AUTOBIOGRAPHY 7 



spect for anybody as a teacher before or since. I worked hard 

 to obtain his approbation, and he was extremely kind and 

 helpful to the youngster who, I am afraid, took up more of 

 his time than he had any right to do. It was he who sug- 

 gested the publication of my first scientific paper a very 5 

 little one in the Medical Gazette of 1845, and most kindly 

 corrected the literary faults which abounded in it, short as it 

 was ; for at that time, and for many years afterwards, I de- 

 tested the trouble of writing, and would take no pains over it. 



It was in the early spring of 1846, that, having finished my 10 

 obligatory medical studies and passed the first M.B. examina- 

 tion at the London University, though I was still too young 

 to qualify at the College of Surgeons, I was talking to a fellow- 

 student the present eminent physician, Sir Joseph Fayrer 

 and wondering what I should do to meet the imperative 15 

 necessity of earning my own bread, when my friend suggested 

 that I should write to Sir William Burnett, at that time 

 Director- General for the Medical Service of the Navy, for an 

 appointment. I thought this rather a strong thing to do, 

 as Sir William was personally unknown to me, but my cheery 20 

 friend would not listen to my scruples, so I went to my lodg- 

 ings and wrote the best letter I could devise. A few days 

 afterwards I received the usual official circular acknowledg- 

 ment, but at the bottom there was written an instruction to 

 call at Somerset House on such a day. I thought that 25 

 looked like business, so at the appointed time I called and 

 sent in my card, while I waited in Sir William 's anteroom. 

 He was a tall, shrewd-looking old gentleman, with a broad 

 Scotch accent, and I think I see him now as he entered with 

 my card in his hand. The first thing he did was to return it, 30 

 with the frugal reminder that I should find it useful on some 

 other occasion. The second was to ask whether I was an 

 Irishman. I suppose the air of modesty about my appeal 

 must have struck him. I satisfied the Director- General that 



