AT THE UNIVEKSITY 29 



pyridine and quinoline bases. In consequence of the 

 failure of Anderson's health the lectures were continued 

 by John Ferguson, his assistant, who afterwards became 

 his successor. 1 About this time Ramsay also attended 

 the class in anatomy of Professor Allen Thomson, whom 

 he describes as one of the best lecturers he ever heard. 

 His time was, however, chiefly occupied with chemistry 

 and mathematics. While still in Tatlock's laboratory 

 he began attendance on Sir William Thomson's (Lord 

 Kelvin) lectures, as well as hearing the lectures in 

 geology by Professor John Young. He also began to 

 work in Thomson's laboratory, which occupied a cellar 

 in the old college buildings. Here he relates that his 

 first exercise consisted in getting the " kinks " out of 

 a bundle of copper wire^a task which occupied a week. 

 He was then placed before a quadrant electrometer and 

 required to study its construction and use, and after- 

 wards to determine the potential differences between 

 all sorts of surfaces charged or uncharged. Thomson 

 was a most stimulating and inspiring teacher notwith- 

 standing the eccentricities of his lectures, which were 

 chiefly over the heads of his students, and the unusual 

 methods of instruction in the laboratory. Ramsay has 

 given in his essay " Lord Kelvin " a most interesting 

 account of his work and career and a warm expression 

 of his own indebtedness to the teaching and example of 

 his great fellow-countryman. 



1 Professor Ferguson died 2nd November, 1916, soon after retirement 

 from the Chair. 



