The National Register.
London, England, 1816-06-03 00:00:00

T/IP: NATIONAL REGISTI',II.

And we nets see the tiisi men of the age, who from practic;d
knowledge are ca pa hie of mainta Ming a long and luminous
disputation on Pathology, Morbid Anatomy, stud Animal Fun.
nonts, williney leave to men afflicted with nuo.c temerity
and elninWld with less sound sense. to cavil at chat they can
neither understand nor api.te.ciate ; and happily for the cause
of humanity that it is to; far o nhout the suigical operator
hash: the mod accurate knowledge of Anatomy, such an One
RN is *only to be ob.ained by minute dissections and intense
study over the dead hotly, o hat hope of relief could those poor
onfortimate beings have who are labouring under Strametil4ted
Hernia, Stone in the Bladder, 'lie Donloreti•. Cataract of the
Eye, Compression on the Muhl, Aneurism, st minded Artery, or
el on down to ordinary a ecideots requiring amputation, or other
operation: have they no clttitasOn our sympathies? Again,
look on those brave defenders of tour homes and iiheities mho
may be wounded while lighting our battles, iu the field, or on
the ocean! is the eye of compassitm to be titres er it% cried (100,
theist ? andihey left a toe, to annecessary anguish and untimely
death, because the surgeon dot's hot know how to extract a
ball, remove a limit, or even apply the- tuurniquette? It is a situ-
ple gne..tion of tinting, a het her mic dead body in ten thowand
shall be appropriated to the surgeon. or the dark veil of igno-
rance shall be drawn over the whole art of medicine, leasing
the world a prey to disease and wretchedness.
"Then whence these fears—whence springs this innate dread,
" Which starts repulsive front the harmless dead."
Ha vingitolulgral himself in some nightseCtlincy,J.W.P. gravely
asserts, that the buryieg the dead is en "expiatory ceremony ;"
and that if we disturb their ashes, we break in m the repose
of the departed soul. Ido not know where he gut this notion,
but it is ton ridiculous to be answered.
lie then misfiles on till he loses himself, and talks about dis-
sleeting beasts '• of analogous organization to the human frame."
There is comparative anatomy, hot no such thing as analogous
anatomy. lie then indulges himself milli a treat of s: or-
rility towards the profession in these terms " the ruthless
knife of the unfeeling sit rgieal operator," " the merciless ope-
rators in surgery," " barbarian hands of surgical operators,"
and a great deal more in the same relined strain. bat an ex-
cellent Billingsgate mark ennan is here spoiled! Are these fit
epithets to be applied to the man who lu the bey day of youth,
when his powers of enjoyment arc at their height, voluntarily
gives up every pleasure of society, and recreation, and a great
portion of that sleep which mature unceasingly calls for, and
shuts himself up with a loathsome fetid hotly, in order to tit him
, for becoming an useful member of society, and to inslik hint
to yield health and case to his fellow creature? This, in-
deed, is
" Zeal for God, and active love fur man."

Has J. W. P. 'lei er mixed in the society of medical men.
and witnessed the goodness or their hearts, the refinement of
their sentiments, and their cagagiat, affability? If lie has, and
ever left them without being pleased, they either treated him
contemptuously, or he has made a vet y illiberal return. This
is all his letter amounts to.
I was much pleased to tind, after all the imacconatable
things he has sAid, that lie ran close it so limiloiously as he
has done, by his quotation from the Taunton Courier: it is an
excellent joke, and has are to recommend it; for it has stood
the test of more than twenty nipping winters ; and by this snii-
tary stroke of wit lie ha.; convinced me that the drift of his
whole letter is only to raise a laugh at its close t in which you,
1 sin sate, will Brant nee he has succeeded. Yours, &c. &c.
London-road, May 20, 1816. J. W.