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Science is ever learning and investigating, while inferiority is exhibiting and teaching. Patients like to be told the name and nature of disease, whether the doctor know or not. Therefore, while Science is unravelling the mystery-Ignorance is pronouncing its nature and its name.

An ill-educated man, for instance, of good personal appearance, starts in practice, and boldly proclaims himself "a professional phenomenon "boasts that he can cure every thing and every one, and has a ready name for every complaint. He captivates by his boldness and confidence, and makes the public believe that his really talented competitors are unfit to carry his shoes. Cases recover or they die; but, unfortunately, they die where they should recover. Parents regret their lost children, and families their lost relatives and friends, in perfect ignorance that they might have been saved by the master-mind and scientific hand. Thus they proceed, dupes and duped—pari passu—to the end of the chapter. Thus

"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."

It is a great misfortune that the world is captivated with the very things which most disqualify a doctor. Thus the world is pleased with the man who decides off-hand, whether right or

wrong-who gives disease a name before he knows its nature. But more: it associates skill with hospital appointments—carriages—horses -large houses and great people-or with noise, bustle, and vulgarity. It reasons, that a man is clever if he keep a carriage; and skilful if he attend the rich.

Incapable as the public are to judge of a medical man, yet, who has not a favourite doctor whom he patronises and recommendsand thinks more clever than his neighbour's doctor?

The fact is, that the only person who can really judge of a medical man is a medical man himself; but envy-hatred-malice—and all uncharitableness, warp the judgment. Hence you can rarely depend upon a doctor's opinion of a doctor, unless he be far removed from all biassing influences. If we really cannot judge by appearances of a medical man's talent—is it not criminal to confide the lives of our children or relatives to the care of a man who may an ignoramus, or even something worse? Are we not bound in conscience to give ourselves some trouble to ascertain the qualifications of a man before entrusting human life to his keeping? Undoubtedly we are: and it is, unquestionably, morally criminal to employ a man simply because

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the greengrocer or the shoemaker recommended him; or because he makes a noise and cuts a dash, or purchases another's practice.

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But, at the same time, is it not wrong should be admitted to the ranks of medicine who are not fitted by education or by natural qualities to practise it with safety to the public?

In publishing the Mysteries of Medical Life, I have been instigated by a strong desire to let the light of truth into the recesses of the Esculapian temple, which has been for ages standing in the shadow of its own greatness. Its architects and artificers are scarcely known, even by name; indeed the public innocently think that their especial favourites - the "Popular Celebrities,"

are the real artificers; whereas they are nothing more than flunkies, who post themselves around its gates-wear its sable livery—and assume the dignified importance of its gods: just as their plush homologies—the Jeameses and the Tummases-assume the importance of their betters. But Truth-that moral power of mind's machinery-when pointed as a wedge, can rive the strongest blocks; when twisted as a screw, can insinuate itself in every part; and when armed as a lever, can raise the superstructure from its base, so that the whole may be remodelled and renewed.

Then, why not use the truth to enable us to see things as they are, and not as they appear to be? Only reflect on the proud array of scientific names engraven on the temple walls during the last half-century-men whose works have shed a lustre o'er the globe, while noisy popularities have reaped the harvest ripened by their rays.

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It is clear to me, that the sooner the status of the profession is raised, the better for doctor and for public. We must hold out inducements to superiorly educated men to join the ranks of medicine. The examinations must be made severe, and more equal-in fact, equality of education at starting is essential. The superadded qualifications will be forthcoming as they are required. The equality of medical education will never stand in the way of a proper tribution of doctors; for instance,―aristocracy would never condescend to tolerate the union or club-surgeon, while the denizen of St. Giles's would never dream of running to Belgravia or Mayfair to fetch the fashionable doctor; yet each would be equally well supplied so far as medical talent and professional acquirement were concerned. Every sensible person likes to employ a medical practitioner in his own sphere of life,-whose habits, feelings, manners, and sentiments, are most congenial with his own, and he

will have the more confidence when he knows that his doctor is just as well educated as my lord's doctor, or the squire's doctor.

The facilities which railways give to the inhabitants of London and large towns to breathe the country air cause numerous families to emigrate into the suburban districts, which are consequently becoming thickly studded with every description of cottage and country villa, to say nothing of parks and mansions innumerable. Tracts of country which a few short years ago were under plough, are now converted into embryo towns, adorned with every conceivable and inconceivable variety of architecture. Roman and Grecian villas,-fantastic wooden cottages, - florid Gothic mansions,-mimic Kremlins, bristling with spire, and tower, and minaret, and here and there a few halftimbered imitations of the olden time.

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Here-in summer the blanched and wearied citizen transmits his household gods;—here he leads a rude al-fresco life, and rends the air with noisy, merry laugh. Here music's thrilling note is wafted on the breeze, as City beauties strain their practised lungs-accustomed to outvie the noise of busy streets. Here, towards evening, may be seen upon the trim and narrow lawn, the merry group, in strange, grotesque

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