from any of them, or whether his origin was purely Scottish I cannot say. I have never been at any trouble at enquiring what were his anns, or whether there were any anns belonging to the name of Lowe in the xvn"' Century ; into all which I should have enquired if he had been actually my ancestor. I do not know anything of the early life of Dr. Lowe. After his fame as a medical man had risen high, he held some most distinguished situations, having been physician to Henr)- I\'., king of France, and afterwards to Henry Stuart, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of James I. of Great Britain. I imagine that he used the influence which he {wsscssetl with the Royal Family for the purpose of obtaining the Royal Charter for the College of Physicians and Surgeons. I am sorry that 1 cannot direct you where to fmd the Doctor's arms. liut I hope you will put some memorial of him, or inscription in a conspicuous position. — I am, SiK, yours very sincerely, (Signed) John Hamii ton Gray. 70 APPENDIX No. III. FROM DK. A. DUREAU, PARIS, TO DR. JAMES FINI.AYSON, GLASCJOW. Actddiiiie de M£deciiie. Vakih, 8 Afars, 1877. Bibliolh&que. Monsieur et cher Confrere,— Je vous remercie de tout ce que vous me dites d'aimable et je m'empresse de vous donner les renseignements que je possede sur Peter Lowe. J'ai reuni deja bien des notes interessantes sur les anciens m^decins, (avec I'intention de les publier un jour) et voici ce que je sais sur le fondateur de votre Faculte. i^- Arellian veut dire Orleanats. Peter Lowe etait medecin du College d'Orleans {mediais Aurclianus). Je le trouve port^ sur plusieurs registres manuscrits de 1596 que j'ai feuillet^s moi-meme k Orleans. II est bon que vous sachiez que cette ancienne ^cole de medecine a regu bon nombre de m^decins anglais. Done il n'y a pas de doute a cet egard. 2"- II his energy, the publication of his pamphlet on the Spanish Sickness, his Surgery, his intended books on the diseases of women and on young children, his " fxwre man's guide," his activity at Glasgow, and by his children by a wife who was young enough to marry again after his death and bear several sons. See p. 46 of thiv Memnn. \. F. 72 3- He wns undoubtedly ratlier quackish. In his work on the Spanish sickness, he talks highly of two medicines of his own, but does not give their preparation or com- position. (See also C. Girtanner. Abhandl. iib. die venerische Krankheit. ii. 148. 2% A. Getting. 793). He changes "the Neopolitane sickenesse" of his ist Surgery into "the French sickncsse" in the 2nd edition, and the " tenne yeares" already quoted into " thirtie." He must have been a professed Catholic when surgeon to the Spanish troops, and an advanced Protestant in Glasgow. 4. I have never been satisfied that the entry in the " Index funereus chirurgorum Parisiensium" refers to Peter Lowe. The name resembles rather Lovet or Lovat than Lowe, whilst the exact date "30 Junii anni 1617" seems to show definite knowledge of a time, which cannot apply to our Peter. 5. P'urther researches should be made at Orleans, Paris, and especially Edinburgh. The parochial registers of Errol began in the year 1500, but were unfortunately de- stroyed in a fire which burned down the schoolhouse many years ago : the existing records, which commxCnce about 1620 and are now in Edinb. (Gen. Register House) would probably show the existence of other Lowes at Errol, which was a place of some 2000 inhabitants in Peter's time. The minute-book of the Particular Register of Sasines, 1617 and on, the records of the Kirk-Session, the abbreviated retours of the services of heirs in special to lands, etc., which extend from 1560 to 1700, and were published in 181 1 under authority of a Royal Commission in 3 vols., fol., the Commissary Records, 1600-1S00, and the documents at the State Paper Office should all be examined, and finally his will, surely, can be found. COMMENTS ON MR. WINDSOR'S NOTES, BY J. FINLAYSON. Mr. Windsors Notes are, as might be expected, important and suggestive. They seem to call for notice in detail. I. Arellian. The suggestion as to " Arellian " applying to the Town, rather than the Earl, of Errol is an improvement. Evidence of a definite a.nd j!>£rst7;/a/ nature, however, is required. On inquiry at the Register House, Edinburgh, it appears that the Parochial Registers for Errol are there, beginning at 1553 ; but no entry of Peter Lowe's birth can be found. If the estimate of the date of his birth, given at page 17, is correct (about 1550), the records scarcely go far enough back. it may be admitted, at once, that " Low " was not an uncommon name at or near Errol about that time ;^ but the name is not so rare in Scotland as to make * For example : In ihe Parochial Register we find the birth of a John Low, in Arroll, September, 1569. Again, there is in the Commissary a Testament of William Low, in the adjoining Parisli of Kilspindie, loth Augt., 1613. But the name is found in other parts of Scotland also. 73 this count for much, unless some special connection can be found with Peter Lowr himself. 2. Ten or Thirty Yf.ars auroad ? The discrepancy in the periods of foreign surgical service, as mentioned in the 1st and the 2nd Edition of the " Chirurgcric," has already been noted (see foot notes, pp. 7 and 17). The ist Edition says "the warres in Fraunce " ; the 2nd Edition says "the warres in Frauncc and other Cuntries." Both statements may, therefore, be correct ; for, in his preface to the 2nd Edition, he speaks of practice " in France, Flaunders.and elsewhere." .Moreover, his statement in the preface to the 2nd Edition (see p. 16 of this Memoir) of 22 + 2 + 6 years is too definite to be set aside on the strength of a casual statement of his own, without more evidence. It seems also extremely unlikely that he could begin surgical practice as a " Chirurgian Maior,"* although this is the first service noted by him in the preface to his ist Edition. It is very likely that he was only bringing fonvard there his more imposing titles ; we can trace his connection with surgery further back than 10 years from the date of his "Chirurgerie" (1597), for he says, " I did see in Paris in the yeare of (iod 1583."' (" Chyrvrgerie,' 2nd Edition, p. 136.) It is, however, quite possible that his first experience of the " warres " may not have been so purely surgical as it aftenvards became ; and this period in " other Cuntries," in the retinue perhaps of some Scottish gentleman, m.iy have been added in when stating his foreign experience in the preface to the 2nd Edition. This idea was kept in view in esccially for iiis "Confection" and his "Arabick Powder"), meaning never to publish that book. the accusation might be just. lUit it is almost certain that he did mean to publr-h it, and that he was working at it and rearranging its contents (sec p|». 43. 44 of this Memoir). If he had died before the 2nd Edition of his " Chyrvrgerie " was issucti. the same kind of accusation might as juslh have been made against him of conceal ing his cure for "Burning," or his cure for " Hidrupsie," said to be so useful during the Siege, and yet he subscciuently gave llum in full (see p. 4'^> "f '^^'"^ Memoir) The wonder is not so much that, after leaving London, he failed to publish the " Poore Mans Guide" and the " Infantment, " but rather that Ire m.inaged to ijiuc. > Little in his Dictinnary says: "5" rhirurgicn-Major. \t premifi rhiruie«cn »l"ur r<^gimcnt." 74 from such a remote place as Glasgow, an enlarged edition, with illustrations, of his " Chyrvrgerie." (The first medical work issued from the Glasgow press seems to have been much later : Sylvester Rattray : Aditiis novus ad occultas sympathia^ tj-*^., Glasgow, 1658 ; i2mo. Excudebat Andreas Anderson.) The change of the name of the " Spanish Sicknes " is a trifling matter ; in using the term " French Sicknesse" he was only following the common usage, although the term "Spanish" was considered by him to be more correct, in view of the origin of the disease (see p. 14 of this Memoir). His change of side from the Spanish Regiments to King Henry's service, and his change of religion, at such an epoch, need not be wondered at, any more than his marrying the daughter of a Presbyterian minister in Glasgow, and yet dedicating a book to an Archbishop. 4. Index Funereus. The entry in the Index Funereus seems unequivocal. In addition to " Louvet,'' the words " Petrus," " Scotus," " priestantissimus," so suit- able to Peter Lowe, can scarcely apply to some unknown Scottish Surgeon. An error of two or three years in the date of death noted in the Index Funereus, in the case of a foreigner at a distance, like Peter Lowe, need not be wondered at, when we find, from Malgaigne, that there was for a long time an error of about 16 months in the entry of Ambrose Pares death. "Cette date [20 Deer. 1590] de sa mort resta long-temps inconnue. Devaux dans la premiere Edition de I' Index Funereus I'avait marquee au 23 avril, 1 592 ." ((Etivres completes D' Ambroise Par/, par J. F. Malgaigne, Tome i, p. CCXCV. Paris, 1840.) 5. Further Searches. There is no entry in the Commissary at the Register House, Edinburgh, of Peter Lowe's Testament. The Parochial Register for Errol, beginning in 1553, does not record his birth. Possibly the Sasines, Kirk Session Minutes, Burgh Records, &c., might be found to contain entries regarding Peter Lowe if they were published in full ; but a general search there, amongst such ancient MSS. cannot be undertaken by the writer. The records of the burials at the Glasgow Cathedral do not begin till 1699. A suggestion of Mr Windsor's led to the following discovery of some little interest : — " Inqvisitionvm ad Capellam Domini Regis Reiornaiarvm, Qvac in Pvblicis Archivis Scotiae adhvc senuinlvr, Abbreviatio.^^ 3 vols, folio, Edin. 181 1 : — Inquisitiones Generates (vol. ii.), "(5336) Jul. 15- 1670. Jacobus 'Loss, hares Joannis Low mercatoris burgensis de Glasgow, /rt/m. XXX. 91." On enquiry at the Register House, Edinburgh, Dr. \V. H. Hill was referred to Sir James Marwick and the Glasgow Records, and he found the following : — " The Court of the Burgh of Glasgow holdin in the Tolbuith thereof be dispensaan of the right honorable the Lords of Counsell and Sessioune upon the fyftine day of March 1670 be ane hoiible man James Ker ane of the baillies of the burgh 75 " Lou- The biime inquiest cforme tu anc breitl bf\ ii & co-^nostil James- Low us neirest & laule air lu mnq''^^ Jo" LowMer' burgcs of ihi» burgh liis fay'." Dr. Hill further reported that the above names do not appear in tlie Koll of Entries of the Merchant's House, Glasgow. There can be little room for doubt, from the names and dates, that thcbc arc tlie son and the grandson of Peter Lowe (see pp. 27, 28 of this .Memoirj ; we thus learn that John Low was a Merchant, and we know that James Low was a l^iwyer, from the minute of his admission to the Faculty, on 26th May, 1677. "The qlk day com- peired before them James Low Wryt' in Edg' ." His admission to the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow, seems to have been partly due to " veneration for his grandfather" (see p. 28 of this Memoir), and partly, as appears from the tenor of the minute, in view of past or future professional services, rendered or to be rendered, to the Faculty. 77 INDEX Page 32 32 39 6, 62 4 36 10 50 26 74 44. 46 45 8 58 Abircorne (or Abercorn), Earl of Dedication to, - Amis of, - "Abusers," - - - - 20, 22 Adams, Dr. , Reference to Peter Lowe's translation of Presages, •'i^GYPTiAci, Dies," Age, Old, Commentary on, Ames (and Ames and Herbert), Notices of Peter Lowe, Amputation, ligature in, - Anagram (Let Power = Peter Low), - Andersonne & WiEMIS, - Anderson, A. (Glasgow Printer), Aneurysm, Opening of, - "Am Precedentia," Antidotaries Chyrurgicall, Apothecary, Treating an Aneurysm, William Spang, - - • 23 Arabick Powder, - - 45, 60, 7^ Archbishop Spotswood, - 24 Dedication to, - Archbishop Beton, Case of, - Arelianensis, - - - - Arellian (see Photo-Lithographs, PP- 30, 32, 38), - 55. Spellint,' of, ... A Native of Ayr, - A Native of Krrol, or related to Earl of Errol, - A Paracelsist, For Aurelianensis, Astruc, on, . Dr. Dureaii, on, - Mr. T. Windsor, on, Arei.i.ius, Irvin's Definition, Arrol or Arroi.l, see Errol. Astruc, " De Morbis Venereis," Refer- ences to Peter Lowe, 31, 51, 52, 56, 58 Strictures on Peter Lowe, - - 58 Estimate of real reasons fur his anger at Peter Lowe, • 61 I'.i^p • 39 >3 57, 71 71. 72 55 56, rl 59 ri 56 56 S^ 58 70 71 56, 7» Asikuc, Reply 10 a Surgeon o St. Come regarding the right to treat venereal diseases, Controversy with Dr. Pitcairn, On "Doctors" of the "Faculty" of Chirurgerie in Paris, On " Arellian," - On Poore Man's Guide, AUREi.i an ENSlS.relalion to" Arellian," 56. 57. AuREOLUS (Paracelsus), relation to " Arellian." .... " Authorities " quoted by Peter Lowe, - - - 6, II, 55, 62 Authors, List of, quoted by Peter Lowe, . _ . . . 55 Autograph of Peter Lowe,. ■ 49, 50 56 Ayr, relation to .\rellian, - 56. 59 " Bachelikr " of Sur<;erv in Paris, 51 Paii.i.ik, .-Klcxander, - - • • 19 Baker, George, - - - 50, 52 Barberising, 21 Barbers, Ignorance of, 8, 16, 20, 22, 62 Errors in pulling teeth, - 12 Opening an Aneurysm, . - - 8 Erroneous supiK)sition of a joint charter with Surgeons, - - 21 "Seal of cause " conjoining Sur- geons and BarlK-rs, - 21 Disjunction from Surgeons, - .;i Erection into sci>arate Municijjal Incorporation, - • - -21 A Penoration with Barbers, • - • . - 21 Duties and Privileges Assigned to, aj Acknowledged by Town Council, 23 First Minute, - - - • 24 " Seal of Cause," and Subsequent Incorporation with Barbers, • 21 Disjunction from Barbers, - 21 Partial Licences for Embalming, etc. , 47 Licence for Cutting of the Stone, - 48 History in MS., by A. Duncan, • 21 (Quartermasters in, Peter Lowe one of them, - - - - 24 Veneration for Peter Lowe, - 25, 2&, 75 Ancient Portraits belonging to, 58 .Admission of Peter Lowe's Son and Grandson, - 27, 28. 75 Pairbairn's Drawing of Peter Ijiwe's Tomb, ..... I Falstaff's Deathbed, Dr. Creigh- ton's Reference to Lowe's De- scription of FaciesHippocratic.T, 40 Ferguson, Prof. John, - • -57 Finlayson, Dr. James. Comments on Mr. Wimlsor's Noti-<.. - 72 Flanders, Peter Lowe in, 16. 73 FORRETT, James, - ■ • 19 Fracture of Skull, - - 13 France, Peter Lowe in, 7. 8. 9. »3. «6. 17. 24. 71. 73 King of, see Hcury //". Freni H Sickness, - 14, 20. 44, 72. 74 See " Spanish Sicknes." Gay, Joannes le, - • • >4 General of Sp.nnish Regiments at Siege of Paris, - ■ 46. 71, 73 Girtanner, C, ■ • • • 72 " GlascUENSIS," applied to Peter Lowe, - - • 17, 50 Glasgow, supposed Birthplace of Peter Lowe, 17. 5° Peter Lowe's .-Vrrival in, - iS Peter Lowe's Contract with Town of, 18. 25 Town Council, Provost and Maj^is- iratcs, anliiiust Works (Hooke of the I'l.igue, In- fantmcnt, Poore .Mans Guide), - • • 4045 Name, si>clling and pronunciation, 49 Autograph, .... 49, 50 Titles (Scotus, Maisler, Doctor, Chirurgian to ilenry Fourth, Chief Chirurgiane to Prince Henry, Chirurgion Maiur, Medico-Chirurgus, .\rcllian), • 50-57 Portrait (Frontisjiiece), • • 58 Defended fromStricturcsof Astruc, 58-64 Lowe, Peter, W. S., - • 28, 69 Lowe, William, ... 28, (y) Lowe, William, of Kilspindic, - 72 Lowe or Low, name common near Errol, but also elsewhere, • 72 LOWEKY, Mr. Blais, - - 19 McNeil, Evir (Stonecutter), 48 "Magistek," 51 Maidens, Diseases of, - - - 41 "MAISTER"or "Mr." applied to Peter Lowe, ..... 50 Malgaigne, on date of Party's death, • 74 Mans Guide, sec Pc>ore Mans. Marescot, NIxster, . - - - 9 Married Women, Diseases of, - 41 Martin, Mxster . . . . y Masters (.Maltrcs) of Surgery in Paris, - - - • 51. 59 Matthias, references to Peter Ix>wc, • 7. 50. 54 Medical Relief to P.wr by (ikisgow Faculty, • - - 23, 67 Medicine, Supervision of Practice of, by Glasgow Faculty, • 22, 6" " Mephiner CiiiKURGioN," - 13,39,55 Mediciners in Glasgow in 1605, . 15 82 Page "Medico- Chirurgus" (Miidecin- Chirurjiicn), a title of rotcr Lowe, - - - - 29, 54, 57 Medico- Legal Functions of Glas- pow Faculty, - - - 23, 67 Merchants' House, Glasgow, Dis- pute with Trades' House, Peter Lowe an Arbiter, - - - 25 Mkryon, Dr., quotation from, - - 54 MiDRASH on Ecclesiastes, chap. 12, - 4 Miller, ^Latthew - - - - 47 Montrose, Duke of, see Louiox. MooK's Paracelsus, quotation from, 56 Moore, Dr. Norman, on illness of Pri|ice Henry, - - - 53 Name of Peter Lowe, Navarre, see Henry IV. Neesing, Presages by, Nessmith, John, Nose, bleeding at, 49 40 52 6 Oath, Hippocratic, Peter Lowe's Translation of, - - - 40 Orleans, relation to "Arellian," 56, 70, 71 School of medicine, - - - 57> 7° Paracelsus, relation of his name Aureolus to "Arellian," - - 56 Pare, Ambrose, .... 9 And the Ligature, - - - 10 His Illustrations used by Peter Lowe, .... 33. 34 Error as to date of death in Index Fitnereiis, . - . - 74 Paris : Doctors of Chirurgerie, 4, 20, 51, 59 Siege of, Peter Lowe there, 8, 16, 46, 59 Peter Lowe in, see France. Parson of Calder, - - - - 24 Parson of Glasgow, - - 26, 27, 30 Partu Mulierum, De, - - - 41 Paslay, Lord = Abercorn, Earle of, - Pastlay, Baily of Regalitie of, - 67, 39 Parochial Registers, - - 30,72,74 " Pendicle OF Chirurgerie," - 21 Pension, Peter Lowe's, - - 18, 24, 25 Pereno, instead of Zeno, - • . 40 Peter, Doctor, 9 Pettigrew, Thomas, - - - 19 Phaedrus, Quotation from, - 59, 60 "Phisitian Chirurgion," - 13,39,55 Phisition, the learned, . - 10, 1 1 Physicians, see Faculty^ Medicine, Hamiltone, etc. Pilgrimages, Feter Lowe on, - . 62 Page "Pillar," punishment of standing at, i8 PiNF.AU, Mounsier, - - - - 16 PiTCAiRN, Dr. Archibald, Astruc's Controversy with, - - 61, 62 Plague ; in Glasgow, - - - 40 Booke of the, Peter Lowe's, . 40 Poisons, Supervision of sale of, by Glasgow Faculty, - - 23, 67 Polling, 21 Poore Mans Guide, - 16, 42, 61, 73 Question if published, - - - 43 Nature of, - . - - 45, 64 Astruc's remarks on, • - - 61 Portal, Notices of Peter Lowe, - 37 Portraits of "Doctor Peter Lowe," " Mr. Robert Hamiltone," and "William Spang," - - - 58 "Praestantissimus," term applied to Peter Lowe, - - 29, 74 Presages of Hippocrates, 3, 13, 38, 55, 64 Dedication of 1st Edition, . . 17 Dedication of 2nd Edition, . - 39 Bibliographical notes, - - - 38-40 Title page of, - - . 38, 39 Source of Lowe's Translation and Dr. Creighton's notes, - • 39 Presbytery: dealing with Peter Lowe, 18 To suppress irregular medical practice, - - - - .19 "PrimariusChirurgusinCastris,"i7,54 Primrose, Gilbert, . - - 20, 52 Prince Henry, of Wales, - 21, 52, 53 " Priviledge " or Charter for Glas- gow Faculty, - - - - 20 " Proem " to " Spanish Sicknes," - 16 Prognostics of Flippocrates, see Presages. PuLVis Neapolitanus, - • - 45 Indicus, ..... 45 Tartarianus, .... 45 See Arabick. PURFOOT, Thomas, Publisherof" Chir- urgerie," 32 PYi^MlA, from Venesection, - - 7 Quackery, Charges of, against Peter Lowe, . . - .58, 72, 73 See Abusers, Circ2ilatores, etc. Quarter-Masters to Glasgow Faculty: Peter Lowe, one of, - . 24 Quesnay, AL See Recherches Critiques. Rabelais, Translation of "Prognostics," 40 Ramyre, 54 Rattray, Sylvester, .... 74 Receipts or Prescriptions, Book of, - 45 83 Page Recherches Critiques sur I'origine de la Chirurgie en France, 29, 51 Reid, Thomas, 25 Relief, Medical, to Poor, byGlasgow Faculty, 23 Religion, Peter Lowe's, - - 72, 74 Renfrowe, Sheriffe of, - - - 17 Retours of Services of Heirs, 72, 74 Rhead, " Practise of Chirurgery," - 35 Translation from Pare, - - 10 Riddell: Comments on "The Stirlings ofKcir,"- - - - - 30 Roberts, James, Publisher of "Spanish Sicknes," - - - - 30 Rotten row. Residence of Mr. David VVeems, 27 " Sainte Ligue, La," - - - 59 St. come, Astruc's reply to a Surgeon of, 61 St. Nicholas Chapillandries, - 49 St. Nicholas Hospital, deed con- cerning, 49 Saints, Peter Lowe on, - - - 62 Salomon, see Solomon. Sandlis, Battle of, - - - - 12 Sasines, Search in, - - - 26, 72, 74 School of Surgery in Paris, Peter Lowe at, 62 Scot, Andrew, Surgeon to King of Scotland, - - - • 8, 52 Scotland, Medical practice in West parts of, - - - - 20, 21 Scott, Hew," Fasti EcclesiaiScoticanre," 27 " Scottishman," " Scotchman," see Title pages, - 4, 30, 32, 38 Peter Lowe, a, - - - I7i 5° Title used by Peter Lowe, - - 17 '• Scotus," applied to Peter Lowe, 29, 50, 57 SCROPHUL^, 8 ' ' Seal of Causf., " combining Surgeons and Barbers, - - - - 21 Searecloth, 47 Seisin, Records of, - - - - 26 See Sasines. Sempile, Lord, dedication to, - 17, 39 Sicknes, see '•'■ Spa>nsh" ** Frcnc/i," " lVonien''s." Siege OF Paris, PeterLowethere,8, 16,46,59 Signature of Peter Lowe, - 49. 50 Skuli,, Fracture of, - - - -13 Smith, John, M.D., on Old Age, - 4 SnuffhoX, Peter Lowe's, - - • 28 Solomon : Allegory of Old Age, - 4 and Juvenal quoted, - • 13 - 46, 7« 73 " 3i 72, 74 14, 42 14 i6 «7 31 31 58 Page Song Schoole in Glasgow, Master of, 13 Spang, William, - - - 23, 58, 67 Spanish Nouleman operated on, - 16 Spanish Regiments at SiegeofParis.S, 16, 71 General of, - - - "Spanish Sicknes," Account of. Origin of name, - Proem, Publication of, Bibliographical notes, - Title page, - Criticised by Astruc, - See also French Sickness. Specialties, dealt with by Peter Lowe, Spotswood, Archbishop, goes to France with Duke of Lennox, - History of Church and State of Scotland, .... Dedication to, by Peter Lowe, Steward, Mareoun, .... Stirling, Andrew, .... Stirling, James, Stirling, John, Sitrling, Robert, Stirling, Walter (Husband of Peter Lowe's Widow), . . 27, Stirlings of Drumpellier, . Stirlings of Keir, .... Stone, extraction of from bladder, 45, "Stonecutter," - - - - Surgery, Examining and Licensing function of Glasgow Faculty, "Faculty," "College," "Doctors," " Masters," etc., in Paris,- 51, See also C/ii)-ur^ene, Chirurgion, Faculty. 27. 27. 24 24 39 26 27 30 30 30 30 27 30 48 48 60 Tarin, Notice of Peter Lowe, . 37 Tassis, Giovan Battisla, Vecdor Generale, - - 73 Tay, on the Lye, 13 Teeth, Diseases of, - 12, 47 Artificial, - 47 Thomson, Capt. Anslruther, 28 ToLBUiTH, Glasgow, - 74 Tomb of Peter Low, - - I 69 Tranchau, M., 57 Typhoid Fever, Death of Prince Henry from, - • 53 Unguentum Apostolorum, Veedor Generale, 45 73 84 Page Venereal Diseases, question between physicians and surgeons as to the rij^lit to treat tiiese, - - 6l See ^' S/>atiis/i Su/^iics," French Sn'ltwss, Astritc Venesection, care in, and Pysemia from, ------ 7 Ventosis, application of, - - - 47 ViADOR, see Don Diego and Vcedo?: Vicarage of Glasgow, - - - 27 Watt : Bibliotheca Britannica, Notice of Peter Lowe, - 35, 38 MS. of, 38 A President of Glasgow Faculty, - 35 Weems, Mr. David, - - 18, 26, 30, 51 See IVemyss. Weir, Dr. William, On Origin of Glas- gow Faculty, - - - 21, 28 Page Wemyss, Helen (Peter Lowe's Wife), 26, 27, 30 Windsor, T., his view of Arellian, - 56 Notes on Peter Lowe, - - - 71 Comments on his Notes, - - 72 Wiseman, Richard, - - - - 10 WoDROw's Biographical Collec- tions, Extracts from, - 18, 19 Women's Booke, - ■ - 7. 41 Birth, 43 Diseases, 41 Sicknesse, 41 Woodcuts in " Chyrvrgerie," - - 33 Year, Change in the time of the be- ginning of Scottish, - - - 29 Zeno, rendered Pereno in Peter Lowe's Translation, - - - - 40 t\ \C^^ - V Q ^^4.-^-*!^ i^g^> t UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIRRARY Los Aiii^flcs This book is DUE on the last date stamped l)elow. fttC'l • BiowotKV 11*76 1 Form L9-6n(-3, '54(3446)444 t- c, ft?*? UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 001 198 014 1