History of the Johnstones, 1191-1909, with ... - Electric Scotland

DEATH OF YOUNG JAMES 23 r
death of the eldest son of the house. Nash, in his History of Worcestershire,
Dr Valentine Green in his similar work (both authors were acquainted with
him), give very sympathetic accounts of young James's career; and Howard, the
philanthropist, 1 in his State of Prisons, alludes to his premature end : " In the
course of my pursuits I have known several amiable young gentlemen, who in
their zeal to do good have been carried off by that dreadful disorder the gaol
fever, and this has been one incentive to my endeavours for its extirpation out
of our prisons. I shall mention one affecting instance which happened here
[Worcester] of a young physician falling a sacrifice to this distemper through a
benevolent attention to some prisoners afflicted with it—Dr Johnstone, jun.,
of Worcester. He attained at an early period to great and deserved eminence
in his profession, and will be ever regretted as a physician of great ability and
genius, and as one of the most pleasing and benevolent of men, prematurely
snatched from his friends and country." The Biographical Illustrations 0/
Worcestershire gives a similar sketch of his career. " A much lamented martyr
to a noble discharge of duty," wrote Dr Barnes of him in the Manchester
Memoirs, Vol. II. The Governor, his wife, and the surgeon had all died of the
fever which had broken out in Worcester Castle, then used as a jail, and the
panic caused by it made it difficult to supply their place. Young Johnstone
offered himself, and was at once accepted by the Magistrates, and for a
short time was in charge. He was most successful in rescuing debtors as well
as criminals with his energetic use of disinfectants and wholesome diet, and
removal to better quarters of those who had not yet been affected, 2 and in his
treatment of the sick. " He went into cells and dungeons full of pestilential
contagion," wrote Dr Green, "and restored health to the miserable sufferers, but
his own invaluable life fell a sacrifice. He was seized with the dire contagion,
and, fully persuaded that the event must be fatal, he was conveyed to his
father's house, there to receive the last attentions of parental skill and affection.
He died Aug. 16, 1783, aged twenty-nine, a lamented victim to the discharge of
one of the most dangerous duties of his profession. The oldest rarely attain to
greater skill and knowledge, and the youngest enter not into the world with
more innocency, or leave it more sincerely mourned.
"Dr Johnstone's manners were as remarkably cheerful and pleasing as his
abilities and knowledge were great and extensive. To these were superadded
great sweetness of temper, mingled with vivacity and sensibility. He had
vigour of body which seemed to promise a longer life, but by his premature
death verified an old observation, ' Immedicis brevis est aetas et para senectus.' ''
The Governors of the Worcester Infirmary in their Yearly Report in 1784
1 He sent presentation copies of his works to Johnstone.
* " He ordered the cells to be fumigated with brimstone, and in the apartments of the
sick the acid air was kept constantly rising. The prisoners were fresh clothed, their old
clothes were burnt, and their hair cut off. They had fresh straw to lie upon every night,
were allowed 2 lbs. of currants each every day, and had diluted vitriolic acid water for their
common drink, and before the new clothes were put on each prisoner was obliged to wash
himself all over in tubs of water placed in the open court of the prison." Account of the
Discovery of Mineral Acid Vapours, etc., by John Johnstone, M.D., 1803.
Apparently the old Castle, which was close to the Cathedral, had never been modernised.