remarkably retentive, and he has been frequently heard to describe cases which had occurred in the earliest years of his practice with a freshness and particularity of detail which made them appear like the observations of the day. No case ever seems to have escaped his memory which could enforce some principle of pathology or practice; and he could draw, therefore, almost ad libitum, upon these stores, for striking illustrations of the doctrine he was inculcating. This was an attractive feature in the Lecturer, and always made a deep impression on the audience. How far Dr. Gregory's lectures aided the press in the diffusion of just notions in pathology, and bold measures in practice, we cannot form any probable estimate --but doubtless they were powerful auxiliaries. The immense mass of medical information which he possessed, has perished with him; for the notes taken by his pupils are not only defective, but devoid of all his practical illustrations. We consider Dr. Gregory as highly culpable in not taking means to transmit as much as possible of his valuable knowledge to posterity through the medium of the press. Every man-and particularly every public man, in the confidence of his brethren and the plenitude of practice, should not merely put his talent out to advantage-but to the best advantage. This Dr. Gregory has not done; and it is greatly to be lamented that he had not dedicated those quartos of squabbling controversies to more dignified and professional pursuits! We believe that for the last twenty years few physicians had more extensive practice; yet such was the liberality of Dr. Gregory's disposition, that his income was never what the celebrity of his name, and the number of his patients might give reason to expect. We believe, too, that “ his generous heart was always open to afford that relief which wealth can bestow." We can easily conceive with his biographer, that "the loss of such a man will be felt as occasioning a blank almost irreparable in the academic celebrity of Edinburgh;" but we are not disposed to fear, with him, that the death of any individual can produce a similar blank in the "national distinction of the country. We have studiously avoided the language of panegyric, which is feelingly employed by the biographer, though naturally and pardonably so in him, as dictated by friendship. Our feelings, of course, are under the guidance of cool contemplative philosophy, which views things in their general, rather than in their local, bearings, and loves to deduce moral lessons alike from evil and good, adversity and prosperity, death and life, vice and virtue-which, in fine, sees with the mind's eye "Sermons in stones, books in the running brooks, SHAKSPEARE. XVI. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. In Kentucky, the oldest, wealthiest, and most cultivated of the Western States of America, a university has been erected which promises to be of essential benefit to that rising state. This university is situated in the town of Lexington, containing a population of about six thousand, wealthy, cultivated, and refined. This town stands in the midst of a beautiful and fertile tract of country, thirty miles in diameter, containing about ten places of worship, several public buildings, a reading room, or atheneum, and a very good circulating library. The university edifice is not surpassed in size, or elegance, by any in the United States. In the year 1820 there were 282 students of different kinds. Dr. Charles Caldwell, late of Philadelphia, is Dean of Faculty, and Professor of the Institutes-Teacher of Materia Medica, &c. with a private class in Medical Jurisprudence. VENTRILOQUISM. This curious physiological phenomenon has never, perhaps, been more finely exhibited than by M. Alexandre, now performing in this metropolis, and about to proceed to different parts of the country. We entreat the attention of our professional brethren to this extraordinary operation of the respiratory organs, as well worth their notice. PREPARATION OF OPIUM. We are informed by an esteemed correspondent that in the following preparation of opium the taste and smell of that medicine are completely concealed, and that it leaves much less of the unpleasant effects of opium on the system than the tincture prepared according to the pharmacopoeia. The whole is to be boiled to Oj. the clear liquor to be poured off, and evaporated to 3xij. then add spirit of pimento 3iv. cochineal in fine powder 3ss. It is said to leave no unpleasant effects on the stomach or head. HUNTERIAN ORATION. Mr. Chevalier has just published his Hunterian Oration, delivered before the College of Surgeons, in February of the present year. It is written with considerable elegance and force of thought, displaying much erudition, and, what we prize more highly, philanthropy, liberality, and fine moral feeling. We shall have room but for two or three extracts from this interesting oration. The first exhibits a feature of Mr. Hunter's character, which it would be wise for all to keep before their mind's eye, from the highest to the lowest of the profession. "He was that true and lofty spirit of science, which will not condescend to seek for eminence or wealth, by arrogating a degree of skill and dexterity that no other can attain, or vaunting a remedy with which no one else is acquainted; but which rests for its reward on the fair fame and merit of its acts; which is ever intent on the discovery of truth, and is then most of all delighted, when it can most effectually assist others in the common labour and duty of us all-the advancement of human knowledge, and the alleviation of human distress." P. 76. After descanting, though very modestly, on the advantages which society at large has derived from the Royal Institution of Surgery, which the orator addresses, he displays his liberality of sentiment in the following passage :—— "But while we reflect with satisfaction on the prosperity of our own exertions, we must not omit to acknowledge, with the great respect that is due, the manifold public advantages which have constantly been derived from those of the Royal College of Physicians; who not only in these brighter days, but through a long era of comparative darkness and prejudice, preserved the light of medical science unextinguished and pure; and who, for three centuries, continued to reflect honour on this nation, by members eminent for learning, great in science, and distinguished by the first excellence in professional attainments. Having enjoyed in our universities the highest means of cultivation that are provided for the human intellect, and then devoting themselves to the study and practice of medicine; these enlightened persons are most wisely and beneficially appointed the constitutional guardians of the public health; and we feel it a happiness to unite with them in our endeavours to mitigate the pains of disease; to convey consolation and hope into the chambers of anxiety and alarm; and to avert or alleviate that stroke which rends asunder all human attachments, by disuniting the conscious and immortal part of man from the world of matter, and transferring it to the world of spirits." 93. The following passage will afford a specimen of Mr. Chevalier's command of language as well as of vivid ideas. "But it is not enough that we advert to the benefits derived from surgery, in the comparatively tranquil and measured course of civil life; we must not forget what it has accomplished in other and more turbulent scenes. We must turn to those seas and fields, and mantling walls, over which the thunder of the murderous cannon has roared; where fire and sword have met in awful conjunction, to support or to oppose unrelenting ambition; and where the loaded engines of war have vomited forth instant death and mutilation upon thousands and tens of thousands. How many lives have been preserved; how many days and nights of agony and torment have been prevented; what solace and consolation have been afforded in the slow and gloomy hours of anguish and suspense, by the firm and faithful band which surgery has been enabled to stretch forth to the relief of the suffering brave! Sudden, arduous, and complicated, are often the duties, which a naval or a military surgeon is called to perform. Hic illi occurrit Tydeus; hic inclitus armis Parthenopous, et Adrasti pallentis imago but well have those duties been sustained. The tried skill and humanity of our surgeons have been associated with the military glory of their country, and have divested the day of battle of half its horrors." 95. The orator passes a high and well-merited eulogium on the character of the late, and distinguished talents of the present, President of the Royal Society; and concludes with an emphatic address to the rising generation of medical students, in which he repels the idea that our profession can have any natural tendency towards scepticism and irreligion. "Who," says he, "can seriously contemplate the numberless operations of the principle of life, all infallibly producing their several and peculiar results, in all the different tribes of the animal and vegetable worlds-who can behold the powers with which the human body is endowed, to repair its injuries, and to relieve its diseases, as far as the destinies of our nature will permit-who can survey the demonstrations of those facts which are contained in that matchless museum, and not be compelled to unite in the glowing language of our immortal bard "These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good, Some communications which the Editor has lately received have suggested the idea of his defraying, at his own expense, eight pages of closely printed letter-press, in the Extra Limites department of each fature number of the Journal, as a bonus to the public, and a vehicle for ingenious remarks, suggestions, strictures on doctrines, practices, modes of conduct, &c. &c. in books or men, couched in general terms, and carefully devoid of personalities. These communications must be anonymous, at least to the public, and may extend from a few lines to a page; but not beyond that, if possible, lest they should abridge the variety which this department is expected to produce. It is considered that a medical ARGUS, keeping a watchful eye on the interests and respectability of the profession, and legitimately criticising, in general terms, such deviations from the line of rectitude, propriety, truth, sound science, and morality, as may occur in men or books, must exert a very salutary influence, especially if dignity of expression and good humour be observed. As this department is entirely at the private expense of the superintending Editor, it is requested that communications may be post paid, and sent as early in the quarter as possible. After the tenth of the month preceding publication day, they will be too late for that number of the Journal. N. B. All appeals and defences of authors must be paid for, as usual, in the Extra Limites department. The following letter was lately received, bearing the postmark of a large town in the country; and as it contains observations which we deem to be deserving of attention, we shall give it place by way of opening the eyes of ARGUS, for the first time, to the wonderful scene of human life around him. XVII. EXTRA LIMITES. ARGUS, No. I. Centum luminibus cinctum caput ARGUS habebat, Cætera servabant. To the Editors of the Medico-Chirurgical Review. GENTLEMEN, At page 787 of your fourth number, you have introduced an extract from an oration pronounced by Professor Richerand of Paris, in which he draws a humiliating picture of the Profession in his own country," in consequence of the medical market being overstocked." In the succeeding page, Gentlemen, you seem to think that M. Richerand's observations will not apply to Great Britain; but probably were you to witness the measures pursued by competitors for medical celebrity in the country, you would alter vour opinions. In the metropolis, indeed, the odium medicam is |