iv DEDICATION. 



When I reflect upon the number of young men who are every 

 year formed, as it were, into usefulness, in Philadelphia; who, in 

 this PuNCTUM Saliens of the science of our country, are con- 

 ducted to at least Xhejirst step in the series of their future glory, 

 I cannot but consider as truly happy, the situation in which Pro- 

 vidence has placed the Professors of Medicine in the University 

 of Pennsylvania. Peculiarly happy do I consider my own lot: 

 since with equal attachments to the science of Medicine, to 

 which I have been brought up, and in which I am to continue the 

 remainder of my life, I have attachments (increasing attachments) 

 to other sciences, those of Natural History and Botany. It 

 has been my fortune to behold almost the earliest dawn of 

 these sciences in Philadelphia : to see them, by the exertions of 

 MY PUPILS, growing into consequence among us; and even firmly 

 fixing their roots in this happy portion of the world, which is so 

 well suited to their largest and most vigorous state. Even in the 

 hours of my sickness or my pain, I look forward with compla- 

 cency up)on the future improved state of Medicine and Natural 

 History in the United-States ; and when told, by the frequent 

 messenger of illness, that my continuance will not be long among 

 you, I can feel rich in the prospects that are opening on my 

 view. 



Among the sons of this University, I behold the future honours 

 of our country. Much of what Sydenham, what Boerhaave, 

 what CuLLEN, what Brown, what Darwin, have taught in Me- 

 dicine, will assume, under your observation and experience, and 

 in YOUR times, an aspect very different from the present. You 

 will cancel many of the pernicious errors of the noble profession 

 to which you have attached yourselves; you will clothe it with 

 new truths, and with new beauties; you will render it a source 

 of new comforts and new blessings to the world ; and when you 

 leave it, as you will leave it, still feeble and imperfect, you will 

 have the glowing satisfaction of reflecting, that, by your genius 

 and exertions, it has become more worthy of the appellation of a 

 Science, and has essentially diminished the number of (he now 

 existing miseries of our species. 



