166 ANDREW JACKSON HOWE. 



dreamed that he was building upon the only founda- 

 tion which would sustain a massive superstructure of 

 science and art, such as he was aiming to make out 

 of surgery. Certain of his friends supposed that 

 Hunter, while he was at work upon animal structures, 

 might be making a private cabinet of stuffed birds 

 and pickled fishes; and if they desired to get rid 

 of him as a rival, they were undoubtedly willing that 

 he should spend his time at such an innocent, amuse- 

 ment. Hunter published few papers, rarely engaged 

 in discussions, and was a dull lecturer; therefore what 

 reason could there be to suppose he was obtaining 

 knowledge which should overthrow many of the old 

 ideas in surgery, and establish a new system upon a 

 physiological basis ? And could it be expected that 

 the rivals of Hunter in surgical practice would admit 

 that he had made any substantial improvements ? 

 They accused him of being an enthusiast and inno- 

 vator; and were slow in admitting that he ever de- 

 veloped a new and valuable idea. 



John Hunter rested in an humble grave for 'more 

 than sixty years, or until all animosity springing from 

 rivalry had vanished, and another generation of culti- 

 vated men occupied the stage of life. Then it was 

 that the unrivaled talents of Hunter were fully appre- 

 ciated then it became known what his cabinet was 

 designed to illustrate. A succeeding generation dis- 

 covered the great talents of Hunter, and acknowledged 

 the improvements he had made in surgery. After the 

 heart-burnings which spring from rivalry had passed 

 away, the most famous of modern burial places was 

 not too distinguished for the ashes of the profound 

 student of nature. 



In 1814, what is called the " Hunterian Oration " 



