LECTURE I. 7 



the study of Comparative Anatomy and 

 Physiology, and they seem to feel like the 

 discoverers of ^a new path in science, which 

 they pursue with animation and energy, as 

 promising to lead them to some advan- 

 tageous and commanding situation, from 

 which they may eventually discern the 

 whole order and course of nature in the 

 most interesting part of her works, the for- 

 mation and functions of living beings. 

 Yet this is the very path which Mr. Hunter 

 trod, unobserved, and in silence, with 

 constant and accurate observation, and 

 profound meditation. It is but just, that 

 some one should say how far he had pro- 

 ceeded, and what were the general results 

 of his observations and enquiries. 



Mr. Hunter came to London in the 

 autumn of the year 1748, and was educated 

 to anatomy, during ten years, in his bro- 

 ther's dissecting room. In that time, he 

 made many important discoveries^ in the 

 structure of the human body, and his at- 



B 4 



