TRANSACTIONS 01' THE SECTIONS. 117 



Witli the exception of the somewhat obscm-e region of what is called animal 

 chemistiy, every chapter has been rewritten on the sure basis of dii-ect observation 

 and experiment — the mechanics of the circulation, the chemical changes in the 

 blood and tissues in respiration, the relation between muscular movements and the 

 central organs of the ncryoLis system which preside over them, the electrical 

 changes which go on in nerves and muscles when in and out of action, and, in 

 physiological histology, the mode of central and peripheral termination of nerve- 

 libres, and the anatomy of the lymphatic glands and the mode of origin of the 

 absorbent system in the tissues. 



In this great progress one would rather not have to admit that Germany has 

 done so large a proportion of the work. France, notwithstanding her great 

 leaders in science and her great scientific institutions, has accomplished much less 

 than she ought to have done. In talcing her part, England has been represented by 

 us, the teachers in her medical schools ; but we, possessing neither space nor appli- 

 ances for the prosecution of experimental inquiries, have contented ourselves only 

 too readily with reaping the fruits of other men's labours. 



It would not be pleasant to make this admission, were it not possible to look 

 forward with considerable confidence to something better. Li the gi'eat medical 

 schools of London, in the old universities, and in one or two, at least, of the pro- 

 vincial schools great efforts are now being made to provide adequate buildings and 

 competent persons for the experimental teaching and study of physiology. It is, 

 I think, a most encouraging sign of the times that the initiative in this movement 

 has been taken by Trinity College, Cambridge. That wealthy corporation, whose 

 very name recalls to our recollection the intellectual glories of our coimtry, has con- 

 descended to provide a place for physiologists to study and labour in, from which 

 (short as the time is during which it has existed) one or two valuable researches 

 have already sprimg. To what the University of London has done during the last 

 twelve months, in establishing a laboratory for inquiries into that most important 

 though comparatively new branch of physiology which relates to the origin and 

 nature of diseases, it is scarcely possible for me to refer, excepting in so far as to 

 express my hope that its influence will eventually be felt in strengthening the hold 

 of physiology on practical medicine. 



Notwithstanding these efforts, it will take years to regain the position which we 

 in England once had, and ought never to have lost. The appliances and places 

 for work are now forthcoming, and can be extended as they are required. This is a 

 great step forwards ; but we still want the pecuniary resources requisite for carry- 

 ing out systematic and continuous researches, and, above all, we have still to 

 educate workers. 



Of the two wants I have mentioned, the want of money and the want of 

 workers, the second is the most important. The difficulties which lie in our way 

 in this respect are very great indeed. The obvious difficulty — the objection, I 

 mean — which is always adduced by young men as a sufficient reason for not giving 

 up their time to scientific research is that it does not pay ; but it need scarcely be 

 said that the real difficulty is a more general one. It lies in that practical ten- 

 dency of the national mind which leads us Englishmen to rmderrate or depreciate 

 any kind of knowledge which does not minister directly to personal comfort or 

 advantage, a tendency which was embodied in the philosophy of Bacon, and has 

 been thought by some to constitute its great weakness. I have no doubt there 

 are as many in England as in Germany who would not be deterred by the prospect 

 of comparative poverty, .which in every coimtry must be the part of those who 

 devote themselves to abstract science ; but there are very few who have the courage 

 and resolution to follow this course in spite of a public opinion, which estimates 

 science on utilitarian principles. 



This leads me naturally to my second point, which is that the most efficient 

 means we can take to improve the position of our science in England are those 

 which have for their object the enlightenment of public opinion, and that this ia 

 to be eflected partly by diffusing this knowledge of our labours among the public, 

 and so inducing them to take an interest in them, partly by introducing training in 

 physical science into our schools. 



In the art of exposition, i e. of making difficvilt subjects plain, we have oae 



