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ment of practical information in surgery; and he had reason tobelieve that the time was not far distant, when the Society ofApothecaries would, in like manner, recognise it as a school forthe acquirement of practical information in medicine. Hementioned that the first anxiety of the governors was to providefor the necessities of the sick and injured, and having at lengthsatisfied themselves of the working condition of the hospital,animated with that spirit of liberality which has distinguishedall their proceedings, they have sanctioned -the establishment ofa complete medical school, which, it is fully expected, will beopened by this time next year. In consequence of the greatinflux of accidents, preparations were being made for buildinga new accident ward, on a scale commensurate with the wantsof the neighbourhood. Since the end of last year, upwards of700 cases of this description have been received into the wards,and about 2000 have been treated as out-patients. He alludedto the admirable manner in which the hospital is arranged, andthe varied field thus offered for obtaining insight into what maybe called " applied medical science." Besides observing thedifferent cases which come within the cognisance of the physi-cian and the surgeon, the pupils had peculiar facilities for

acquiring a thorough knowledge of obstetric ’medicine and

surgery, and of making themselves familiar with the most

approved modes of investigating and treating aural and ophthal-mic maladies. He remarked that it was by the knowledgegained at the bed-side of the patient, and in the operating-theatre-for there also much may be learned-that a man couldbe duly fitted for the discharge of his professional duties.While much information may be procured from general coursesof lectures, and the attentive perusal of works of acknowledgedmerit, it is only within the wards of an hospital that thestudent can form acquaintance with the features of disease, cantrace its progress through its various phases, and ascertainWith precision the influence of remedial agents in checkingor controlling its symptoms. In order that the pupilsmight profit abundantly by the advantages here offered, itshould be the earnest endeavour of his colleagues and him-self to point out, from time to time, ’whatever was mostimportant and interesting in relation to the cases under theircare. Clinical surgery, that is the surgery of the bed-side,.he regarded, as the complement of surgical science, theapplication of established principles to practice, comprising theinvestigation and the treatment of every form of external

malady, infirmity, and injury; all the branches of practical.medicine became subservient to it. He alluded to the import-ance of. an accurate knowledge of anatomy. The illustriousBoerhaave deemed it indispensable to proficiency, both inmedicine and surgery. " Quce Jzcac scire recusant nunquam -Per-feete medici et chirurgi erunt." (De Anat. Osteol.) He pointedattention to the value of an acquaintance with the anatomy ofoutline in discriminating different forms of disease and injury,and to the necessity of a correct knowledge of the anatomy ofregions for enabling the hand of the operator to act with un-erring precision and safety. The former was to be attained bycareful observation of the several prominences and depressionson the surface of the body, the latter by assiduous dissection ofthe human subject. After showing that other departmentsof medical learning, as physiology, histology, were also sub-sidiary, he indicated the manner in which clinical researchis to ,be conducted, and gave, by way of illustration, the caseof a patient in one of the wards, who had recently undergonea serious surgical operation.1 He concluded the lecture bystating, that this metropolis, owing to its vast population,_ affords unparalleled advantages for medical instruction. No-where in the world is such an immense variety of disease to be

,,,seen as within the walls of its numerous hospitals. For this

, reason, students come hither from all parts of the country,because in none of the provincial hospitals, however wellappointed, can they obtain access to study the different "illsthat flesh is heir to" on the same extensive scale. Paris, witha population much inferior to our own, has been long and justlycelebrated for its clinical school; and he hoped that, at noremote period, London, whose hospitals are as palaces," will-stand pre-eminent in the same field.

SCHOOL OF ANATOMY ADJOINING ST. GEORGE’SHOSPITAL.

THE session was opened here by the distribution of the prizes. of the past session. Dr. Coplandtook the chair. The secretary,- -Mr. J. R. Lane, read a report, which is usual on these occasions,from which it appears the school is in a flourishing condition.Several of the students had obtained public posts of honour.One had died who promised to distinguish himiaelf greatly. The

report then went on to state that rumours had been circulated,to the great injury of the school, that after this session it wouldclose. This report had probably arisen from the circumstancethat some of the lecturers in this school were connected withSt. Mary’s Hospital, at which institution it is in contemplation toform a regular medical school as soon as funds can be raised forthat purpose. This will, however, in no way interfere with thepermanence of the old St. George’s school, arrangements havingbeen made to secure its integrity. The report alluded to itscontiguity to St. George’s Hospital, and its perfect success as aschool of medicine, as the strongest possible reason for its con-tinuance. On the conclusion of the report, Dr. TheophilusThompson proposed its adoption. He stated that every onemust rejoice to hear that a school which had been conductedwith so much success, and which possessed in its extensivemuseum and other arrangements such ample means as a schoolof medicine and anatomy, was riot likely to be closed. As hewas not now connected with the school, he might say, that thethought of his having been associated gave him the greatestpleasure, and that he knew of no body of men who more con-scientiously discharged the duties of their office than hisformer colleagues. ’

Dr. COPLAND then called the attention of the students to theproceedings of the day. The prizes they were about to receivewere given as encouragements for them to go on as they begun.If any one thought that they ought now to cease to work theywere wrong. Better never to get a prize, than to accept it as apermission to be idle.The following gentlemen received,prizes in their respective

classes :-SUMMER SESSION, 1852.

Practical chemistry.-W. Thomas Forder. Certificate, Mr.Thomas R. Jones.Midwifery.-Senior :prize, Mr. C. J. White. Certificate,

Thomas R. Jones.Midwifery.-Junior prize, Mr. C. O. Daniell. Certificate, Mr.

G. P. Girdwood.Materia Medica.-Mr. Gilbert P. Girdwood, Mr. C. O. Daniell.Botany.-Mr. Gilbert R. Girdwood, Mr. H. P. Meredith.Medical Jurisprudence.-Prize, Mr. Thomas Forder.

WINTER SESSION, 1853. ,

Junior anatomy, students of first session.-Bronze medal, Mr.Augustus Brown. Certificates. Mr. Charles J. Meller, Mr. George;G. Gascoyen, and Mr. Henry Cook.

Surgery.-Prize, Mr. Thomas Forder.Chemistry.-Prize, Mr. James F. Benson. Certificates, Mr.

Henry Cook and Mr. G. G. Gascoyen.The CHAIRMAN then addressed the students. He dwelt uponthe fact that attendance upon lectures was but the commence-ment of a student’s career. If he ceased to study at any futureperiod, he ceased to advance in his profession, and might becomea curse instead of a blessing in society. The medical studentshould come well prepared to attend his lectures, and whilstattending the required courses to let no other subject divert hismind. When he had passed his examinations, he might turn hisattention to the history of his profession. He would find muchto instruct and improve his mind in Hippocrates, Galen, andCelsus. In the older writers of modern times, as in the com-mentaries of Van Swieten, much would be found, about whichmore recent writers said very little. New discoveries did notappear so astonishing when we became acquainted with theolder writers, who in so many instances had suggested them.There never was a time when sound reasoning was more wantedthan at the present. He would recommend the medical studentto study logic and mental philosophy. The works of Reid,Watts, Whately, Stewart, and Thomas Brown, though not on pro-fessional subjects, would contribute to professional reputation.

Dr. LANKESTER proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman,and alluding to his great work, hoped that he would be sparedto finish it, and long live to enjoy the great reputation which ithad brought him. Dr. Sibson seconded the motion.The CHAIRMAN, in reply, said he not only hoped to complete

the dictionary, but to bring out a second edition. ’

Mr. LONG and Mr. FORDER, two of the students of the school,having proposed and seconded a vote of thanks to the lecturers,the meeting separated, every one appearing well pleased with theproceedings of the day.

ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL MEDICAL COLLEGE.

THE establishment of this College is the "great fact," whichsignalises the beginning of the medical session of 1853-4. Theinaugural address was delivered on Tuesday evening last, Oct. 4,