LECTURE VII. 333 



honourable character, — a British advocate. 

 I also imagined that you were impannelled 

 as a jury, a tribunal in which we glory, 

 and by whose decision we must abide. 

 Now, however inadequate I may be to per- 

 form the part I have arrogated to myself, 

 you are fully competent to discharge the 

 duties of the tribunal I have supposed you 

 to form. You have the ability to decide, 

 and the power to punish. You can inflict 

 the severest of all punishments, that of 

 which the greatest despots stand in awe, 

 those who may. be said to be "safe from the 

 bar, the pulpit, and the throne," yet trem- 

 ble at the strong and open expression of 

 general disapprobation, Tlie medical re- 

 public should legislate for itself, for the 

 public in general know little of our pe- 

 culiar studies, and may consequently esti- 

 mate our opinions with respect to certain 

 subjects at a much higher value than really 

 belongs to them. We should not therefore 

 suffer crude speculations to go forth, bear- 

 ing the seeming stamp of medical authority, 

 when they are contrary to the sentiments 



