A criticism on Sir Astley during his life accorded to him a great share in establishing pure induction as the only sure means of just diagnosis, and in introducing a simplicity of treatment in accordance with the processes of nature. Before his time, operations were too often frightful alternatives or hazardous compromises; he always made them follow, as it were, in the natural course of treatment; and he succeeded in a great degree in divesting them of their terrors by performing them unostentatiously, confidently, and cheerfully. He stated an opinion and fact to the Committee on Medical Education, which might well have been borne in mind by some examiners since his day: “Whenever a man is too old to study, he is too old to be an examiner; and if I laid my head upon my pillow at night, without having dissected something in the day, I should think I had lost that day.” Sir Astley left among his private papers an estimate of himself, written in the third person, which is worth quoting. “Sir Astley Cooper was a good anatomist, but never was a good operator where delicacy was required. He felt too much before he began ever to make a perfect operator.... Quickness of perception was his forte, for he saw the nature of disease in an instant, and often gave offence by pouncing at once upon his opinion. The same faculty made his prognosis good. He was a good anatomist of morbid, as well as of natural structure. He had an excellent and useful memory. In judgment he was very inferior to Mr. Cline in all the affairs of life.... His imagination was vivid, and always _ready_ to run away with him if he did not control it.” “His principle in practice was, never to suffer any who consulted him to quit him without giving them satisfaction on the nature and proper treatment of their case.” Finally, he says, what is a fitting close to this narrative of his career, “My own success depended upon my zeal and industry; but for this I take no credit, as it was given to me from above.” * * * * *