592 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
principles. The young medical student must be content to 
read for the first two or three years simply to acquire facts : 
his memory is the faculty he will be chiefly required to exercise. 
This may be a dry, revolting duty ; but it is a good regimen. 
He must, however, also investigate principles to qualify him- 
self in a respectable manner for his vocation. In the latter 
case the course of study should always originate in his own 
thought ; the question should be suggested within ; he may 
then go out for an answer. Thus the reader preserves and 
strengthens the freshness of his intellect. 
The student should always have some question to solve 
while he is reading: for to read without an aim is mere 
frivolity and loss of time. What is read makes little impres- 
sion, and is soon forgotten. A man who lounges through 
his studies may possibly pluck a pretty flower, and catch a 
fine view now and then of the glorious world he moves in ; 
but beyond that he acquires nothing either permanent or 
profitable. It is a very pleasant w r av of passing time, fit for 
spinsters and fine gentlemen, but derogatory to the true 
student. Every man should work, w r ork, work. 
Never be afraid of a difficulty ; and never read except to 
grapple with one. Do you w T ant to grow strong? Then 
you must measure yourself with the men of renown, and 
w’restle w r ith all your might. A throw upon your back will 
do you good. Your pulse should beat high, as if you were 
in a battle, and you had the sound of the trumpet in your 
ear. If a man simply raise his arm he can exert but little 
strength, but let him grasp hard, and see how the muscles 
sw 7 ell and quiver. 
Neither time n ji; space will allow me to dissertate longer 
on this subject, but I must confess that the temptation is 
strong, and I fear that I have not yet said enough to do good 
to one young student. I do not write for show, if I did I 
would indite Ciceronianisms — I write with the earnest purpose 
of leaving an indelible mark upon the memory of the reader. 
I write, too, in weakness, both mental and physical; but I 
trust that the few counsels I have uttered w T ill have enough 
of the flame of zeal in them to beget a like fervour in the 
breast in the reader, and tend to inspire his energies in his 
future course of life. George Ross. 
(Med* Circular , Sept. 1 3, 1 854.) 
