350 APPENDIX. 



various diseases, which he might procure into 

 his custody. He from this time also employed 

 himself in forming his collection of comparative 

 anatomy. The whole together has cost him 

 more than 10,000/. besides the labour it has re- 

 quired in the preparations. Of this sum more 

 than two thousand pounds have been expended 

 in the purchase of dead animals only. In the 

 year I768, he was chosen Surgeon to St. 

 George's Hospital ; and in the years 1772» 

 1773, and 177'i. having collected his ideas and 

 observations, he assembled the pupils of that 

 Hospital, together with a few chosen friends, 

 and read to them, without expence, a course of 

 lectures on the principles of surgery. In the 

 year 1776, he was appointed Surgeon Extra- 

 ordinary to His Majesty. Prior to his going 

 abroad, he had been present at the dissection 

 of more than two thousand human bodies, and 

 in the year 1754 or 55, discovered the structure 

 of the placenta, and the communication be- 

 tween the mother and placenta. He had also 

 employed himself a good deal, even at this time, 

 in comparative anatomy, and had discovered the 

 absorbing system in fowls, and in the croco- 

 dile, which is one of the amphibii, proving by 

 experiments that the red veins did not absorb. 

 This was published by Dr. Hunter, in his Com- 

 mentaries, in 1762. Since his return, as we 



