such assertion; all those I have mentioned have died while rejoicing in a Christian faith, and sustained by a Christian hope. The majority of them, during their entire lives, were known as consistent believers in Divine truth, and several had filled conspicuous positions in the religious associations of our country. I recall in this connection the words of Bacon:-"A little philosophy inclineth a man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion."

Of our annual orators, Francis, Manley, Smith, Stewart, Swett, and Watson have passed away. Their discourses have recorded the merits of predecessors and cotemporaries; to-night we pay homage to their memories.

Nor should we forget that since our last anniversary O'Reilly, Enos, Stevens, and Guilford have been removed by death-men who would have adorned any calling, and of whose characters and labors our profession has had reason to be proud. On the graves of our deceased Fellows we this evening will set out the amaranth and the ivy, lest Time should have frosted those we had before planted.

There are many in each profession gifted with genius, but who, by reason of an innate modesty, shrink from taking the lead, preferring to follow in the wake of others who, perhaps, are less competent than themselves. There are many who have not the time, possibly not even the inclination, to examine the minute intricacies of science—

"With stumbling steps along the dubious maze,
Tracing with half-scen thread the darksome ways."

Scattered through this and other lands are to be found innumerable physicians who are prevented from prosecuting either the higher or collateral branches of medicine, but who imbibe the essential principles of our profession, are conscientious and successful practitioners, and who are as deserving of the regard of the public as their more distinguished associates. It is probable that many a metropolitan expert, perplexed by the expectations of his skill, has oft-times quoted the line of Addison :-"The post of honor is a private station."

It does not necessarily follow that those occupying prominent positions, either in Church, State, or Science, are possessed of very unusual ability. Accidental circumstances of birth, wealth, and favoritism may give notoriety, if not true reputation, to those possessed of comparatively moderate mental powers. No adage of Shakespeare contains better truth than the one-"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

While metropolitan experience largely contributes towards attaining proficiency in various departments of medicine, nevertheless history affords notable examples of those who have acquired renown, and who have advanced the interests of our profession, though they have chiefly resided either in country districts or in the smaller towns or in cities but who have not enjoyed extended hospital advantages. As instances I would cite Hippocrates, Galen, Sydenham, Scarpa, Jenner, and Abercrombie.

There are many whose sphere of labor and of duty is confined to a small precinct, and whose names are

scarcely mentioned beyond the confines of a county, but who are possessed of as cultivated tastes and of as superior genius as their more illustrious cotemporaries. Circumstances have not favored their development into the world of letters, but in the communities in which they reside they are regarded as priceless jewels, and their names cherished as household words.

It is not to be expected that those who are very actively engaged in the practice of their profession can have extended leisure to devote to original research, and the moments devoted to such labor are liable to be disturbed by thoughts reverting to usual vocations or to other subjects. We are amused at the picture of the absent-minded celibate philosopher, who, in his secluded study, while eagerly perusing his book, sits bending over the fire-the bubbling saucepan containing his watch while the egg is grasped securely in his hand.

Busy men in various walks of life have difficulty in concentrating their minds on fixed subjects, more especially upon abstruse topics. Luther even complained of the great difficulty he experienced in engaging for a long season in serious thoughts, and has said:"Let any one try how long he can rest on one idea he has proposed to himself, or take one hour and vow that he will tell me all his thoughts. I am sure he will be ashamed before himself, and afraid to say what ideas have passed through his head, lest he should be taken for a mad dog and be chained." He also states that St. Bernard once complained to a friend that he found it very difficult to pray aright, and could not pronounce the Lord's

prayer once without a host of strange thoughts. His friend was astonished, and gave it as his opinion that he could fix his thoughts on his prayer without difficulty. Bernard offered him the wager of a fine horse on condition he should commence forthwith. The friend commenced, "Our Father," etc.; but before he had finished the first petition it occurred to him, if he should gain the horse, whether he would also receive saddle and bridle. In short, he became so entangled in his thoughts that he abandoned his effort for the prize. If such great and good men have difficulty in riveting attention for a few mo ments upon important devotional exercises-and who of us, if equally candid, but could plead guilty to the same inadvertence-how much more difficult is it to abstract the mind from social and domestic pleasures and cares, and from professional perplexities, and employ our limited leisure in exploring the hidden intricacies of science.

It is a fortunate circumstance for humanity that facts in medical philosophy, demonstrated by individual investigators favorably situated for close application, can be utilized by all the members of the healing art. Practical medical literature has nevertheless depended for many of its most important contributions upon those actively employed in clinical observation, and not alone upon those exclusively busied in physiological and pathological explorations.

A considerable amount of systematic scientific research can be accomplished if the desire for it is pressing. Each day is a complete cycle-life a repetition of such cycles. The habits of a day form the habits of a life. However urgent may be the occu

pations, each day presents opportunities for reflec tion and reading. As memory fails to retain many facts of observation, and many thoughts derived from others, it seems almost essential to acquire a habit of daily noting the more significant for future refer ence. Unoccupied moments may be employed in analyzing such accumulation, and analyses may inspire unexpected and valuable syntheses.

The importance of each day's labor can scarcely be over-estimated. We are reminded in this connection that even during the patriarchal period old Jacob numbered his life by days, and that Moses desired to be taught this point of holy arithmetic, to number not his years, but his days.

The elder Scipio, whose military achievements gave him a foremost rank among the Roman generals, and have perpetuated his name to the present day, devoted the time disengaged from military business to the study of literature, and was accustomed to say, "that he was never less at leisure than when he was at leisure."

Excessive devotion to science and belles-lettres, however, by favoring sedentary and secluded habits, not only may jeopardize the health, but also may lead to other insalutary or undesirable conditions. It favors either on the one hand celibacy, or on the other an abstinence from many of the duties and pleasures associated with conjugal and social life. From the days of Socrates to the present time how many literati might be cited as victims of connubial wretchedness! Should we decipher the causes of such domestic infelicities it would doubtless be found that they are not generally of an im