xil MEMOI R OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF
to the subordinate settlements and military stations, to be dispersed for general information.
One of the most obvious marks of discrimination is, that a poisonous serpent has
no row of leeth in the upper jaw, which, on the other hand, a harmless serpent invariably
possesses.
It may not be improper to mention here, that about this time, the secret of a remedy
long in use among the natives for the bite of venomous and rabid animals, and generally
known by the name of the Tanjore jnll, was purchased by the Madras Government from
a Brahmin. Besides arsenic and mercury, the medicine was found, upon analysis, to
contain one or two unknown ingredients. Having procured parcels of these last, under
the Malabar and Gentoo names. Dr. Russell himself made up a considerable quantity of
the pills, carefully employing the prescribed proportions of each ingredient. These
pills wer e distributed to the different settlements, wi th directions to the medical gentlemen,
to report their effects, as occasions should occur. From Dr. Russell's own experience,
as well as from some interesting communications by Mr. Duffin, then surgeon atVellore,
it appears that this remedy has often proved fallacious, both in cases of the bite of snakes
and of mad dogs : still ho^vever Dr. Russell, while he admitted that its " efficacy was a
matter of difficult discussion," was inclined to think favourably of it, and to encourage
hopes that further experience might confirm its good character.
Dr. Russell occasionally employed himself, while in India, in arranging the ample
and valuable materials concerning the plague, which he had long before collected in
Syria. In 1 7 87 he sent home a fair copy of his labours, and solicited the friendly révisai
of his eminent literary cotemporaries. Dr. William Robertson, Dr. Adam Ferguson, Dr.
Adam Smith.
Among various incidental communications transmitted to Britain, we shall only
mention that, in 1 7 88., he sent to Sir Jos eph Banks an account of the Tabasheer, or gritty
matter found in the hollow stem of the bamboo, and which is supposed in India to be
possessed of extraordinary virtues. He sent also specimens of this substance, which
were laid before the Royal Society in March, 1790. It was analyzed by Mr. Made, F. R. S.
and found to consist nearly of pure silex.*'
I n January, 1 7 89, Dr. Russell embarked for England with his brother and family.
He at this time deposited his collection of specimens of fishes, and his Indian herbarium,
in the Company's Museum at Madras.
I n 1791 his Treatise on the Plague appeared in two volumes quarto. In this valuable
work, he first gives an account of the plagues at Aleppo, in the years 1 7 60, 1 761, and
1 762 ; then a medical account of the disease ; this is followed by essays on pestilential
contagion, on quarantines, and on lazarettos ; with remarks on the police to be observed
in the time of the plague: several interesting cases of patients labouring under the disease
are given in detail ; and a register of the weather during the pestilential season is subjoined.
It has already been mentioned that Dr. Alexander Russell had projected a nev*' edition
of his History of Aleppo, and had applied to Dr. Patrick Russell for information on
various topics. Dr. Alexander died, however, in 1 768, without having accomplished
this intention, although he had collected a considerable quantity of new, and valuable
materials. " The prosecution of his brother's plan forcibly struck Dr. Patrick Russell,
" in the light of a debt due to friendship; "+ on this delicate principle he declined to
follow the advice of Dr. Robertson, and some other eminent literary friends, who wished
• PhiL Trans. 1791. + Preface to 2cl. Edit. p. -vi.
PATRICK RUSSELL, M.D. xiii
him to make a separate publication of his own observations in Syria. In 1 794, therefore,
he published in two volumes quarto, " the Natural History of Aleppo, by Alexaiider
Russell, M. D, the second edition ; revised, enlarged, and illustrated with notes, by
" Patrick Russell, M. D. F.R. S." The truth however is, that the book was irot only
" n e w modelled," as mentioned by Dr. Patrick himself, in the Preface, but many emendations
were made, and very large additions were introduced by him, under the modest
title of " Editor."
It was above stated, that Dr. Russell had received the sanction of the Government of
Madras, to his favourite undertaking of preparing drawings and descriptions of the useful
plants of Coromandel. His plan, with a list of the plants he had selected to begin with,
was not only honoured with the approbation of the Honourable Court of Directors at
home, but (with a liberality becoming the first mercantile Company in the world, and
which has at all times induced them to encourage whatever has appeared calculated to
promote science in the East) they resolved to provide for the publictiaon, in the most
splendid style, of such figtires and descriptions as should be sent home ; and at the same
time requested the Right Flonourable Sir Jos eph Banks, to take the general superintendance
of the whole: this gentleman, with his well known zeal in all matters of science,
kindly undertook the task. Before advice of this favourable disposition of the Court of
Directors could reach India, Dr. Russell had embarked (as already mentioned) on his return
to Britain. " The task, however," as he himself observes in the Preface, " fel l fortunately
into hands well qualified for carrying it into execution." He here alludes to
Dr. William Roxburgh. Between the years 17 90 and 1 79 5, that gentleman transmitted
about five himdred speciinens, with drawings and descriptions, from India. Dr. Russell,
according to his own very modest account, " lent his assistance in correcting the letterpress
of the Descriptions." The Preface was from his own pen. Eight fasciculi have
been already published, under the title of " Plants of the Coast of Coromandel, from
Drawings and Descriptions presented to the Honourable Court of Directors by William
Roxburgh, M.D. published by their Order, under the Direction of Sir Joseph Banks,
Bart. P.R.S.
In 1 799, the Privy Council of Great Britain, alarmed by reports that the Plague had
broke out in the Levant, resolved to adopt measures to prevent the infection being
brought into this country. They appointed a Committee to draw up quarantine regulations,
and to report their opinion and advice as to the permanent measures of precaution
which ought in future to be adopted. The celebrity of Dr. Russell's Treatise on the
Plague naturally led to his being asked to lend his assistance to the Committee. This he
cheerfully granted; and in his attention to this piece of public business he was indefatigable.
The regulations approved of by a majority of the Committee did not, in Dr.
Russell's opinion, go far enough: he judged more strict and rigorous prophylactic measures
to be necessary; and he was not singular in his opinion : his reasons of dissent were
signed also by Sir Lucas Pepys, and, with the exception of one paragraph, by
Boone, Esq. This dissent accompanied the final Report of the Committee in March, 1 800,
and was printed along with it. It may be considered as a valuable document, highly
interesting to this country. By some strange oversight, the important and solicited services
which Dr. Russell at this time gratuitously rendered to his country, were never
acknowledged even by a letter of thanks, although the Doctor was the only member of
the Committee who did not hold some official situation under Government.
Previous to his appointnrent as Naturalist to the India Company, Dr. Russell, as before