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389 founded, and few institutions have contributed more power- fully to the advancement of medical science. Omitting the names of many distinguished physicians who have proceeded from this hospital, there are three individuals than whom none greater have appeared "since medicine was first esteemed an useful and honoured science," I allude to William and John Hunter, and Edward Jenner. William Hunter came to St. George’s in 1741, and it was here, attending the sick and dissecting the dead, that he dis- covered the direct road for becoming great in his profession. He lectured for nearly forty years, and established the cele- brated school in Windmill-street, from which emanated St. George’s Hospital. He drudged, like Selden, days and nights, and grappled with and conquered all the difficulties which opposed his progress and would have overwhelmed less resolute minds. He knew that knowledge could only be acquired by labour, and that labour was the only price of solid fame : zea- lously and stedfastly he pursued the object he had in view, and set an example of vigorous, patient, laborious industry, and which all must follow who are eager to attain legitimately the higher rank and honours in the medical profession ; and what is of infinitely greater consequence, and a still higher object of ambition, who would possess the power to cure the diseases and save the lives of their fellow-creatures. In ad- vanced life he did not think of number one, but continued to deliver lectures, though attended with pecuniary loss, because !, he thought it his duty to the public. When about to close his earthly career, his mind still recurred to that occupation which he had regarded as the most important and delightful of his life. " I wish now," he said, "that I had strength to bear being carried into my theatre that I might tell my pupils how much happiness and comfort I feel." " When on the brink of dissolution he said, " If I had strength enough to hold a pen I would write how easv and pleasant it is to die." From an examination of the " old pupil book" of the hospital, it appears that the appointment of John Hunter, as house-surgeon, took place in May, 1756, just a century ago. He had come to Lon- don to his brother, and having speedily distinguished himself as a dissector, he presided in the dissecting-rooms of William Hunter, in 1749 ; in 1775 he was admitted as a partner to the anatomical lectures, and the following year became house- surgeon. I will now give a short account of Edward Jenner. It is universally known that he came from Berkeley, in Gloucester- shire, and after living in the house of John Hunter, and, under him, he settled in his native place as a medical practitioner. The name of Edward Jenner appears artiong the entries of pupils in October, 1770, and it is a remarkable circumstance that this is known to have been the precise year when Jenner communicated to John Hunter the facts with which he had long become acquainted, concerning natural vaccination, as the means of protecting the human body from the small-pox. Twenty-six years elapsed before Jenner ventured to make an experiment, which he first did upon a boy of the name of Phillips. The boy went favourably through the disease. This first vaccination of a human being was made on the 16th May, 1796; on the 1st July the boy was inoculated for small-pox, and, as Jenner had anticipated, without effect. The feelings of Jenner on this occasion are thus described by himself " Whilst the vaccine discovery was progressing, the joy I felt at being the instrument destined to take away from the world one of the greatest calamities, blended with the fond hope of enjoying independence and domestic peace and happiness, was often so excessive that, on pursuiug my favourite object, I have sometimes found myself in a reverie. It is pleasant to me to recollect that those reflections always ended in devout aclmow- ledgments to that Being from whom this and all other blessings flew. " The names of William and John Hunter, and Edward Jenner, to borrow the words of an eloquent friend, "Must be added to that bright constellation of genius which already bears those of Harvey and Sydenham ; of Bacon, Locke, and Newton; of Shakspeare, Milton, Scott, and Byron, those gifted mortals, with kindred spirits, who have drawn inspiration from their example and works, shed over our land an intellectual glory, equal to its renown in arts and arms. The bosom of every Englishman glows with an emotion of conscious pride at enu- meration of their revered names. If, gentlemen, the time shall ever come when the power of our beloved country shall have passed away, their memory would linger round the spots con- secrated by their earthly labours, the land on which they trod would be still a watchword to the earth ; it would be peopled with the glorious recollections of its departed sages, as the sight of Greece recalled to the noble poet who yielded up his life on her classic soil, the heroes who had fallen in her defence. " They fell (he says) devoted but undying, The very gales their names seemed sighing; The waters murmured of their name ; The woods were peopled with their fame : The silent pillar, lone and gray, Claimed kindred with their sacred clay : Their spiiit wrapped the dusky mountain, There memory sparkled o’er the fountain; The meanest rill, the mighticst river, Rolled mingling with their fame for ever." GROSVENOR-PLACE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE. INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS BY MR. S. WELLS. THE Introductory Lecture at this School was delivered on Wednesday, by Mr. S. Wells, one of the lecturers on Surgery, who, having recently returned from service in the hospitals at the seat of war in the East, commenced by a short review of what had taken place during his absence interesting to the medical profession. He described the condition of the Eastern hospitals, both at the beginning and the termination of the struggle, and contended that all the faults for which the medical officers of the army had been blamed should have been attributed to those in command, who treated all medical advice with neglect, until aroused by the awful results of their error. He argued that as the army had been brought into the highest possible state of health and efficiency when the advice of the medical department in sanitary matters was attended to, no minister-at-war or commander-in-chief can ever again refuse to follow the advice of the heads of the department on any matter affecting the health of the soldier. The lecturer then expressed his hope that the experience he had gained of nursing in the East would not be lost at home, but would lead to a great and fundamental reform in the nursing system of our English hos- pitals. In going over the subjects in which medical science and art had made advance during the last two years, Mr. Wells alluded to the great importance to the nation of the recent appointments of district medical officers of health; and gave a very interesting account of the discovery, by one of his colleagues (Dr. Richardson), of the cause of the coagulation of the blood. He then exhibited a number of surgical iiistru- ments, and explained how their use facilitated the performance of many operations. In the second part of his lecture, Mr. Wells gave an histo- rical account of the Grosvenor-place School since its foundation in 1820, and short notices of many of its students who had dis- tinguished themselves in after life. He then alluded to the peculiar mode of teaching now adopted in the School, contend- ing that the ordinary method of teaching anatomy, medicine, surgery, &c., was too professorial, and that the tutorial or interrogative system adopted by college tutors in our univer- sities was far better. He gave various illustrations of the mode in which the tutorial system, when properly carried out, deve- loped the latent powers of the mind; while professorial ad- dresses, even with attentive students, did little more than improve the memory. In conclusion, he exhorted the pupils to diligence; to contend for the prizes offered for competition ; but urged them, while rivals, still to be friends, and gave various instance in the history of distinguished bygone physi- cians, to show that both success and happiness would be best obtained by friendly competition. GUY’S HOSPITAL. MR. T. BELL’S ADDRESS. Mr. THOMAS BELL delivered the annual introductory lecture at two o’clock, in the theatre of the hospital, adjoining the museum, which was crowded by a large number of friends and pupils. Mr. Bell began by stating that he would not enter into the oft-considered subject of medical education, but dwelt upon one which he considered of great importance to the profession and the cultivators of science generally-namely, the study of some extra-professional pursuit, whether literary or scientific- a rational and intellectual amusement and relaxation in the intervals of business-a solace in the time of illness or distress, and an unfailing resource in retirement after the ordinary du- ties and avocations of life are over. Of the desirableness of such a provision, he said, we had too many proofs daily occur 389
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founded, and few institutions have contributed more power-fully to the advancement of medical science. Omitting thenames of many distinguished physicians who have proceededfrom this hospital, there are three individuals than whom nonegreater have appeared "since medicine was first esteemed anuseful and honoured science," I allude to William and JohnHunter, and Edward Jenner.William Hunter came to St. George’s in 1741, and it was

here, attending the sick and dissecting the dead, that he dis-covered the direct road for becoming great in his profession.He lectured for nearly forty years, and established the cele-brated school in Windmill-street, from which emanated St.

George’s Hospital. He drudged, like Selden, days and nights,and grappled with and conquered all the difficulties whichopposed his progress and would have overwhelmed less resoluteminds. He knew that knowledge could only be acquired bylabour, and that labour was the only price of solid fame : zea-lously and stedfastly he pursued the object he had in view,and set an example of vigorous, patient, laborious industry,and which all must follow who are eager to attain legitimatelythe higher rank and honours in the medical profession ; andwhat is of infinitely greater consequence, and a still higherobject of ambition, who would possess the power to cure thediseases and save the lives of their fellow-creatures. In ad-vanced life he did not think of number one, but continued todeliver lectures, though attended with pecuniary loss, because !,he thought it his duty to the public. When about to close hisearthly career, his mind still recurred to that occupationwhich he had regarded as the most important and delightful ofhis life. " I wish now," he said, "that I had strength tobear being carried into my theatre that I might tell my pupilshow much happiness and comfort I feel." " When on the brinkof dissolution he said, " If I had strength enough to hold a penI would write how easv and pleasant it is to die." From anexamination of the " old pupil book" of the hospital, it appearsthat the appointment of John Hunter, as house-surgeon, tookplace in May, 1756, just a century ago. He had come to Lon-don to his brother, and having speedily distinguished himselfas a dissector, he presided in the dissecting-rooms of WilliamHunter, in 1749 ; in 1775 he was admitted as a partner to theanatomical lectures, and the following year became house-surgeon.

I will now give a short account of Edward Jenner. It isuniversally known that he came from Berkeley, in Gloucester-shire, and after living in the house of John Hunter, and, underhim, he settled in his native place as a medical practitioner.The name of Edward Jenner appears artiong the entries of

pupils in October, 1770, and it is a remarkable circumstancethat this is known to have been the precise year when Jennercommunicated to John Hunter the facts with which he had

long become acquainted, concerning natural vaccination, as themeans of protecting the human body from the small-pox.Twenty-six years elapsed before Jenner ventured to make anexperiment, which he first did upon a boy of the name ofPhillips. The boy went favourably through the disease. Thisfirst vaccination of a human being was made on the 16th May,1796; on the 1st July the boy was inoculated for small-pox,and, as Jenner had anticipated, without effect. The feelingsof Jenner on this occasion are thus described by himself" Whilst the vaccine discovery was progressing, the joy I feltat being the instrument destined to take away from the worldone of the greatest calamities, blended with the fond hope ofenjoying independence and domestic peace and happiness, wasoften so excessive that, on pursuiug my favourite object, I havesometimes found myself in a reverie. It is pleasant to me torecollect that those reflections always ended in devout aclmow-ledgments to that Being from whom this and all other blessingsflew. "

The names of William and John Hunter, and EdwardJenner, to borrow the words of an eloquent friend, "Must beadded to that bright constellation of genius which alreadybears those of Harvey and Sydenham ; of Bacon, Locke, andNewton; of Shakspeare, Milton, Scott, and Byron, thosegifted mortals, with kindred spirits, who have drawn inspirationfrom their example and works, shed over our land an intellectualglory, equal to its renown in arts and arms. The bosom of everyEnglishman glows with an emotion of conscious pride at enu-meration of their revered names. If, gentlemen, the time shallever come when the power of our beloved country shall havepassed away, their memory would linger round the spots con-secrated by their earthly labours, the land on which they trodwould be still a watchword to the earth ; it would be peopledwith the glorious recollections of its departed sages, as the

sight of Greece recalled to the noble poet who yielded up

his life on her classic soil, the heroes who had fallen in herdefence.

" They fell (he says) devoted but undying,The very gales their names seemed sighing;The waters murmured of their name ;The woods were peopled with their fame :The silent pillar, lone and gray,Claimed kindred with their sacred clay :Their spiiit wrapped the dusky mountain,There memory sparkled o’er the fountain;The meanest rill, the mighticst river,Rolled mingling with their fame for ever."

GROSVENOR-PLACE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS BY MR. S. WELLS.

THE Introductory Lecture at this School was deliveredon Wednesday, by Mr. S. Wells, one of the lecturers on

Surgery, who, having recently returned from service in thehospitals at the seat of war in the East, commenced by a shortreview of what had taken place during his absence interestingto the medical profession. He described the condition of theEastern hospitals, both at the beginning and the terminationof the struggle, and contended that all the faults for which themedical officers of the army had been blamed should have beenattributed to those in command, who treated all medical advicewith neglect, until aroused by the awful results of their error.He argued that as the army had been brought into the highestpossible state of health and efficiency when the advice of themedical department in sanitary matters was attended to, nominister-at-war or commander-in-chief can ever again refuse tofollow the advice of the heads of the department on any matteraffecting the health of the soldier. The lecturer then expressedhis hope that the experience he had gained of nursing in theEast would not be lost at home, but would lead to a great andfundamental reform in the nursing system of our English hos-pitals.

In going over the subjects in which medical science andart had made advance during the last two years, Mr. Wellsalluded to the great importance to the nation of the recentappointments of district medical officers of health; and gavea very interesting account of the discovery, by one of hiscolleagues (Dr. Richardson), of the cause of the coagulation ofthe blood. He then exhibited a number of surgical iiistru-ments, and explained how their use facilitated the performanceof many operations.

In the second part of his lecture, Mr. Wells gave an histo-rical account of the Grosvenor-place School since its foundationin 1820, and short notices of many of its students who had dis-tinguished themselves in after life. He then alluded to thepeculiar mode of teaching now adopted in the School, contend-ing that the ordinary method of teaching anatomy, medicine,surgery, &c., was too professorial, and that the tutorial orinterrogative system adopted by college tutors in our univer-sities was far better. He gave various illustrations of the modein which the tutorial system, when properly carried out, deve-loped the latent powers of the mind; while professorial ad-dresses, even with attentive students, did little more thanimprove the memory. In conclusion, he exhorted the pupilsto diligence; to contend for the prizes offered for competition ;but urged them, while rivals, still to be friends, and gavevarious instance in the history of distinguished bygone physi-cians, to show that both success and happiness would be bestobtained by friendly competition.

GUY’S HOSPITAL.MR. T. BELL’S ADDRESS.

Mr. THOMAS BELL delivered the annual introductory lectureat two o’clock, in the theatre of the hospital, adjoining themuseum, which was crowded by a large number of friends andpupils.Mr. Bell began by stating that he would not enter into the

oft-considered subject of medical education, but dwelt uponone which he considered of great importance to the professionand the cultivators of science generally-namely, the study ofsome extra-professional pursuit, whether literary or scientific-a rational and intellectual amusement and relaxation in theintervals of business-a solace in the time of illness or distress,and an unfailing resource in retirement after the ordinary du-ties and avocations of life are over. Of the desirableness ofsuch a provision, he said, we had too many proofs daily occur

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ring around us of the sad and fatal results of its neglect. Heshowed how disappointment and ennui drive to the stimulus ofdrink, to drown misery, which in a mind without aim or pur-suit seeks suicide as a termination of intolerable despondency.Mr. Bell related two or three instances of individuals who hadretired from the busy avocations of life, but who, although inthe possession of all the comforts of this life, were compelled,from the want of some sort of intellectual pursuit, to return totheir former occupations. He said he would now reverse thepicture, and showed by examples, drawn from persons of va-rious occupations and professions, how possible it is, without inany way interfering with the ordinary duties of life, or en-

trenching upon the time which those duties imperativelydemand, to render their acquirements in science or literatureavailable not only to their own comfort and happiness, but tothe advantage of thousands around them. The exampleswhich were given were scrupulously selected to illustrate thatextra-professional pursuits were made entirely secondary to theprofessional duty. It would, indeed (said Mr. Bell), be anevil, instead of a good, were he to advise the adoption of anyoccupation, however rational or intellectual in itself, the meansof acquiring or of enjoying which would in any degree inter-fere with the conscientious and successful prosecution of pro-fessional practice. He gave some quotations from Bacon uponthe economy and value of spare time and leisure. There is no

profession, the lecturer observed, the members of which maynot avail themselves of the benefits of extra-professional study.If he were to select one more than all the others, he should,perhaps, at once fix upon the sacred character of the parochialclergyman. He drew a very touching and beautiful picture ofthe various duties of the clergyman. He referred to, amongstothers, the life and labours of Kirby and Gilbert White, andgave a short sketch of the character of each. Amongst thoselearned in the law, he referred to Bacon, and the physical re-searches of Grove, which he enumerated. He spoke of Mr.Baron Pollock’s love for mathematical science, and of his ela-borate and abstruse papers on the properties of numbers, whichfell to his (Mr. Bell’s) lot to read, when holding the office ofsecretary to the Royal Society. Brougham and Sir WalterScott next occupied his attention.

Quitting the walks of the learned professions, he offered afew brief examples of the effects of the same means of happi-ness in those paths of life which, connected with trade pro-perly so called, include the merchant, the banker, and thetradesman, in every phase and grade. It is to a merchant infull occupation that we owe some of the most important im-provements in the construction of the object glasses of the mi-croscope-Mr. Lister. Mr. Bell would fain bear testimony tothe efficacy of the cause which he was advocating on the hap-piness of one of the most estimable and habitually cheerfulold men whom it had ever been his privilege to know-thiswas his late honoured friend, William Yarrell, whose life wasone continual comment on the beneficial effects of the love and 1’istudy of natural science. The close of his address was occu- ’pied with a statement of what had been done by members ofour own profession in extra-professional studies and researches. ’,John Mason Goode, Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, the late Dr.Babington, and Sir Benjamin Brodie, were successively broughtunder notice. The study of the natural sciences, and espe-cially those which are designated by the term natural history,were what Mr. Bell especially alluded to throughout his lec-ture, and he remarked that there was scarcely a person whohad been celebrated as a naturalist who had not received atleast a medical education. He concluded by impressing uponthe students the advantage they would derive from taking upsome one extra-professional branch, and referred to his ownexperience, and the great pleasure, profit, and happiness hehimself had derived from such a source ; but he observed thatthe primary object of their pupilage should be the preparationfor the practice of their profession.

KING’S COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

INTRODUCTORY LECTURE BY PROFESSOR HENFREY.

THE Introductory Lecture, in the Medical Faculty, was de-livered before a large and attentive auditory, by ProfessorHenfrey. He commenced by making some general remarks,and devoted a little time to a general summary on the subjectof medical education. He dwelt on the characteristics of thenotions of theory and practice, divested of the obscurity andprejudice which not unfrequently surround them in the sophis-

390

tical arguments of imperfectly educated persons. Medicaleducation and pursuits include both modes of activity-wehave a science of medicine, and an art of healing. The natureand relations of these two aspects were briefly examined andillustrated by an indication of the manner in which our know-ledge has been accumulated. Probably the first attempt tocure disease arose out of observation of relief obtained by acci-dental means. Certain disordered conditions were observed todisappear when certain vegetable or mineral substances werepartaken of. If the results were found similar in many cases,a relation of cause and effect was naturally supposed to exist.The active substance became a known remedy-it was foundgood for particular complaints. Instances of this sort multi-plied, and in this way a body of rules of art was graduallybrought together-a set of maxims applicable in certain cases,the validity of which rested, however, on bare and unen-lightened experience. At this time, the man of the widestexperience must have been the safest practitioner. It may beobserved, said the lecturer, that the vulgar notion of medicalpractice does not contain much more than is here described,even in the present day; it is supposed to be a treatment ofsymptoms, and the idea of a regulation by principles is eitherunknown, or looked upon with suspicion. Yet, with the cha-racteristic inconsistency of ignorance, the crudest speculationsare often blindly accepted as truths. Purely medical sciencenot only abounds still with empirical laws, but can advanceonly to a certain point by the process of analysis. Observationfurnishes mostly what are called middle principles, which areseldom advanced further by direct inferences, but furnish theverification and proof of more extended generalizations deduc-tively worked out by speculative thinkers. These middleprinciples, however, are perhaps the most valuable of all asguides in the practice of art; and it is the special business ofthe student to acquaint himself with them, and master themethods by which they are to succeed. In regard to the sub-sidiary sciences, observed the Professor, they have to furnishthe physician with results-with laws abstracted and esta-blished in their own separate field of inquiry. Medical edu-cation thus involves the whole range of the natural sciences.Having endeavoured to explain, in general terms, what it washis junior hearers were about to undertake, and dwelling uponthe different branches of a medical education, Professor Hen-frey attempted to give some insight into the means andmethods which have been provided for their assistance. Muchstress was laid upon the importance of attendance on lectures,with a conscientious and deliberate attention in all their de-tails, which must have an important effect towards formingthat habit of intelligent listening which is sometimes one ofthe physician’s best means. He referred to the question ofnote-taking, and thought that indiscriminate detailed notes oflectures causes injury rather than benefit to the memory. Theheads of a lecture only, he thought, should be taken, devotingthe whole attention undividedly to the arguments or principlesof it. If the student has a taste for drawing, it would proveof great value to him, pressed into service as a mode of note-taking.Some words of advice were then offered on the subject of

practical study in the hospital. Forensic medicine drew somespecial remarks from the lecturer; as it is now rising into

greater notice, the national importance of the education pos-sessed by the medical profession becomes more fully appre-ciated. The questions arising in this branch of medicine mustbe approached, he said, by the medical man as a man of sci-ence, when definite and positive judgments must be based onfacts alone, and not on possibilities or probabilities. He re-ferred to the odium which had been incurred of late years, inseveral branches of science, by the conflict of so-called scien-tific testimony.The lecturer concluded by some remarks, on general matters

of education and formation of character, to those who werenow launching themselves upon a new career.

LONDON HOSPITAL.

PROFESSOR BENTLEY’S ADDRESS.

THE Introductory Lecture at the London Hospital MedicalCollege was delivered before a full concourse of the staff, friends,and pupils, by Professor Bentley. The lecturer adverted tothe eminent position of the London Hospital as a school ofmedicine, and especially of practical surgery. He dwelt grace-fully upon the honours received bythe fpupils in competitionwith the pupils of other hospitals at the examination of the


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