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9 having been removed next day, the stump healed perfectly kindly. Here, as in the other cases, local treatment proved efficacious.

I was greatly struck with the clear evidence which these cases seemed to afford that the disease was of the nature of a purely local poison. In the hope of discovering its nature I examined microscopically the slough from one of the sores, and I made a sketch of some bodies of pretty uniform size which I imagined might be the materies morbi in the shape of some kind of fungus. Thus as regards that form of hospital disease, the idea that it was probably of parasitic nature was at that early period already present to my mind.

On visiting Edinburgh by Dr. Sharpey's advice in order to see something of Mr. Syme's practice, I was fascinated by the prominence that he gave to the pathological side of surgery as well as by his rare diagnostic judgment and his surpassing powers as an operator. Under him I had the unexpected great privilege of a second house surgeoncy, which extended over upwards of a year, and in the great Loyal Infirmary I had ample opportunity for observing the behaviour of wounds under the most varied conditions. I was charmed with the superiority of the treatment of recent wounds which I witnessed there over the "water-dressing" which was used at University College after the precepts of Liston, who introduced it in place of what he termed "filthy unguents." Water-dressing, though cleanly when applied, was