Andrew Combe

Andrew Combe (1797-1847), Scottish physiologist; was born in Edinburgh on the October 27, 1797, and was a younger brother of George Combe.

After attending the Royal High School, he served an apprenticeship in a surgery, and in 1817 passed at Surgeon's Hall. He proceeded to Paris to complete his medical studies, and whilst there he investigated phrenology on anatomical principles. He became convinced of the truth of the new science, and, as he acquired much skill in the dissection of the brain, he subsequently gave additional interest to the lectures of his brother George, by his practical demonstrations of the convolutions. He returned to Edinburgh in 1819 with the intention of beginning practice; but being attacked by the first symptoms of pulmonary disease, he sought to improve his health in the south of France and Italy during the two following winters. He began to practise in 1823, and by careful adherence to the laws of health he was enabled to fulfil the duties of his profession for nine years. During that period he assisted in editing the Phrenological Journal and contributed a number of articles to it, defended phrenology before the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, published his Observations on Mental Derangement (1831), and prepared the greater portion of his Principles of Physiology Applied to Health and Education, which was issued in 1834, and immediately obtained extensive public favor.

In 1836 he was appointed physician to King Léopold I of Belgium, and removed to Brussels, but he speedily found the climate unsuitable and returned to Edinburgh, where he resumed his practice. In 1836 he published his Physiology of Digestion, and in 1838 he was appointed one of the physicians extraordinary to the Queen in Scotland. Two years later he completed his last work Physiological and Moral Management of Infancy, which he believed to be his best. His latter years were mostly occupied in seeking some alleviation of his disease at various health resorts; he spent two winters in Madeira, and tried a voyage to the United States, but was compelled to return within a few weeks of the date of his landing at New York. He died at Gorgie, near Edinburgh, on the August 9, 1847.

His biography, written by George Combe, was published in 1850.