200 ON THOUGHT IN MEDICINE. 



judged more favourably of my Essay than I did myself, 

 and I still possess the books which were awarded to me 

 as the prize. 



The recollections which crowd in upon me on this 

 occasion have brought vividly before my mind a picture 

 of the then condition of our science, of our endeavours 

 and of our hopes, and have led me to compare the 

 past state of things with that into which it has de- 

 veloped. Much indeed has been accomplished. 



Although all that we hoped for has not been ful- 

 filled, and many things have turned out differently from 

 what we wished, yet we have gained much for which we 

 could not have dared to hope. Just as the history 

 of the world has made one of its few giant steps 

 before our eyes, so also has our science ; hence an old 

 student, like myself, scarcely recognises the somewhat 

 ir.atronly aspect of Dame Medicine, when he accident- 

 ally comes again in relation to her, so vigorous and 

 so capable of growth has she become in the fountain of 

 youth of the Natural Sciences. 



I may, perhaps, retain the impression of this an- 

 tagonism, more freshly than those of my contemporaries 

 whom I have the honour to see assembled before me ; 

 and who, having remained permanently connected with 

 science and practice, have been less struck and less 

 surprised by great changes, taking place as they do by 

 slow steps. This must be my excuse for speaking to 



