124 



the neighbouring and rival institutions being compara- 

 tively so splendid. 



The curator informed me that there are too few 

 hands employed himself, an assistant, and a person for 

 cleaning ; whereas in Guy's there are the curator, an 

 assistant, another person for cleaning and drudgery, a 

 man for preparing skeletons, and a modeller who does 

 nothing else. In the Edinburgh Museum there is a 

 conservator, who does all the work, or pays for having it 

 done. This also needs reform, seeing the establishment 

 is more extensive than either St. Thomas's or Guy's. 



Some people make a mighty blowing, and look as if 

 they had discovered a mare's nest when they find a 

 preparation from which the spirit has partially evapor- 

 ated. Let them learn that in the Museum of St. 

 Thomas's Hospital, in the county of Surrey, there lies 

 the half of a human body dissected, together with a 

 brain, enclosed in an air-tight glass case, with about one 

 inch of spirits in the bottom. The vapour is sufficient 

 to keep the articles in perfect preservation. The fact, 

 however, has long been known to me. 



As I have already remarked, it is of little importance 

 what arrangement is adopted, provided it be simple, 

 perspicuous, with Jew primary divisions. 



Leaving St. Thomas's I recrossed the river by 

 London Bridge, carrying with me specimens of the 

 oolite of which the old London Bridge was built. I 

 then went in search of Mr. Scott, my publisher. 



