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Holland was a ‘fiery’ character and this sort of exchange was quite common at the time between professionals. Such background detail is always useful to fill out these fascinating historical characters and their time.

However, we must be careful not to judge them by modern standards, but by the ethos and timbre of their own time.

Cheers.
Sue

The article was published as a result of what Holland considered plagiarism of one of his works, by Jeffreys book “Views upon the Statics of the Human Chest”, which was met with acclaim on its publication in 1843. Julius Jeffreys was also the inventor of the Respirator, a breath-warming mask used at the time by tuberculosis sufferers to relieve coughing.

Here is an excerpt from the book “Striving for the Comfort Zone: A Perspective on Julius Jeffreys”, which explains the Jeffreys view of the event:

Not everyone acclaimed the book, however, for soon after publication a vitriolic attack was made on Julius, in a pamphlet entitled “The Plagiarisms of Julius Jeffreys, in his treatise on the statics of the Human Chest”. The author, Dr. George Calvert Holland, claims that Julius stole his ideas and copied his work.

Some of Holland’s work was in similar fields relating to respiratory afflictions, based on his experiences at hospitals in the industrialised English towns of Manchester and Sheffield. Before 1843, Dr. Holland published one item that appears to have had similar themes to “Statics …”, namely an 1841 pamphlet, “The mortality, sufferings and diseases of Grinders”. Also, at a similar time to Julius’ 1843 publication, Holland published “Diseases of the Lungs from mechanical causes, and inquiries into the condition of the artisans exposed to the inhalation of dust”. However, claims of plagiarism indicate Holland did not fully understand Julius’ work.

Writing from Notting Hill, London, Julius penned a very interesting and in some ways almost humourous response to Dr. Holland’s attack. This was published in “The Lancet”, under the heading “Mr. Jeffreys’ Reply to a Pamphlet presented to the Public by Doctor Calvert B. Holland, (sic) of Sheffield, entitled, “Plagiarisms of Julius Jeffreys, F.R.S.””. Julius first states that Holland has acted imprudently. He declares that in only one section of ‘Statics’ is there any overlap in their work, and that, while they were in agreement in some areas, they had differed in others. Julius affirmed that he was not aware of Holland’s work prior to ‘Statics’ being published. He ends with the following, which has the heading ‘benediction on Dr. Holland’:

May he hereafter enjoy that happy frame of mind which will make him slow to suspect any of his fellow-men of a crime, literary or otherwise, which I hope he could feel conscious he would not commit himself. May he merit and enjoy as much of literary reputation as is safe for human infirmity. May he long enjoy as good a provincial practice as from his talents I have no doubt he merits; and when he has occasion to call in the aid of the Respirator, may he be harassed by no mistaken feelings hereafter. Lastly, let him rest assured I sincerely forgive him for the gigantic charge of plagiarism with which he has precipitately endeavoured to brand me; and for the unwise things he has, mistaking his own motives, repeated or originated in relation to my connection with the Respirator.