228 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. the interest and honour of the discovery are consi- dered. The title of William Hunter is now gene- rally conceded. It is chiefly to his exertions, and to those of his pupils, Hewson, Shelden, and Cruikshank, combined with those of Mascagni, in Italy, that we are indebted for the complete ex- amination and history of that system of vessels. Blumenbach awards this palm to William Hunter, and few will be disposed to contest his decisions on such subjects. William Hunter was regularly shaped, but his frame was slender, and he was rather below the middle stature. He was an early riser ; and when his professional visits were finished, was constantly to be found in his anatomical rooms, or in his museum. In making inquiries of his patients, he had an appearance of attention, which seldon^. failed to conciliate their confidence. He was diffi- dent and candid in consultation with his brethren ; in familiar conversation, he was cheerful and un- assuming. In his lectures, he was celebrated for the variety and appositeness of the anecdotes with which he enlivened or illustrated the theme : men of the world, artists, and persons of every taste, listened to him with gratification. As an ac- coucheur, he is allowed to have done much to introduce the moderation and caution which now prevail, amongst intelligent practitioners, in the use of instruments : — " I am clearly of opinion," says he, in one of his latest publications*, " from all the information which I have been able to pro-
- Reflections relative to the Operation of Cutting the Symphysis
of the Ossa Piibis.
