304 Britain's Heritage of Science 



Gaskell was a man of broad views. Every new fact he 

 succeeded in establishing he used as a basis for further 

 generalization. He took comparatively small part in the 

 management of the University, but from time to time and 

 whenever really needed, he was willing to place his services 

 at the disposal of what was considered the reforming party 

 in University politics. 



During the first half of the nineteenth century, Physiology 

 when it was taught at all was almost invariably taught by 

 medical men in active practice at the various London and 

 other hospitals. As a rule the doctor predominated over 

 the physiologist, and physiology in those days was not so 

 clearly defined a science as it has since become. Perhaps 

 the most outstanding name of this period is William Sharpey 

 (1802-1880). He was educated in Edinburgh, and was a 

 pupil of Dr. John Barclay, Extra-mural Lecturer at that 

 university. He subsequently studied at Paris. On re- 

 turning to England he started a private practice, but he 

 lacked a good bedside manner, and was obviously unsuited 

 for the duties of a practitioner, so from 1826 onwards he 

 devoted himself entirely to pure science. He spent some 

 years abroad trudging the roads in true medieval style from 

 one university town to another in Central Europe, and in 

 1829 he established himself as a teacher in Edinburgh. Later 

 he succeeded James Quain as Professor of Anatomy and 

 Physiology in what was then the University of London, and 

 is now known as University College, Gower Street, and here 

 for the first time a complete course of lectures on Physiology 

 were delivered by one who was purely a physiologist. He 

 was a born teacher, and his lectures were models both in 

 matter and form. For a time he was Secretary to the Royal 

 Society and a member of the General Council on Medical 

 Education and Registration. 



Sharpey was a master of sound judgment, extraordinary 

 memory, and one who could deeply interest his pupils in the 

 subject he had at heart. Amongst his scholars were Michael 

 Foster and Burdon Sanderson, the latter of whose work at 

 London and Oxford notably carried on the tradition of his 

 master. Although Sharpey was a man of force and power 

 he, like Michael Foster, was perhaps more instrumental in 



