| Description Of Item | Oil on canvas, 127 x 101.6 cm
Born in Aberdeen and educated there and Edinburgh, the name of James Gregory is still remembered by the laity in Scotland on account of a stomach powder he formulated. An African student attending an oral examination on materia medica was asked if he had heard of Gregory's powder: 'Yes, sir,' he replied.
'What does it contain?' asked the examiner. 'Heavy and light magnesium carbonate, rhubarb and ginger powders,' correctly answered the student. 'And who was Gregory?' continued the examiner, to which the beaming African replied, 'A saint, sir'. James Gregory was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in 1778 and President 20 years later. He was involved in a dispute at the College over the propriety of permitting Fellows to dispense drugs and so bitter were his remarks against those who opposed him that he was suspended from the rights of Fellowship. Nine years after his death, the College expunged from its records the details of Dr Gregory's quarrel with his Fellows.
Artist: Henry Raeburn (after) |