figurement greater, or from some other still more serious objection; as, for example, when small ones occur in the face, or when they are placed near the eye. Under such circumstances, the contraction consequent on a wound of any extent is a serious inconvenience; in some of these cases the adoption of Mr. Abernethy's plan allows us to dispense with the operation by excision, as I have myself experienced. As it illustrates the advantage of the plan in a case where it was particularly applicable, I will briefly refer to one example. A young lady had one of these marks at the root of the nose, where, from the position, as well as from the contiguity of the eyes, any dragging from the contraction of a scar would have been particularly undesirable. She was brought from the country to have it removed, but, on representing the objections to that course, it was agreed to try Mr. Abernethy's plan, which was completely successful.

At this period Mr. Abernethy published sundry other interesting papers, showing, in his observation of all that was passing around him, that his views were not less circumspect and comprehensive than they were clear. His "surgical cases" are all excellent; and if they do not contain so full an account (the great vice of medical records) of all the circumstances which preceded them as are sufficient to furnish future investigators with the elements of accurate generalization, they are remarkably valuable for the qualities of clearness and candor.

We may have an opportunity of briefly alluding to some of these papers in our Summary; but they are hardly practicable subjects for popular analysis, although they form some of the most valuable contribu

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tions to the practical literature of the profession. They show, also, that he was as penetrative and efficient in regard to the operative department of practice as he was in those higher and more extended views, which, in enlarging the science of surgery, has tended to diminish, of course, the number of operations.

About the year 1785, John Hunter had invented his celebrated improvement in the treatment of a disease of the arteries called "Aneurism." It was a very simple deduction from observations on the state of the arteries; and although it was one of those inquiries which had been made the subject of experiments on living animals, it was one on which not the smallest light had been thrown by such investigations.

Mr. Hunter had found that, in addition to many other serious objections to an operation which had been usually performed for the relief of this diseasea giving way, or enlargement of a vessel (for it is sometimes one, sometimes the other)-a great cause of failure had been, that the ligature, which was placed round the tube, was too near the disease, and, in fact, involved a portion of the tube which was unsound. He accordingly proposed tying the artery a little further off, and thus substituted, for an operation which was extremely severe, very hazardous, and too commonly fatal, a comparatively short and simple proceeding, which, under moderately favorable auspices, is almost uniformly successful.

Like most other discoveries, accident and similarity of views had suggested similar proceedings to others, so that Continental surgeons were disposed to dispute the merit of the discovery in favor of Guillemeau, Gutani, Anel, Dessault, &c., as their views favored one

or other; but there can be no doubt that the immediate institution of the operation for the definite purposes to which it was applicable was due to John Hunter.

John Hunter's operation applied to the main artery supplying the lower extremity, and surgeons have since extended the operation to many other arteries. The first extension of it, however, occurred to Mr. Abernethy, who about this time-1797-placed a ligature on what is called the external iliac artery; and as he seldom touched any thing which he did not improve, he made an important modification in the mode of proceeding.

Subsequent experience, it is true, has in some measure rendered that improvement no longer necessary; yet, whenever circumstances arise which lead to any material disturbance of the artery from its situation, we apprehend the caution of Abernethy, in tying it in two places close to its connection with the surrounding parts, is a valuable condition.

He also sent, about this time, an ingenious paper to the Royal Society on certain small openings into the cavities of the heart. They are called the "Foramina of Thebesius," from an anatomist who particularly described them. This is to us one of the prettiest of his physiological contributions. The facts are stated with great simplicity, their relations to disease beautifully pointed out, and the inference from the whole very striking, as being in harmony with the facts whence it is deduced; Abernethy's idea being that the holes were for the purpose of obviating excessive repletion of the nutrient vessels of the heart by allowing them to relieve themselves by pouring a portion of their blood

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through these holes into the general mass of the circulation. It could hardly, however, be made interesting to the general reader without going into the subject more than is suited to our present object.

In 1799, Abernethy's reputation had gone on rapidly increasing. His numerous pupils, too, had become the media for frequent consultations, in addition to those which arose from his own connection and reputation with the public.

He now moved from St. Mildred's Court, and took the house in Bedford Row. This was some time previous to October, 1799, the September of that year being the last time his name appears on the rate-book of St. Mildred's Court. He never again changed his professional residence. The move was an important step, but it was only the precursor to one still more interesting.

In the January of the following year, an event occurred which seldom fails to exert a greater influence on a man's future prospects and happiness than any other this was no less than his marriage-of which we must say a few words in a separate chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.

HIS MARRIAGE.

"Ye solvers of enigmas-ye

Who deal in mystery-say

What's cried about in London streets,
And purchased every day.

""Tis that which all, both great and small,

Are striving to obtain,

And yet, though common and quite cheap,
Is daily sought in vain."

OLD RIDDLE.

THERE are few subjects on which people are more agreed than the value of "good matches," neither do they seem to differ very widely as to what that phrase is intended to convey. Not that every body's beauidéal implies identity of composition, but they are pretty well agreed as to the more essential elements.

But if we observe the different ways by which people seek to obtain a common object, we are puzzled to know how folks that set out in such various directions should ever arrive at the same point. The travelers are said, too, to provide themselves not unfrequently with various disguises, not only in dress and externals, but even in manners and sentiments, which they do not usually entertain. Thus we have heard of one who professed a great love of music, who scarcely had an idea of melody; of another who expressed an admiration of poets whom he had never read, or voted unmitigated bores. Others have been known to avow a perfect indifference to wealth who have had scarcely