Sir James Young Simpson, Bart., M. D., is a name that shines brilliantly in the annals of Scotland and is a star of the first magnitude among her numerous medical men.
The son of a poor baker in Bathgate, who had much ado to keep his head above water, he rose to receive the honor of a baronetcy from Queen Victoria in recognition of his professional merits. He was especially mentioned for the introduction there of the use of chloroform in surgery.
Has public life was always marked by outward consistency and by an observance of the externals of religion. He numbered among his friends some of the leading preachers of Edinburgh, where he lived and practiced medicine.
But he was unacquainted with the power of true Christianity until 1861. The person who was most instrumental in bringing about a marked change in his life was one of his patients, an invalid lady. Her quiet words spoken to him and her letters of grateful Christian interest written to him, took hold of his heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In one of her letters, having first expressed her kind thoughts concerning him and his household, she wrote: "What is to fill my heart through all eternity? When benevolence shall have run its course, when there shall be no sick to heal, no disease to cure; when all I have, all I have been engaged with here comes to a dead stop, what is to fill this heart, and thought, and these powers of mind? Only the God-Man! If then, why not now?”
In this way he was led to know Christ as his Savior, and soon began to undertake active Christian work. In giving a public address to medical students, he spoke of himself as "one of the oldest sinners and one of the youngest believers in the room." He earnestly entreated them to open the door of their hearts and receive the Savior, ere they began careers of service to mankind. "For," said Sir James, the most eminent doctor in Scotland at that time: "Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, (divine love) it profiteth me nothing." 1 Cor. 13:33And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3).