SIMPSON, Sir .JAMES YouNo, was h. at Batligate, in 1811. He early showed ti peculiar talent for medical observation and research; and in the prosecution of his professional studies at the university of Edinburgh, so attracted the notice of his teachers as to inspire all of them with an active interest in his future career. lie gradu ated as doctor in medicine in 1832, on which occasion his inaugural thesis won the highest admiration. Prof. Thomson chose him ag his professional assistant, and em ployed him in the preparation of his course of lectures on general pathology. During the illness of the professor, Mr. Simpson supplied his in the lecture-room with unusual skill and address. Ire now began professional practice on his own account; and in 1840 succeeded prof. Hamilton as professor of midwifery in the university of Edinburgh. This position lie has held with yearly enhanced distinction, and by the rigidly scientific while popularly attractive character of his prelections, has contributed greatly to the renown of the Edinburgh school, both at home and abroad. He was indefatigable, amid the distracting cares of an extensive practice, in promoting the sci entific perfection of his art; and his two volumes of Obstetric Memoirs, edited by Drs. Priestly and Storrer, contain the fruits of much patient and ingenious research. The discovery by which he will be more particularly remembered, however, is that of the antusthetic virtues of chloroform. The so-called sulphuric ether had been employed in
America by MaIon to produce antesthesia during labor; but to Simpson belongs the credit of having, in 1847, first introduced to the scientific world the far safer, more cer tain, and now universally adopted agent of chloroform. Another innovation which surgical practice owes to prof: Simpson is the stoppage of hemorrhage by acupressure. In his own peculiar field of obstetrics, his improvements on the old methods of; practice are numerous and valuable; while his contributions to antiquarian research would of create an independent reputation in that field. Besides the Obstetric Memoirs already mentioned lie published a volume on acupressure; and many papers and notices read before the royal and antiquarian societies of Edinburgh. Among these may he enumerated: Antiquarian Notices of Leprosy; On the Contagiousness of Cholera; Ancient Roman Medicine Stamps; Was the Roman Army provided with Medical Officers? On Syphilis in Scotland, etc. His scientific services were recognized by innumerable medical associations; while his professional distinction secured for him a baronetcy in 1866. He died May 6, 1870. A statue of Simpson was erected in Edin burgh in 1877. Sec the Memoir by Duns (1873).