MEMOIR OF JOHN BARCLAY. 27 



task was executed is now generally acknowledged, 

 though the nomenclature be not yet universally 

 adopted. Perhaps, however, w r hen death has re- 

 moved every prejudiced feeling which obstructed its 

 reception, it may find that place in our medical 

 schools which its worth and importance merits. 



His own opinion of this performance is expressed 

 with modesty in the introduction, where he dis- 

 claims for it all pretensions to any equality of rank 

 with the labours of the French chemist. " This 

 nomenclature is not to be compared with that of 

 Lavoisier ; it establishes no era in science ; it an- 

 nounces no great revolution, nor is it formed with a 

 view to perpetuate any illustrious discoveries. To 

 compare a small thing with a great, it bears a much 

 nearer resemblance to the classification and arrange- 

 ments of Linnaeus."* Yet have the works of the 

 Swede greatly facilitated the improvement of every 

 branch of Natural History. Nor can there, perhaps, 

 be a greater service rendered to any science than to 

 define and fix accurately the terms employed in its 

 development, as this tends, in no small degree, to 

 facilitate the progress of study, by removing the lite- 

 rary rubbish of a cumbrous and obscure verbiage, 

 which obstructs, if it does not altogether block up, 

 the avenues of knowledge. 



Being now established in public estimation as a 

 successful teacher and an able medical writer, the 

 Royal College of Surgeons gave him the highest 



* Introduct. to a new Anatomical Nomenclature, p. 45. 



