considerably exceeded the sum which the first three years of his practice brought him.

species of disease was watched by him with an anxious eye, and every new feature it might present examined with the minutest If young medical students could look for- scrutiny, and the most untiring industry. ward to place themselves, by their own ex- Even the lower animals were not exempt ertions, in such a position as this, we think, from his examinations, and many a poor that much as the profession is at present dog fell a victim to his zeal in the cause of overstocked, its ranks would soon become anatomical science. Mr. Cooper states, doubly increased. But unfortunately it is that there have frequently been thirty or of all others the profession least likely to forty of these animals in his stable at a attain to early distinction in, unless with time, which had been stolen by his servants, great interest, or better still by one of all of which were destined to become those "lucky chances" for which many martyrs to the advancement of surgical men, who have filled an eminent station, knowledge. Nor were dogs the only ani. have every reason to "thank their stars." mals upon whom he experimented; an We feel fully convinced that there are at elephant, which died at the tower menagethis moment many young members of the rie, was removed to his house, but after profession with as much talent and as many several unsuccessful attempts to get the requisites (as far as depends upon them- huge carcase into his dissecting rooms, selves) for success as ever Sir Astley he was obliged to get several surgeons to Cooper could boast of, held back and kept assist him, and to work at it for three days completely in the shade for want of the in- in the open air of the court-yard, in front terest, which he possessed, to bring them of his residence. His servants also used to into notice. Whoever will read "The Di-attend the markets to procure specimens of ary of a late Physician," will find in the fowls, fish, etc., in short there were scarcebeautifully written tale of his "early strug-ly any of the animal race which did not gles," a true picture of the difficulties become subjects for his investigation. He which they may expect who enter the pro- worked almost incessantly from six o'clock fession with no other means of forwarding in the morning frequently till midnight, themselves in it than the talents they may and seemed never to know weariness in his possess, and which, in their dreamy pros- ardor for professional knowledge. pects for the future, they think are all-suffi- Considering Sir Astley Cooper's charcient. We are far from wishing to damp acter for kindness of heart and disposition, the ardor of any young student in the it seems somewhat strange that all the pursuit of his profession; our desire is sim- horrors he witnessed during the progress ply to expose the many difficulties which of the French revolution, having been in are thrown across the road to eminence, Paris when the first cannon was fired, on and not to lead him into the belief that he the 10th of August, and an eye-witness of has nothing to do but become a pupil, at-many of the frightful scenes of carnage tend a hospital, display some talent, become a lecturer, then a professor, and so on step by step until he has obtained the highest station to which he can arrive.

In 1792, Astley Cooper visited Paris, and it would seem that the peculiar bias of his political opinions actuated him to this as much as any desire to acquire information respecting the state of medical science in France, or any of the causes which usually induced persons to visit the Continent. He did not, however, suffer his interest in the revolution to lead him from his pursuit of professional knowledge, but studied while there under Desault and Chopart. Indeed, wherever he went, this seems to have been the first object of his consideration. He never suffered an opportunity to escape him by which he could learn any thing of interest in anatomy, or in any branch of surgical science, but on the contrary, was most indefatigable in seeking it. Every

which followed, do not appear to have effected any immediate change in his political opinions, although they were the same entertained by the very men who had caused these scenes of bloodshed which met his eye at every step. It is probable, however, that the disgust he felt at those horrid massacres which were then of every-day occurrence, formed the groundwork of the change in his ideas of democracy which afterwards occurred.

In 1793, he was appointed professor of anatomy to Surgeons' Hall. The election for this office took place annually, and in 1794, he was again chosen to fill it. Towards the latter end of the year 1797, he took up his residence in St. Mary Axe, and commenced practice. The house which he now occupied had been for many years Mr. Clive's, and it was by the advice of this gentleman that he went to live in it, hoping that any of the patients who were in the

habit of attending there would consult the
new occupier rather than take the length-
ened walk to Mr. Clive's new residence.
"One of the first patients, however, who
sought his advice under these circumstances
gave him a hint that he was not to fancy that
with Mr. Clive's house he was at once to gain
Mr. Clive's fees: 'Soon after I got in my new
residence,' Sir Astley relates, 'a patient gave
me half a guinea, saying, 'I gave Mr. Clive a
guinea, but as you were his apprentice, I suppose
half a guinea will do for you." Mr. Clive made
it a rule to take whatever was offered him; so I
did not refuse the proffered fee."

The income, which he at first derived from private practice, was very inconsiderable even at the period when he was elected surgeon of Guy's Hospital, by no means such as his position at the hospital and at Surgeon's Hall, and the numerous attendance at his house of the poorer classes of patients would have led us to expect. His receipts during these early years of practice, of which he has left an account, exhibit a steady, and comparatively speaking, a considerable increase in his professional income, but at the same time form a remarkable contrast with what he afterwards annually derived in the same pursuits.

By this renunciation of a political creed, which stood between him and advancement, the bar to his appointment as surgeon was removed, and he was elected to the office. If the avowal of this change in his political opinions was somewhat sudden, it is, however, but justice to him to state, that he friends, in whose society he had delighted, ever afterwards avoided those political and gave himself wholly and entirely to professional considerations and pursuits, never failing to inculcate in the younger portion of his acquaintance this maxim"That as the duties of a surgeon extend alike to men of all parties and views, it must be most unwise for him to attach himself to any one particular set, and thus render adverse to him all maintaining contrary opinions"-a piece of advice the wisdom of which will, no, doubt, be fully appreciated.

We find through the entire work, short, but most graphic and amusing sketches of the various eminent members of the medical profession with whom Sir Astley Cooper had been at any time associated, or whom he had any intercourse with in his travels to Scotland, on the Continent, etc.; and "My receipts,' says he, 'for the first year also a great number of anecdotes which our was five pounds five shillings; the second twenty-space-even if we were so disposed-would six pounds; the third sixty-four pounds; the not permit us to extract. The latter porfourth nintey-six pounds; the fifth one hundred tion of the first volume is entirely occupied pounds; the sixth two hundred pounds; the with a curious but horrible account of that seventh four hundred pounds; the eighth six extraordinary class of individuals whose hundred and ten pounds; the ninth, (the year he was appointed surgeon to the hospital) eleven success was at that time in its zenith-the hundred pounds.' He himself appends a remark resurrectionists. It appears almost increwhich sufficiently shows his feeling on the sub-dible the means by which some of those ject: although I was a lecturer all the time on men used to procure subjects," when anatomy and surgery.'" popular feeling became so strong against them as to render it a matter of the utmost danger, if not of impossibility, for them to obtain them in the usual way. To give our readers some idea of the modus operandi on these occasions, we shall extract from Mr. Cooper's account of them, one or two instances. We should first premise that the principal characters among the resurrectionists were two men, the one named Patrick, and the other Murphy:

It appears that his political opinions had nearly proved fatal to his appointment as surgeon to Guy's Hospital. There was a copy of a curious anonymous document which Mr. Harrison, the treasurer to that institution, received relative to the election for the office, which states "that one of the three candidates (alluding to Astley Cooper) was a Jacobin, etc." Mr. Harrison, however, spoke to Mr. Cooper on the subject, when the latter said, "If you think me, sir, professionally competent to perform the duties of surgeon to your institution, you may rest assured that my politics, whether in thought or action, shall never interfere with my discharge of them; in fact, a regret has spontaneously arisen in my mind, not only that I have ever been prominent in political excitement at all, but more pecially that I should have espoused the opinions of those with whom I have been connected."

es

ed in the service of a gentleman, whose resi"An intimate friend of Patrick's was employdence was at a short distance from London. One day this man called, in company with a fellowservant, on Patrick, and informed him that his master was dead, and that he thought something in the way of business might be done with the body, as it was lying in a back parlor, the windows of which opened on to a large lawn. Patrick made several inquiries, and having ascertained that the funeral was to take place on the following Sunday, said in conclusion: The coffin then will most probably be screwed down

on Saturday; if it is, let me know; I will have nothing to do with it until that part of the work is done.'

of all its inmates. By this night's adventure he made a clear profit of sixty pounds!"

"Things fell out as Patrick anticipated, and As it may be interesting to some of our accordingly on the night of Saturday he entered readers, we extract from the work the dates at the back of the premises, and being admitted of the different distinctions and honors to the parlor by the servant, he commenced his which Sir Astley Cooper obtained. In 1802 operations. Unassisted by any light, he drew he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Soout all the screws, took off the lid, and having ciety. In 1813 he was elected in council formed an estimate, as accurate as the circum-as Professor of Comparative Anatomy to stances would allow, of the weight of the body: the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1814 removed it into a box which he had brought

with him for the purpose of containing it. He he was elected Honorary Fellow of the next placed in the coffin a quantity of earth, Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh. In which the servant had procured from the garden, 1820 he was created a Baronet. In 1822 he corresponding to the weight of the corps. The was elected one of the Court of Examiners lid was then replaced, carefully screwed down, of the Royal College of Surgeons. In 1827 the pall thrown over it, and the box, containing he was appointed President of the Royal the body, passed out of the window to Patrick, who hid it in a tool house at some distance from College of Surgeons. In 1828 he was apthe dwelling place. In this shed he allowed it pointed Serjeant-Surgeon to the king. In to remain until the following Monday, when it 1830 he was elected Vice-President of the was removed to one of the private anatomical Royal Society. In 1832 he was elected by schools, &c. For this subject Patrick received the Institute of France a member of their fifteen guineas!" body, and received from the King the rank of officer of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honor. In 1834 the University of Oxford conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Civil Law. In 1836 he was again elected President of the College of Surgeons, and received from the King the Grand Cross of the Order of the Guelph, which he obtained through the kindness of the Duke of Wel

This is but one of a great number of such instances, but it is a tolerably fair specimen of the cool and daring character which marked the system of what was termed "body-snatching."

tending professionally. Upon his grace's

The enormous profit which attended this pursuit may be imagined, when it is stated that one of its followers (Murphy) received for one night's work one hundred and forty-lington, upon whom he had lately been atfour pounds! There was also a considerable profit aris-recovery, some conversation took place being from the traffic in human teeth, and it is related of this man, who was no less active in mind than in body, and who never moved but in his occupation

tween him and Sir Astley respecting this order, and finding that Sir Astley had it not, although Sir Henry Halford and Sir Matthew Tierney, who was Sir Astley's pupil, had, he briefly said to him, in conclusion, You ought to have it; good morning to you." On the very next morning, Sir Astley received a letter from his grace, informing him that he had been made a Grand Cross! He was also elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Gottingen-a Member of the First Class of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands-of the Society of Natural Philosophy of Heidelberg-of the PhysicoMedical Society of New Orleans-of the Academy of Medical Science of Palermo. From Russia he received the diploma of the Imperial University of Vilna, and from Mexico that of the Medical Society of Guadalaxara.

"That in taking a walk, he observed a neat meeting-house, attached to which was a paved" burial ground. Looking around he observed a trap-door, leading, he had no doubt, to vaults of hidden treasures, and these he determined at once to explore. A short time after coming to this conclusion, dressed in a suit of black, and with a demure demeanor, his eyes reddened as if from tears, he called upon the superintendent of the meeting-house burial-ground, and described to him in much apparent distress, the recent bereavement which he had met with of his wife, and his anxious wish that her bones should repose in this neat and quiet sanctuary. Slipping a half-crown into his hand, Murphy readily induced the man to permit him to descend into the vault, under the idea that he wished to select the spot for the deposit of the remains of his beloved. Murphy, who while outside had studied the bear- The income which Sir Astley Cooper deings of the trap-door, after much pretended in- rived from his private practice, after the spection of the vault, took an opportunity while first few years, was immense. Mr. Cooper his companion's back was turned to him, of sud-mentions that his receipts for the year bedenly raising his hand to the ceiling and slipping fore he left Broad-street for the West end, very night Murphy let himself down into the amounted to upwards of twenty-one thousand vault, and there, by a few hours' active exertion, pounds!

back two bolts which secured the door. On that

secured possession to himself, of the front teeth

We find in the second volume two cases

son. He had come on horseback from Chisel

of murder in which he had been called upon | been murdered in the course of the previous in his professional capacity, and which ex- night, and that Mrs. Bonar was in a most dancited considerable sensation at the time. gerous state, from the wounds which she had As instances of his quick perception and pre- The person who brought this intelligence was also received from the hands of the assassin. sence of mind, as well as because we think a servant of Mr. Bonar's of the name of Nicholthey possess features of general interest for our readers, we shall quote them, but hurst, where Mr. Bonar had a country-house, we regret our space obliges us to abridge and where the murder had been committed. them in some degree:Mr. Cooper immediately desired his servant, Charles, to go and inform a friend of Mr. Bo"Mr. Cooper was one day suddenly sent for nar's, who lived opposite, of the event, and to by a general practitioner of the name of Jones, beg of him to go at once with him to Chiselto see a Mr. Isaac Blight, a ship-broker, at Dept-hurst. They set off at once, but although they ford, who had received a severe injury from a arrived before life was extinct in Mrs. Bonar, pistol-ball which had been fired at him. When all Mr. Cooper's efforts were of no avail in Mr. Cooper arrived at the house, he was told by averting the fatal event. The conduct of the his patient, that while sitting in his parlor his servant, when he brought the news in the mornattention had first been aroused by the door of ing, was singularly strange and confused, and the room being suddenly opened; on turning Mr. Cooper had drawn from it, and from other round, he perceived an arm extended towards circumstances of the man's appearance, that him, and at the same instant, the report of a he was the murderer. There was an apprenpistol, and the sensation of a severe blow, con- tice of Mr. Cooper's at this time with whose vinced him that he had been intentionally shot father Nicholson had been a servant for some at. He mentioned that he had not the least idea years. It appears that this gentleman had been by whose hand the act had been committed, but roused between six and seven A. M., by Nicholrelated the fact that his partner, Mr. Patch, son, who told him that his master and mistress whilst sitting in the same apartment, a few days had been murdered the night before. He said, before, had been alarmed by the report of a gun, further, that he hoped his mistress might yet be apparently discharged on the wharf, and by a saved, and appeared most anxious that Mr. ball, which at the same time passed through the Cooper should proceed at once to Chiselhurst. shutter into the room, and he expressed his firm Mr. Tyrrel (the apprentice) relates as follows belief that the same hand had been employed on both occasions. Upon examining the wound it was at once evident that it was fatal. Mr. Cooper's inquiring mind led him closely to investigate every circumstance connected with the case, and even to examine minutely the spot on which 'the act was perpetrated. He placed himself into the position in which Mr. Blight had been when he received the wound, and with his natural acuteness at once perceived that no one but a left-handed man could have so stood, with respect to the door, as to have concealed his body, and yet at the same time to have discharged the pistol at his victim with effect. This made a strong impression on his mind, and having been already prepossessed with the idea that Patch was the culprit, his suspicion became an absolute certainty when he ascertained that he was a left-handed man. So positive did he feel of this, that on reaching home, he said to his servant in secrecy, 'You will see, Charles, that Mr. Patch, the partner of Mr. Blight, has been his murderer. No suspicion, however, appeared to be attached to him by others until Mr. Blight died, but in the course of the coroner's inquest, a variety of facts tended strongly to criminate him and he was committed for trial. He was tried, and being convicted, by a train of circumstantial evidence of the clearest nature, was executed at Horsemonger-lane, on the 8th of April, 1806."

The other case to which we allude was the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson Bonar :

"Mr. Bonar was a wealthy merchant and the intimate friend of Mr. Cooper. It was, therefore, with no less horror than astonishment, he heard one morning that this gentleman had

'I wished to accompany Mr. Cooper, but he said he could not take me, because I must look after Nicholson, whom he declared to be the murderer. Nicholson had disappeared, and I immediately commenced a search after him, although I was perfectly satisfied, in my own mind, that he was not the murderer; for he had only quitted my father's service ten or twelve days before, after having lived with him between three and four years. He had been a most excellent servant, and on some occasions when illness had occurred in the family, had evinced unusual kindness and attention. He was apprehended in the afternoon, and taken to the counter-prison. I went there to see him, and was accompanied by the governor to the cell in which he was confined. Whilst speaking to him, a little black and dun terrier dog placed its forepaws on his knees, and began to lick his breeches, which were made of some dark-colored velveteen. Observing this, the governor directed him to remove them. On afterwards holding them up to the light, the front part of each thigh was evidently stained, and a little moisture soon proved it to be with blood. The governor remarked that my dog was a sagacious little fellow, but I could not own him, for I had never before seen him; and all the inquiries which were made subsequently, could not discover a master for him. It was the more extrathe gates of the prison, forbidding the entrance ordinary, because a public notice was posted at of dogs. In the evening I sent to the prison to beg to have the dog as I heard he had not been owned; when, remarkable to say, he had disappeared as strangely as he had entered, and was never afterwards found.' When Nicholson was examined, there was no sufficient evidence

against him, notwithstanding the strongly sus- which we extract the following :-" When picious circumstance of the spots of blood found we saw the tumor it was tender, painful, upon his breeches-to warrant his being de- and somewhat inflamed, and we thought it tained in prison, and he was accordingly set at best to delay the operation. The king was liberty, but at the same time was desired to stay at the house at Chiselhurst. A day or two after much disappointed, but yielded to our adhe attempted to destroy himself by cutting his vice. In 1821, I was called down to Brighthroat. Mr. Cooper was sent for, and on his ton to see the king. He came into my arrival found him still alive. He had some dif- room at one o'clock in the morning, and ficulty, on account of the man's resistance, in said, "I am now ready to have it done, I arresting the flow of blood and closing the wish you to remove this thing from my wound. The fellow declared his intention of head." I said, "Sire, not for the world resisting, by every means in his power, all attempts at cure, and Mr. Cooper had to repeat now-your life is too important to have so his visit on the next day, as he had contrived to serious a thing done in a corner. No, too tear away the dressings from his throat. He much depends upon your majesty to suffer found him quiet, and a priest was with him, me at one o'clock in the morning to pervainly endeavoring to elicit a confession from form an operation which might, by possihim. However, on Mr. Cooper's informing him bility, be followed by fatal consequences." that in all probability he had but a few hours to The king was very much annoyed, and said, live, he expressed his willingness to confess. A magistrate was immediately sent for, and in his "I will have it done as soon as I come to presence, before Mr. Cooper and the priest, the town, then." The king came to town wretched man relieved his mind of the dreadful secret, and explained all the circumstances of the transaction. From this time he became perfectly passive, offering no opposition to the treatment to which he was subjected for the

cure of his wound. In a short time he was

shortly afterwards, and although Sir Astley Cooper made every exertion to have the operation performed by Sir E. Home, his majesty insisted that it should be done by him; accordingly he removed the tumor, and the king bore the operation with the utmost patience.

tried, condemned, and executed near the scene of the murder. The account in his confession was remarkable. He said that for some time It is curious to contemplate the hesitaafter the family had gone to bed he sat before tion of Sir Astley Cooper to perform this the fire in the hall drinking ale until he fell operation, which, in an ordinary case, asleep. The next thing he remembered was would not have caused him a moment's his ascending the stairs towards his master's bed-room, with the hall-poker in his hand-his uneasiness. To see the man who, for a afterwards stopping on the way and address-long series of years, had been in the daily ing himself by name, saying 'Nicholson, what habit of performing, with a steady eye and are you going to do? and a reply which he an unquailing hand, operations the most strenuously maintained he heard made to him hazardous-involving life and limb-who by a voice at his side, To murder your master would amputate a man's leg with as much and mistress.' From the peculiar circumstances

of this murder, Mr. Cooper was extremely anx-sang froid as a chicken's, or tie an artery as ious to procure a cast of Nicholson's head, coolly as a cravat-to see him pause and which he succeeded in doing. It proved of hesitate about cutting away a slight tumor, considerable interest, as it tended, to a remark- because it happened to be fixed upon a roy. able extent, to confirm the views of phrenolo-al head-to see the nerves that would have gists in reference to the peculiar conformation which they describe as characteristic of those persons who have naturally a disposition to

commit such an act as murder."

remained unshaken while he severed a limb from some tortured subject, quail and lose their tension, while he made an incision in a little tumor, because it had grown upon This murder, with all its attendant cir- the sacred crown of "the Lord's anointed." cumstances, we think the most extraordi- We know not how to account for feelings nary we have ever heard of, and Mr. Coop-so foreign to his nature, being called forth er's connection with it, appears to have considerably increased the publicity of his name, and to have materially forwarded him in his professional progress.

In 1820, Mr. Cooper was called into attendance upon George the Fourth. His majesty was afflicted with a tumor on the crown of his head which caused him some inconvenience as well as pain. Sir Everard Home and Mr. Brodie was called in at the same time. Mr. Cooper has left a detailed account of his attendance on the king, from

so suddenly, unless there be a spell in the presence of those whom the Scripture tells us to "put not our faith in." This brings strongly to our mind an instance of Napoleon's knowledge of "human dealings," when he exclaimed to Corvisart, during the accouchement of Maria Louisa, "Behave, sir, as if your patient was the wife of a Bourgeois de Paris!"

There is a very interesting account of Sir Astley's attendance on the Duke of York, which we regret our space will not