Dr. John Hunter’s Prophecy of His Own Death

DR. JOHN HUNTER’S PROPHECY OF HIS OWN DEATH

John Hunter was a celebrated Scottish medical doctor of the 18th-century. He was a pioneer in the field of surgery and was appointed as the personal physician of King George III. Towards the end of his life Hunter was appointed as the surgeon-general of the entire British Army.

But Dr. John Hunter – like all of us – had his faults. One of his assistants who worked with him towards the end of his life described John Hunter as ‘warm but impatient, readily provoked, and when irritated not easily soothed’.

Dr. Hunter had a problem with anger, and he suffered with a heart condition.

When he discovered his heart problems were often brought on by anger, Hunter complained:

“My life is at the mercy of any scoundrel who chooses to put me in a passion.”

This personal lament of Dr. John Hunter proved to be prophetic. At a meeting of the board of St. George’s Hospital in London in 1793, Hunter became entangled in a heated argument with other board members. He stormed out of the meeting, and dropped dead in the next room.

“My life is at the mercy of any scoundrel who chooses to put me in a passion” Hunter had grumbled only a short while before his own death.

Dr. John Hunter’s untimely demise at the age of 65 is a cautionary tale to anyone today who allows their own emotions to be determined by the whims and inclinations of others.

There’s an ancient proverb found in the Bible that says: “It is better to be patient than powerful. It is better to have self-control of your own emotions than to be in control of an entire city.” (Proverbs 16:32).