Although the rivalry between Fergusson and Syme frequently led to open dissensions, yet no man more freely, fully, and repeatedly acknowledged Syme’s great services than Fergusson. Thus he always ascribed the chief merit of the revival of the “conservative” operation of excision of the elbow-joint to Syme. Originally suggested by Park, and first performed by Moreau, it was not until the operation was taken up by Syme that it attracted serious attention. Fergusson followed in his wake, and extended the same principles till there was scarcely a part which could be conserved which he had not laid hands on with that object. To take an instance from parts of small size. A gentleman of active habits, in charge of a large establishment, to whom the use of a pen was of vast importance, had a bad whitlow at the end of his right thumb. An abscess was opened in due time, and the bone was found bare. Amputation was urged, but the patient objected, and on consulting Fergusson, he was advised to wait, and then a few weeks afterwards the portion of bone that died was removed through the original opening for the abscess. Before long, the thumb, apparently entire, was as useful as ever. “Opinions may differ,” says Fergusson, “but for my own part, I deem it a grand thing when by prescience even the tip of a thumb can be saved.” To Liston’s boldness and rapidity Fergusson added greater caution and self-control. In lithotomy both were equally distinguished, and attained their end with the simplest instruments. An anecdote recorded in the _Medical Times and Gazette_ (Feb. 17, 1877) illustrates this. Some practitioners were discussing the relative merits of some leading hospital surgeons, and introduced the subject of lithotomy. “I saw Mr. —— perform lithotomy to-day in half a minute.” “Oh,” replied B, “I saw —— once extract the stone in twenty seconds.” “Have you ever seen Fergusson perform lithotomy?” “No.” “Well then, go; and, look out sharp, for if you only even wink, you’ll miss the operation altogether.”