50 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



Of Flower's life at the time when this occurred 

 Lady Flower writes : 



At the hospital he took the greatest personal interest in the 

 patients, especially in the poor patients, as well as in the purely 

 scientific work of his Anatomical lectureship and Anatomical 

 Museum. His interests in zoology also steadily increased. But 

 in regard to his surgical work he felt so keenly for the patients in 

 the wards that he would lie awake at night considering whether 

 everything was being done that was possible for them. He would 

 be called to the hospital at any hour of the night in cases of 

 danger, and he always felt more particularly anxious when the 

 cases were those of poor people, the fathers or mothers of young 

 children, to whom the death of the parents must always be almost 

 irreparable. Altogether, I think he preferred practising among 

 the poor rather than among the rich, and he had an unpro- 

 fessional objection to taking fees ! All this prepared him for 

 giving up practice, and when the opening came he had little 

 doubt as to making the application. 



His father, who was devoted to his clever and 

 scientific son, quite shared that view. He wrote : 



Both of us (i.e. Mrs. Flower and himself) came to the con- 

 clusion at once, without consultation, that it will be a happy 

 thing if you can obtain the appointment. It places you in a 

 high and honourable position at once, suited to your peculiar 

 tastes and talents, which is rarely attainable at any time of life. 

 ... I hope, my dear Will, never to be in circumstances during 

 my life to do less for you than at present, and afterwards I trust 

 that you will have something more. Taking all sides of your 

 position into view, we have no doubt in our minds about the 

 matter. 



It will be seen from his father's letter and reference 

 to his son's prospects that in following the natural 

 bent of his talents Flower was doing no injustice to 



