in.] ORIGIN OF TASTE FOR SCIENCE. 227 



medical man has now to waste the most vigorous 

 years of his life in miserable routine work 

 simply to obtain bread, until he has been able 

 to establish his reputation. He has no breath- 

 ing-time allowed him ; the cares of mature life 

 press too closely upon his student days to give 

 him the opportunities of prolonged study that 

 are necessary to accomplish him for his future 

 profession. 



The influences we have been considering, are 

 those which urge men to pursue science rather 

 than literature, politics, or other careers ; but we 

 must not forget that there are deep and ob- 

 scure movements of national life, which may 

 quicken or depress the effective ability of the 

 nation as a whole, I have not considered the 

 reasons why one period is more productive of 

 great men than another, my inquiry being 

 limited, for the reasons stated in the first pages 

 of this book, to one period and nation. But it 

 may be remarked, that the national condition 

 most favourable to general efficiency is one of 

 self-confidence and eager belief in the existence 

 of great works capable of accomplishment. The 



Q 2 



