IamafraidthatitisagoodplantogetridofoldProfessors，andIamthankfultohearthatthereisamovementformakingprovisionforthosewhoareleftinneedwhentheylosetheirofficesandtheirsalaries。IrememberoneofourancientCambridgeDoctorsonceaskedmetogetintohisricketychaise，andsaidtome，halfhumorously，halfsadly，thathewaslikeanoldhorse，——theyhadtakenoffhissaddleandturnedhimouttopasture。Ifearthegrasswasprettyshortwherethatoldservantofthepublicfoundhimselfgrazing。IfImyselfneededanapologyforholdingmyofficesolong，IshouldfinditinthefactthathumananatomyismuchthesamestudythatitwasinthedaysofVesaliusandFallopius，andthatthegreaterpartofmyteachingwasofsuchanaturethatitcouldneverbecomeantiquated。
Letmebeginwithmyfirstexperienceasamedicalstudent。IhadcomefromthelessonsofJudgeStoryandMr。AshmunintheLawSchoolatCambridge。Ihadbeenbusy，moreorless，withthepagesofBlackstoneandChitty，andothertext-booksofthefirstyearoflegalstudy。Moreorless，Isay，butIamafraiditwaslessratherthanmore。ForduringthatyearIfirsttastedtheintoxicatingpleasureofauthorship。Acollegeperiodical，conductedbyfriendsofmine，stillundergraduates，temptedmeintoprint，andthereisnoformoflead-poisoningwhichmorerapidlyandthoroughlypervadesthebloodandbonesandmarrowthanthatwhichreachestheyoungauthorthroughmentalcontactwithtype-metal。Quiabu，boira，——hewhohasoncebeenadrinkerwilldrinkagain，saystheFrenchproverb。Sothemanorwomanwhohastastedtypeissuretoreturntohisoldindulgencesoonerorlater。InthatfatalyearIhadmyfirstattackofauthors’lead-poisoning，andIhavenevergotquiteridofitfromthatdaytothis。ButforthatImighthaveappliedmyselfmorediligentlytomylegalstudies，andcarriedagreenbaginplaceofastethoscopeandathermometeruptothepresentday。
WhatdeterminedmetogiveupLawandapplymyselftoMedicineIcanhardlysay，butIhadfromthefirstlookeduponthatyear’sstudyasanexperiment。Atanyrate，Imadethechange，andsoonfoundmyselfintroducedtonewscenesandnewcompanionships。
IcanscarcelycreditmymemorywhenIrecallthefirstimpressionsproduceduponmebysightsafterwardsbecomesofamiliarthattheycouldnomoredisturbapulse-beatthanthecommonestofevery-dayexperiences。Theskeleton，hungaloftlikeagibbetedcriminal，lookedgrimlyatmeasIenteredtheroomdevotedtothestudentsoftheschoolIhadjoined，justasthefleshlessfigureofTime，withthehour-glassandscythe，usedtoglareuponmeinmychildhoodfromthe“NewEnglandPrimer。“ThewhitefacesinthebedsattheHospitalfoundtheirreflectioninmyowncheeks，whichlosttheircolorasIlookeduponthem。Allthishadtopassawayinalittletime；Ihadchosenmyprofession，andmustmeetitspainfulandrepulsiveaspectsuntiltheylosttheirpowerovermysensibilities。
TheprivatemedicalschoolwhichIhadjoinedwasoneestablishedbyDr。JamesJackson，Dr。WalterChanning，Dr。JohnWare，Dr。WinslowLewis，andDr。GeorgeW。Otis。OfthefirstthreegentlemenIhaveeitherspokenelsewhereormayfindoccasiontospeakhereafter。ThetwoyoungermembersofthisassociationofteacherswerebothgraduatesofourUniversity，oneoftheyear1819，theotherof1818。
Dr。Lewiswasagreatfavoritewithstudents。Hewasamanofverylivelytemperament，fondofoldbooksandyoungpeople，open-hearted，free-spoken，anenthusiastinteaching，andespeciallyathomeinthatapartmentofthetempleofsciencewherenatureisseeninundress，theanthropotomiclaboratory，knowntocommonspeechasthedissecting-room。Hehadthatqualitywhichisthespecialgiftofthemanbornforateacher，——thepowerofexcitinganinterestinthatwhichhetaught。WhilehewaspresenttheapartmentIspeakofwasthesunniestofstudiosinspiteofitsmortuaryspectacles。OfthestudentsImetthereIbestrememberJamesJackson，Junior，fullofzealandplayfulasaboy，ayoungmanwhoseearlydeathwasacalamitytotheprofessionofwhichhepromisedtobeachiefornament；thelateReverendJ。S。C。Greene，who，astheprefixtohisnamesignifies，afterwardschangedhisprofession，butoneofwhosedissectionsIrememberlookinguponwithadmiration；andmyfriendMr。CharlesAmory，aswecallhim，Dr。CharlesAmory，asheisentitledtobecalled，then，asnowandalways，afavoritewithallabouthim。HehadcometousfromtheschoolsofGermany，andbroughtwithhimrecollectionsoftheteachingsofBlumenbachandtheelderLangenbeck，fatherofhimwhoseportraithangsinourMuseum。
Dr。Lewiswasourcompanionaswellasourteacher。Agooddemonstratoris，——IwillnotsayasimportantasagoodProfessorintheteachingofAnatomy，becauseIamnotsurethatheisnotmoreimportant。Hecomesintodirectpersonalrelationswiththestudents，——heisoneofthem，infact，astheProfessorcannotbefromthenatureofhisduties。TheProfessor’schairisaninsulatingstool，sotospeak；hisage，hisknowledge，realorsupposed，hisofficialstation，areliketheglasslegswhichsupporttheelectrician’spieceoffurniture，andcutitofffromthecommoncurrentsoftheflooruponwhichitstands。Dr。Lewisenjoyedteachingandmadehisstudentsenjoybeingtaught。Hedelightedinthoseanatomicalconundrumstoanswerwhichkeepsthestudent’seyesopenandhiswitsawake。Hewashappyashedexterouslyperformedthetourdemaitreoftheoldbarber-surgeons，orappliedthespicabandageandtaughthisscholarstodoit，soneatlyandsymmetricallythattheaestheticmissionaryfromtheoldercentreofcivilizationwouldbendoveritinblissfulcontemplation，asifitwereasunflower。Dr。Lewishadmanyothertastes，andwasafavorite，notonlywithstudents，butinawidecircle，professional，antiquarian，masonic，andsocial。
Dr。Otiswaslesswidelyknown，butwasafluentandagreeablelecturer，andesteemedasagoodsurgeon。
Imustcontentmyselfwiththisglimpseatmyselfandafewofmyfellow-studentsinBoston。AfterattendingtwocoursesofLecturesintheschooloftheUniversity，IwenttoEuropetocontinuemystudies。
YoumayliketohearsomethingofthefamousProfessorsofParisinthedayswhenIwasastudentintheEcoledeMedicine，andfollowingthegreatHospitalteachers。
IcanhardlybelievemyownmemorywhenIrecalltheoldpractitionersandProfessorswhowerestillgoingroundthehospitalswhenImingledwiththetrainofstudentsthatattendedthemorningvisits。SeethatbentoldmanwhoisgropinghiswaythroughthewardsofLaCharity。ThatisthefamousBaronBoyer，authorofthegreatworkonsurgeryinninevolumes，awriterwhoseclearnessofstylecommendshistreatisetogeneraladmiration，andmakesitakindofclassic。Heslashesawayataterriblerate，theysay，whenhegetsholdofthesubjectoffistulainitsmostfrequenthabitat，——butIneversawhimdomorethanlookasifhewantedtocutagooddollopoutofapatienthewasexamining。Theshort，square，substantialmanwithiron-grayhair，ruddyface，andwhiteapronisBaronLarrey，Napoleon’sfavoritesurgeon，themosthonestmanheeversaw，——itisreputedthathecalledhim。TogoroundtheHoteldesInvalideswithLarreywastoliveoverthecampaignsofNapoleon，tolookonthesunofAusterlitz，tohearthecannonsofMarengo，tostrugglethroughtheicywatersoftheBeresina，toshiverinthesnowsoftheRussianretreat，andtogazethroughthebattlesmokeuponthelastchargeoftheredlancersontheredderfieldofWaterloo。LarreywasstillstrongandsturdyasIsawhim，andfewportraitsremainprintedinliveliercolorsonthetabletofmymemory。
LeavethelittlegroupofstudentswhichgathersaboutLarreybeneaththegildeddomeoftheInvalidesandfollowmetotheHotelDieu，whererulesandreignsthemaster-surgeonofhisday，atleastsofarasParisandFranceareconcerned，——theillustriousBaronDupuytren。
Nomandisputedhisreign，someenviedhissupremacy。Lisfrancshruggedhisshouldersashespokeof“cegrandhommede1’autrecotsdelariviere，“thatgreatmanontheothersideoftheriver，butthegreatmanheremained，untilhebowedbeforethemandatewhichnonemaydisobey。“Threetimes，“saidBouillaud，“didtheapoplecticthunderboltfallonthatrobustbrain，“——ityieldedatlastastheoldbaldcliffthatisrivenandcrashesdownintothevalley。Isawhimbeforethefirstthunderbolthaddescended：asquare，solidman，withahighandfull-domedhead，oracularinhisutterances，indifferenttothosearoundhim，sometimes，itwassaid，veryroughwiththem。Hespokeinlow，eventones，withquietfluency，andwaslistenedtowiththathushofraptattentionwhichIhavehardlyseeninanycircleoflistenersunlesswhensuchmenasex-PresidentJohnQuincyAdamsorDanielWebsterwerethespeakers。IdonotthinkthatDupuytrenhasleftarecordwhichexplainshisinfluence，butinpointoffacthedominatedthosearoundhiminaremarkablemanner。
Youmusthaveallwitnessedsomethingofthesamekind。Thepersonalpresenceofsomemencarriescommandwithit，andtheiraccentssilencethecrowdaroundthem，whenthesamewordsfromotherlipsmightfallcomparativelyunheeded。
AsforLisfranc，Icansaylittlemoreofhimthanthathewasagreatdrawerofbloodandhewerofmembers。Irememberhisorderingawholesalebleedingofhispatients，rightandleft，whatevermightbethematterwiththem，onemorningwhenaphlebotomizingfitwasonhim。IrecollecthisregrettingthesplendidguardsmenoftheoldEmpire，——forwhat？becausetheyhadsuchmagnificentthighstoamputate。Igotalongaboutasfarasthatwithhim，whenIceasedtobeafollowerofM。Lisfranc。
ThenameofVelpeaumusthavereachedmanyofyou，forhediedin1867，andhismanyworksmadehisnamewidelyknown。ComingtoParisinwoodenshoes，starving，almost，atfirst，heraisedhimselftogreateminenceasasurgeonandasanauthor，andatlastobtainedtheProfessorshiptowhichhistalentsandlearningentitledhim。
Hisexamplemaybeanencouragementtosomeofmyyoungerhearerswhoareborn，notwiththesilverspoonintheirmouths，butwiththetwo-tinedironforkintheirhands。Itisapoorthingtotakeuptheirmilkporridgewithintheiryoungdays，butinafteryearsitwilloftentransfixthesoliddumplingsthatrolloutofthesilverspoon。SoVelpeaufoundit。Hehadnotwhatiscalledgenius，hewasfarfromprepossessinginaspect，lookingasifhemighthavewieldedthesledge-hammerasIthinkhehaddoneinearlylife
ratherthanthelancet，buthehadindustry，determination，intelligence，character，andhemadehiswaytodistinctionandprosperity，assomeofyousittingonthesebenchesandwonderinganxiouslywhatistobecomeofyouinthestruggleforlifewillhavedonebeforethetwentiethcenturyhasgothalfwaythroughitsfirstquarter。Agoodsoundheadoverapairofwoodenshoesisagreatdealbetterthanawoodenheadbelongingtoanownerwhocaseshisfeetincalf-skin，butagoodbrainisnotenoughwithoutastouthearttofillthefourgreatconduitswhichcarryatoncefuelandfiretothatmightiestofengines。
HowmanyofyouwhoarebeforemearefamiliarlyacquaintedwiththenameofBroussais，orevenwiththatofAndral？BothwerelecturingattheEcoledeMedicine，andIoftenheardthem。Broussaiswasinthosedayslikeanoldvolcano，whichhasprettynearlyusedupitsfireandbrimstone，butisstillboilingandbubblinginitsinterior，andnowandthensendsupaspirtoflavaandavolleyofpebbles。Histheoriesofgastro-enteritis，ofirritationandinflammationasthecauseofdisease，andthepracticewhichsprangfromthem，ranoverthefieldsofmedicineforatimelikeflameoverthegrassoftheprairies。Thewayinwhichthatknotty-featured，savageoldmanwouldbringoutthewordirritation——withrattlingandrollingreduplicationoftheresonantletterr——mighthavetaughtalessoninarticulationtoSalvini。ButBroussais’stheorywaslanguishingandwell-nighbecomeobsolete，andthis，nodoubt，addedvehemencetohisdefenceofhischerisheddogmas。
Oldtheories，andoldmenwhoclingtothem，musttakethemselvesoutofthewayasthenewgenerationwithitsfreshthoughtsandalteredhabitsofmindcomesforwardtotaketheplaceofthatwhichisdyingout。Thiswasatruthwhichthefieryoldtheoristfounditveryhardtolearn，andhardertobear，asitwasforceduponhim。Forthehourofhislecturewassucceededbythatofayoungerandfarmorepopularprofessor。Ashislecturedrewtowardsitsclose，thebenches，thinlysprinkledwithstudents，begantofillup；thedoorscreakedopenandbangedbackoftenerandoftener，untilatlastthesoundgrewalmostcontinuous，andthevoiceofthelecturerbecamealeoninegrowlashestroveinvaintobeheardoverthenoiseofdoorsandfootsteps。
Broussaiswasnowsixty-twoyearsold。Thenewgenerationhadoutgrownhisdoctrines，andtheProfessorforwhosehourthebencheshadfilledthemselvesbelongedtothatnewgeneration。GabrielAndralwaslittlemorethanhalftheageofBroussais，inthefullprimeandvigorofmanhoodatthirty-sevenyears。Hewasarapid，fluent，fervid，andimaginativespeaker，pleasinginaspectandmanner，——astrongcontrasttotheharsh，vituperativeoldmanwhohadjustprecededhim。HisCliniqueMedicaleisstillvaluableasacollectionofcases，andhisresearchesontheblood，conductedinassociationwithGavarret，contributednewandvaluablefactstoscience。ButIrememberhimchieflyasoneofthoseinstructorswhosenaturaleloquencemadeitdelightfultolistentohim。IdoubtifIormyfellow-studentsdidfulljusticeeithertohimortothefamousphysicianofHotelDieu，Chomel。Wehadaddictedourselvesalmosttoocloselytothewordsofanothermaster，bywhomwewerereadytoswearasagainstallteachersthateverwereoreverwouldbe。
Thisobjectofourreverence，Imightalmostsayidolatry，wasonewhosenameiswellknowntomostoftheyoungmenbeforeme，eventothosewhomayknowcomparativelylittleofhisworksandteachings。
PierreCharlesAlexandreLouis，attheageofforty-seven，asI
recallhim，wasatall，ratherspare，dignifiedpersonage，ofsereneandgraveaspect，butwithapleasantsmileandkindlyvoiceforthestudentwithwhomhecameintopersonalrelations。IfIsummedupthelessonsofLouisintwoexpressions，theywouldbethese；Idonotholdhimanswerableforthewords，butIwillcondensethemaftermyownfashioninFrench，andthengivethemtoyou，expandedsomewhat，inEnglish：
Formeztoujoursdesideesnettes。
Fuyeztoujourslesapeupres。
Alwaysmakesurethatyouformadistinctandclearideaofthematteryouareconsidering。
Alwaysavoidvagueapproximationswhereexactestimatesarepossible；
aboutsomany，——aboutsomuch，insteadoftheprecisenumberandquantity。
Now，ifthereisanythingonwhichthebiologicalscienceshavepridedthemselvesintheselatteryearsitisthesubstitutionofquantitativeforqualitativeformulae。The“numericalsystem，“ofwhichLouiswasthegreatadvocate，ifnottheabsoluteoriginator，wasanattempttosubstituteseriesofcarefullyrecordedfacts，rigidlycountedandcloselycompared，forthosenever-endingrecordsofvague，unverifiableconclusionswithwhichtheclassicsofthehealingartwereoverloaded。ThehistoryofpracticalmedicinehadbeenlikethestoryoftheDanaides。“Experience“hadbeen，fromtimeimmemorial，pouringitsflowingtreasuresintobucketsfullofholes。Attheexistingrateofsupplyandleakagetheywouldneverbefilled；nothingwouldeverbesettledinmedicine。Butcasesthoroughlyrecordedandmathematicallyanalyzedwouldalwaysbeavailableforfutureuse，andwhenaccumulatedinsufficientnumberwouldleadtoresultswhichwouldbetrustworthy，andbelongtoscience。