MYOLOGICAL STUDIES. 131 



autumn of 1858 lie dissected a fine muscular subject* 

 and took casts of the different layers ; these casts are in 

 the anatomical museum, and constitute a complete 

 series. Thus he continued a student through life, 

 even of forms considered of commonplace note in the 

 economy ; to him, however, the muscles were viewed 

 as capable of a higher interpretation than had hitherto 

 been assigned them. In showing a strong bent in some 

 directions, it implied no narrowed ground or belief ; 

 special structures were but the starting-points to the 

 occupancy of a larger field of investigation, and the 

 attainment of a broader generalisation in his science. 

 He loved his art for his art's sake, and longed to apply 

 his science for the science and the truth's sake. 



Brought up to physic from his teens, and being 

 early initiated in its practical departments, he all along 

 desired to be engaged in the active pursuit of his pro- 

 fession ; and as his own powers were enlarged and 

 strengthened, John Hunter, the anatomist and surgeon, 

 became more and more his ideal and historic example. 

 In his letters, in his conversation, and not less in his 

 anatomical teachings, there was a clear declaration in 

 favour of practice as the aim and purport of medical 



* This subject, the body of an Edinburgh carter of intensely whisky habits, 

 who, in a drunken Btate, fell from his cart and died on the spot, remained free 

 from decomposition during thirty days of a hot August! Goodsir was much 



acl with the fact, con idering the mode of death of the person. Had the 

 whisky taken during life proved an antiseptic post mortem, t The case is in- 

 teresting in connection with tin- detection of free alcohol in the brain of 

 drunkards by Dr. John Percj (Graduation 'I'll, sis, Edinburgh 1888), now the 

 distinguished Professor of Metallurgy a1 the School of Mines, Jermyn Street, 



London. 



