text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/20

18c. 6 (6) Any constable giving assistance in accordance with subsection (4)(b) may use such reasonable force as he considers necessary for the purpose mentioned in that provision.

(7) The occupier of any premises—
 * (a) in relation to which it is proposed to exercise a right of entry in reliance on an authorisation under this section, or
 * (b) on which an inspection is being carried out in reliance on such an authorisation,

or a person acting on behalf of the occupier of any such premises, shall be entitled to require a copy of the authorisation to be shown to him by a member of the in-country escort.

(8) The validity of any authorisation purporting to be issued under this section in respect of any inspection shall not be called in question in any court of law at any time before the conclusion of that inspection.

(9) Accordingly, where an authorisation purports to be issued under this section in respect of any inspection, no proceedings (of whatever nature) shall be brought at any time before the conclusion of the inspection if they would, if successful, have the effect of preventing, delaying or otherwise affecting the carrying out of the inspection.

(10) If in any proceedings any question arises whether a person at any time was or was not, in relation to any routine, challenge or assistance inspection, a member of the inspection team or a member of the in-country escort or the observer, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the Secretary of State stating any fact relating to that question shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

(11) If an authorisation is issued under this section the Secretary of State may issue an amendment varying the specified area, and—
 * (a) from the time when the amendment is expressed to take effect this section shall apply as if the specified area were the area as varied;
 * (b) subsection (8) shall apply to the amendment as it applies to the authorisation;
 * (c) the Secretary of State may issue further amendments varying the specified area and in such a case paragraphs (a) and (b) shall apply.

26.—(1) If an authorisation has been issued under section 25 in respect of any inspection, a person is guilty of an offence if he—
 * (a) refuses without reasonable excuse to comply with any request made by any constable or a member of the in-country escort for the purpose of facilitating the conduct of that inspection in accordance with the verification annex,
 * (b) interferes without reasonable excuse with any container, instrument or other object installed in the course of that inspection in accordance with the verification annex, or
 * (c) wilfully obstructs any member of the inspection team or of the in-country escort, or the observer, in the conduct of that inspection in accordance with the verification annex.

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/20


text:
Page:Five favourite songs (16).pdf/6

And the hectic spot is spreading now, O’er her wan cheek of woe.

'Tis night, fond ones bend o’er her, With kind affcetion’s fears ; As though they could restore her By their anguish and their tears ; No hope their hearts need borrow, For the watchdog’s doeful cries, Tell the painful tale of sorrow, Ere morning’s light she dies.

She gazes round her wildly, When that sad sound is heard, Then greets her lov’d ones mildly, With a parting soul’s regard ; But ere the morning’s sun has shone, That fair one breathes no more, And the faithful watchdog’s warning moan Is also hush’d and o’er.

THE HEATHER BELL.

Oh! deek thy hair wi’ the heather bell, The heather bell alone ; Leave roses to the Lowland maid, The Lowland maid alone. I’ve seen thee wi’ the gay, gay rose, And wi’ the heather bell,— I love you much with both, fair maid ; But, wear the heather bell.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Page:Five favourite songs (16).pdf/6


text: The Grey Fairy Book/The Bear

title: The Grey Fairy Book/The Bear


text:
Page:Narrative of a journey through the upper provinces of India etc. (Volume III.).djvu/407

Rh “believers” conquered Delhi, about A.D. 1000. But what is this to the date of the ? or how little can these trifling relics bear comparison with the works of Greece and Egypt! and I have not yet seen; I can believe all which is said of their size and magnificence; but they are without date or inscription; they are, I understand, not mentioned, even incidentally, in any Sanscrit manuscript. Their images, &c. are the same with those now worshipped in every part of India, and there have been many Rajas and wealthy individuals in every age of Indian history, who have possessed the means of carving a huge stone quarry into a cathedral. To our cathedrals, after all, they are, I understand, very inferior in size. All which can be known is, that Elephanta must probably have been begun (whether it was ever finished seems very doubtful) before the arrival of the Portuguese at Bombay; and that Ellora may reasonably be concluded to have been erected in a time of peace under a Hindoo prince, and therefore either before the first Afghan conquest, or subsequently during the recovered independence of that part of Candeish and the Deckan. This is no great matter certainly, and it may be older; but all I say is, that we have no reason to conclude it is so, and the impression on my mind decidedly accords with, that the Hindoos after all, though they have doubtlessly existed from very great antiquity, as an industrious and civilized people, had made no great progress in the arts, and took all their notions of magnificence from 8


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/21

Rh (2) Subsection (1)(b) applies to interference which occurs at any time while the container, instrument or other object is retained in accordance with the verification annex.

(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
 * (a) on summary conviction, to a fine of an amount not exceeding the statutory maximum;
 * (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

27.—(1) Members of inspection teams and observers shall enjoy the same privileges and immunities as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with the following provisions of the 1961 Articles, namely—
 * (a) Article 29,
 * (b) paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 30,
 * (c) paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 31, and
 * (d) Article 34.

(2) Such persons shall, in addition, enjoy the same privileges as are enjoyed by diplomatic agents in accordance with paragraph 1(b) of Article 36 of the 1961 Articles, except in relation to articles the importing or exporting of which is prohibited by law or controlled by the enactments relating to quarantine.

(3) Samples and approved equipment carried by members of an inspection team shall be inviolable and exempt from customs duties.

(4) The privileges and immunities accorded to members of inspection teams and observers by virtue of this section shall be enjoyed by them at any time when they are in the United Kingdom— (a) in connection with the carrying out there of a routine inspection, a challenge inspection or an assistance inspection, or (b) while in transit to or from the territory of another party to the Convention in connection with the carrying out of such an inspection there.

(5) If—
 * (a) immunity from jurisdiction of a member of an inspection team is waived in accordance with the verification annex, and
 * (b) a notice made by the Secretary of State and informing the member of the waiver is delivered to him in person,

then, from the time the notice is so delivered, this section shall not have effect to confer that immunity on the member.

(6) If in any proceedings any question arises whether a person is or is not entitled to any privilege or immunity by virtue of this section, a certificate issued by or under the authority of the Secretary of State stating any fact relating to that question shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.

(7) In this section—
 * “the 1961 Articles” means the Articles which are set out in Schedule 1 to the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 (Articles of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 having force of law in United Kingdom);
 * “approved equipment” and “samples” shall be construed in accordance with the verification annex;

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/21


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/22

20c. 6 :“enactment” includes an enactment comprised in subordinate legislation (within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978).

28. The Secretary of State may reimburse any person in respect of expenditure incurred in connection with a routine inspection, a challenge inspection or an assistance inspection. Offences: miscellaneous

29.—(1) If—
 * (a) a justice of the peace is satisfied on information on oath that there is reasonable ground for suspecting that an offence under this Act is being, has been or is about to be committed on any premises or that evidence of the commission of such an offence is to be found there, or
 * (b) in Scotland a justice, within the meaning of section 307 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, is satisfied by evidence on oath as mentioned in paragraph (a) above,

he may issue a warrant in writing authorising a person acting under the authority of the Secretary of State to enter the premises, if necessary by force, at any time within one month from the time of the issue of the warrant and to search them.

(2) A person who enters the premises under the authority of the warrant may—
 * (a) take with him such other persons and such equipment as appear to him to be necessary;
 * (b) inspect any document found on the premises which he has reasonable cause to believe may be required as evidence for the purposes of proceedings in respect of an offence under this Act;
 * (c) take copies of, or seize and remove, any such document;
 * (d) inspect, seize and remove any device or equipment found on the premises which he has reasonable cause to believe may be required as such evidence;
 * (e) inspect, sample, seize and remove any substance found on the premises which he has reasonable cause to believe may be required as such evidence;
 * (f) search or cause to be searched any person found on the premises whom he has reasonable cause to believe to be in possession of any document, device, equipment or substance;

but no woman or girl shall be searched except by a woman.

(3) The powers conferred by a warrant under this section shall only be exercisable, if the warrant so provides, in the presence of a constable.

30.—(1) The court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence under this Act may order that anything shown to the court's satisfaction to relate to the offence shall be forfeited, and either destroyed or otherwise dealt with in such manner as the court may order.

(2) In particular, the court may order the thing to be dealt with as the Secretary of State may see fit; and in such a case the Secretary of State may direct that it be destroyed or otherwise dealt with.

(3) Where—

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/22


text: Page:Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - Fitzgerald's translation.djvu/33


text: Page:Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - Fitzgerald's translation.djvu/34


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/23

Rh :(a) the court proposes to order anything to be forfeited under this section, and
 * (b) a person claiming to have an interest in it applies to be heard by the court,

the court must not order it to be forfeited unless he has been given an opportunity to show cause why the order should not be made.

31.—(1) Proceedings for an offence under section 2 or 11 shall not be instituted—
 * (a) in England and Wales, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General;
 * (b) in Northern Ireland, except by or with the consent of the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

(2) Proceedings for an offence under any provision of this Act other than section 2 or 11 shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Secretary of State; but the preceding provisions of this subsection do not apply to Scotland.

(3) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—
 * (a) a director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or
 * (b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(4) In subsection (3) “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.

(5) Where an offence under this Act is committed by a Scottish partnership and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner, he as well as the partnership shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Other miscellaneous provisions

32.—(1) This section applies to information if—
 * (a) it was obtained under, or in connection with anything done under, this Act or the Convention, and
 * (b) it relates to a particular business or other activity carried on by any person.

(2) So long as the business or activity continues to be carried on the information shall not be disclosed except—
 * (a) with the consent of the person for the time being carrying on the business or activity,
 * (b) in connection with anything done for the purposes of the Convention,
 * (c) in connection with anything done for the purposes of this Act,

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/23


text: Page:Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - Fitzgerald's translation.djvu/35


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/24

22c. 6 :(d) in connection with the investigation of any criminal offence or for the purposes of any criminal proceedings,
 * (e) in connection with the enforcement of any restriction on imports or exports,
 * (f) in dealing with an emergency involving danger to the public,
 * (g) with a view to ensuring the security of the United Kingdom, or
 * (h) to the International Court of Justice for the purpose of enabling that Court to deal with any dispute referred to it under the Convention.

(3) The reference to this Act in subsection (2)(c) does not include a reference to section 33.

(4) A person who discloses information in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and liable—
 * (a) on summary conviction, to a fine of an amount not exceeding the statutory maximum;
 * (b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to a fine or to both.

(5) Where a person proposes to disclose information to which this section applies in circumstances where the disclosure would by virtue of paragraphs (b) to (h) of subsection (2) not contravene this section, he may disclose the information notwithstanding any obligation not to disclose it that would otherwise apply.

33. The Secretary of State shall in each calendar year—
 * (a) prepare a report on the operation of this Act, and
 * (b) lay a copy of the report before each House of Parliament.

34. A notice under any provision of this Act, or a copy of a notice under any such provision, may be served on a person—
 * (a) by delivering it to him in person,
 * (b) by sending it by post to him at his usual or last-known residence or place of business in the United Kingdom, or
 * (c) in the case of a body corporate, by delivering it to the secretary or clerk of the body corporate at its registered or principal office or sending it by post to the secretary or clerk of that body corporate at that office.

35. In each of the following provisions, namely—
 * (a) section 70(4) of the Army Act 1955 (civil offences),
 * (b) section 70(4) of the Air Force Act 1955 (civil offences), and
 * (c) section 48(2) of the Naval Discipline Act 1957 (exclusion of jurisdiction of courts-martial),

after the words “Biological Weapons Act 1974” there shall be inserted “or an offence under section 2 or 11 of the Chemical Weapons Act 1996”.

36.—(1) The Secretary of State may by order make such additions to, omissions from or other modifications to this Act as he considers necessary or desirable to give effect to any amendment of the Convention made in pursuance of its provisions.

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/24


text: Page:Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam - Fitzgerald's translation.djvu/36


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/25

Rh (2) The power to make an order under this section shall, if the order solely modifies the Schedule to this Act, be exercisable by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3) The power to make any other order under this section shall be exercisable by statutory instrument, and no such order shall be made unless a draft of it has been laid before and approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.

37.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, this Act binds the Crown.

(2) No contravention by the Crown of a provision made by or under this Act shall make the Crown criminally liable; but the High Court or in Scotland the Court of Session may, on the application of a person appearing to the Court to have an interest, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which constitutes such a contravention.

(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the provisions made by or under this Act apply to persons in the public service of the Crown as they apply to other persons.

(4) Nothing in this section affects Her Majesty in her private capacity; and this subsection shall be construed as if section 38(3) of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947 (meaning of Her Majesty in her private capacity) were contained in this Act. General

38.—(1) Any expenses of the Secretary of State incurred in consequence of this Act shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament.

(2) Any sums received by the Secretary of State in consequence of this Act shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

39.—(1) This Act (except this section) shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made by statutory instrument.

(2) It is hereby declared that this Act extends to Northern Ireland.

(3) Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision for extending any of the provisions of this Act, with such exceptions, adaptations or modifications as may be specified in the Order, to any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or any colony.

(4) This Act may be cited as the Chemical Weapons Act 1996.

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/25


text:
Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/209

me begin with a sort of parable. Many years ago, when I was on the staff of a great public school, we engaged a new swimming master.

He was the most successful man in that capacity that we had had for years.

Then one day it was discovered that he couldn’t swim.

He was standing at the edge of the swimming tank explaining the breast stroke to the boys in the water.

He lost his balance and fell in. He was drowned.

Or no, he wasn’t drowned, I remember,—he was rescued by some of the pupils whom he had taught to swim.

After he was resuscitated by the boys—it was one of the things he had taught them—the school dismissed him.

Then some of the boys who were sorry for him taught him how to swim, and he got a new job as a swimming master in another place.

title: Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/209


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/26

24c. 6

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/26


text:
Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/27

Rh

2. In this Schedule the reference to the CAS registry is to the chemical abstract service registry.

3. This Schedule must be read subject to the following proposition, which is based on a note in the Convention: where reference is made to groups of dialkylated chemicals, followed by a list of alkyl groups in parentheses, all chemicals possible by all possible combinations of alkyl groups listed in the parentheses must be taken to be listed in the Schedule. © Crown copyright 1996

PRINTED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BY MIKE LYNN, Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office and Queen’s Printer of Acts of Parliament.

LONDON: HMSO

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/27


text: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/28

title: Page:Chemical Weapons Act 1996.pdf/28


text: Chemical Weapons Act 1996

title: Chemical Weapons Act 1996


text:
Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/34

 Rh While he was saying this, Father Knickerbocker had beckoned to a group of porters.

“Take this gentleman’s handbag,” he said, “and you carry his newspapers, and you take his umbrella. Here’s a quarter for you and a quarter for you and a quarter for you. One of you go in front and lead the way to a taxi.”

“Don’t you know the way yourself?” I asked in a half-whisper.

“Of course I do, but I generally like to walk with a boy in front of me. We all do. Only the cheap people nowadays find their own way.”

Father Knickerbocker had taken my arm and was walking along in a queer, excited fashion, senile and yet with a sort of forced youthfulness in his gait and manner.

“Now then,” he said, “get into this taxi.”

“Can’t we walk?” I asked.

“Impossible,” said the old gentleman. “It’s five blocks to where we are going.”

As we took our seats I looked again at my companion, this time more closely. Father Knickerbocker he certainly was, yet somehow strangely transformed from my pictured fancy of the Sleepy Hollow days. His antique coat with its wide skirt had, it seemed, assumed a modish cut as if in imitation of the bell-shaped spring overcoat of the young man about town.

title: Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/34


text:
Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/35

 Rh His three-cornered hat was set at a rakish angle till it looked almost like an up-to-date fedora. The great stick that he used to carry had somehow changed itself into the curved walking-stick of a Broadway lounger. The solid old shoes with their wide buckles were gone. In their place he wore narrow slippers of patent leather of which he seemed inordinately proud, for he had stuck his feet up ostentatiously on the seat opposite. His eye followed my glance toward his shoes.

“For the fox-trot,” he said. “The old ones were no good. Have a cigarette? These are Armenian, or would you prefer a Honolulan or a Nigerian? Now,” he resumed, when we had lighted our cigarettes, “what would you like to do first? Dance the tango? Hear some Hawaiian music, drink cocktails, or what?”

“Why, what I should like most of all, Father Knickerbocker”

But he interrupted me.

“There’s a devilish fine woman! Look, the tall blonde one! Give me blondes every time!” Here he smacked his lips. “By gad, sir, the women in this town seem to get finer every century. What were you saying?”

“Why, Father Knickerbocker,” I began, but he interrupted me again.

“My dear fellow,” he said. “May I ask you not to call me Father Knickerbocker?”

title: Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/35


text:
Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/36

 Rh “But I thought you were so old,” I said humbly.

“Old! Me old! Oh, I don’t know. Why, dash it, there are plenty of men as old as I am dancing the tango here every night. Pray call me, if you don’t mind, just Knickerbocker, or simply Knicky—most of the other boys call me Knicky. Now what’s it to be?”

“Most of all,” I said, “I should like to go to some quiet place and have a talk about the old days.”

“Right,” he said. “We’re going to just the place now—nice quiet dinner, a good quiet orchestra, Hawaiian, but quiet, and lots of women.” Here he smacked his lips again, and nudged me with his elbow. “Lots of women, bunches of them. Do you like women?”

“Why, Mr. Knickerbocker,” I said hesitatingly, “I suppose—I”

The old man sniggered as he poked me again in the ribs.

“You bet you do, you dog!” he chuckled. “We all do. For me, I confess it, sir, I can’t sit down to dinner without plenty of women, stacks of them, all round me.”

Meantime the taxi had stopped. I was about to open the door and get out.

“Wait, wait,” said Father Knickerbocker, his hand upon my arm, as he looked out of the window. “I’ll see somebody in a minute

title: Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/36


text:
Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/37

 Rh who’ll let us out for fifty cents. None of us here ever get in or out of anything by ourselves. It’s bad form. Ah, here he is!”

A moment later we had passed through the portals of a great restaurant, and found ourselves surrounded with all the colour and tumult of a New York dinner à la mode. A burst of wild music, pounded and thrummed out on ukuleles by a group of yellow men in Hawaiian costume, filled the room, helping to drown or perhaps only serving to accentuate the babel of talk and the clatter of dishes that arose on every side. Men in evening dress and women in all the colours of the rainbow, décolleté to a degree, were seated at little tables, blowing blue smoke into the air, and drinking green and yellow drinks from glasses with thin stems. A troupe of cabaret performers shouted and leaped on a little stage at the side of the room, unheeded by the crowd.

“Ha ha!” said Knickerbocker, as we drew in our chairs to a table. “Some place, eh? There’s a peach! Look at her! Or do you like better that lazy-looking brunette next to her?”

Mr. Knickerbocker was staring about the room, gazing at the women with open effrontery, and a senile leer upon his face. I felt ashamed of him. Yet, oddly enough, no one about us seemed in the least disturbed.

title: Page:Frenzied Fiction.djvu/37


title: Page:Tristram.djvu/81


title: Page:Tristram.djvu/82


title: Page:Tristram.djvu/83


text:
Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 2.djvu/92

88 the head-quarters, v. 2. and the land was begun to be divided before they removed from Gilgal, ch. 14. 6.

It is probable that this army of Reubenites and Gadites, which had led the van in all the wars of Canaan, had sometimes, in the intervals of action, and when the rest of the army retired into winter-quarters, some of them, at least, made a step over Jordan, for it was not far, to visit their families, and to look after their private affairs, and perhaps tarried at home, and sent others in their room more serviceable; but still these two tribes and a half had their quota of troops ready, forty thousand in all, which, whenever there was occasion, rendered themselves at their respective posts, and now attended in a body to receive their discharge. Though their affection to their families, and concern for their affairs, could not but make them, after so long absence, very desirous to return, yet, like good soldiers, they would not move till they had orders from their general. So though our heavenly Father's house above be never so desirable, (it is Bishop Hall's allusion,) yet must we stay on earth till our warfare be accomplished, wait for a due discharge, and not anticipate the time of our removal.

I. Joshua dismisses them to the land of their possession, v. 4. They that were first in the assignment of their lot, were last in the enjoyment of it; they got the start of their brethren in title, but their brethren were before them in full possession; so the last shall be first, and the first last, that there may be something of equality.

II. He dismisses them with their pay; for who goes a warfare at his own charge? v. 8, Return with much riches unto your tents. Though all the land they had helped to conquer, was to go to the other tribes, yet they should have their share of the plunder, and had so, and that was all the pay that any of the soldiers expected; for the wars of Canaan bore their own charges. " Go," says Joshua, "go home to your tents," that is, "your houses," which he calls tents, because they had been so much used to tents in the wilderness; and indeed the strongest and stateliest houses in this world are to be looked upon but as tents, mean and moveable in comparison with our house above. "Go home with much riches, not only cattle, the spoil of the country, but silver and gold, the plunder of the cities, and," 1. "Let your brethren whom you leave behind, have your good word, who have allowed you your share in full, though the land is entirely their's, and have not offered to make any drawback. Do not say that you are losers by us." 2. "Let your brethren whom you go to, who abode by the stuff, have some share of the spoil. Divide the spoil with your brethren, as that was divided, which was taken in the war with Midian, Numb. 31. 27. Let your brethren that have wanted you all this while, be the better for you when you come home."

III. He dismisses them with a very honourable character. Though their service was a due debt, and the performance of a promise, and they had done no more than was their duty to do, yet he highly commends them; not only gives them up their bonds, as it were, now that they had fulfilled the condition, but applauds their good services. Though it was by the favour of God and his power, that Israel got possession of this land, and he must have all the glory, yet Joshua thought there was a thankful acknowledgment due to their brethren who assisted them, and whose sword and bow were employed for them. God must be chiefly eyed in our praises, yet instruments must not be altogether overlooked. He here commends them, 1. For the readiness of their obedience to their commanders, v. 2. When Moses was gone, they remembered and observed the charge he had given them; and all the orders which Joshua, as general of the forces, had issued out, they had carefully obeyed, went, and came, and did, as he appointed, Matt. 8. 9. It is as much as any thing the soldier's praise, to observe the word of command. 2. For the constancy of their affection, and adherence to their brethren, Ye have not left them these many days. How many days, he does not say, nor can we gather it for certain from any other place. Calvisius and others of the bestchronologers compute, that the conquering and dividing the land was the work of about six or seven years, and so long, these separate tribes attended their camp, and did them the best service they could. Note, It will be the honour of those that have espoused the cause of God's Israel, and twisted interests with them, to adhere to them, and never to leave them till God has given them rest, and then they shall rest with them. 3. For the faithfulness of their obedience to the divine law. They had not only done their duty to Joshua and Israel, but, which was best of all, they had made conscience of their duty to God, Ye have kept the charge; or, as the word is, Ye have kept the keeping, that is, "Ye have carefully and circumspectly kept the commandment of the Lord your God; not only in this particular instance of continuing in the service of Israel to the end of the war, but, in general, you have kept up religion in your part of the camp, a rare and excellent thing among soldiers, and where it is worthy to be praised."

IV. He dismisses them with good counsel, not to cultivate their ground, fortify their cities, and now that their hands were inured to war and victory, to invade their neighbours, and so enlarge their own territories, but to keep up serious godliness among them in the power of it. They were not politic but pious instructions that he gave them, v. 5. In general, to take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law. They that have the commandment have it in vain, unless they do the commandment; and it will not be done aright, (so apt are we to turn aside, and so industrious are our spiritual enemies to turn us aside,) unless we take heed, diligent heed. In particular, to love the Lord our God, as the best of beings, and the best of friends, and as far as that principle rules in the heart, and is the spring of its pulses, there will be a constant care and sincere endeavour to walk in his ways, in all his ways, even those that are narrow and up hill, in every particular instance, and in all manner of conversation to keep his commandments; and at all times, and in all conditions, with purpose of heart to cleave unto him, and to serve him and his honour, and the interests of his kingdom among men, with all our heart, and with all our soul. What good counsel was here given to them, is given to us all; God give us grace to take it!

V. He dismisses them with a blessing, v. 6. particularly the half tribe of Manasseh, to which Joshua, as an Ephraimite, was somewhat nearer akin than to the other two, and who, perhaps, were the more loath to depart, because they left one half of their own tribe behind them, and therefore, bidding often farewell, and lingering behind, had a second dismission and blessing, v. 7. Joshua not only prayed for them as a friend, but blessed them as a father in the name of the Lord, recommending them, their families and affairs, to the grace of God. Some, by the blessing Joshua gave them, understand the presents he made them, in recompense of their services; but Joshua being a prophet, and having given them one part of a prophet's reward, in the instructions he gave them, v. 5. no doubt, we must understand this of the other, even the prayers he made for them, as one having authority, and as God's vicegerent.

Being thus dismissed, they returned to the land


text:
Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/249

 essential points, but trusting for the best, I sat down to breakfast with my agents, and when we had sufficiently fortified our stomachs, we set out in search of the hardened accomplice of Court and Raoul. These latter had pointed out to me a lone auberge as the favourite haunt of Pons. This house was the rendezvous of a nest of smugglers, and the woman who kept it, considering Pons as one of her best customers, felt great interest in all that concerned him. So well had this auberge been described to me, that I required no further directions to find it; I therefore repaired thither with my two companions, and entering, seated myself without any ceremony, assuming the tone and manner of one well used to the ways of the house.

"Good day to you, Mother Bardou, how goes all with you?"

"The same to you, my good friends, and many of them. You are welcome to my poor place; thank God, we are all pretty comfortable, thanks for your inquiry. What would you please to have, gentlemen?"

"Dinner, dinner! my good soul; we are starving with hunger."

"You shall have it directly, sirs;—please to step into the next room, where you will find a good fire."

Whilst she was employed in laying the cloth, I drew her into the following conversation:—

"I begin to fancy, my good hostess, that you have forgotten my features."

"Wait a little till I have time to look well at you."

"Why what a memory you must have to forget how I used to come with Pons to your house last winter, many a time have we paid you a moonshine visit.." [sic]

"Bless me! now I begin to recollect,"

"To be sure you do, look again."

"Oh! now I remember you perfectly."

"Well, how is our jolly cove Gérard, how is he getting on? quite strong and hearty, eh?"

"I faith is he, he was here only this morning, and


text:
Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/250

 took a glass or two on his way to Lamare house, where he had employment."

Of this house, or of its situation, I was utterly ignorant, nevertheless as I had given myself out as a person well acquainted with the neighbourhood, I was careful not to betray myself by risking any inquiry. Still I trusted that, without directly asking the question, I should be enabled to lead my voluble friend, by indirect means, to the point at which I wished to arrive. Accident favoured me, for scarcely had we swallowed a few mouthfuls of our dinner, than Mother Bardou entered the room, "You were talking of Gérard just now," said she, "his daughter has just called in."

"Indeed! which of the daughters?"

"The youngest."

I rose immediately, and running up to the child embraced her before she had time even to look at me; and rapidly naming each member of her family, made many and warm inquiries after their health. When she had replied to them, I cut short the parley by giving her a trifle of money, and recommending her to hasten home whither I would accompany her, as I was extremely anxious to present myself to her excellent mother; beckoning to my companions, we left the house, following the footsteps of our little guide, who, surprised at the novelty of the rencontre, was making with all speed for the dwelling of her mother. No sooner, however, had we got out of sight of the auberge, than I called to the girl, "Hark ye, my little one, do you know the place they call Lamare house?"

"It stands just down there," said she, pointing with her finger to the other side of Hirson.

"Well, then, I'll tell you what you shall do; just run on and let your mother know that you have met three particular friends of your father's, and that we shall return to sup with him. So that she may as well have it all ready for four of us.—That's right—make the best of your way; good evening, my pretty maid."

The daughter of Gérard pursued her way, and we


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/5

 will content myself with touching upon a few of the more prominent points of his genius and character.

As a surgeon Sir Charles Bell ranks high, “ if not first, in the very first line.” His Letters on the Diseases of the Urethra, his Surgical Observations, and other works, show how deeply he had studied, and how diligently he had practised, the art which he professed. His dexterity and coolness as an ope- rator were remarkable; yet he went to operations with the reluctance of one who has to face an una- voidable evil; in this respect resembling Hunter, and many other first-rate surgeons. Like Cheselden, who is said always to have turned pale when about to cut for the stone, Bell’s cheek was often seen to blanch on proceeding to operations performed with the utmost self-possession and skill.

As a proof of the zeal with which Mr. Bell cul- tivated surgery, I may instance his hurrying to Haslar after the battle of Corunna, and to Waterloo after that of the 18th of June, in order to study gunshot wounds.

Still more eminent was he as a teacher of anatomy. In the lecture-room he shone almost without a rival, His views were nearly always solid ; they were always ingenious, and his manner and language enchained the attention of his audience. Dull, indeed, must have been the pupil who could have slumbered when Charles Bell was in the professorial chair. In his hands dry bones lived again, imagination clothing them with the textures which had once invested them; a muscle was no longer a mere bundle of fibres, rising here and inserted there ; it was a guide

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/5


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/6

 to the surgeon’s knife in some important operation, or kindling with hidden fires, betrayed by the ana- tomy of its expression the emotions that lurked within; the flaccid artery on the table spouted forth its crimson stream, and demanded the arresting hand of the skilful surgeon, or threatened death as the alternative. In short, Sir C. Bell made his pupils think; and, interesting as anatomy is, even if con- sidered as a mere branch of natural history, he taught them to value it most of all as a guide to the art of healing. The time, however, will arrive when all the contemporaries of Sir C. Bell, all in whose ears those impressive tones still linger, shall have been swept from the scene. But his fame will yet sur- vive; he will ever be remembered as the discoverer of the varied functions of the nervous system.

Let me be permitted to make an observation or two on the opinions of physiologists concerning this subject, before and since the publication of Sir Charles Bell’s views.

It 1s well known that each spinal nerve arises by two roots; and it is now generally admitted that to the anterior one belongs the power of controlling motion ; to the posterior one that of governing sen- sation. It had formerly been thought that each spinal nerve possessed in common the power of ruling both motion and sensation, and, in some cases, ad- ditional functions. This may be called the popular theory. Yet glimmerings of the truth had occasion- ally been forced, as it were, upon reflecting physi- ologists. For the ordinary theory was obviously insufhicient to explain why sensation remains in a

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/6


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/7

 paralytic limb when the power of motion is lost; and why, on the other hand, motion sometimes survives feeling.

But although it had been conceived by some that the nerves of sensation were distinct from those of motion, no progress had been made in pointing out the principle in the anatomy on which it depends that one nerve ministers to sensation, another to motion; and the singularly original remarks of Hunter in his paper on the Nerves of the Organ of Smell, con- cerning two or more nerves coming frum different sources to supply a single part, had hitherto re- mained unproductive; they had not fallen upon a congenial soil.

The multiplicity, intricacy of arrangement, and distribution of the nerves, had engaged the eager at- tention of Sir C. Bell at an early period; and I have it from one, who, on several occasions, so far back as the year 1806, has seen him rise from the contemplation of the subject with the exclamation, “ We must make something out of these nerves.”” And already, in 1807, he had caught a glimpse of the fundamental principle of his subsequent researches, as the extracts I am about to read will show. They are from letters addressed to his brother George Joseph Bell, then at the Scotch bar, now professor of law in the Univer- sity of Edinburgh—the talents of the family had not been engrossed by anatomy and surgery—and for- tunately the letters were written before the revival of envelopes. The first from which I quote bears ‘‘in dorso” the post-mark, London, Dec. 5th, Edin- burgh, Dec. 8th, 1807.

‘“ My new anatomy of the brain occupies my head

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/7


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/8

 almost entirely. I hinted to you that I was ‘‘burn- ing” or on the eve of a grand discovery. I consider the organs of the outward senses as forming a distinct class of nerves from the others. I trace them to cor- responding parts of the brain, totally distinct from the origin of the others. I take five tubercles within the brain as the internal senses. I trace the nerves of the nose, eye, ear, and tongue, to these. Here I see established connection—there the great mass of the brain receives processes from the central tubercles. Again, the great masses of the cerebrum send down processes or crura which give off all the common nerves of voluntary motion, &c. I establish thus a kind of circulation, as it were. In this inquiry I describe many new connections—the whole opens up a new and simple light, and the whole accords with the phenomena, with the pathology, and is supported by interesting views. My object is not to publish this, but to lecture it, to lecture it to my friends, to lecture it to Sir Joseph Banks’ coterie of old women, to make the town ring with it, as it is really the only new thing that has appeared in ana- tomy since the days of Hunter, and, if I make it out, as interesting as the circulation, or the doctrine of absorption. But I must still have time; now is the end of a week, and I will be at it again.”

In another (post-mark, Dec. 1807,) he says, “ I really think this new view of the anatomy of the brain will strike more than the discovery of the lymphatics being absorbents.”’

And in a third (post-mark, March 28th and 31st, 1808)—* I have been thinking of having a room

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/8


text:
Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/251

 were not slow in following the road she had described to us, which brought us nearly facing the house we sought, but no persons were to be seen about, and upon questioning a countryman whom we met, he informed us that Pons was at work with a number of labourers at a short distance from thence; we proceeded onwards, and having gained an eminence, obtained a view of about thirty men employed in repairing the high road. Gérard, by virtue of his office of overseer, was in the midst of this group. We advanced within fifty steps of the workmen, when I made my agents observe an individual whose countenance and general appearance exactly corresponded with the description we had received of the ferocious Pons; although we entertained no doubt of his being the man, we durst not attempt to seize him, for should his companions undertake his rescue, we, of course, should come off but badly, and even his single arm, when impelled by the fear of being taken prisoner, might be more than a match for my small party. Our situation was embarrassing enough, yet had we displayed the least symptom of it, Gérard would either have made us pay dearly for our temerity in daring to attack him, or he would escape our grasp by a hasty retreat to the frontier. Never had I felt a greater need of prudence and self-possession. I consulted with my agents, two firm and intrepid men. "Act as you think proper," said they, "and rest assured of our seconding you in whatever steps you may take."

"Well then," cried I, "follow me, and do nothing till a fit opportunity arrives; perhaps we may turn out the more cunning party of the two, although the enemy nay have the advantage of superior strength."

I walked directly up to the individual whom I supposed to be Gérard, my two companions keeping at a little distance. The nearer I approached the more assured did I feel that I had not mistaken my man; thus convinced, and without further hesitation, I hurried up to Pons, and embracing him with every demonstration of regard, exclaimed, "Pons, my good fellow, how are


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/9

 five or six miles from town, and pursuing there my physiology of the brain —that which is to make me, I am convinced.” This may be called the second-sight of genius !

At length, in an Essay entitled “‘ Idea of a New Anatomy of the Brain,” printed in 1811, Sir C. Bell developed some of the principles destined to exercise so great an influence on the theory of the nervous system. Having called attention to the prevailing doctrines of the anatomical schools—that the mind, by the same nerves which receive sensa- tion, sends out the mandates of the will to themoving powers—he proceeds to announce his own opinion, that the several parts of the cerebrum have different functions, and that the nerves which we trace in the body are not single nerves possessing various powers, but bundles of different nerves, whose filaments are united for the convenience of distribution, but which are as distinct in office as they are.in origin from the brain. Pointing to the fact of the medulla spi- nalis having a central division, and a distinction into anterior and posterior fasciculi, he relates how he was thereby led to make experiments, of which he describes the results, upon the anterior and posterior columns of the spinal marrow, and upon the ante- rior and posterior roots of the spinal nerves, and how he thereupon came to the conclusion that every nerve possessing a double function obtains this by having a double root.

Adhering to the important principle thus laid down, Bell next directed his inquiries to the facial nerves, and, aided by his indefatigable pupil and

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/9


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/10

 coadjutor, Mr. John Shaw, instituted experiments to assist him in determining their functions, more especially those of the fifth and that of the portio dura of the seventh pair. These experiments were happily imagined : without the fortunate circum- stance that in certain parts of the body, especially on the face, the nerves of sensation and motion are distinct throughout their whole course, the great discovery of Bell could never have been clearly established.

It was about this time, and when making the most important advances in obtaining positive and undeniable proofs of the truth of his doctrines, that we find him, under an impulse like that exhibited in 1807, addressing his brother in Edinburgh in a letter bearing date the 17th of August, 1819, to the following effect :—

“When you left us, I told you that I was to sit down to my notes of the nervous system. Believe me, this is quite an extraordinary business. I think the observations | have been able to make furnish the materials of a grand system which is to revolu- tionize all we know of this part of anatomy, more than the discovery of the circulation of the blood. I have a good deal still to do. How I am to bring it forward I do not know. I think by lectures in the first place, then by a little essay explaining the out- line of a new system, and finally, by magnificent drawings and engravings of the whole nervous system. Inthe mean time I am making gigantic drawings of the nervous system for my class.”

The gigantic drawings for his class to which he alludes were large plans of the three oreat classes of

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/10


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/11

 nerves, under which he arranged those of the human body.

Two years afterwards, in 1821, a general account of the results of his observations was communicated to the Royal Society, in a paper read before that body, and apparently intended as an introduction to others which were to follow, and did follow.

Notwithstanding the novel and important matter which it contained, the Idea of a New Anatomy of the Brain had failed to attract attention. Not sothe first paper in the Philosophical Transactions. Bell’s views and opinions were now questioned, doubted, denied ; then a certain amount of truth was allowed them; and, ultimately, the real and substantial credit of a patient, laborious, and original inquiry, was attempted to be wrested from him, and attri- buted to others, whose single merit, in this part at least of physiology, consisted in their adoption of that key which Bell had invented, fashioned, and shown how to use—a key without which the secrets of the nervous system, so far as they are now known, had probably yet remained concealed.

In estimating Bell’s claims as a physiologist, we are not called upon to regard his papers and me- moirs on the nervous system as complete and perfect. Along with all that is distinct and precise, we may allow that there are some allegations not quite specific—allegations which a mind more severely disciplined might not have hazarded. We may grant that the functions of the posterior roots of the spinal nerves were therein suggested rather than positively stated. We may acknowledge, as he him-

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/11


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/12

 self did acknowledge, that he misinterpreted an experiment in his first attempt to prove that which he afterwards did prove through Mr. John Shaw, that the fifth nerve is a nerve of motion as well as of sensation. And we may agree in receiv- ing with doubt, or at least without conviction, as not proved, his views with respect to certain nerves being superadded in the higher classes of animals, for the purposes of respiration.

But, after all these acknowledgments, there re- mains to Bell clearly and unequivocally the merit of having first shown—

That in investigating the functions of the nervous system, we must direct our attention to the roots and not to the trunks of the nerves.

That the nervous trunks conveying motion and sensation, consist of two distinct sets of filaments in the same sheath.

That the filaments for motion form a distinct root from those for sensation, and that the anterior roots are for motion ; leaving it to be inferred that the posterior are for sensation.

That the portio dura is a nerve of motion, and the fifth a nerve both of motion and sensation.

And lastly, of having been the first who, dis- satisfied with the observation and study of the mere form of the various parts of the nervous system, applied the method of experiment to aid him in determining their functions.

In a word, there belongs to Bell the great dis- covery, the greatest in the physiology of the nervous system for twenty centuries, that distinct portions

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/12


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/13

 of that system are appropriated to the exercise of different functions,

Valuable practical precepts were immediately deduced from these discoveries, and at once applied by Sir Charles Bell and Mr. John Shaw. Perhaps the most important was the distinction of a local paralyticaffection from that which depends on disease of the brain. I shall not detain you with cases of this kind, which, since the introduction of this new principle in the recognition and diagnosis of nervous diseases, have been accumulated in the records of medicine. The doctrine, however, and the conse- quences which ignorance of it occasioned, are well illustrated by a remarkable anecdote in a work where we should not be apt to look for physiological instruction, | mean Grimm’s Correspondence ; and as the story is little known, I will take the liberty of narrating it:

A physician in Paris, on paying his visit one day, found an Abbé playing at cards in his patient’s cham- ber. Struck by the unfavourable aspect of the Abbé’s face, he informed him that he had not a moment to lose, but must be carried home instantly. The Abbé, overpowered with terror, was taken to his lodgings, where, for several days, he was _ bled, cupped, and purged, till he was brought to the brink of the grave; yet his face still bore the ap- pearance which had so much alarmed the physician. The brother of the patient at length arrived from a distant part of France, and asked what was the matter with his unfortunate relation. ‘“ Don’t you see,” said the bystanders, “‘ his mouth is all on one

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/13


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/14

 side?” ‘ Alas!” he replied, “ my poor brother has had his mouth on one side these forty years.”

Such cases will, in future, present no difficulty even to the beginner, and we recognise at once in Charles Bell the great characteristic of genius, that of giving the clearness of certainty to what before was either utterly unknown or but obscurely sus- pected.

Supposing, however, that this were the sole practical lesson as yet deduced from Sir Charles Bell’s discoveries, it would be unjust to measure their merit by this alone. Independently of the direct instruction to be derived from them, they have brought physiologists into the true path ; and should the thick veil which Nature has thrown over the operations of the nervous system be once drawn up, it will ever be remembered that Charles Bell first constructed the machinery for raising it.

It is instructive to remark and to remember that Sir Charles Bell did not make very numerous ex- periments on living animals ; but, guided by a careful study of the anatomy of the parts, and re- flecting on the spontaneous experiments, so to speak, furnished by disease, he was led to form views, which supported by a few well-planned experiments, discovered to him the truth, and enabled him to convert the guesses of former observers into indisput- able facts.

Had Sir Charles Bell not been a surgeon and a physiologist, he might have been an artist, so ad- mirable were his drawings, so exquisite his percep- tion of the beautiful. This talent was with him a

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/14


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/15

 favourite, and might be cited as an instance of “ the ruling passion strong in death ;” for he was em- ployed in sketching the gay scenery of Worcester- shire but a few hours before his decease. The leisure hours of the last few months of his life had also been employed in preparing for the press a new edition of his work on the Anatomy of Ex- pression. I ought rather to say re-writing it, so much additional manuscript does it present, so many additional illustrations from the study he had recently made of the great productions in painting and sculpture at Florence and at Rome.

It was in the summer of 1840 that his love of art led him to Italy, that he might become more intimately acquainted with the masterpieces that enrich it. During his tour he kept a journal, which I have had the gratification of seeing; it consists of three volumes of sketches and remarks. He passed through Paris and Lyons, and entered Italy by way of Genoa. Here he was struck by the contrast between streets as narrow as ‘ Blackford Wynd” and the gorgeous architecture of the palaces which flank them. His hotel had once been a palace ; and as he sat on a velvet cushion in an arm-chair of gold, while a fountain played from a marble lion, and the too vivid light was moderated by orange trees and silk curtains, he felt that he was in GENOVA LA SUPERBA.

He enjoyed what he calls a day of Raphael in the Vatican, and was worthy of enjoying it. His piercing eye detected, as we might expect, some errors of anatomy in Raphael’s drawings. “ But do not think of that,” he adds, “ but of the fine

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/15


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/16

 comprehension of nature, the feeling and under- standing of the human family. Man appears a superb creature in the Vatican.”

On the last day which he spent in Rome, he stood by the palace of the Cesars, from which he took his sketch of the Coliseum. “ It is a place,” he says, “‘to raise strange and solemn thoughts.” A mountain has been formed there by ruins, now covered with vineyards and cultivated fields. “‘ Pil- lars and entablatures make the way uneven, and the acanthus is growing by the side of the broken capital, on which it is chiselled.”

So much inventive genius and such indefatigable industry are rarely united in the same person ; and when we add the warmth of his friendships, and, among his lesser qualities, the exquisite refinement of his taste, the combination is not often to be paralleled. He had some of the irritability that so often accompanies genius ; yet, take him as he was, he has left a blank not easily filled up, either in the republic of science, or the circle of his friends.

I need not apologize, I think, for the length at which I have discussed the merits of our illustrious fellow-labourer; for the very conditions of my office require that I should celebrate the deserts of those persons recently deceased, whose labours shall have “ contributed to the improvement or extension of chirurgical science.”

In this class we must also rank one whose loss was recently felt, not only in the nation where it occurred, but by all Europe, which he had instructed. I mean Larrey.

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/16


text:
Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/252

 you? how is your excellent wife, and all your family? quite well, I trust?"

Astonished at this unexpected salutation. Pons remained in silent examination of my face for some minutes; "Devil take me," said he at last, "if I know who or what you are; where the deuce did you spring from?"

"What!" said I, "not recollect me? am I then indeed so much altered?"

"Not I, I do not remember ever seeing you in all my life; can't you just tell me your name? Stay, now I look again, I feel certain that I have met that face of yours somewhere or other, although where I have seen you is more than I can tell."

"I am a friend of Raoul and Court," said I, whispering in his ear, "and am sent to you by them."

"Ah!" cried he, pressing my hands warmly in both of his, and turning to the workmen who were gazing in wonder at this unexpected change of his reception of me, "I must have lost my senses, I think, not to remember one of my best friends! Not to recognise my dear friend! the devil must have flown away with my memory. My dear fellow! let me embrace you;" and, suiting the action to the word, he gave me such an emphatic hug as well nigh stifled me.

During this scene my agents had insensibly advanced nearer to the spot where we stood. Pons perceiving them, inquired if they belonged to me? "They are two of my ostlers," said I.

"I thought so, but you must stand greatly in need of refreshment, and those gentlemen yonder would, I dare say, have no objection to a glass of something good;—what say you?"

"With all my heart. A bottle of your best wine will do us no harm."

"Well, then, let us go; but in this cursed place, which produces nothing but wolves, there is nothing to be had; however, if you don't mind walking over to Hirson, (which, to be sure, is a good league from hence,)


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/17

 Larrey was born in 1766 ; became a pupil of his uncle, who practised surgery at Toulouse, and, after seven years’ professional education, was appointed surgeon in the navy. He returned to Paris at the outbreak of the Revolution, and, in 1793, was sent as regimental surgeon to the army of the Rhine. If we would have a specimen of the extraordinary energy and indignant resistance with which France then stayed the attack of the first coalition, we may look to Larrey, the most zealous individual of the important class to which he belonged. He in- vented the ambulances volantes, and was the first military surgeon who dressed the wounded under the very fire of the batteries. “ It is to Larrey,” says one of his panegyrists, “ that we owe our place of honour on the field of battle.’ Such zeal could not fail to win applause ; and. Larrey obtained special mention in. the report of General de Beauharnais after a battle fought before Mayence in July, 1793.

At the siege of Toulon, in 1794, he gained the friendship of that Lieutenant of Artillery who was destined to shake the world! He accompanied the French army to Egypt, and served in all the sub- sequent campaigns of Napoleon throughout Europe. It is needless to detail the honours successively conferred upon Larrey until his social position be- came equal to his merits; but | may mention that after the battle of Wagram, he was made Baron of the Empire, and that in 1812, he was made Chirurgien en Chef de la Grande Armée. He liked to be called by the title of nobility which he had

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/17


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/18

 earned ; nor was this a childish vanity ; for he knew that neither the chance of birth nor the favour of a court had made him a Baron ;. but that the dignity had been bestowed by a discriminating hand which never conferred honours upon incompetency

or inefficiency. His arduous duties did not prevent him from

recording a multitude of facts selected from the myriads presented to his observation. Among the works with which he enriched surgical literature,

some of the best are— 1. A Memoir on Amputation of the Extremities

after Gun-shot Wounds.

2. An Historical and Surgical Account of the Expedition of the French Army to Egypt and Syria.

3. Memoirs of Military Surgery: an elaborate work in four volumes.

Among the valuable. principles which he estab- lished was the necessity of immediate amputation after gun-shot wounds, pointing out, with nice > discrimination, in what cases the operation was in- dicated. The propriety of immediate amputation had been advocated at intervals for two centuries ; but the large experience and strong sagacity of Larrey first raised it into a canon of military surgery.

Previously to his time, it had been a maxim of practice, when the extremities were invaded by spreading mortification, never to amputate till Nature had fixed a line of demarcation between the sound and gangrenous parts. He first showed that the rule, though general, ought not to be

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/18


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/19

 universal ; and he drew attention to the important distinction between gangrene dependent on a con- stitutional cause, and that which springs from the severity of a local injury. In the latter, he advised immediate amputation, without waiting for the establishment of a boundary between the dead and living parts; and the instances which he gave of the successful application of this new distinction have been amply confirmed by the experience of others.

Fortunately for mankind, the clearest intellect is commonly accompanied by a benevolent heart, and the perspicacity of Larrey was equalled by his humanity.

Of all Napoleon’s campaigns, that of 1813 was the most equally, the most severely, the most fiercely contested. It was then that Prussia, rising almost to a man, displayed a spirit at least equal to that of France in 1793; and in the combats which ensued, the effects of science and art in war were heightened by the heroic, it may be the rancorous, feelings of those engaged.

After the battles of Bautzen and Wirchen, it was suggested to Napoleon that the number of the wounded had been increased by voluntary mutila- tion; and that all who had lost a finger, or whose hand had been pierced by a ball, were traitors who wished to escape from the service.

Napoleon ordered that the wounded of this class, to the number of 1200, should be separated from the rest; and that a commission, consisting of several principal surgeons, should examine each of

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/19


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/20

 these soldiers. A council of war, moreover, was appointed to try the guilty, and cause them to be executed on the spot. Larrey had been named President of the surgical board. The day before it met, a certain personage, who believing the accu- sation, desired its success, ordered him to find four culprits in each division, who should be taken before a council of war, and shot instantly. Larrey, filled with terror and indignation at such an order, was | about to send in his resignation, and quit the army ; when a friend made him give up the project by observing, that he might be useful to these un- fortunate men.

Larrey did not hesitate one moment. The ex- amination was extremely rigorous, and lasted four whole days. Larrey showed, by reasoning on the character of the wounds, that all the accused were innocent. He then addressed a report to Napoleon; and, believing that he had displeased the Emperor in this affair, composedly awaited the disfavour which was to follow. But Napoleon was not in- sensible to the claims of truth and of justice when clearly demonstrated and resolutely maintained. The conduct of Larrey was not lost upon him. In the middle of the ensuing night, Baron Fain brought Larrey a most flattering letter from the Emperor, in which he was congratulated on his firm, honourable, and humane conduct. This letter was accompanied by a present of 6000 francs, and the warrant of a pension of 3000 to be paid from Napo- leon’s privy purse.

In his long exile, Napoleon did not forget his

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/20


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/21

 great surgeon; besides bequeathing him 100,000 frances, his will records the honourable fact, that Larrey was the most virtuous man he had ever known.

His own escutcheon might have been saved from its darkest blot, had he always encountered the moral fearlessness of Larrey and of Desgenettes.

But I must now approach the great object which has to-day brought us together, and endeavour briefly to describe the peculiar and more prominent points of Hunter’s career.

John Hunter was born in 1728, and began the study of his profession at the age of 20. He died in 1793, leaving a reputation as a surgeon anda naturalist beyond that of any other man in the annals of fame. Some few may have been his equals, nay, his superiors, (though that is a bold word,) in either departments singly ; for excellence in both combined he stands without a rival.

He was snatched away too soon from the profes- sion which he adorned ; and if we number his years alone, his death may appear premature ; but if we adopt the theory of the Roman philosophical poet, and measure time by what has been performed in it, we might suppose that Hunter had lived an age. Half a century has now elapsed since his death, and few of his contemporaries are with us ; the voices of envy and of partiality are alike silent in the tomb, and we are called on to estimate what Hunter attempted, intended, accomplished.

The materials for our judgment are to be found

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/21


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/22

 in his books, both printed and manuscript, as well as in his numerous drawings. But it is most of all in his Museum that we appreciate the prodigious extent of his views, bounded only, if that can be called a boundary, by the limits of animated nature.

John Hunter early showed the characteristic fea- tures of his mind, the interest he took in physiological inquiries, his capabilities of minute anatomical investigation, and his powers as an original thinker. Within ten years of his arrival in London, he had solved the problem as to the cause and mode of the descent of the testis in the foetus,—had closely ex- amined the connexion between the uterus and placenta,—had made that preparation, the oldest in the Museum, where, tracing the branches of the fifth pair of nerves in the nose, he was led to the conclusion that the organs of sense receive their endowments of ordinary sensation from that nerve, and to the more general proposition, “ that if we consider how various are the origins of the nerves, and how different the circumstances attending them, we must suppose a variety of uses to arise out of every peculiarity of structure;” thereby approaching more closely than any one else had done, to the principle subsequently established by Sir C. Bell; and, moreover, he had instituted a very ingenious set of experiments with the view of determining whether the veins possess the power of absorption.

When, soon after, he accompanied the army to the coast of France and the Peninsula, his duties as Staff-Surgeon did not prevent him pursuing those physiological inquiries in which he took so much

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/22


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/23

 delight. He was then engaged in determining, by experiment, whether digestion continues in lizards and snakes during their torpid state; and he made other experiments on the faculty of hearing in fishes, the organ of which sense he had discovered in these animals before leaving London. At this period, too, were made those observations on gun- shot wounds, with which seems to have originated that inquiry which, in its published form, only ap- peared 30 years afterwards. And in an incidental remark in his paper on the vesicule seminales, “that he tock the opportunity of opening a man immediately after he had been killed by a cannon- ball, to be more certain of the nature of their con- tents,” we perceive how strong was his physiological zeal, and how eagerly he seized every opportunity of adding to his knowledge.

There is reason to suppose, that when he returned to London, in 1763, the scheme of his future life and occupations had been already formed. The College possesses a manuscript catalogue in his own hand-writing, apparently written a few months after his return from Portugal, briefly defining the nature of about 200 specimens of natural and morbid struc- ture, grouped together according to organs—the germ of that Museum in which he sought to dis- play all the types and modifications of animal structure.

The great object of Mr. Hunter in the formation of his Museum, was the illustration of life,—in its natural and diseased condition, in plants as well as in animals. Physiology, in its largest sense, was the

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/23


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/24

 aim and scope of his labours ; whether we view him investigating the properties of the seed or of the egg, where life lies sleeping; displaying each form and variety of organization ; tracing its de- velopments ; observing its aberrations; deducing the laws of life; or applying his knowledge of these laws to the explanation of the phenomena of dis- ease, to the prolongation of the existence, or to the relief of the sufferings of his fellow-creatures.

Of the vast basis on which Mr. Hunter raised his superstructure, and of the soundness of the materials of which it is composed, his Museum is the best evi- dence. At the period of his death, and he was adding to it with unabated zeal up to the last day of his existence, the number of preparations of na- tural structure alone amounted to nearly 4000.

It is impossible to form a just conception of the beauty and value of these preparations without a detailed examination of the Museum itself, and of the excellent catalogues which have now been drawn up. But you may form some idea of the industry and vast labour expended in its formation, when I state to you, on the authority of one who has had the best means of knowing, Mr. Owen, that there is proof of Hunter having dissected above 500 species of animals, exclusive of repeated dissections of difter- ent individuals of the same species, besides those of plants to a considerable amount; and of his dili- gence in recording the details of his observations, that at the same period he possessed original records of the dissections of 315 different species of animals.

Not contented with displaying the peculiarities of

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/24


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/25

 their structure, and recording them, Hunter caused most elaborate and accurate drawings to be made from recent dissections of many animals, and for this purpose retained in his family for many years an accomplished draughtsman.

But Hunter’s object was not only to dissect, ob- serve, detail, and exhibit a mass of detached facts in anatomy; he had far higher aims than that of a mere collector of facts, even in comparative anatomy; and his feelings on this point were sufficiently ex- pressed when, in reply to an invitation on the part of Sir John Pringle to collect all his dissections of the turtle, and send them to the Royal Society, he stated “ that the publication of the description of a single animal, more especially of a common one, had never been his wish.”

Mr. Hunter was not merely in possession of nume- rous and precise facts in anatomy : he approximated them—he compared them together, and, by his su- perior genius, arranged them in the true order to be followed in comparative anatomy—that of organs; for, as it has been well observed, if species is the object of comparison in zoology, organ is evidently that in anatomy, each having its peculiar function, its dis- tinct office, its special and determinate laws. Of the successful manner ia which Hunter disentangled _and unfolded these organs, tracing them from one species of animal to another, and exhibiting their modifications, his Museum is the faithful record ; and his labours in this respect must assuredly be re- garded as the first great attempt to arrange in sys- tematic order the detached facts of comparative ana-

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/25


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/26

 tomy. When I represent his arrangement as that according to organs, perhaps I ought to add, and of function, for although the former was the visible manifestation, the latter was the presiding idea. And the quarto manuscript catalogue, the most valuable Hunterian document remaining to the College, de- rives its chief importance from the information it supplies respecting the scheme of arrangement, and the general physiological principles intended to be illustrated by the different series of preparations. It was this circumstance which distinguished Hunter from the other most successful cultivator of compa- rative anatomy in modern times. He studied this important subject with a view to physiology—Cuvier with a view chiefly to zoological classification.

Unfortunately for the earlier recognition of Hunter’s high claims in anatomy and physiology, these could not be fairly or fully estimated until his manuscripts were published, within the last few years, by the College, in the physiological catalogue explanatory of his collection. And what must not science, as well as his reputation, have lost in those ten folio volumes of manuscript so shamefully committed to the flames !

But Mr. Hunter’s “ Memoirs and Essays on vari- ous parts of the Animal Giconomy ” distinctly show the vast range of physiological subjects which his mind grasped. And those who seek 1o know what his powers of observation, reflection, and investiga- tion, were capable of, would do well to read his papers on digestion, animal heat, respiration, and

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/26


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/27

 generation, and consult the corresponding parts of the physiological catalogue.

As the vital organs and their functions had occu- pied a large share of his physiological inquiries, it is not surprising that the views which he thereby acquired were made available by him in his inves- tigation, in his explanation, and in his treatment of disease. The powers of the absorbent system, the structures and properties of blood-vessels, the properties of the blood, the reciprocal influence of the different organs on each other, and a number of other physiological truths, all occupied their place in his pathology and practice. If he may have rated the powers of the lymphatics too highly, and sometimes given them too prominent a place in his views of morbid action, he did not over-esti- mate the power of absorption—an estimate which, with his true appreciation of the cause of failure in the old operation for aneurism, led to one of the most brilliant improvements in the treatment of dis- ease to be found in the whole history of surgery.

It is scarcely possible to praise this improvement too highly, so great in itself, and so fertile in its re- sults, for it has conferred life upon hundreds. It was not only that a safer and more successful operation was introduced, but this very safety and success led to its application to numerous cases of the disease, which, under the old method, durst not be meddled with, the patients being left to their fate.

Knowing that Mr. Benjamin Phillips had been for some time occupied in collecting from English

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/27


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/28

 and foreign works returns of the number of various capital surgical operations recorded, and their re- lative success, I applied to him to furnish me with the number he had been enabled to collect upon the subject of aneurism treated according to Hunter’s method, and he has been so obliging as to furnish me with the following return :

Cases. Cures. Subclavian .... 80 46 External iliac. 79 62 δ ΠῚ 74 δ9 Femoral. «ces 113 i. Humeral:. ....% 30 24 W avtOUs:) uceeceks 19 9

989 977

And when you consider that the operation, as an established one, has, of late years especially, been often performed without any record of it being pub- lished, you will perceive that I have not gone beyond the truth in asserting that it has conferred life upon hundreds.

Among Hunter’s pathological essays, the one on inflammation of the veins may be mentioned with especial praise. He was the first who understood and explained the nature of the malady, and opened the road to the additional discoveries made since his time. In his paper on Intussusception, he inge- niously shows how the different varieties of the dis- ease are produced ; and in his Essay on the Forma- tion of Loose Cartilages in Joints, he satisfactorily

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/28


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/29

 explains their presence by a reference to patholo- gical preparations.

But the loftiest efforts of John Hunter are to be found in his work on the Blood, Inflammation, and Gun-Shot Wounds. The mode of investigation in this masterpiece—the application of physiology to practice—suffices to distinguish him from all preceding writers, and may be consi- dered as the basis of modern pathology. Its in- fluence is felt not merely in surgery, but in medi- cine, for its principles are catholic. Up to the time of Hunter, surgeons were content to take their general view of the nature of disease from the phy- sicians. He emancipated them from their trammels, and established a body of doctrine so sound that it has wholly superseded the airy theories of medicine previously current. Nay, it seems to have stifled similar phantasmata in their birth, for since the days of Cullen and Brown no new “system” of physic has obtained the slightest vogue in England.

Hunter’s consummate skill in the experimental investigation of physiological questions has been often and most deservedly extolled. That famous experiment with the egg—the most brilliant thing done with an egg since the days of Columbus—has set the question of vital heat at rest for ever.

“JT put an egg,” he says, “into a freezing mixture about zero, and froze it, and then allowed it to thaw. ‘Through this process I conceived that the preserving power of the egg must be lost, which proved the case. I then put the egg into a freezing mixture at 15°, and with it a new-laid one, to make the com- parison on that which I should call alive, and the

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/29


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/30

 difference in the time of freezing was 74 minutes, the second one taking so much longer to freeze.”

This experiment, and those which follow, may serve to show John Hunter’s mode of advancing in knowledge. By a scrupulous observation of facts, he gradually ascended from the particular to the general, instead of assuming a principle @ priori, and bending facts to square with theory. I cannot, in short, praise his method more highly or more justly than by saying that it was the one pursued by all who have obtained a lasting reputation as natural historians in ancient or in recent times. It was this which enabled Aristotle to carry off laurels in the field of zoology, as immortal as those which he earned in metaphysics and dialectics. He was one of the greatest observers that ever existed, says Cuvier, and had the most extraordinary genius for classification that nature has hitherto produced. Some of his aphorisms, adds the same great autho- rity, from their generality presuppose an immense number of observations.

It was upon this that Galen’s great reputation was primarily founded. He was one of the most successful prosecutors of anatomy of his time, al- though obliged by its prejudices to content himself with the examination of animals, and consequently falling into error when the structure of man differs from theirs. He made many discoveries in anatomy — and physiology. He was the first to prove by experiment that the arteries did not during life con- tain air, but blood; and the first to show by their section the influence of the recurrent nerves on the

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/30


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/31

 voice, which nerves he discovered and traced to the larynx.

It was this method, which, revived by the great triumvirate of Italian anatomists of the 16th century, Vesalius, Eustachius, and Fallopius, was followed by Fabricius and our countryman Harvey, and which was established by Bacon, as the “ true logic of science.” Their undying reputation proves its success, and when we impartially weigh what Hunter accomplished, we need not fear to compare him with the shining lights that had gone before.

In order, however, to forma just estimate of his comparative merits, we must look at the circum- stances in which his rivals in the Fasti of science were severally placed.

Thus, the position of Aristotle was most favour- able, and both he and Galen received the best edu- cation which opulence and the severe discipline of Ancient Greece combined, could confer in philosophy and literature. In modern times Fabricius and Harvey, with the triumvirate I have mentioned, were equally fortunate, and if we pass from these eminent forerunners of Hunter to Cuvier, his dis- tinguished successor, we shall find that he also had walked from his childhood in the paths of learning and science. His early education was the chief em- ployment of his mother, a woman of superior un- derstanding, united with the greatest tenderness. Without knowing the language, she made him repeat his Latin lessons to her; thus practising, unconsci- ously perhaps, a precept τ᾿ Locke. He practised draw- ing under her eye, and she made him read numerous

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/31


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/32

 historical and literary works. “It was thus,” says M. Flourens, “ that she developed and fostered that passion for reading, and that extended curi- osity, which, as Cuvier says in his memoirs, were the mainsprings of his life.”

At the academy of Stuttgardt, Cuvier received an excellent education, and when driven to battle with the necessities of life at eighteen, and seek a subsis- tence in a foreign land, he was rich not only in knowledge, but in the confidence acquired by the constant successes of his scholastic life.

The career of John Hunter differs from the others I have enumerated in one very important point. His father died early, and it was his misfortune to have a carelessly indulgent mother, so that he passed his boyhood in sauntering, in country sports, and in cabinet-making. It was not till the age of twenty, that hearing of his brother’s success, he gave up the ‘“‘ dolce far niente” for the rest of his life; came to London—entered William Hunter’s dissecting room, and worked as few have worked before or since. Poverty and contempt had been imminent, but he burst with giant strength the bonds of habit which had hitherto confined him, and escaped from the threatening spectres for ever.

This triumph achieved, the rest was compara- tively easy. After this, we must no longer consider his career as an instance of “the pursuit of know- ledge under difficulties.” On the contrary, he had many special advantages. “‘ He began,” says Sir C. Bell, “to work for himself on the excellent basis of his brother’s labours.” William was a man of good

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/32


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/33

 education, an accomplished anatomist, and rising into practice as an accoucheur. He had begun to form his museum, and his house gradually became the resort of those who wished to advance the art which they practised. Nor must we omit the im- portant fact, that this brother, whose public and private tuition was destined to develope the genius of John Hunter, was ten years older than himself; a difference which would enable him to add some- thing of paternal authority to brotherly persuasion. The same advantage was enjoyed by Charles Bell, and we have already seen with what fruits.

Yet, great as these advantages were, backed, too, by splendid genius and unwearied industry, did they entirely compensate for the want of early education ? Some answer “Yes;” nay, it is even a question with them whether a better and more learned training might not have stunted that eager curiosity, that faculty for observation, that power of generalizing, which he possessed in so eminent a degree. This cannot be determined now; for, instead of knowing the whole history of his feelings and attainments, some fragments alone have reached us: but it is very certain that a learned education had not this freezing power with those distinguished men to whose eareer I alluded just now. And then, reflect on the advantages which good training gave them. ‘Take Cuvier, for example. Whence did he derive the clearness of his descriptions, and the facility of his style both in written compositions and in oral com- munications? Whence, but from the literary toils of his boyhood at Stuttgardt ? who, that has sat on the

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/33


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/34

 benchesof the amphitheatre at the Jardin des Plantes, will ever forget the impression which he produced ?

This clearness of expression cannot be predicated of John Hunter. When he gets beyond mere description, his language becomes obscure, and it is evident that composition was not easy to him. As a consequence of this, many of his MSS., among others, the catalogue of his Museum, were never completed. When we view him as a teacher, how- ever, censure is swallowed up in admiration.

Nevertheless, it is said that he was deficient as a lecturer ; and he certainly seems to have wanted that vivid diction by which some men are enabled to enchain the attention of their audience, and lend the charm of novelty to the most familiar details. Sometimes, too, he appears to have been unable to express what he meant; and it has been boldly assumed, that on such occasions he had no meaning at all, and was “labouring with the delivery of nothing.” Let usdeem more nobly of John Hunter. Who can doubt, that in such instances, his mind was often wrapt in the dim vision of heights which he was not fated to ascend? What labourer, in science or in art, has not felt the force of the “ nequeo monstrare et sentio tantim?’ Without fluency and vivacity, however, a lecturer can rarely be popular ; and hence John Hunter’s lectures were but thinly attended. Like Milton, he probably was content if he could “a fit audience find, though few ;” and he might, indeed, have been satisfied could he have anticipated the future glories of his pupils.. Let us estimate his lectures, not by a cold

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/34


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/35

 analysis, but by their effects. When Demosthenes had thundered forth a Philippic, the Athenians did not say, ““ What a fine oration !” but, “ Let us march against Philip.”

The notes of John Hunter’s lectures which have come down to us, do not contain many specimens of his peculiar manner. The account of the treat- ment of cancer, however, isan example of his strong unsparing good sense, conveyed with extreme fa- miliarity of style.

‘“ No cure has yet been found; for what I call a cure is an alteration of the disposition and the effects of that disposition, and not the destruction of the cancerous parts, which extirpation, however, will often cure as well as we could do by changing the disposition and action. Arsenic seems to have some power of this kind; and its effects might be in- creased by being used internally and externally ; but its use is very dangerous, and, I am afraid, insufficient for the disease. This is a remedy which enters into the empirical nostrums, which are in vogue for curing cancer; and among which, Plunkett’s holds the highest rank. But this is no new discovery ; for Sennertus, who lived the Lord knows how long ago, mentions a Rodriguez and Flusius who obtained considerable fame and fortune by such acomposition. I was desired to meet Mr. Plunkett to decide on the propriety of using his medicine in a particular case. I have no objection to meet any body. It wasthe young one. The old one is dead, and might have died himself of a cancer for aught I know. I asked him what he intended

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/35


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/36

 to do with his medicine. He said, “ to cure the patient.” ‘ Let me know what you mean by that. Do you mean to alter the diseased state of the parts ? or do you mean by your medicine to remove the parts diseased?” ‘I mean to destroy them,” he replied. ‘ Well, then, that is nothing more than I or any other surgeon can do with less pain to the patient.” Poor Woollett, the engraver, died under one of these cancer-curers. He was under my care when this person took him in hand. He had been a lifeguardsman, I think, and had got a never- failing receipt. I continued to call on Woollett as a friend, and received great accounts of the good effects; upon which I said, if the man would give me leave to watch the appearance of the cancer, and see myself the good effects, and should be satisfied of its curing only that cancer, (mind, not by de- stroying it,) I would exert all my power to make him the richest man in the kingdom; but he would have nothing to do with me, and tortured poor Woollett for some time, till at last I heard the sound testicle was gone, and at length he died.”

I have stated that Mr. Hunter’s lectures were but thinly attended, but that he might have been satis- fied could he have anticipated the fame of his pupils. Among those who lived in his house, there were several who attained great eminence in their pro- fession, Dr. Jenner, Dr. Physick, and Sir Everard Home. But there were other pupils of his who had not these additionaladvantages, and yet drank deeper, far deeper, of the spring open to all. Among

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/36


text:
Page:Memoirs of Vidocq, Volume 3.djvu/253

 we shall get as good a bottle of wine as ever was uncorked."

"Come along then, let us go to Hirson."

Pons bade adieu to his comrades, and we set out together. As we walked along I could not help confessing that the immense strength of this man did not appear to have been at all exaggerated by Raoul or Court; he was but of middling height, probably not more than five feet four inches at the utmost, but square built, and exhibiting every indication of muscular power. His swarthy face, embrowned still more by a constant exposure to the sun and wind, was distinguished by deeply-marked features, expressive of energy and determination; he had enormous limbs, and a strong, sinewy throat, in strict accordance with the whole of his robust frame; in addition to this he wore immense whiskers, and a more than usual quantity of beard; his hands were short, thick, and covered with hair, even to the fingers' ends; his harsh and pitiless air seemed to belong to a countenance which might exhibit a mechanical relaxation of the risible muscles, but had never once smiled from an internal feeling of benevolence or good-will.

Whilst I was intently occupied in making these observations, I could perceive that Pons was regarding me with equal attention; at last stopping suddenly, as if to take a closer view, he exclaimed, "Why you really are a very fine fellow, and fill out your clothes as well as I have ever seen a man! I think you and I should make an excellent pair, for I am none of the slightest figures any more than yourself; not like that little hop-o'-my-thumb," added he, pointing to ClementClément [sic], (who was the smallest man amongst my agents;) "why I could swallow a dozen such as he at my breakfast."

"Don't flatter yourself," said I; "you might not find it so easy a task as you may fancy."

"Very possibly," replied he; "these undersized chaps are frequently all nerve and muscle."


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/37

 them may be ranked Poli, Scarpa, Blumenbach; and there were others, who, fortunately for the progress of surgery, developed some of his favourite ideas with more fulness and precision than their master himself, and strove to instil into their scholars the doctrines and practice of their great instructor.

One of the most distinguished of these was Aber- nethy. In his Essay on the Constitutional Origin of Local Diseases, he has most ably made out his point ; and both in the treatise and in his lectures, he surpassed John Hunter in the clearness with which he laid down the principle, and the practical tact with which he followed the law into its conse- quences.

Sir Astley Cooper, a still more illustrious name, was numbered among his pupils, and excelled him as a practical surgeon as much as he fell short of him in the qualities of a philosophic teacher. Every work of Cooper’s, however, was based on the most patient anatomical examination, and thus became a faithful commentary on nature _her- self. His treatises on Hernia, on Fractures and Dislocations, and on Diseases of the Breast, might found a reputation singly : what have they not done united ? |

John Thomson, too, still left to us, was another pupil of Hunter’s, who, in his celebrated work on Inflammation, followed out in a kindred spirit the views of his great master.

It is probably not going too far to say, that to the veneration in which these three distinguished men held the opinions and example of John Hunter,

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/37


text:
Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/38

 and to their constant reference to him in their lec- tures, the propagation of his doctrines, and their influence on English surgery, has been mainly owing.

I will not detain you by observations on the per- sonal peculiarities of John Hunter; but there is one anecdote which exhibits so strongly his practical tact, as well as his Johnsonian style of coming to the point, that I cannot refrain from quoting it.

He happened one day to call on Mr. Nicoll, when his wife was pregnant for the sixth time, and took the opportunity of asking him whether he intended to kill this as he had killed all the rest of his children. Mr. Nicoll, it seems, had adopted what is called the hardening system with all the previous ones. Not understanding the question, however, he asked John _ Hunter what he meant. “ Why,” said John Hunter, ‘do you know what is the temperature of a hen with her callow brood? because, if you don’t, I'll tell you.” He then proceeded to explain the ne- cessity of warmth to young animals, and convinced Mr. Nicoll of the propriety of changing his plan, which he did, and with complete success.

It was finely said by Dr. Beddoes, that ‘“ when one heard that Hunter was at length the first sur- geon in London, one felt a satisfaction like that which attends the distribution of poetical justice at the close of a well-told tale.”

With this sentiment the intellect and the heart must alike agree ; the honest and the clear-headed must equally exult in the ultimate success of John

title: Page:The Hunterian Oration1843.djvu/38