HUTTON. 225 



on most intimate terms before leaving Scotland. 

 They had both a great love of chemistry, and had 

 experimented together, especially on the nature 

 and production of ammonia. Their experiments 

 had led to some valuable discoveries, and had been 

 pursued by Mr. Davie during his friend's absence. 

 They had afforded a reasonable expectation of 

 establishing a profitable manufacture of some salt 

 of ammonia from coal-soot. The project of this 

 establishment was communicated by Mr. Davie to 

 his friend, who was still in London, and it appears 

 to have lessened his anxiety about settling as a 

 physician, and, probably, was one of the main 

 causes of his laying aside all thoughts of that 

 profession. Perhaps, too, on a nearer view, he did 

 not find that the practice of medicine would afford 

 him that leisure for pursuing chemical and other 

 scientific objects which he fancied it would do, when 

 he saw things at a greater distance. In fact, 

 Hutton found himself in the same position as many 

 other men of genius who have pursued as success- 

 fully the peculiar studies requisite for an accom- 

 plished medical man. Anatomy, physiology, 

 chemistry, and botany have often been much more 

 attractive to the aspirant for medical fame than 

 surgery, practical medicine, and the study of drugs 

 and their uses. Many a good doctor has been 

 spoiled by over-education, and science has gainfed 

 an enthusiastic student. It would appear, however, 

 that there was another cause which was influencinsf 

 Hutton. He had inherited a little property in land 

 I. Q 



