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It was during this period, when he was an extra-academical 
lecturer, that he published two hooks, one “ A Treatise on Excision 
of Diseased Joints;’' the other “The Principles of Surgery.” 
These books, which embraced numerous cases of successful opera¬ 
tions by the author,—many of them indicating new and improved 
practices, extended Syme’s fame over Europe, and paved the way 
for another distinction. This was his appointment to the Chair of 
Clinical Surgery in the University of Edinburgh, which Mr Eussell 
(now in his 83d year) resigned. It was obtained in spite of the 
opposition of his former master and jealous rival, Liston, who 
wished it for himself, but would not accede to the conditions re¬ 
quired by the Patron, the Crown, that Mr Ptussell should have from 
his successor £300 a year of retiring pension. Mr Liston had, up 
to this time, succeeded in shutting Syme out from access to the 
Infirmary. That exclusion, however, the managers saw could 
scarcely he continued after Syme had become Clinical Professor 
in the University. It was a fortunate event for both parties that, 
about this time, an invitation came to Liston to remove to London 
to become Professor of Clinical Surgery in University College, an 
invitation which he gladly accepted. Shortly after this event 
Liston wrote to Syme expressing a wish to he reconciled—a wish 
to which the latter readily acceded. 
Liston died in 1847, and Syme was then invited to succeed him 
as Clinical Professor in University College, London. Syme felt 
flattered by the proposal, and was pleased at the prospect of going 
to a capital where private practice would be far greater and more 
remunerative. He was, however, exchanging a certainty for an 
uncertainty. He had L.700 a-year from his class in Edinburgh, 
and full employment as consulting surgeon, whereas all that was 
offered to be ensured to him in London was a fixed salary of L.150 
independently of class fees. Nevertheless he resolved on throwing 
up his position in Edinburgh, where he commanded both respect 
and emoluments, and in February 1848 repaired to London. He 
soon found that he had taken a wrong step. His class was less 
numerous, and though his practice might eventually become great, 
he felt that it w r ould be long before that pecuniary advantage was 
arrived at, and perhaps still longer before he could attain the social 
position which he held in Edinburgh. His manner was also rather 
