Donald Monro, M.D., was the son of Alexander Monro, M.D., the first of that name, professor of anatomy and surgery in the university of Edinburgh. Dr. Donald Monro was educated at Edinburgh, under the eye of his father, and there took his degree of doctor of medicine 8th June, 1753 (D.M.I. de Hydrope). Soon after this he was appointed physician to the army. He was admitted a Licentiate of the College of Physicians 12th April, 1756; and on the 3rd November, 1758, was elected physician to St. George’s hospital. His military duties, however, soon called him abroad; and on the 11th December, 1760, Dr. Richard Jebb was appointed to perform his duties during his absence. On Dr. Monro’s return to London he published " An Account of the Diseases of the British Military Hospitals in Germany, from January, 1761, to March, 1863." 8vo. Lond. 1764. Dr. Monro was a man of varied attainments, of considerable skill in his profession, and was highly esteemed by his contemporaries. He was admitted a fellow of the Royal Society 1st May, 1766. Dr. Monro was admitted a Fellow of the College of Physicians, speciali gratiâ, 30th September,1771; was Censor in 1772, 1781, 1785, 1789; and was named an Elect 10th July, 1788. He delivered the Croonian lectures in 1774 and 1775; and the Harveian oration in 1775. These he published in 1776, in one volume 8vo. With the title, " Prælectiones Medicæ ex Croonii instituto Annis 1774 et 1775; et Oratio Anniversaria ex Harveii instituto, die Oct. 18, 1775, habita in Theatro Coll. Reg. Med. Lond." He resigned his office at St. George’s hospital in 1786. He had long been in illhealth, and he withdrew himself altogether from professional business and in great measure from society. He died in Argyle-street 9th June, 1792, aged seventy-five.(1) In addition to the works already mentioned, Dr. Monro was the author of
An Essay on Dropsy, and its different Species. 8vo. Lond. 1756.
A Treatise on Mineral Waters. 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1770.
Observations on the Means of preserving the Health of Soldiers, and of conducting Military Hospitals, and on the Diseases incident to Soldiers. 2 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1780.
A Treatise on Medical and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, and the Materia Medica. 3 vols. 8vo. Lond. 1788.
He contributed various articles to the " Essays, Physical and Literary," and was the author of the biographical memoir of his father, Dr. Alexander Monro,prefixed to the quarto edition of that distinguished physician’s collected works, published in 1781.
William Munk
[(1) "In ilia cui incubuit medicinæ parte gnarus fuit et expertus: valetudine infirmâ diu conflictato, nescio sane an ea lngenda esset mors quæ illi fuit ærumnarum requies."—Oratio Harveiana auct. Gulielmo Cadogan, Anno 1792, p. 20]