John Abernethy, an English surgeon, born either in Scotland or Ireland in 1764, died at Enfield, April 18, 1831. He was a pupil of Sir Charles Blick, surgeon to St. Bartholomew's hospital, London, and afterward of the celebrated John Hunter. Early in his career, in a work entitled "The Constitutional Origin and Treatment of Local Diseases," he established the fundamental principles upon which surgical operations have since been conducted. His bold and successful operations of tying the carotid and external iliac arteries established his reputation, and almost revolutionized surgery. He acquired great distinction as an anatomist and physiologist, succeeded Sir Charles Blick at St. Bartholomew's, was appointed surgeon to Christ's hospital in 1813, and in 1814 professor of anatomy and surgery to the royal college of surgeons. His works became text books in nearly all the medical colleges in Europe and America. He contributed the anatomical and physiological articles to Dr. Rees's " Cyclopaedia " from A to C, and published numerous tracts, treatises, and surgical and physiological essays. One of the most popular and well known of his works was his "Surgical Observations," the perusal of which he almost invariably recommended to his patients.

His last production (issued a few months prior to his death) was a collected and revised edition of his "Lectures on the Theory and Practice of Surgery." His writings are remarkable for clearness, eonciseness, and simplicity. His simple and impressive style of lecturing never failed to enchain his audience, despite his dogmatism and contempt of others' opinions. His private character was admirable, but in public his manners were uncouth, churlish, and capricious. Many anecdotes of his eccentricities are current.