Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/675

ARBUTHNOT ARBUTUS 639 tor's degree at the university of Aberdeen, and going to London, supported himself for a while by teaching mathematics. He made his first literary venture in 1697 in a critical essay en- titled "An Examination of Dr. Woodward's Account of the Deluge," in which he aimed to show that a universal deluge was inconsistent with philosophical truth. The reputation which this work gave its author was considerably heightened in 1700 by his "Essay on the Use- fulness of Mathematical Learning." He now began to practise as a physician, and quickly attained a high position in the profession, aided not a little by his witty conversation and agree- able manners. In 1704 he contributed to the royal society a paper concerning the regularity of the birth of both sexes, which procured his election into that body. In 1709 he was ap- pointed the queen's physician in ordinary, and the next year was admitted a member of the royal college of physicians. He lived in con- stant intercourse with Pope, Swift, Gay, Par- nell, Gray, and Prior, in whose brilliant circle he was unequalled for learning and wit. In 1712 he wrote the "History of John Bull," a political allegory, designed to ridicule the duke of Marlborough and render the war unpopular. It is the most durable monument of his fame, and one of the best humorous compositions in the English language. He formed in 1714, in conjunction with Swift and Pope, the plan of writing a satire on the abuse of human learning in every branch. The design was to be ex- ecuted in the humorous manner of Cervantes, in the form of a history of feigned adventures. It was frustrated by the death of Queen Anne, by which Arbuthnot lost his place, and a serious blow was given to all the political friends of the associated wits. The design was never carried further than an imperfect though witty and original essay, written chiefly by Arbuthnot, under the title of " First Book of the Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus." Dr. Arbuthnot vis- ited Paris immediately after the death of the queen, and on his return continued his literary occupations and his medical practice. In 1717 he and Pope gave assistance to Gay in a farce entitled " Three Hours after Marriage," the fail- ure of which is explained in part by the peculiar character of Arbuthnot's humor, which was something too refined and rare to be generally appreciated. In 1723 he was chosen second censor of the royal college of physicians, and in 1727 was made an elect of the college, and pronounced the Harveian oration. In 1727 also appeared the most valuable of his serious performances, entitled " Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights, and Measures." He continued to write humorous papers, among them a re- markable epitaph upon the infamous Col. Char- teris. In 1732 he contributed toward detecting and punishing the impositions of the so-called "Charitable Corporation," and shortly after- ward published his essays concerning " The Nature and Choice of Aliments," and " The Effects of Air on Human Bodies." He was then living in great debility at Ilempstead, and, failing to obtain relief, returned but a short time before his death to London. His last hu- morous work was an entertaining and scholar- like paper on "The Altercation or Scolding of the Ancieiits." Arbuthnot was equally admir- ed for his amiability and his wit. Some of his writings are so blended with those of his con- federates that they are not easily distinguished. ARBUTUS, a genus of evergreen shrubs be- longing to the natural order ericacece. The fruit is a berry containing many seeds. The most remarkable species'of this genus is the arbutus of Virgil, called the A. unedo, or the strawberry tree, the berries of which bear a strong resemblance to the common strawberry. It is a native of the south of Europe and the Levant. In northern Europe it is a hardy ever- green, sometimes attaining to a height of 20 feet, bearing greenish-yellow blossoms in Oc- tober and November, and bright yellow and red berries in November and the following Arbutus unedo, or Strawberry Tree. months. At the lake of Killarney in Ireland there are beautiful groves of this species of arbutus, which give a charming aspect to the country. Its berries, if eaten freely, are apt to produce stupefaction. In Cor- sica a pleasant wine is said to be prepared from them. Its bark and leaves are astringent. The oriental arbutus, A. andrachne, is a native of the Levant, and has similar narcotic quali- ties. It is superior in beauty, but much less hardy in cold climates, not bearing fruit in northern Europe. Its leaves are broader and less serrated ; its bark peels off so as to leave the stem always smooth, and of a clear bright cinnamon-brown color. The mule arbutus, A. hybrida, apparently a cross between these two, has great beauty of foliage, and in moder- ately cold regions grows well, but does not bear berries in northern Europe. A. procera is a native of California, cultivated as an orna- mental evergreen in the gardens of Great Brit- ain. The trailing arbutus (epigcea repens) is