lO Thomas Henry Huxley 



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

 tested the trouble of writing and wouhl take no pains over it." 



This little paper, although Huxley deprecates it, was 

 remarkable as the work of so young an investigator. 

 In it he demonstrated the existence of a hitherto un- 

 recognised layer in the inner root-sheath of hairs, a 

 layer that has been known since as Huxley's layer. 



There is no record in the minutes of the hospital 

 school that Hujle}- gained any other school prizes. 

 His name reappears only in formal applications at the 

 beginning of each session for the renewal of his free 

 scholarship. In this respect he is in marked contrast 

 to his fellow-student, afterwards Sir Joseph Fayrer, 

 who appears to have taken almost every prize open to 

 him. On the other hand, his attainments in anatomy 

 and physiology brought him distinction in a wider 

 field than the hospital school, for he obtained, in the 

 " honours" division of the first examination for the 

 degree of Bachelor of Medicine at the University of 

 London, the second place with a medal. And it is 

 certain that he was far from neglecting his strictly pro- 

 fessional work, although, no doubt, he devoted much 

 time to reading and research in pure science, for in the 

 winter of 1845-46, having completed his course at the 

 hospital, he was prepared to offer himself at the exam- 

 ination for the membership of the Royal College of 

 Surgeons ; but, being as yet under twenty-one years of 

 age, could not be admitted as a candidate. 



It was now time for Huxley definitely to enter on 

 his profession. He would have preferred to continue 

 his investigations in London and to wait for the chance 

 of a teaching post in physiology, but it was necessary 

 to earn a living. One of those whom he consulted was 



