"pocrates, Aristotle, and Galen, which are taught in this "university, and have been approved of during a long series "of ages; and that you will not permit their principles and "conclusions to be overturned by any person whatsoever." How much men of science are improved since the days when this oath was proposed by the members of a university, may be seen in a single example, by a letter from a modern professor, which deserves to be cited to the eternal honour of the candour of a great man, and as a warning even to men of firstrate abilities against the force of prejudice. The letter is from Dr. Black, professor of chemistry at Edinburgh, to Lavoisier :

"For thirty years I taught the doctrine of phlogiston. Ten years of which time I combated your discoveries. That "barrier against every improvement, prejudice, required ten "whole years, a second siege of Troy, before it could be sub"dued. I now see, clear as the noon day, the truth of the new system. I have begun to teach it, and the young "students, having no prejudice to overcome, are every one "of them delighted with its simplicity and truth. Your new terms are already familiar among them."

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Among the improvements, that have been made since the time of Bacon in the mode of instructing youth in the art of medicine, should be mentioned the attention that is now paid to anatomy. Students have all possible means of making themselves masters of what is known of this science, and all possible opportunities and encouragement to prosecute further observations and discoveries. None can read Mr. John Bell's

preface to his excellent Lectures on Anatomy without shuddering at the idea of the mischief, that may be done by rash practitioners, who either operate or prescribe without sufficient knowledge of the structure of the human body. All who are acquainted with the history of medicine know, that one of the principal causes, which retarded the progress of the art, was the superstitious prejudice against anatomists. Until the reign of Francis the First, the dissection of the human body was held as sacrilege. The emperor Charles the Fifth ordered a consultation to be held at Salamanca, to inquire whether a man might, with a safe conscience, dissect a human body! There may be reasonable hopes, that now these prejudices are vanquished; and now that observation and ingenuity is directed to anatomy, the art of medicine will make a rapid, or at least a secure progress: especially now that the world is no longer in dread of the interference of the inquisition to forbid inoculation; of an edict of a king of Spain, enforcing a specific in fevers, or of an Orlof's proclamation of martial law against the plague.

One obstacle to the progress of anatomy, or to its useful application in the art of medicine, still remains; a difficulty, which arises not from the interference of the authority or the prejudices of man, but from his nature: the difference between the living and the dead body is such, that observations on the dissection of the dead can only approximate to the functions of the living. But, notwithstanding this difficulty, there is reason to hope, that it may in some degree be obviated by the ingenuity of man. The student of medicine should be encouraged in this hope by adverting to many improvements,

such as the extraction of the cataract, the taking up of arteries, and the discovery of the retrograde motion of the absorbent vessels. Admirable observations have been made on the nature of digestion: these the scientific world owe to Reaumur, Spallanzani, and M'Bride, and to the judicious use made of an accidental power possessed by a stone-eater, who could bring up from his stomach at will whatever he had eaten, and of Mr. Goffe, who could perform a similar operation by swallowing air. It may be thought by some, that the observations on the stone-eater's digestive powers are not precisely applicable to the stomachs of ordinary and healthy men, and that here we have still only an approximation to the truth: but however this may be, a great point has been gained by these experiments, since they have demonstrated the absurdity of the old theory of digestion, which, founded on some fancied analogy to a mill, considered the human stomach as an organ for grinding food. Other modern experiments, partly anatomical, partly chemical, deserve to be pointed out as peculiarly interesting to the medical pupil. The experiments on the effect of opium on the nerves and on the blood; the experiments on galvanism, which perhaps may prove to be but a modification of electricity; the experiments on various deleterious and salubrious airs and gasses, promise to throw new light upon many parts of medicine, and especially upon the nervous system, a term at present of very convenient use, but of very indefinite signification. Last, but greatest of modern discoveries, the young friend to improvement will rejoice in vaccine inoculation.

The school of medicine at Paris is an excellent establish

ment. From the accounts of the modes of examining students there was every reason to suppose, that a man could not be dangerously ignorant of his profession, if he were permitted to practice under the sanction of this school. No technical substitution could pass for real knowledge, as new and various subjects of inquiry were employed to determine the proficiency of the candidate, subjects which could not be foreseen by any temporary tutor, and to which answers could not be formed but by deductions of good sense from a large stock of general professional knowledge.

The museum belonging to the school of medicine at Paris contains the choicest specimens of natural productions, a number of models in wax of uncommon surgical cases, and some excellent anatomical preparations. It was observable that some of these, so far from shocking the imagination, were objects of unmixed admiration. One in particular, a preparation of all the veins and arteries of one side of the head and neck, and arm, was peculiarly beautiful. Surely no means can be devised more effectual for the suppression of quackery

• The author had an opportunity of witnessing the liberality of the gentlemen who presided over the establishment: to one of whom in particular he feels personal gratitude for his offering, if the relations of France and England. permitted, to assist a medical student, in whose education the author was interested. He promised not only to permit the young man to profit by what had been collected in the museum and the school of medicine, but to give him further information in those branches of the profession which lay within his department. Such liberality is an honour to science, and a permanent advantage to mankind; it keeps open the communication of knowledge between different countries, and at the necessary returns of peace must tend to soften the enmity of nations.

and quack medicines, than to extend the knowledge of the complicated structure of the human body.

In this country the liberality of private practitioners (Mr. Heaviside for instance) affords great assistance to students; but still there is wanting in England, upon almost every object of science, public means of acquiring information, free from unnecessary obstructions, and the pitiful sale of tickets. for admission. As to the pursuit of anatomical knowledge, a physician may unboubtedly carry it too far. It is his business and his duty to know and to learn, from time to time, every discovery that is made in this branch of science; but a man may be the best anatomist in the world without being a good physician. The student should have seen and operated upon the human subject, so as to be familiar with those various appearances of nature which cannot be imitated by art; but a very large portion of his knowledge may be acquired out of the dissecting room. Pharmacy is also a necessary branch of his profession; but he need not give up any great portion of his time to it for were he to pound and compound during a whole apprenticeship, it would not contribute much to his medical skill. In short, the business of a surgeon and of a physician are different from those of a chemist or an anatomist, and the separation of those pursuits is highly advantageous to society. Physicians in extensive practice should not ardently attempt discoveries in chemistry or anatomy: their attention should be chiefly directed to discoveries in the therapeutic part of medicine. Few men possess from art or nature the power of invention; they who are thus endowed, should pursue new paths of knowledge: the field of discovery