278 Proceedings of the Royal Society 
he obeyed, and bid Mr Syme good morning, but not before giving 
him a double fee for bis welcome opinion. He told bis medical 
man, when be returned borne, that be thought Mr Syme the most 
self-possessed man be had met with, and would assuredly go back 
to him if be ever had again to consult a surgeon. 
Syme was remarkable not only for self-possession, but for the 
more noble qualities of professional sincerity and honesty. When 
he found himself in the wrong, he never hesitated to alter bis course, 
nor was be ashamed to confess it. When the late Sir David Baird 
of Newbyth was severely hurt by a kick from a horse in Berwick- 
shire, Dr Turnbull of Coldstream, who attended him, becoming 
somewhat anxious, brought Mr Syme out to see him. Mr Syme, 
after inspecting the broken leg, and considering the case, gave a 
decided opinion that there was no reasonable ground of apprehen- 
sion, and returned to Edinburgh the same day. But that night 
Sir David Baird became restless and feverish, and Dr Turnbull, 
notwithstanding Syme’s opinion, on the following morning thought 
of again sending for Syme. Early that forenoon he was surprised 
to see a carriage drive up to the door, and to find that Syme was in 
it. Dr Turnbull expressed his happiness at seeing him so soon 
again, but asked what had brought him back ; on which Syme 
said, “I never closed my eyes last night, because I began to fear 
I had given you a wrong opinion, and I have come back to see 
your patient again.” Syme, after another examination, satisfied 
himself that there was too good reason for anxiety, and intimated 
that he thought Sir David Baird would not recover. He died two 
days afterwards. 
Syme, though he published very many papers in the medical 
journals, was not a voluminous writer. As in his operations he got 
through his work quickly, never drawing from his patient an un- 
necessary drop of blood, so in his publications he wrote concisely, 
and seldom wasted a drop of ink on illustration. His most im- 
portant work, “ The Principles of Surgery,” went through five 
editions, the last edition being in bulk smaller than any of its pre- 
decessors. His aim, both in his books and in his lectures, seemed 
always to be, to give a maximum of instruction in a minimum of 
words. 
Syme was proud of his profession, and proud of his own posi- 
