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12 detail that could illuminate it. His reasoning on such a case, would often become mathematically inductive.

This habit became a prominent feature in his professional character. His knowledge of anatomy was cultivated just so far, as to fit him for all the exigencies of surgical duty, for without depreciating the labours of the microscopist, he grasped only at that level which he could render subservient to the treatment of disease. Without possessing an absolute claim to inventive power, he was happy in his improvements of the inventions of others, of which the employment of his strait staff in lithotomy is one example.

Mr. Aston Key is equally well known to the profession both as a teacher and asa writer. During nineteen years he addressed one of the largest assemblages of medical students in the metropolis on his favourite subject, viz., the principles and practice of surgery; and fully maintained the almost unequalled reputation of the great school of Sir Astley Cooper, by the correctness, the force, and the lucidity of his instruction.

As a writer, he has contributed some valuable papers to our surgical records. His first work, in 1824, introduced to the profession a new mode of operating for the stone, which has acquired a decided influence on the present operation of lithotomy. In 1827, he published an edition of Sir A. Cooper’s great work on Hernia; and, in 1828, a memoir “On the advantages of Dividing the Stricture in Strangulated Hernia without opening the Sac.”

In this recommendation, also, the practice of Mr. Key has obtained many proselytes in the profession.

His papers, communicated to the Guy’s Hospital reports,