86 The Naturalist of Cumbrac. 



gown to a fine ruby colour, would appeal only to the 

 specialist. 



While chemistry attracted him on the side of his 

 trade occupation, anatomy seemed to be an essential 

 and principal branch of his study as a medical practi- 

 tioner. This also suited his natural inclination towards 

 zoology. Dissecting animals of various kinds occu- 

 pied a good share of his spare time. In place of the 

 skins of moles and snakes which had pleased him as 

 a boy, he now had skeletons of mice and birds and 

 frogs. 



It had been mentioned at one of the college 

 lectures that the frog's heart continues to beat some 

 time after it is taken from the animal. It will be 

 borne in mind that no scruples had as yet arisen 

 among the general public, and still less among 

 medical students, on the subject of vivisection. 

 Accordingly, one day having procured a frog by the 

 side of a little burn or brook, he bound it down on the 

 grass and took out its heart. This, as the lecturer had 

 told his class, continued to beat after its separation 

 from the body. " But what followed," Mr. Robert- 

 son remarks, "was rather astonishing. The animal, 

 being released, leaped into the water and made its 

 escape ! This is a fact that few people will believe, 

 and I have seldom ventured to speak of it." It Was 

 undoubtedly a heartless proceeding on the part of 

 the frog ! 



In about a year after his recovery from the illnesses 

 mentioned in the preceding chapter, Robertson was 

 well through with all his classes. He was now over 

 thirty, and in one sense of the word had life yet to 



