JAMES

JAMES, Dr Robert, an English physician of great eminence, and particularly distinguished by the preparation of a most excellent fever powder, was born at Kinverton in Staffordshire, A. D. 1703: his father a major in the army, his mother a sister of Sir Robert Clarke. He was of St John's-college in Oxford, where he took the degree of A. B. and afterwards practised physic at Sheffield, Lichfield, and Birmingham successively. Then he removed to London, and became a licentiate in the college of physicians; but in what years is not known. At London he applied himself to writing as well as practising physic; and in 1743, published a Medical Dictionary, in 3 vols folio. Soon after he published an English translation, with a Supplement by himself, of Ramazzini de morbis artificum; to which he also prefixed a piece of Frederic Hoffman upon Endemical Disempers, 8vo. In 1746, The Practice of Physic, 2 vols 8vo; in 1760, On Canine Madness, 8vo; in 1764, A Dispensatory, 8vo. June 25. 1755, when the king was at Cambridge, James was admitted by mandamus to the doctorship of physic. In 1788, were published, A Dissertation upon Fevers, and A Vindication of the Fever-powder, 8vo; with A Short Treatise on the Disorders of Children, and a very good print of Dr James. This was the 8th edition of the Dissertation, of which the first was printed in 1751; and the purpose of it was, to set forth the success of this powder, as well as to describe more particularly the manner of administering it. The Vindication was posthumous and unfinished: for he died March 23. 1776, while he was employed upon it.—Dr James was married, and left several sons and daughters.