64 "young physic promising. 



cellent representatives in Alison, Sir C. Bell, Christison, 

 Jameson, and Syme. A monthly periodical was about 

 to be started under the able editorship of Dr. Cormack, 

 and in the ranks of " young physic " were observed 

 graduates of great promise. The " Eoyal Medical So- 

 ciety," on the approach of its centenary (1837), had its 

 presidential chair filled by such men as Drs. J. Y. 

 Simpson, John Reid, Martin Barry, W. B. Carpenter, 

 J. H. Bennett, and John Percy ; the " Royal Physical 

 Society " still maintained its eminent position ; and 

 the " Hunterian Medical Society " had for its senior 

 president Dr. Samuel Brown — a host in himself. Drs. 

 James Duncan and William Henderson, and others who 

 cared less for the public display of societies, were no less 

 worthy in illuminating the paths of progress, and pro- 

 moting the fame of their " Alma Mater." Engaged in 

 healthful rivalry, the men, and, it may be said, the 

 societies generally, gave a happy direction to each 

 other's efforts, and could not fail to be more or less 

 formative of the school itself — a school of high reputa- 

 tion, but, like all institutions of historical maturity, 

 wanting fresh breath and fresh indoctrination. 



Though Goodsir had lost part of his bashfulness by 

 lecturing at St. Andrews, and taking so active a part 

 in Fife Societies, he still wore an air of reserve and the 

 appearance of a closet student. The times were pro- 

 pitious to his casting off the rustic habiliments of his 

 nature, and his associates, by their stirring example, 

 were still more conducive to that end. Another day 

 of biological discovery was dawning over Europe, and 



