THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 151 



disappearance from the scene of one who presented so fully, and 

 with so much truthfuhiess and simplicity, the scientific and 

 practical accomplishments, with the general character which 

 ought to constitute collectively the professional man. I have 

 now to thank, on the part of the Highland Society, the gentle- 

 men who liave been engaged during these two days in conducting 

 the examinations. The duties of an examiner, on an occasion 

 like the present, are highly responsible and somewhat painful. 

 The scientific acquirements and professional position of these 

 gentlemen are sufficient guarantees for the manner in wliich the 

 duties have been performed. I have now to address a few 

 remarks to the successful candidates for our certificate. The 

 profession, for tlie practice of which you have now obtained 

 certificates, is a scientific art. It involves in its study science 

 as well as art. It includes certain subjects to be known, as well 

 as certain things to be done. Now, as a scientific art advances, 

 as yours has lately done very rapidly, its acquisition by means 

 of study becomes involved in greater difficulties, for much time 

 is necessarily spent during pupilage in acquiring the knowledge, 

 while little is left for gaining practical experience. You are not 

 to suppose, that in holding a certificate, you necessarily possess 

 professional capability. Your certificate is merely a certificate 

 of the amount of talent and knowledge exhibited by you in your 

 examination. It remains with yourselves henceforward to 

 complete your education by a careful and continued course of 

 self-tuition, a course through which every successful practitioner 

 of medicine, in any of its departments, has gone through. You 

 must, in the first place, henceforward keep up and increase your 

 scientific knowledge. You must not oppose it to practical 

 experience — it is one of the means, and in your profession a 

 necessary means — to that end. Anatomy and physiology are the 

 sciences in which, as practitioners, you ought most assiduously 

 to continue your studies — this is easily done, for the subjects 

 are always at your disposal. In the second place, examine and 

 study your cases carefully. Study one case, or group of cases, 

 at a time — the abundant leisure which early practice affords 

 will facilitate this. Note your [cases. Always endeavour to 

 study your cases from an anatomical and physiological point of 

 view. The great masters in your profession have ever done so. 

 Procure the means of doing this. j\Iake 2yost-mortcm notes. 

 Eemember the diagnosis is the primary object in a case — the 

 treatment in general follows as a matter of course. But how is 

 all this to be done in the midst of practice ? • Regulation of 

 habits and general character are all important to the practitioner, 

 and more especially in reference to professional knowledge and 

 experience, the habit of regulating your time is essential. 

 When business increases, you will be prepared by such a course 



