Adam Lyschinski (Lyschinske/Lynchinski/Lyszczynski/Lyschinsky) M.D. L.R.C.S. (c. 1805 – 12 March 1893) was a Polish immigrant to Britain, an orthodox physician who converted to homeopathy to become a Physician at the Edinburgh Homeopathic Dispensary at 5 James Square. Prior to this he served as Surgeon in Charge of H. M. Transports to the Isle of Mauritius 1838, Surgeon in Charge of H. M. Troops to Madras in 1839, and Medical Officer in the District of Tongue, Sutherland 1844. Lyschinski was a member of the Northern Homeopathic Medical Association, a Medical Governor for the London School of Homeopathy, and in 1850 was listed as a subscriber to The Hahnemann Hospital at 39 Bloomsbury Square.

Lyschinski’s colleagues at the Edinburgh Homeopathic Dispensary were Professor William Henderson, John Rutherford Russell, John Stuart Sutherland, and fellow Polish émigré, Dionysius Wielobycki. He also assisted Consulting Physician to the Dispensary, Professor William Henderson. During the 1848 cholera epidemic Lyschinski was also a colleague of Edinburgh homeopathic physician Dr. George Atkin and Dundee-based homeopath Dr. Samuel Cockburn.

Adam Lyschinski was also a colleague of George Edward Allshorn, George Dunn, Thomas Erskine of Linlathen, George James Hilbers, Joseph Laurie, Charles Thomas Pearce, William Sharp, the Wielobycki Brothers, and many others.

Adam Lyschinski was born in Białystok, Poland in 1805. He was a law student of the University of Vilnius, Lithuania, and participated in the November Uprising against Russia in 1830–31. After the Polish defeat, in 1832 he emigrated to England and subsequently enrolled as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh. He qualified M.D. and obtained his Licence from the Edinburgh Royal College of Surgeons in 1837.

After graduation, Lyschinski served from 1838 – 1840 as ship’s surgeon on troop transports operating in the Indian Ocean, completing three voyages to India and back.

An intriguing interlude involved Lyschinski travelling to Serbia, where he acted as a British Consular agent under the name of Dr. Lynch, before transferring to Paris in 1841.

On his return to Britain he settled in Edinburgh and, in July 1842, Lyschinski married Elizabeth Moore Nelson (1821 – 1908) at St. Cuthbert’s in Edinburgh. They had two children, Henry T. Lyschinski (1844 – 1916) and Josephine Lyschinski (b. 1850).

In August 1843, Lyschinski was appointed Medical Officer for the District of Tongue by the Duke of Sutherland.

Lyschinski was associated with the Edinburgh Homeopathic Dispensary from its inception in October 1841 and remained on the Dispensary medical staff for more than twenty years.

In October 1848, Lyschinski was one of the team of physicians at the Dispensary who worked round the clock to treat hundreds of sufferers during a major cholera outbreak in the city. A Report of the events was published by the Edinburgh Homeopathic Dispensary, and records Lyschinski as one of the staff members involved:

Whenever the existence of Asiatic Cholera in Edinburgh – an event, as appears from your Minutes anticipated by you since the 13th November last – had been officially announced, it seemed to your Committee that the time was come for them to use the most prompt and efficient means in their power, at least to alleviate if they might not stay that terrible disease.

With this view a meeting of your Committee was held on the 7th October current, when it was resolved, after conference with your Medical Officers, the ordinary physicians of the Dispensary, who generously undertook the very severe duties which the arrangement imposed on them, that the Dispensary should be kept open, and one of the Medical Officers should be in attendance, at all hours, day and night, during the prevalence of Cholera in Edinburgh.

It is here to be mentioned that the ordinary physicians, John Rutherford Russell, The Wielobycki Brothers, Dr. Lyschinski, and John Stuart Sutherland, all graduates of our University, have been kindly assisted in these duties by George Atkin, of Portobello, who has a similar Degree, and Samuel Cockburn, a Licentiate of the College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; and when it is considered that the services of these gentlemen are perfectly gratuitous, your Committee feel sure you will accord them your warmest thanks.

Such was the esteem with which he was held that in February 1857, the friends of Adam Lyschinski gathered together for a testimonial for their friend at Veitch’s Private Hotel, 122 George Street, Edinburgh.

For many years Lyschinski lived at 10 Warriston Crescent, Edinburgh. He was the homeopath of Frederic Chopin, who stayed at Lyschinski’s home when he arrived in Edinburgh weak with tuberculosis.

In 1878, Lyschinski was recorded as living at 6 Dundas Street, Edinburgh.

By 1883 Lychinski had moved to London, residing on Blomfield Road, Shepherd’s Bush. He died there on 12 March 1893 at the age of 86.