Private patients, if they do not like me, can go elsewhere; but the poor devils in the hospital I am bound to take care of.

There is no short cut, nor "royal road," to the attainment of medical knowledge. The path which we have to pursue is long, difficult, and unsafe.

Pray, Mr. Abernethy, what is a cure for gout?' was the question of an indolent and luxurious citizen. 'Live upon sixpence a day - and earn it,' was the cogent reply.

We must adopt loathsome diseases for our familiar associates, or we shall never be thoroughly acquainted with their nature and dispositions; we must risk, nay even injure, our own health in order to be able to preserve or restore that of others.