As a consulting physician, Dr. Monro merited the highest praise. He entered into no subtle disquisi tions or controversies about difficult or disputed points; he showed no credulity as to the virtues of particu lar remedies, nor did he arrogate to himself any su perior skill, by boasting of his own success, but was always prepared to propose or adopt such active re medies as promised to be of essential benefit in difficult cases.
The celebrity of our Professor extended his fame throughout Europe, and he was admitted a member of the royal academies of Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Mos cow, &c.
His favourite amusement was horticulture, which he pursued with much pleasure during the greatest part of his life.
Our Professor, in the midst of his other numerous la bours, did not neglect to attend to his duties as secretary of the Philosophical Society, whose essays he continued to publish during the flourishing period when Lord Karnes was president, and Sir George Clerk, Mr. John Clerk, Drs. Cullen, Home, Hope, Black, Young, Dun can, Hutton, &c. were members. An excellent paper of his, concerning the effects produced by narcotics and stimulants on the nervous system, in the 3d and last volume of this work, throws considerable light on the pse of this important part of the animal economy. The same volume also contains some valuable remarks on polypous tumours in the pharynx and oesophagus, and on the use of mercury in convulsive diseases. In conse quence of the proposal of Principal.Rohertson and Pro fessor Dalzell, the Philosophical Society was incorpo rated by charter, in the year 1782, into the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and Dr. Monro resigned the office of secretary : he still, however, continued an active and useful member, and enriched their transactions with some excellent communications on animal electricity and galvanism, and on the effects of the oblique insertion of muscular fibres.
Dr. Monro was not so tall as his father, but had the same amiable mildness of countenance, and manifested the same benevolent pleasure in promoting the happi ness, or alleviating the wants and distresses of his fel low-men.
He pursued the study of polite literature with his usual ardour, and introduced into his lectures, in a very appropriate and judicious manner, the stores he had acquired. Ile neglected no opportunity of extending his acquaintance - .
as far as these studies did not interfere with his profes sional, civil, or social duties. His character as a hus band, father, friend, and landlord, was distinguished for affection, tenderness, kindness, and generosity. In his temper he was cheerfel and candid, lively in conversa tion, pleasing in his manners, and conciliating in his disposition.
At last, after devoting more than 60 years to the ser vice of mankind, he was attacked by a slow and painful disease, which terminated an active and valuable life, in the 85th year of his age. Under long confinement, in creasing feebleness, and the prospect of greater affliction, his patience and resignation were most exemplary, and together with great thankfulness for past blessings, he displayed a humble confidence in the mercy of Him by whom his sufferings were inflicted.
In 1783, Dr. Morro published observations on the structure and functions of the nervous system, and has traced, farther than any of his predecessors, the olfactory nerve, the nasal twig of the ophthalmic branch of the 5th pair, and the vidian branch of the superior maxillary nerve. By ascertaining that these nerves are distributed on the same membrane, he contributed to the discovery of the sense of smell residing in more nerves than farmer anatomists acknowledged. He has also extended
our acquaintance with the smaller branches of the audi tory nerve and the nerves of the teeth.
In 1785, he published an excellent work on the struc ture and physiology of fishes, showing that the absorbent functions of the lymphatic system exist equally in birds, fishes, and amphibious animals, as in men and quadru peds. He has demonstrated, in his Treatise on the Brain, the existence of lymphatics in that organ, by fill ing them with a coloured injection. His 'pathological and surgical observations in this work are extremely valuable, and point out the communication between the lateral ventricles of the brain, the seat of the water in Hydrencephalus ; and that the changes in the texture of the brain are pros ed to be the result of ahsorption. In his Treatise on the Eye, he has described the muscular structure of the iris, the nature and course of the retina, concerning which 11Iorgagni, Winslow, Haller, and his father, held different opinions, and has endeavoured to establish, by experiments, that the oblique muscles the eye-ball, and the orbicular muscle of the eye-lids, are the means by which the eye is adapted to objects at different distances. In his Treatise on the Ear, he has published the most full and accurate description of the human cochlea,—of the smaller branches of nerves dis tributed upon its several component parts, and supplied many new facts respecting the ear of the whale, skate, tortoise and angel fish. In 17SS, he published a work on the Burst INIucost, which adds to his character as a good anatomist and profound pathologist.
Such were the lives of the two Monros, who contri buted to extend the boundaries of medical science, by promoting the advancement of valuable discovery and improvement—to divide at first the honour of medical degrees between Leyden and Edinburgh,—and finally, to raise the metropolis of Scotland to the highest cele brity as a school of medicine.
See An Account cf the Life, Writings, and Character of the late Dr. Alexander Monro, secundus, by Dr. Dun can, senior.
IsIONS, (NloNTEs HANN0N14E,) a town in the king dom of the Netherlands, and the chief place of the pro vinr., . : ... otl a hill, river Trouide, which traverses it. The town is well built, and contains several good squares and streets. The principal public buildings and institutions are the Hotel de Ville, a large old building, with a fine steeple, erected in 1716, and situated in a square; the Govern ment house, situated in a spacious market-place ; the Chateau and its gardens; the ci-devant Abbey of Wan tru ; a large hospital, originally constructed by Vauban; a commodious foundling hospital ; a gymnasium, with a good library. The churches are well built. The great church is a fine building, the side altar and chapel being formed of pure marble. That of St. Elizabeth occupies the site or an ancient castle, demolished in 1618, and said to have been erected by Julius exsar. The town is surrounded by an earthen mound and ditches ; and, since 1818, its fortifications have been in creased. The manufactures of Mons are woollen, cot ton, linen, and lace. It possesses also iron founderies, and works for salt, pottery, oil, and soap, which, from its command of coal, and its communication with Paris by the canal of St. Quintin, it carries on to great advan tage. Population 20,000. East Long. 3° 57' 15"; and North Lat. 50° 27' 2".