8 OPENING OF THE

LONDON UNIVERSITY.

THE first course of Lectures dedicated tothe medical classes of this Institution, wascommenced on Wednesday last, by Mr. iCHARLES BELL, the Professor of physiology

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and surgery. He prefaced his Lecture withthe following speech. The theatre, whichis capable of containing nearly one thou-sand persons, was crowded in every part.Gentlemen,-It will somewhat diminish theoppressive nature of my duty to-day, if youwill permit me to say, that although I havethe honour of first appearing before you,-a circumstance accidental,-I speak my in-dividual sentiments only, as your Professorof physiology and surgery.The munificent arrangements made for

science and education, and the numerousaudience now assembled, must not lead mefor a moment to assume that the labour ofthe Professors will be light or easy. Thetask which awaits us is a very difficult one ;we must wilt our way to public confidence,as if our professional exertions were but

commencing.The success of the University will depend

on the relation established betwixt theteacher and the pupil ; the devotion of theone to the interests of science and to theinstruction of youth ; and the gratitude ofthe other for the highest benefit that can bereceived-the improvement of his mind andthe acquisition of a profession : through theimprovement of his mind, incalculable in.crease of happiness, and, by the acquisitionof a profession, the best security for inde-pendence that the condition of society ad-mits.- (Applause.)If I value highly the influence of thisgreat establishment, it is because I havebeen long engaged in teaching, and haveexperienced all the difficulties of forming amedical school. For obvious reasons, Lon-don must continue to be the principal schoolof medicine ; but whilst there are many fa-vourable circumstances, there are also manyunfavourable, to regular study; and it isnow to be demonstrated that it is possibleto retain that which is favourable, and toavoid the defects.In colleges, such as have been instituted

in former ages, the Professors enjoy the

advantages of independence and seclusion,and are removed from the distraction of ourbusy world. It is otherwise in London.Here professional men are differently situ-ated, and more activity is requisite, perhapsof a different kind, less contemplative ortheoretical-more practical; and, to main-tain a distinguished place, unceasing exer-tion is necessary. They are on an acclivity,or rather in a rushing stream, where theywill be carried down, if they do not endea-

vour to ascend. In the course of thirtyyears I have seen the establishment of manyschools attempted ; but it has always hap.pened, that the temptation of following alucrative practice, has far outweighed thedesire of reputation to be gained by teach-ing ; and, consequently, just when the Pro-fessor became useful by the knowledge hewas capable of communicating, he has with-drawn himself: and so the situation of amedical teacher, instead of being the high-est, and entitling him who holds it to beconsulted in cases of difficulty,—as beingof the seniors of his profession, one whohas withstood petty solicitations, and has

maturely studied as well as practised,-it ismerely looked upon as a situation introduc-tory to business ; one of expectancy, andto be occupied in rapid succession by youngand inexperienced men. Let us hope that,instead of this rapid succession, this Uni-

versity may be able to raise the Professorsof science to higher consideration, inducemen of talents to prepare themselves forteaching, and to continue their public la.bours to a later period of life.With respect to our students, the defects

in their mode of education are acknowledgedon all hands : they are at once engaged inmedical studies, without adequate prepara-tion of the mind ; that is to say, withouthaving acquired the habit of attention to acourse of reasoning; nor are they acquaint-ed with those scienoes which are really ne-cessary to prepare them for comprehendingthe elements of their own profession. Butin this place this is probably the last timethey will be unprepared, for example, -forsuch subjects as we must touch on to-day.In future they will come here to apply theprinciples they have acquired in the otherclass rooms to a new and more useful science.Another disadvantage of the mode of con-

ducting our medical schools, has arisen fromthe too numerous engagements of the headsof schools, and a want of the necessary di-vision of labour. In consequence of this,there is no one to take an interest in thestudent’s welfare-to recommend regula-rity-to observe his character-to noticehis moral or religious conduct. In short,there can be no condition more solitary andneglected than that of a young man, whohas come to London to pursue his studies,uatil he form his own society ; and thus,without a guide, he makes the first andmost difficult step in life,-that which maygive a colour to all his future objects. Howdifferent his condition here ! Instead ofthe unnoticed privacy of his chamber, wherethere is nothing to give him the hope ofdistinction through study, or to gild hisprospects-and how prone is genius to bedistrustful of itself, and to add gloom topoverty and solitude; here he is watched

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with solicitude, not by his Professors only,but by those able and willing to raise him tothe distinction he shall deserve ; men ofextensive influence, who have given abun-dant proofs of their desire to display thefair rewards of virtue, to foster genius, andto open the prospects of the unfriendedstudent. (Cheers.)

There is a character that attaches to ourmedical students, which well deserves theconsideration of all who desire their im-

provement. Besides the pleasure and theindependence of mind which a young manfinds resulting from habits of study, there issomething peculiar in the character of themedical student.

His occupations lead him off from autho-rity at an immature and dangerous time oflife. The pursuit of experimental philoso-phy, and the history of those sciences towhich he is now introduced, tend to givehim a mean opinion of the efforts of indivi- duals, and to beget a suspicion of any thinglike authoritative language. His mind sud-denly illuminated, and feeling all the de.

lights which arise from the contemplation ofnature, and the cultivation of science, if you ’,love him and value his permanent good,touch with extreme delicacy upon his reli-

gious opinions. The man of classical ac-

complishments only has lost his influence

upon him, and hence arises a jealousy inmany pious and learned men of the culti-

vators of philosophy. They find, they ,,

scarcely know how, that the youth haveescaped from their controul. To our stu-dents, books aie no longer talismans andspells ; they have no respect for antiquity,and names have no authority with them.Taught to surrender their judgment to ex-periment only, can we be surprised that

they require to be reasoned with and to

have the example before them of men

highly informed in those departments of

knowledge which they are in the habit of

considering the test of intellectual emi-nence ?

In classical learning,-that is, in worksof imagination,—the ancients must have an-ticipated all the most natural and obviousallusions, and in simplicity, force, and

beauty, far surpass the moderns. But in

physical science, the course of discovery isprogressive and expanding, and the factsdiscovered daily are more and more inte-

resting and important. The consequence is

naturally this : the student of the formerare more amenable to authority : they lookback on ancient times as being worthy of alladmiration, whilst the student of the latterclass is conscious that he knows a great dealmore than the most ingenious or inquisitiveof those who lived a hundred years beforehim, and considers them as having lived inthe. childhood of the world.

I do not speak of this condition of mind inour students as an advantage, but merely asa too natural consequence of their mode ofeducation. As an advocate for that body ofmen with whom 1 have been so long con-nected, 1 ask, if we shall not fintl clergymenwho, animated by a zeal for religion, will fitthemselves to become guides to this im-

portant class-by acquiring another claimupon their attention, besides the authorityin which they are already clothed, and whoshall maintain their superiority by the ex-tent of their scientific acquirements, beingsuch as can be best appreciated by theseyoung’ men.

If religious duties have, in the early partof life, been taught with parental affection—if the voluntary labours of some of our pro-fessors extend these lessons in a mannersuited to the growing capacity of our stu-dents-if our students have a place of pub-lic worship, and if, on such occasions, theyare under the eye of those by whom theyhave been instructed during the week,there is, in this respect, incalculable im-provement in their condition.When the indifference with which young

men are apt to look on this subject shall havegiven place to experience and mature re-flection,--when they shall have learned theimportance of right principles and justmodes of thinking, and look back with

gratitude to the examples they have had inthis place,-then may the University besaid to be established ; for its establishmentmust ultimately depend on the character ofthose educated in it, and their influence onsociety. At present, whilst this beautifuledifice is incomplete, and the labours of theworkmen are only suspended, and clamouris excited, it requires some exertion of themind to rid us of the influence of these press-ing circumstances, and fully to anticipateand appreciate the advantages to be derivedfrom this College, and not from this Collegeonly, but from others formed after its exam-ple, by the exertions of those who, althoughthey may not have had the genius to con-

ceive the plan, yet may have the virtue toimitate it. (Great applause.)

There is only one more reflection which Ishall venture to express-great advantageand satisfaction result from a combination oflearned men, each active in his own sphere,whilst all combine for the greater object; andwhat so laudable and inspiring as the im-provement of science and literature ! (for Ideem the right teaching any department ofscience the surest way ofimproving it). But,however much men feel the advantage andnecessity of such combinations, they seldomcombine, unless drawn together by the tieof some regular establishment.One happy effect of this is, the uninter-

10 CONDITION OF THE BLOOD.

rupted progress of science ; for, hitherto,those who have taught in our schools, havehad successors to their places, without suc-cessors totheir information or their opinions.Too often, those who sueceed, attempt todepreciate the labours of their predecessors;but where the professors are united, thiscannot take place. The opinion and themodes of teaching are appreciated and re-membered when the individual is lost, andthe course of improvement rolls oa un-

broken from one age to another. In Uni-versities, a posthumous reputation suppliesthe interval after the loss of a great man,till new men of authority arise. In the

general body the excellence, whatever it

may be, is perpetuated, because the societyis permanent, and not fluctuating with thestudents.

This mutual aid, this common interest,these high abjects, I trust, will unite us inthe most friendly intercourse, and will be alasting source of gratification and advantage.

LThe Professor now entered into a

long disquisition, with a view of removingthe mistaken notion of the young student,that there is an irregularity, not a completeadaptation of all the different parts one toanother, in the human system, adverting’particularly to the circulation of the blood,which he demonstrated by the laws of hy-draulics ; but time did not permit him todescant upon it to the extent he wished.]He concluded thus :-

I must interrupt this inquiry for the pre-sent, but I mean to extend my examples ina future Lecture, and to go generally intothe subject, that I may at last have, as itwere, the privilege and the pleasure ofdrawing you to the conclusion, that what

appears irregular and accidental in the hu-man frame, arises from our ignorance ; forwhen we approach the inquiry with humi-lity and due diligence, the proofs of designand order multiply in proportion to the

knowledge we possess, and as the subjectrises in interest, we are borne away in ad-miration ; and here let me say, gentlemen,that admiration is involuntary praise. (Loudapplause.)At the conclusion of the Lecture, the

warden announced that the whole of the

University was open to the inspection ofthe persons present. !

Among the many judicious arrangements’which have been made for the accommo- ! Idation of pupils, is one which will obviatesome of the ohjections that have been raisedagainst the institution. The lower part ofthe building’ has been fitted up as a refresh-ment room, in which the students may be

supplied, at a very moderate rate, withdinners, btenkfasts, and other refreshments.Any thing like an approach to luxury hasbeen wisely avoided, but all that is neces-sary and convenient is furnished.

FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.

ON THE CONDITION OF THE BLOOD AND THE

VESSELS IN INFLAMMATION.*

* Experimenta circa statum sanguinis etvasorum in inflammatione, aort. J. Kalten-brenner, M.D., and Magendie’s Journal.

THE numerous experiments of Haller andSpallanzani, and the more recent ones of

Doellinger, Thomson, and Hastings, mightseem to have completely exhausted the hi.formation to be derived from the use of the

microscope, with regard to the phenomenaof inflammation ; it appears, however, fromDr. Kaltenbrenner’s most elaborate work,that this is by no means the case; his oly-servations, in some respects only, confirmthose of his predecessors ; but in others

evidently lead to contrary results.Our author has chosen for his observa-

tions the organs of animals of three differentclasses : the tail of the cobitis fossilis, theweb of the frog’s foot, the lungs of the frogand salamander, the mesentery and liver ofthe frog, the mesentery, liver, and mucousintestinal membrane of the rat and rabbit,and the spleen of the mouse. The means

by which inflammation was excited in theseorgans, were also very various ; incision,contusion, and puncture’ ; laceration, pres-sure, burning, cold, and heat; exposure ofthe intestines to air, water, and differen’t

gases ; hunger and poison’s ; especially sub-limate, ammonia, alcohol, opium, and themuriates of soda and ammonia, were suc-

cessfully employed for this purpose. Theaction of these different means on the

living body, produced infinite modificationsin the circulation of the blood, and’ in the

vessels ; all which, considered under a cer.tain point of view, the author is led to re-gard as being founded on one and the sameorganic process.

After death, the arteries are found empty,the blood having entirely passed into theveins ; this phenomenon was well known tolialler, and he observed it very accuratelyin the mesentery of the frog. The stic-

cessive changes which, by means of the

microscope, are seen in an organ at the mo-ment of its being deprived of life, are the

following : on the aliproach of death, thecolumn of blood in the arteries graduallydiminishes in size, till, at last, the vesselscontain only half of the usual quantity; thestream is uninterrupted, rapid, and withoutany visible pulsations, which, however, maybe observed after some time, correspondingwith those of the heart, and gradually be-coming more and more distinct; at last,