Lehrjahre and Wanderjahre 103 



walk out now, not having had one on account of the weather for the 3 last days. Of 

 course I have nothing to tell yon, as the medical world is quite a little world of its own 

 and its proceedings I should imagine are not very interesting to the civilised one. Oh 

 Donner und Blitz ! here is another accident. I must look sharp for my walk, if not kept 

 long by this double calamity both to me and patient. T am calling out — Coming — tar — 

 tar — . Fras. Galton." 



So the months went on — far too much woi'k and too httle play — 

 none of the sports and pastimes of our own medical schools. At Easter 

 there was again no holiday : 



"Can't come — quite impossible. Patients increased — awful number. Cut a brace of 

 fingers oflf yesterday and one the day before. — Happy to operate on any one at home — 

 I am flourishing — wish I could say same of my Patients. Love to all. Bye-bye. 



Fras. Galton." 



But by July a change was really needful. Francis is planning 

 a tour and mentions as possible companions his cousins Theodoi'e Galton 

 and Edward Darwin. His last letter from the Hospital to his father 

 runs as follows : 



July 10, 1839. GuNERAL Hospital. 

 My dear Governor, 



I have been waiting before I wrote to you, to see whether Mr Hodgson 

 would have recommended anything for me, but as he has not, I will tell you what he 

 has done. He called me aside and asked me if I felt unwell or not, I told him that 

 I was, — gave symptoms etc. When Mr Hodgson asked what I had intended to do 

 about this trip that you proposed, — I replied that I had but just heard of it, and that 

 I did not think that I could spare my time. To which Mr Hodgson agreed, said it was 

 a foolish plan tfec, <tc. (N.B. He was in a bad humour because an operation of his 

 for cataract had not exactly succeeded), and after saying other things of the same 

 import, tooled off. He did not prescribe for me. However I shall do very well. There 

 is capital fun going on here— only think of Dr Booth. Amongst other performances of 

 his when he led the police into the Bull Ring, the people swearing, throwing stones at 

 him etc., etc. The Dr (it being dark) coolly rode to the neai-est Liimp Post, put his 

 hand in his pocket and pulled out his Barnacles, inserted it again and lugged out the 

 Riot Act and read away most edifyingly ! By the bye about Mr Abbot — I have had 

 30 lessons, a brace in November — do. in June and regularly in tlie intervening months'. 

 His banker is Taylor and Lloyds, and he wishes to have it directed for the Rev. J. 



I Abbot, Free School. Our Matron has had a tremendous epileptic fit ; she is in bed 

 still and very unwell. Quite sorry to hear about your Asthma, but you must I suppose 

 console yourself with the Aphorism of the Cook on the Eels — " Nothing when you are 

 accustomed to it." By the bye I have been on the stage with Van Amburg — took up 



This proves that Galton had never taken a week's holiday since he started at the 

 Hospital ! 



