XVII 



cultural population a knowledge of Chemistry, and to advance the science 

 by original research. It is to be regretted, however, that the College of 

 Chemistry, originally established as an independent institution, self-sup- 

 porting, or aided, if necessary, by private means, could not maintain itself 

 on that footing. 



As far as possible also Sir James Clark gave a warm support to all plans 

 for promoting the study of Natural History, and was ready to urge on the 

 Government at any time any reasonable mode of doing this, or of furthering 

 independent inquiries. 



Passing from pure science, he had a great share in the sanitary move- 

 ment which has been so marked a feature of our days, although his name 

 was not brought before the public so prominently as that of others who 

 had really less influence. From a very early period he had been a very 

 strong advocate of measures calculated to prevent disease and to improve 

 the public health. He therefore used his influence with the Government to 

 institute the Health of Towns' Commission, and those other early inquiries 

 which were the foundation of the present movement. He was at this 

 time intimately acquainted both with Andrew and George Combe, and 

 estimated very highly the philosophical characters of the two brothers. 

 Some years afterwards he edited and partly rewrote one of Andrew 

 Combe's Hygienic works on the Management of Infancy. 



At a very early date also, long before the Crimean war, he did what he 

 could to get the sanitary state of the army and navy inquired into and 

 remedied. 



There can be no doubt that his service in the Navy had impressed him 

 with the urgent importance of this subject, and had also given him a 

 strong conviction of the waste of life in warlike operations. 



Owing probably to their knowledge of his exertions in this direction, the 

 Government during the Crimean war requested his cooperation in the 

 organization of Supplementary Civil Hospitals, in support of the Military 

 Hospitals, which were overflowing and had proved unequal to the work 

 entailed by a severe campaign. He assisted in the deliberations which 

 resulted in the establishment of the Smyrna Hospital ; and subsequently, 

 when a second hospital was required, the Government requested him to 

 undertake the entire organization. He did so, and the result was the 

 great Hospital of Renkioi on the Dardanelles, which was intended for 3000 

 sick. This hospital, the design of which was made by Mr. Brunei, has 

 proved the model of the American Wooden Hospitals established during the 

 late civil war, and indirectly has given rise to many of the arrangements 

 in field hospitals in war which were carried out in Italy and Germany in 

 the campaigns of 1859 and 1866, and are now being repeated on a still 

 larger scale. 



It was therefore not surprising that after the Crimean war he was asked 

 to serve on the Royal Commission, presided over by Mr. Sidney Herbert, 

 for inquiring into the health of the army ; and he had no small share in 



