Eloy, Nicholas Francis Joseph

, a French physician and biographer, was born at Mons, Sept. 20, 1714, and was educated to the practice of physic, in which he acquired great reputation both for skill and humanity. He was a man of extensive learning, and notwithstanding the time he devoted to study, and that which was necessary in his practice, he found leisure to write several valuable works. His first, which was published in 1750, was a small treatise, entitled “Reflexions sur l'Usage du The.” His next publication was an attempt at a history of medicine, arranged in the form of a dictionary, and entitled “Essai du Dictionnaire Historique de la Medicine ancienne et moderne,” in two volumes octavo, which appeared in 1755: this work was afterwards greatly enlarged, by extending the different articles which it contained, and was published in 1778, in four volumes quarto, with the title of “Dictionnaire Historique de la. Medicine ancienne et moderne;” a work in many respects more useful than Haller’s Bibliotheca. Eloy likewise published, in 1755, a small volume, entitled “Cours elementaire des Accouchemens;” and, a few years previous to his death, viz. in 17 So and 1781, he committed to the press two other essays, the first of which was entitled “Memoire sur la marche, la nature, les causes, et le traitement de la Dysenteric” and the other, “Question Medico-politique si l'usage du cafe” est avantageux a la sante, et s’il peut se concilier avec le bien de Petat dans les Provinces Belgiques“As a slight reward for the patriotic zeal manifested in this tract, the estates of Hainault presented him with a superb snuffbox, with this inscription,” Ex Dono Patria?;" the Gift of his Country. He held the honourable office of physician, to prince Charles of Lorraine until his death, March 10, 1788. ²