Some Characteristics of Anatomical Teaching in Great Britain. 303 



the specially British side of topographical description, in which it has 

 always been weak. 



The varying branches of Anatomy pursued by the teachers, in 

 most of the British University schools have given to each somewhat 

 of an individuality, and so introduced an element of variety in British 

 work. In one direction that of Embryology we have deeply to de- 

 plore two heavy losses in very recent time. The veteran Anatomist 

 Allen Thomson so long Professor of Anatomy in the University of 

 Glasgow has lately been removed from us. In the earlier days of 

 Embryology he took a foremost part in research in this department 

 and although for some years retired from active work yet he ever 

 most heartily encouraged others in pursuing those branches of re- 

 search in which he was a Master. 



In the record of British Embryology another name, that of Bal- 

 four is imperishably written, as that of one who in a few short years 

 did a long lifetime work. Though dead he yet speaketh, for the 

 stimulus which he gave to Biology in the Medical school of Cambridge 



I has borne fruit in the number of active workers whom he there attracted 

 to Biology by his enthusiasm and power, and it has largely moulded 



!the direction of Morphological study in this University. The system 

 of instruction now adopted in this University, whereby each student is 



: thoroughly grounded by practical laboratory work in the principles of 

 Biology before he begins his more special work, in Human Anatomy 



;:and Physiology, is already bearing fruit, in the more intelligent grasp 

 of the morphological bearing of anatomical facts, shown by the present 

 race of students trained along these lines. 



Considering the number of those who study medicine and its 



j allied subjects in Britain, the amount of research -work hitherto done 

 in Anatomy is small. The most of our Students are desirous to ob- 



jtain their qualification as soon as possible, and will not halt by the 



jway for research along special lines. Anatomy does not attract many 

 men of independent means, and the number of remunerative positions 

 i to be obtained as rewards for research is small. Teachers of Ana- 



jtomy have their hands full of the routine work of instruction and 



1 hence much of the research -work has been fragmentary and hasty. 

 There is also a difficulty in Britain of obtaining a sufficient 



