272 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
blood there specified. On one occasion Syme had to take from a 
patient in one of his wards so much as 65 ounces, to he followed 
next day by other 35 ounces. Another patient was a boy, one of 
whose legs had a compound fracture, which gave rise to profuse 
suppuration. About three weeks after the injury, the boy’s strength 
being much exhausted, Syme took it upon him to order porter and 
a beef-steak. Next day the acting surgeon, then one of the most 
largely employed medical men in Edinburgh, expressed disapproval 
of this regime, as he said it would feed the disease, and directed 
Syme to take 14 ounces of blood from the boy’s arm. Syme obeyed 
with reluctance, and not without remonstrating. Before the end 
of forty-eight hours, the boy was dead. 
In 1821 Syme was elected a member of the Royal College of 
Surgeons of London, and in 1823 a Fellow of the Edinburgh 
College of Surgeons. About the same time he went abroad to 
Germany and France, visiting different hospitals, and forming- 
useful acquaintances. He also entered into a sort of partnership 
with Mr Liston, and occasionally took Liston’s place in the lecture- 
room. This partnership, however, did not continue long. A quarrel 
occurred, which caused an estrangement of many years’ duration. 
But Syme, notwithstanding that he thereby lost an advantageous 
position, was not discouraged. He entered into another partner- 
ship with Dr Macintosh (who then lectured on midwifery and 
the practice of medicine), for the purpose of establishing a new 
medical school, with an anatomical theatre, dissecting-rooms, and 
museums, — he himself intending to lecture on anatomy and sur- 
gery. The very boldness of the undertaking arrested public 
attention. The school, however, failed ; but Syme himself, fortu- 
nately by zeal, talent, and complete knowledge of his subject, 
coupled with an indication of views which were innovations on 
established practice, soon attracted a large number of students. 
His chief difficulty arose from the scarcity of subjects for dissec- 
tion, except by dealing with the “Resurrection-men,” as they were 
profanely called, — a course which Syme detested. In order to 
pursue his anatomical researches, be took advantage of the holidays 
to go over to Dublin. When there, he made acquaintance with 
several eminent surgeons, and was so delighted with their modes 
of operation — which he thought superior to those of Edinburgh — 
