Physician, writer. Studied medicine at St. George's Hospital, London. M.D. University of St. Andrews, 1853. M.R.C.P. 1861. Devoted special attention to treatment of the insane. Editor, 1855-1860, of Association Medical Journal (later British Medical Journal). Contributed numerous articles to periodicals, as to Hood's Magazine, Quarterly Review, New Monthly, Ainsworth's, Fraser's, Once a Week, Edinburgh Review, Good Words. Published several collections of his periodical articles, some volumes appearing under the pseudonym "Werdna Retnyw". Collections included Curiosities of Civilization, Subtle Brains and Lissom Fingers, Peeps into the Human Hive, The Borderlands of Insanity. In Odds and Ends from an Old Drawer, 1855, expressed surprise that "any literary dishes of his preparation would ever be thought worthy of being warmed up afresh". Some of the collections went through several editions.

Author: Anne Lohrli; © University of Toronto Press, 1971.

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography