Lehrjahre and Wauderjahre 99 



Returned to Birmingham Francis Galton plunged at once into his 

 medical studies. The dozen pages in Galton's Memories which deal 

 with this first medical experience are perhaps the most fascinating in 

 that book, not only for the picture they throw on hospital life in the 

 first half of the 19 th century, but also for the indication they give of 

 the great advantage clinical experience was to Galton himself. I do 

 not propose to reproduce what Galton has told so well, but merely to 

 supplement his account from letters written to his father Tertius during 

 this period. 



A first letter of Oct. 10' deals with the supplementary studies 



Francis was planning. 



Wednesday [Oc«.] lO^A, Leamington. 



My dear Governor, 



I have just returned from Birmingham where I dined yesterday with 

 Dr Booth and the day before with Hodgson. Hodgson advised me ^low to read some 

 medicine aiid Dr Booth has lent me the book, but when I mentioned that I intended to 

 go on with German whilst I was at Leamington, he said that I had certainly better not, 

 but give up my time to Pharmacy. Accordingly I have not called upon the Pole, as 

 I know that you wish me to knock under to Hodgson in everything of that sort. He 

 and the Dr were both very good-natured to me. I was sorry to hear from Hodgson 

 rather diflerently to what I had before understood. His words were " that I must 

 expect every possible annoyance both in society and in continual interruptions ; that I 

 shall never have a minute that I can call my own," and he spoke very strongly on the 



subject By the bye Hodgson says that my masters must be German and Mathematics 



twice a week, and he will inquire about them. Not drawing ; he says that I shall have 

 quite sufficient to do with these 



Ten days later Francis again writes of his mathematical and 

 German studies : 



"I will see if Mr Mason can give me lessons or not in mathematics Mr Jones is 



spoken of as the best German Tutor Would you be so kind as to send me my German 



Grammar and Elementary Book and Klopstock and a few Tracts. Adfele will do this. 

 Also please ask Emma to put out from my knick-knack cupboard a little instrument for 

 boiling water, it consists of a cylindrical copper vessel — a sort of boiler with a bent pipe 

 running out of it, and a spirit lamp. [Picture.] There is a hospital seat at St Paul's 

 which I attend. Tomorrow there will be an amputation of the leg, when I shall see 



how I can stand fire I am rather anxious to begin dressing myself, as it is a bore 



seeing some pretty little operation going on where you cannot be the performer. By 

 the bye would you tell me if I am to dress for Mr Hodgson or not as I really do not 

 know what you have fixed on in that way. All the ' higher powers ' are very good- 



' Sent to his father who was staying at Hadzor. 



i:j— 2 



