and to their constant reference to him in their lec- tures, the propagation of his doctrines, and their influence on English surgery, has been mainly owing.
I will not detain you by observations on the per- sonal peculiarities of John Hunter; but there is one anecdote which exhibits so strongly his practical tact, as well as his Johnsonian style of coming to the point, that I cannot refrain from quoting it.
He happened one day to call on Mr. Nicoll, when his wife was pregnant for the sixth time, and took the opportunity of asking him whether he intended to kill this as he had killed all the rest of his children. Mr. Nicoll, it seems, had adopted what is called the hardening system with all the previous ones. Not understanding the question, however, he asked John _ Hunter what he meant. “ Why,” said John Hunter, ‘do you know what is the temperature of a hen with her callow brood? because, if you don’t, I'll tell you.” He then proceeded to explain the ne- cessity of warmth to young animals, and convinced Mr. Nicoll of the propriety of changing his plan, which he did, and with complete success.
It was finely said by Dr. Beddoes, that ‘“ when one heard that Hunter was at length the first sur- geon in London, one felt a satisfaction like that which attends the distribution of poetical justice at the close of a well-told tale.”
With this sentiment the intellect and the heart must alike agree ; the honest and the clear-headed must equally exult in the ultimate success of John
