I N T R< )DUCT( )ll V L KCTUJtK. 
621 
termed Pathology, and this department of our science bears the 
same relation to morbid anatomy that physiology holds to normal 
anatomy ; teaching us not only the existence of morbid products, 
but. shewing us in what manner these products are formed, and 
in what manner they are capable of displaying their action upon 
the rest of the system. 
Chemistry is equally important with anatomy as a pillar of 
the temple of medicine. 1 have already remarked, that anatomy 
avails herself of the assistance of chemistry in discovering the 
proximate and ultimate composition of the animal tissues; but it 
is as an auxiliary to pathology that chemistry is especially useful, 
and chemistry in its most valuable branch in relation to medicine, 
viz., organic chemistry, has recently become a new science in the 
hands of the distinguished Liebig. By the aid of chemistry we 
are enabled to test the purity of the atmosphere which we breathe, 
of the water which we employ as drink, and of the food which 
we take for our support. By chemistry we are enabled to 
detect disease in deeply hidden organs, as in the kidney: we can 
ascertain with precision the nature of stone within the bladder, 
and by its means we are directed to the proper measures to be 
adopted for the cure of these diseases. Chemistry, again, is an 
invaluable agent in the discovery of poisons, and in the determi- 
nation of the proper agents to be employed for the purpose of 
preventing their effects. 
Materia Medica and Therapeutics are the coffers in 
which the remedies of medicine are contained. The perfect diag- 
nosis of disease and a complete knowledge of its pathology 
would be useless, without an equal degree of information on the 
means which nature and art have assembled together for its cure. 
It is for his therapeutic knowledge that the public value the 
medical man, and upon this point they assume to themselves a 
right of judgment. This is a branch of* medical study which is 
eagerly pursued — one which, though its details may be uninte- 
resting to the student, is of the utmost value to the practitioner, 
and one of which the knowledge or its absence tells in his walk 
through life, and facilitates or impedes his progress. 
I have thus, Gentlemen, endeavoured to present to you a brief 
sketch of the profession into which some among you are about to 
enter, and 1 feel that I cannot conclude more aptly than by again 
urging upon you the reflection that knowledge, talent, and in- 
dustry, will avail you little in your profession, and will gain you 
little esteem, either among your professional brethren or in the 
eyes of the public, unless you conjoin with mental ability the 
uprightness and dignity of conduct which are the natural off- 
spring of a religious and a virtuous life. 
