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erice , by which his talents had been hitherto confined ; and he was introduced by Dr . Keith , to the acquaintance of some eminent private lecturers and professors . He matriculated in
the university as a student , in the practice of medicine , and applied himself assiduously to anatomy , under the direction of Mr John Bell ; whose esteem and confidence he gained by his ingenuity and unwearied exertion * His attention was at the same time
directed to midwifery , and other subjects necessary in country practice . As a relaxation he occasionally attended the meetings of the Medical Society , and distinguished himself in their debates . " If the gentleman , '
said he , one evening , in discussing the power of stimulants , " to whom I am opposed , be at all acquainted withHhe nature of fermented liquors , —if he has any knowledge of the effects of opium , he must admit the argument I now
maintain ; " a remark which produced a strong sensation among his hearers , as his adversary was known to indulge rather freelv in their use . About this
time Mr . Midford , who had declined practice , very handsomely offered to introduce him to his friends at Morpeth , on the removal of his own immediate successor . But oth ^ r prospects had al ready opened on his view , and , on his return to Sunderland , in March 1794 , he
commenced practice , boon after this , on the establishment of a JXispensary , he offered his services as one of the Surgeons . But , although he was in every respect qualified for the situation ; and his claims , enforced by the recommendation of Mr . Bell , were
strenuously and respectably supported ; a powerful confederacy was arrayed against him , which effectually prevented his success . An \ X vet , notwithstanding the regret which he felt on this occasion , the disappointment proved of little real moment , as his
practice , being generally successful , continued to increase . Directing his Knowledge of mechanics to professional purposes , he constructed a key instrument for drawing teeth , on an improved plan ; and made some useful alterations in Slavignifs field tourniquet , as the amusement of his leisure hours .
The principle upon which they were constructed-, illustrated with explanatory drawings , were successively commuuicatcd t 6 th « ingenious Mr . An-
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thony Carlisle ; by whom the former was inserted in the Medical Facts and Observations , and the plan of both very highly approved . Mr . Clarke ' s acquaintance with this eminent surgeon had commenced , on his visiting
. i 1 -I T * 1 ~ 3 Sunderland , in the summer of 1794 when they had received mutual pleasure and instruction , from the intelligence and originality which marked each other ' s conversation , on matters
of common interest and pursuit . In February 1795 , Mr . Clarke was one of the founders of the Sunderland Subscription Library , and afterwards took an active part in the proceedings of the managing committee .
Mr . Clarke ' s attention having been directed , as a mechanic and an anatomist , to the awkward posture in which ships' pumps are usually worked by means of a brake , and the consequent ex haostton of human strength , in circumstances where every
exertion is required , proposed to substitute a curved lever , acting by an easy motion of the body as in rowing , and , after various models and drawings , succeeded in reducing it to practice .
A pump on this construction \ va « adopted on board the Archimedes , a vessel of SOO tons , belonging to the port of Sunderland , in January l 797 t and , on repeated trials , was found to deliver more than twice the quantity
of water discharged by a common pump in the same time . An account of this Attempt , with an illustrative plate , being afterwards insertedin the ninth volume of the Repertory of Arts , a few copies of it were printed separately for his friends . But
notwithstanding the success of this experiment , and the united testimony of the sailors , to the relief which it afforded them in a stormy passage to the Baltic , it attracted very little no tice * or , like too rrrany other schemes of improvement , was hastily and decidedly rejected .
Mr . Clarke , in the mean while , bad held frequent communications with the architect employed in construct - ing the cast iron bridge at Bishopwearmouth , and had occasionally offered his suggestions during tb ^ HP * " gress of that important work . i 0
preserve an accurate view of the mechanism employed in-turning thei arc * he commenced a drawing of tA bridge , as it appeared before tn scaflblding it a * ^ mored , intending
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534 Memoir of Robert Clarke .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1815, page 534, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1764/page/2/
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