# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macnish, Robert

​MACNISH, ROBERT (1802–1837), author and physician, was born in Glasgow on 15 Feb. 1802. Both his father and grand-father were medical men, and Macnish followed the hereditary profession. Having obtained the degree of magister chirurgin from the university of Glasgow at the early ​age of eighteen, he practised for eighteen months under Dr. Henderson of Clyth, Caithness, but eventually gave up his employment from ill-health, combined, as would appear, with the need for more congenial society. Upon recovering his health he proceeded to Paris, where he studied for a year under Broussais and Dupuytren, and made the acquaintance of Gall. On his return he assisted his father while qualifying himself for the degree of M.D., which he took at Glasgow in 1825. The subject of his thesis was highly original, 'The Anatomy of Drunkenness,' elucidated with a freshness and thoroughness which, notwithstanding the general correctness of his habits, appears to bespeak an intimate personal acquaintance with his theme, doubtless acquired in the interest of science. The essay was published at Glasgow in 1827, and, by enlargements in subsequent editions, became a work of considerable pretensions, which long enjoyed a wide popularity (3rd edit. 1869). He had in the meantime written much indifferent poetry, mostly imitative of Byron and Moore, and had contributed tales and sketches to minor local magazines; but it was not until 1826 that be sent to 'Blackwood' his one masterpiece, 'The Metempsychosis,' a gem of fantastic fiction. It was received with delight, and the pages of 'Blackwood' and subsequently of 'Fraser' were always open to him; but none of his numerous subsequent attempts in the same style approach his first important story; the conception is never equally felicitous, and the execution is slight and careless in comparison. His contributions were usually signed 'A Modern Pythagorean.' In 1829 and for most of 1830 he suffered from serious illness, but in September of the latter year he was able to publish his most important and best-known work, 'The Philosophy of Sleep,' Glasgow, 12mo, the preface to which, in a fit of causeless despondency, he insisted should be written by his friend D. M. Moir. The title is somewhat of a misnomer, for the author theorises little, and is usually obliged to admit the phenomena under discussion to be inexplicable. His work, however, is a clear, lively, and well-arranged account of these phenomena. Semi-psychological subjects of this nature had a strong attraction for Macnish's imaginative mind, and had he lived a few years longer be would probably have contributed largely to the literature of hypnotism, called into existence by the successful experiments of James Braid [q. v.]
From this time Macnish's attention was chiefly given to medicine, or at least to the border-land between medicine and psychology. The chief exception was the composition of a little 'Book of Aphorisms,' written in 1832 and published in 1834. This medley contains some useful pieces of advice and some interesting items of information, but hardly one genuine aphorism. About the period of its composition the author was greatly occupied with the epidemic of cholera, and warmly asserted the contagious character of the disease. Somewhat later he became fascinated by the study of phrenology, which occupies a large part of his correspondence as published by his friend Moir. His 'Introduction to Phrenology in the Form of Question and Answer' (1886), though inevitably a mere string of leading questions, is exceedingly well adapted to convey information on the subject, and for a time obtained great popularity, ten thousand copies having been speedily sold. In 1836 he edited Dr. Brigham's work 'On the Influence of Mental Cultivation and Mental Excitement upon Health,' and was occupying himself actively with phrenological and psychological research, especially with a new edition of his 'Introduction,' when, on 16 Jan. 1837, he succumbed, after a few days' illness, to the prevailing epidemic of influenza. 'A man who could not be known without being beloved,' says his biographer Moir, whose judgment is amply confirmed by Macnish's correspondence and all the personal details extant respecting him. As a medical writer he displayed the graphic power of the delineator rather than research or ability to generalise. As a poet he is mediocre; as a writer of fiction, though indicating imagination in all his works, he rests his reputation upon one. His tales and sketches, with a copious biography, were published in two volumes in 1838 by his friend Moir.
Sir Daniel Macnee painted his portrait, and an engraving from a bust by Ritchie was executed by T. Dobbie.
[Moir's Life of Macnish, 1838; Maginn and Bates in Maclise's Portrait Gallery.]
R. G.