HENDERSON. 307 der every one eager to enrol himself in the number of his friends. Among these was a worthy and ingenious physician, by profession a quaker, between whom and Henderson there existed an intimacy closer almost than that of brothers, and which continued undiminished till death. Whether this connexion first inclined him to the study of medicine, is uncertain; but, from this time, he paid so strict an attention to that science and i t s auxiliaries, a s t o b e perfectly qualified t o shine i n the profession, i f h e had chosen i t for his future pursuit. But his attainments i n this o r i n any other science were never pursued with a view t o personal advantages, either o f praise o r profit. He exerted himself i n this study only for the liberal pur pose o f extending his benevolent assistance t o a l l who needed i t . And, i n justice t o his friend, i t must b e observed, that h e also was actuated b y the same generous motives; indeed, i f h e had not, how could h e have delighted s o much i n the friendship o f John Henderson? I t was a pleasing sight t o see these two excellent men, arm-in-arm, visiting their patients; and, i f they paid a greater attention t o one class than another, i t was directed t o those from whose poverty n o gratuity could b e ex pected. - - I t must, however, b e admitted, that Henderson's studies i n this science, were altogether empirical. Modern sys tems h e either read not, o r despised; and, though h e men tioned Boerhaave with respect, h e more frequently quoted Sydenham and Cheyne. On these, however, h e depended much less than h e did o n Paracelsus, Salmon, and Cul peper; the great tendency o f his mind t o astrology, and the occult sciences, probably influencing him much i n his choice o f medical authors. But, whatever may b e the opinion a s t o his course o f studies, his practice, though s o very remote from that i n use, i s stated t o have been i n numerous instances eminently successful. His predilection for the occult sciences has been alluded t o above, and i n these h e was for a long time almost totally involved. He sought after books o n these subjects,
