310 ON MEDICAL KDUCATION xu 



that picked examination of the University of Lon- 

 don. Xow, 1 do not think that is a desirable 

 state of things. I cannot understand why physi- 

 ology should not be taught — in fact, you have 

 here abundant evidence that it can be taught — 

 with the same definiteness and the same precision 

 as anatomy is taught. And you may depend upon 

 this, that tlie only physiology which is to be of 

 any good whatever in medical practice, or in its 

 application to the study of medicine, is that physi- 

 ology which a man knows of his own knowledge; 

 just as the only anatomy which would be of any 

 good to the surgeon is the anatomy which he 

 knows of his own knowledge. Another peculiar- 

 ity I have found in the physiology which has 

 been current, and that is, that in the minds of 

 a great many gentlemen it has been supplanted 

 by histology. They have learnt a great deal of 

 histolocrv, and thev have fancied that histoloo-v 

 and physiology are the same things. I have asked 

 for some knowledge of the physics and the 

 mechanics and the chemistrv of the human bodv, 

 and I have been met by talk about cells. I de- 

 clare to you I believe it will take me two years, 

 at least, of absolute rest from the business of an 

 examiner to hear the word " cell," " germinal 

 matter," or " carmine," without a sort of inward 

 shudder. 



Well, now, gentlemen, I am sure my colleagues 

 in tliis oxauiination will bear mc out in saying 



