James Atkinson (surgeon)
Encyclopedia
James Atkinson was a surgeon
and bibliographer
.
Atkinson was the son of a medical practitioner and friend of Sterne
in York
, is chiefly known by his ‘Medical Bibliography,’ of which the dedication is thus worded: ‘To all idle medical students in Great Britain sit—,’ with a picture of that part of the human spinal column known as the ‘sacrum
.’ The author's reason for attempting the work was: ‘Wanting better amusement, and through mere accident, I stumbled upon the dry, dusty, tedious, accursed, hateful bibliography (see p. 365).’ The subject undoubtedly deserves all these epithets, but Atkinson managed to write a book to which none of them can be truly applied. It is full of anecdote, humour, and out-of-the-way information. The scientific value is, however, small, the bibliography consisting of a simple list of editions arranged alphabetically under names of authors. The notes are merely excuses for the compiler's discursive and amusing remarks on things in general. The book is usually spoken of as unfinished, as it is only devoted to letters A and B; but there is nothing to show that it was the intention of Atkinson to go any further. Dibdin
made his acquaintance in York in the course of his bibliographical tour, and speaks of him (p. 213) as ‘a gentleman and a man of varied talent: ardent, active, and of the most overflowing goodness of heart. … The heartiest of all the octogenarians I ever saw, he scorns a stretch and abhors a gape. … His library is suffocated with Koburgers, Frobens, the Ascensii, and the Stephens.’ On the title of his book Atkinson is described as ‘surgeon to H.R.H. the Duke of York, senior surgeon to the York County Hospital
and the York Dispensary, and late V.P. to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society
.’ He was also an enthusiastic member of the Musical Society. He collected portraits of medical writers, and projected a catalogue with memoirs. For many years he was the chief medical man in York, and remained in practice to within a few years of his death, which took place at the age of eighty, at Lendal, in the city of York, on 14 March 1839. He was buried at St. Helen's, Stonegate
, his great popularity causing his funeral to assume somewhat of a semi-public character. The ‘York Herald
’ observes (16 March 1839): ‘Mr. Atkinson, throughout his long and useful life, has been highly and universally respected. Ever prominent with his aid at every benevolent institution, he possessed the blessing of the poor and afflicted whilst among them, and will live in their grateful remembrance beyond the grave.’
His works are ‘Medical Bibliography, A and B,’ London, 1834, 8vo. 2. ‘Description of the New Process of perforating and destroying the Stone in the Bladder, illustrated with Cases and a Drawing of the Instrument, in a Letter addressed to the Medical Board of Calcutta,' London, 1831 8vo.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and bibliographer
Bibliographer
"A bibliographer is a person who describes and lists books and other publications, with particular attention to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, edition, typography, etc. The result of this endeavor is a bibliography...
.
Atkinson was the son of a medical practitioner and friend of Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne was an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He is best known for his novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman, and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy; but he also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, is chiefly known by his ‘Medical Bibliography,’ of which the dedication is thus worded: ‘To all idle medical students in Great Britain sit—,’ with a picture of that part of the human spinal column known as the ‘sacrum
Sacrum
In vertebrate anatomy the sacrum is a large, triangular bone at the base of the spine and at the upper and back part of the pelvic cavity, where it is inserted like a wedge between the two hip bones. Its upper part connects with the last lumbar vertebra, and bottom part with the coccyx...
.’ The author's reason for attempting the work was: ‘Wanting better amusement, and through mere accident, I stumbled upon the dry, dusty, tedious, accursed, hateful bibliography (see p. 365).’ The subject undoubtedly deserves all these epithets, but Atkinson managed to write a book to which none of them can be truly applied. It is full of anecdote, humour, and out-of-the-way information. The scientific value is, however, small, the bibliography consisting of a simple list of editions arranged alphabetically under names of authors. The notes are merely excuses for the compiler's discursive and amusing remarks on things in general. The book is usually spoken of as unfinished, as it is only devoted to letters A and B; but there is nothing to show that it was the intention of Atkinson to go any further. Dibdin
Dibdin
People whose surname is or was Dibdin include:*Charles Dibdin , British writer and musician*Michael Dibdin , British crime writer*Thomas Frognall Dibdin , British bibliographer...
made his acquaintance in York in the course of his bibliographical tour, and speaks of him (p. 213) as ‘a gentleman and a man of varied talent: ardent, active, and of the most overflowing goodness of heart. … The heartiest of all the octogenarians I ever saw, he scorns a stretch and abhors a gape. … His library is suffocated with Koburgers, Frobens, the Ascensii, and the Stephens.’ On the title of his book Atkinson is described as ‘surgeon to H.R.H. the Duke of York, senior surgeon to the York County Hospital
York County Hospital
York County Hospital was a hospital in York, England.It was founded in April 1740 and movedin 1745 to a new larger building with 50 beds fronting onto Monkgate...
and the York Dispensary, and late V.P. to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society
Yorkshire Philosophical Society
The Yorkshire Philosophical Society is a charitable learned society aimed at promoting the natural sciences, archaeology and history. The society was formed in York in December 1822 by James Atkinson, William Salmond, Anthony Thorpe and William Vernon....
.’ He was also an enthusiastic member of the Musical Society. He collected portraits of medical writers, and projected a catalogue with memoirs. For many years he was the chief medical man in York, and remained in practice to within a few years of his death, which took place at the age of eighty, at Lendal, in the city of York, on 14 March 1839. He was buried at St. Helen's, Stonegate
Stonegate
Stonegate may refer to:* Stonegate, Colorado* Stonegate, Fort Worth, Texas* Stonegate, a neighborhood of Davis, California* Stonegate-Queensway, a neighborhood of Toronto, Ontario* Stonegate, a rock band from Finland...
, his great popularity causing his funeral to assume somewhat of a semi-public character. The ‘York Herald
York Herald
York Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms. The first York Herald is believed to have been an officer to Edmund of Langley, Duke of York around the year 1385, but the first completely reliable reference to such a herald is in February of 1484, when John Water...
’ observes (16 March 1839): ‘Mr. Atkinson, throughout his long and useful life, has been highly and universally respected. Ever prominent with his aid at every benevolent institution, he possessed the blessing of the poor and afflicted whilst among them, and will live in their grateful remembrance beyond the grave.’
His works are ‘Medical Bibliography, A and B,’ London, 1834, 8vo. 2. ‘Description of the New Process of perforating and destroying the Stone in the Bladder, illustrated with Cases and a Drawing of the Instrument, in a Letter addressed to the Medical Board of Calcutta,' London, 1831 8vo.