Envy, Hatred Malice, and All Uncharitableness

Professor John Lee, Principal of the University, in referring to the departure of Professor Alison from the Senatus when he delivered his discourse to the students at the opening of the session (as was his custom) while he praised the outgoing, had no word of welcome for the incoming Professor of the Practice of Medicine. On the contrary, he expressed his wish that the doubtful anticipations as to the latter might not be verified, in such a manner as to imply that he feared they would be. Dr Bennett, in particular, was possessed by what appeared to be an insane spirit of rivalry and opposition, which in the course of the next summer and autumn hardened into a settled plan of antagonism as clinical teacher at the Infirmary. In the meanwhile he was moody, walked along the street muttering to himself and gesticulating as if addressing an imaginary audience and gave other signs of deeply perturbed spirits. Nor was it possible for Dr Laycock to do full justice to his new position. Certain persons thought it right to show him hospitality, others sought his public services at meetings, and thus the time which should have been devoted to his lectures was otherwise occupied. And as he had determined to recast his course, he had to prepare each lecture from day to day, and consequently to labour into the night to the injury of his health and mental powers. In the meanwhile, envy was busy with its slanders and exaggerations and false friends were lending their aid to the envious by damning him with false praise. Dr Simpson, upon whom Dr Laycock had every reason to rely as a support in practice, failed wholly to call him into consultation in any case after Christmas 1855. At Dr Simpson's death on 6 May 1870 the entire fees received by Dr Laycock from cases in consultation with Dr Simpson could not be estimated at more than fifty guineas. The latter had recommended Dr Laycock to two patients he was not able to visit, viz. one at Cupar in 1858 and Mr J. P. Orde of Kilmany in 1867. And having recommended his old man servant Tom Clarke to Dr Laycock as butler and janitor, he used him as a spy upon all Dr Laycock's family and other proceedings. So that he even informed of so trivial a fact that Dr Laycock and his wife went to early communion on Christmas Day! The year did not end happily. While at York during the Christmas recess Dr Laycock learnt that his second [child], George Lockwood, had a severe convulsive attack. Dr Simpson attended him, and ordered leeches. Those bled very profusely so as to weaken the child much. The directed effects of this attack continued until George Lockwood went to school at Trinity College, Glenalmond in September 1866. And the following spring was not encouraging in various ways, but the misgivings thus excited were nothing as compared with the force of the violent attack which was impending and being prepared for. In May 1856 Dr Laycock took his turn of clinical duty at the Infirmary and removed to number 4 Rutland Street.