The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-04 00:00:00

ness, mind occupations, and the like, these were the
remedies with which to assist nature in throwing
off disease. They should never forget that nature
effected, if possible, the cure, and that the pbysi•
cian was best skilled who by judicious selections
from his materia medica so lightened her task as to
relieve the passing pain; who supported, or, if
needs be, stimulated her efforts, or who transferred
the stress of a disease to where it could be better
borne by the system." This is soand doctrine, and
it is gratifying to find such sensible advice given to
those entering upon their careers in an arduous
profession, which is so intimately associated with
the well• being of society. The more nature is
studied the fewer errors will be made, and the
greater the successes met with in the cure and pre-
vention of disease. Another point upon which the
lecturer dwelt was on the benefits of "Experience,"
quoting in connection with the subject the words of
CARLYLE, " She doth take dreadfully high wages,
but she teaches like none other." Well will it be
for all concerned when these principles prevail
more fully through the whole range of medical
science, when doctors will cease to think and
patients to believe that they can control nature,
but each in their way bow before her rules and
follow her injunctions. Mr. CALLENDER' s address
was replete with interesting details from first to
last, and his closing exhortations as to tha value of
perseverance were moat admirable and exactly to the
purpose. He said that their work must be crowned
with success if they only acted upon the advice of
the Wisest of the wise, " Whatsoever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might." Their high
calling was to heal the sick, and in all humility to
stand between life and death. " This had been our
work in the times gone by—we toiled for it now,
and thus it was that men would look to them for it
in the times to come." Dr. LANGDOWN, of Earls-
wood, Redhill, delivered the address at the Loudon
Hospital, of which the seventieth session was that
day inaugurated. He dwelt upon the import-
ance of connecting an hospital with a medical
school, as it afforded incalculable advantages
to the students in various ways. He urged
upon those that day entering upon the pro-
fession the importance of considering the
requirements of it, and to fit themselves for their
arduous duties by every means in their power. If
they came not to their work with a loving heart
and a vigorous mind they had better not come at all.
The passage in which Dr. LANGDOWN referred to
the various points of interest in their career was
very effective, and may well arrest attention. He
said that their profession did not hold out the
prospect of great wealth or extended renown. The
coronet, the marshal's baton, and the mitre were
not their prizes, but he would congratulate them
upon their choice of a career. " Their capital
would be knowledge, which no bankruptcy could
take away; their arena would be the chamber of
sickness, and their eloquence would be called
upon to stay the torrent of human sor.
row, and to mingle in the cadences of
human joy ; their clients would surely pre-
sent a case in which their honour would be
sacrificed in advancing to the rescue ; they were
embracing a faith which was catholic, and a creed
which was wide as humanity." These are stirring
truths, which urge on the votaries of a profession,
and speak to them of their duties as with the sound
of a trumpet. It is gratifying to find so elevated
and ennobling a view taken of the medical profes-
sion by its leading members, and this spirit of
aspiring, this tendency to combine the excellencies
of the work into a powerful focus, must in time
impress and animate those who are climbing the
hill which may truly be termed that " difficulty."
The closing remarks of the lecturer might
worthily apply to any undertaking, and be the
stimulants to all labourers in the highway of
the world. He bade his hearers let the student's
life, that day commenced, be a prelude to their
work after pupilage, and to the higher life hereafter
—" The formula to aid in the solution of your
problems, the secret that will command success,
the talismanic charm which turns everything into
gold, the potent spell at which all difficulties va-
nish—it is earnest and persistent work. Let it be
supplemented by a gentle Christian life, terminated
by a paaceful, hopeful death." Dr. GREENHOW'
at Middlesex Hospital, was successful in his
attempts to impress the high nature of their calling
upon the students, and some of his remarks and
expositions are most noteworthy. He also closed
his address in an elevated strain, which was,
in fact, a sermon of daily life, that, fully
and faithfully carried, would tend to the ser-
vice of men in their vocation here, and also serve
to fit and prepare themselves for the glories of here.
after. He said that they would fulfil GoD's pur-
pose in the station to which they were called if they
sought to diminish the sum of human suffering, and
to increase that of human enjoyment, and that "of
medical knowledge, above all others, it might be
said that it should be not a drug for profit or sale,
but a rich storehouse for the glory of the CREATOR,
and the relief of man's estate. Altogether it may be
declared that the style and tenour of the addresses
this year have been as good as could be demanded,
that they have fulfilled their requirements and
answered their ends, and when this is said no
further praise can be sought for.

The maritime interests of the United Kingdom
are every year increasing in magnitude, and those
who are unacquainted with the extent of our com-
mercial dealings may well marvel when they learn
from the official returns that the number of ships
entered inwards and cleared outwards in British
ports daring the past year was 413,972, represent-
ing a tonnage of nearly 62,000,000 tons, and carry-
ing goods whose estimated value amounted to more
than £400,000,000 sterling. Such a trade flings
into insignificance the fabled wonders of the ancient
empires, and its extent is fully commensurate with
the old boast of Britons that their country is "mis-
tress of the seas." But the very largeness of the
interests involved entails a corresponding amount
of danger and responsibility ; and although great
efforts are made, both publicly and privately, for
the discharge of these obligations, it cannot be said
that we have yet succeeded to our satisfaction.
Naturally, with such an immense trade, the list of
casualties and disasters must be heavy, especially
when we take into consideration the rocky and
dangerous nature of our coasts. But it is a morti-
fying fact that, not only is the number of ship-
wrecks larger even in proportion to our trade, but
it is yearly on the increase, in spite of the efforts
that have been made to check it. What the
loss of life would be were it not for tilt
labours of the Lifeboat Society it is dread-
ful to think, but even with all their exertions
it is greater than it should be. According to the
Wreck Register for 1863, recently published, the
wrecks for that year are no less than 2,001, being
an increase on those of the preceding twelvemonth
of 174, and being also above the estimated average.
Indeed, since 1859 the number of wrecks has been
steadily increasing; although that year can scarcely
be taken as a minimum sample, seeing the storms
which desolated our coasts at the does of the year,
and sent the Royal Charter to her grave at Moelfra.
In 1859 the number of wrecks was 1,416; in 1860
it Was 1,379; in 1861, 1,494 ; in 1862, 1827; and
ill 1863, 2,001, The sum total of %reeks during