high social positions, with their pleasant attractions, have elected to devote themselves to, and to live for science, which owes to them an incalculable debt. The possession of independent means is, however, nothing but a calamity in the case of those who are really unfitted for research, as it enables them to indulge their inclination, often to the decided obstruction and disadvantage of the progress of true science. But we must also not forget to honour those who, without any means of their own, are content to live a very simple and frugal life, or even to suffer hardships, their entire pleasure being in scientific research, whether remunerated or not. To such men, of whom Pasteur is a striking example, we owe not a few conspicuous advances in knowledge and practice. Such a state of things is, however, anything but satisfactory, and it is our duty on all occasions to urge the imperative necessity of adequate endowments, whether from public or private sources, which may attract competent scientific workers, and ensure them a livelihood worthy of their position. Only in this way can we fairly hope or expect to provide a steady and reliable supply of men fitted to carry on useful investigations, in relation to the many important questions and problems calling for solution, which the progress of medicine is constantly bringing to the front.
However well-qualified an individual may be by nature for the work of research, the fact must
