VIU PREFACE. 



a " rash fierce blaze " of honesty indeed ! For* 

 the time is unfortunate for medical opinion. At 

 the late great trial at the Old Bailey medical 

 opinion cut a very sorry figure. The public was 

 astounded to hear one doctor swear his belief that 

 the death was caused by "epileptic convulsions 

 with tetanic complications ;" another, that it was 

 the natural result of " angina pectoris ;" a third, 

 yea and a fourth, that they did not know the cause 

 of the death ! Is this a way to convince the public 

 mind that medical opinion may be respectfully 

 received and gratefully complied with ? . . . 



Mr. Solly has flagrantly transgressed tlie 

 bounds of propriety. I caimot refrain from here 

 quoting, with much disgust, two items of his in- 

 comprehensible excitement. He says, — 



" I may be told that a certain exalted personage, whose 

 kindness of disposition is only equalled by his moral and 

 physical courage in the discharge of all his duties, smokes 

 habitually without detriment. I can only say, God grant 

 that it may not shorten his valuable life and impair his 

 nervous system." 



Again, even still more painful to read — 



" I once knew a young clergyman who could only write 

 his sermons under the stimulus of tobacco, and there is no 



