were of the so-so rather than the select, and there was never much difficulty in working a sick certificate out of him though at times he was cautious and equivocal, when he put pen to paper in this way.' O n e noticeable instance m a y be cited. A fashionable m e m b e r of the demi-monde was once sued in the Court of Requests for a long outstanding oyster account, which it was inconvenient for her either to discharge, or to defend in person, as was then the rule. O n the morning of the hearing she sent for "Sprat" to ask a medical certificate from him, through which she expected a postponement of the case. H e found her in bed, helplessly intoxicated and unwilling to disoblige one of a lucrative connection, he good-naturedly, .scribbled out a professional formula in which he certified that was in such a condition of prostration as to be physically unable to attend the Court. Miss But the ruse did not take, for Commissioner Barry having some inkling of the reality, rejected the tendered document, and gave a verdict against the indisposed lady, to the immense enjoyment of an unwashed aggregation of " Little-Go " frequenters. arrived from Sydney in 1843, with the appointment of Medical Officer to the Military, received from Sir Maurice O'Connell, then C o m m a n d e r of the Forces in N e w South Wales. U p to this time Cussen had charge of the soldiery, from which he was n o w released. Black was also in private practice and continued so for several years after the separation of Port Phillip, rendering the colony many valuable services outside his profession. H e was one of a handful of gentlemen who founded an Ornithological Society, which subsequently grew into a Zoological Society, and may be fairly considered the basis upon which our present acclimatization system is constructed. H e also distinguished himself by his efforts towards the introduction of ostrich farming and the Angora goat; and he was the originator of the Bank of Victoria.
DR. THOMAS BLACK
C. J. SANFORD was a young man somewhat of the Creole in aspect, and collaterally related to the once well-known Captain G. W . Cole. After a brief business connexion with Dr. Campbell he set up on his o w n hook, was well liked, and would, in all probability, have been a marked success, only for taking it into his head toflitfrom the colony after a few years' sojourn in it. From the date of its inception the Melbourne Corporation seemed to find favour with the medical profession, for at the first election of T o w n Councillors in 1842, twro Doctor " J o h n s " — Patterson and Dickson—were returned amongst the maiden members, and subsequently Drs. Palmer, Greeves, Campbell and Sanford, found seats at the Civic Board. But as Medical m e n they did not attain to the position of others mentioned. Indeed Palmer, w h o in London had given m u c h promise as a surgeon, never seriously took to the profession here, for he started in colonial life as a concoctor of effervescing drinks suitable to a warm climate, and his debut in this humble though useful line is thus unpuffingly announced in the following advertisement, printed in the Melbourne newspapers of July, 1841 : — " M r . Palmer has c o m m e n c e d the manufacture of sodawater, effervescing lemonade and ginger beer, in Little Flinders Street." T h e ginger-beering did not turn out the paying spec. expected, and "Doctor" Palmer embarked in the wholesale wine and spirit trade, in which he did better, and so continued for years. " Doctor" Greeves obtained a license for a publichouse known as the Yarra Hotel, at the wharf, and though, unlike Barry Cotter, he superintended the bar in person he shared m u c h the same fate, for he and the concern soon parted company, and the ex-Boniface betook himself to newspaper writing and prescribing. His medical practice could not be said to be considerable, but his well-known public spirit, and activity in all questions of popular moment, so kept him in the public eye that until his death he was never without a moderate run of business.
DR.
J. DEASE, son of Oliver Dease, Army Surgeon, and descendant of the celebrated Surgeon Dease, of Dublin, was born at Malta in 1819. Mr. Dease adopted the medical profession, and became Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland. In 1847 he arrived in Melbourne, when he settled and rapidly acquired an extensive practice. Dr. Dease had, deservedly, the reputation of being a clever and skilful practitioner. His general disposition and many excellent qualities both of mind and heart could not, however, postpone the inevitable hour, and, deeply regretted by a wide circle of friends, he died in 1855.
DR. WILLIAM
