Suffered from a form of Epilepsy which appeared to have finally killed him.
Suffered a serious seizure in the 3rd Australian Test in 1899 and played no further cricket that year.
His bowling is said never to have regained its previous venom.
Had another fit which sent him back to Cheadle Asylum which meant he played no cricket in 1901.
Despite dying at 39 he had a reasonably extended career.
The Lord's Test of 1886 was a high point.
The Autralians were 45 for the first wicket.
Briggs was brought into the bowling attack.
His 34 overs included 22 maidens and five wickets for 29 runs.
Australia were all out for 121 in the first innings.
His second innings figures being no less impressive, 38 overs, 17 maidens 6 wickets for 45.
England won by an Innings and 106 runs.
8 wickets for 11 runs (all clean bowled) was against S.Africa in the 2nd Test of 1888-89 in the second innings.
It was a Test record.
He had taken 7 wickets in the first (6 clean bowled one LBW) which had South Africa all out for 47 in the first innings and 43 in the second.
So his figures were 15 wickets for 28 in a match, a record which remains the most wickets taken in a single day.