Notes. 
557 
tions in the Himalayas still remained with him in his advanced years, 
and enabled him to do what he had done that day. He was sure they 
all hoped that Sir Joseph Hooker would long remain among them the 
principal pillar and ornament of botanical science in the world. They 
most cordially thanked him for the most interesting account he had 
given of his father’s life and labours. It was certainly remarkable 
that one who began as he did should have been so exceedingly suc- 
cessful as a teacher. His Lordship had heard only yesterday from 
one of those present at this splendid jubilee that the attendance of 
students at Sir William Hooker’s classes in this University was some- 
thing phenomenal. He might, perhaps, be permitted, as one who in 
a very humble way loved botany — loved it dearly^-to echo what had 
been expressed by Sir Joseph Hooker, and hope that the University of 
Glasgow and all Universities would never allow botany to be left out 
in the curriculum of medical study. He felt that the study of botany, 
when taught as it should be, introduced the young student in the most 
beautiful way to the study of biology, and it cultivated those habits of 
independent and accurate observation which were of such enormous 
importance, and which were apt to pass uncultivated in later medical 
study. Then, to echo what had been said by Sir Joseph Hooker 
and Sir William Thiselton-Dyer, one knew more and more that all 
life, whether animal or vegetable, was, so to speak, one ; and with the 
great advance that had been made in late years in the knowledge 
of the vegetable kingdom, there could be observed and demonstrated 
with the utmost readiness many of the most important physiological 
truths and principles which applied to animals. It surely could not 
be a matter altogether of indifference to a medical man that he should 
be absolutely ignorant of the source of the vegetable articles of the 
materia medica. There might have been excess of attention devoted 
to this branch of medical study, but to neglect it absolutely seemed to 
him to be the most profound error. There were other subsidiary 
advantages from botanical study. If a man had not studied botany, 
how could he accept the post of analyst of an exploring expedition ; 
how could he avail himself of the advantages he might have if he were 
placed as a medical man in some distant part of the world where there 
were objects all around him — vegetable as well as animal — well de- 
serving his investigation and study ? Lastly, he knew from experience 
that botany gave lifelong delight to the country. There were those 
who, when they went to the country, must have the excitement of sport 
