Taken from Joseph Irving – THE BOOK OF SCOTSMEN Eminent for Achievements in Arms and Arts, Church and State, Law, Legislation, and Literature, Commerce, Science, Travel, and Philanthropy (1882).
An accomplished and genial physician who, after practising the ordinary branches of his profession with much success, acquired a world-wide reputation by employing chloroform as an anaesthetic agent. Born at Bathgate, and studied at Edinburgh University, graduating as M.D., 1832. Having devoted special attention to obstetric medicine, he was appointed to the Chair of Midwifery, 1840, and at once took that prominent position as a teacher, which he maintained till his death, in spite of an ever-increasing practice; appointed one of Her Majesty’s physicians for Scotland, 1847; and the same year commenced those experiments with chloroform which gave rise to much professional controversy, but came to be recognised as a new blessing to humanity; nominated Foreign Associate of the Paris Academy of Medicine, 1853, and awarded the Monthyon Prize for his important discovery, 1856; knighted 1854; created a baronet, 1867. Died aged 59, and received the honour of a public funeral as a learned philanthropist, whose skill was as much at the command of the poor as the rich. In addition to his many other duties, Sir James found leisure to become a very exact Archaeologist, and was a valued official of the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, acting one year as its President. His principal works were “Homeopathy, its Tenets and Tendencies,” 1853; “Obstetric Memoirs,” 1855 – 56; “Acupressure,” 1864; “Archaeological Essays,” 1812. Statute of Sir James unveiled in Edinburgh, 1877. (See Memoir by Professor Duns, 1873.)
