My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

252 MY LIFEmost enthusiastic and observing of botanists.As helived in Yorkshire after 1867, I only saw him atrather long intervals, but I generally took the opportunityof lecture engagements in the north to payhim a few days' visit. Our correspondence alsowas scanty, as he was a great invalid and couldnot write much, and I only preserved such lettersas touched upon subjects connected with my ownwork.One of the most interesting, amusing, and eccentricbecame acquainted with during my residencemen Iin London, and with whom I soon became quiteintimate, was Dr. T. Purland, a dentist, living inMortimer Street, Cavendish Square. He was astout, dark, middle-aged man, with somewhat Jewishfeatures, and of immense energy and vitality—one ofthose men whose words pour out in a torrent, andwho have always something wise or witty to say.He had been a great coin-collector, and had manyanecdotes to tell of rarities hit upon accidentally.He had an unbounded admiration for Greek coinsas works of art, and would dilate upon their beautiesas compared with the poor and inartistic works ofour day. He was something of an Egyptologist, andhad many odds and ends of antiquities, includingteeth from mummies and dentists' instruments foundin the old tombs and sarcophagi. He was a widowerwith three growing-up children, and had been obligedto part with all the more valuable parts of his collectionto educate them.He was a very powerful mesmerist, and helped,with Dr. Elliotson and others, in establishing themesmeric hospital then in existence, and could succeedin sending patients into the mesmeric trance whenother operators failed.He was one of the few meo