LECTURE I. 5 



as a comparative anatomist, which it is par- 

 ticularly incumbent on some of us to do ; 

 for so little have they been revealed to the 

 public in general, that even Professor Cuvier 

 has declared, he knew not that there was 

 such a collection as the Hunterian Museum. 



To display the talents and labours of Mr. 

 Hunter in forming his Museum, it seems 

 proper, in the first place, to notice those 

 circumstances which led to this great un- 

 dertaking: for great indeed must it be 

 accounted, when it is considered, that it 

 was accomplished by the labour, and at the 

 expense, of an individual. Mr. Hunter was 

 the first in this country, and I believe I may 

 say in any country, who studied Compara- 

 tive Anatomy and Physiology extensively, 

 in order to perfect the knowledge of our 

 own animal economy. I admit, indeed, 

 that Baron Haller was fully apprised of the 

 advantages likely to result from this pro- 

 ceeding, and that he himself had prose- 

 cuted the same mode of enquiry, to a cer- 

 tain degree. I am also aware, that many 

 men may have explored the structure and 



B 3 



