We have referred to that case because, though relating to a professional matter, there is a moral in it. He might easily have saved himself all the trouble he took, and on the plea of etiquette; but the poverty of the man pleaded for his limb, and the impossibility in such a case, of the imputation of any wrong motive, left free exercise for the prevailing feature of Abernethy's character—benevolence. The mention of the instruments secured to the poor man that _personal_ attention to details by Abernethy himself which a more wealthy patient might not have so certainly obtained. We have remarked before on his kindness to hospital patients; and sometimes the expression of their gratitude would be very touching. It is difficult or impossible to carry out Mr. Abernethy's principles of practice with _perfect_ efficiency in the atmosphere of a large hospital in a crowded city, yet the truth of his views would sometimes be impressed by very extraordinary and unexpected results. We select the following as an example, for reasons which will be suggested by the narrative. We are indebted to Mr. Wood[70], of Rochdale, for the illustration; and, as we should only mar the scene by any abbreviation, we must allow him to tell it in his own manner: "It was on his first going through the wards after a visit to Bath, that, passing up between the rows of beds, with an immense crowd of pupils after him—myself among the rest—that the apparition of a poor Irishman, with the scantiest shirt I ever saw, jumping out of bed, and literally throwing himself on his knees at Abernethy's feet, presented itself. For some moments, everybody was bewildered; but the poor fellow, with all his country's eloquence, poured out such a torrent of thanks, prayers, and blessings, and made such pantomimic displays of his leg, that we were not long left in doubt. 'That's the leg, yer honnor! Glory be to God! Yer honnor's the boy to do it! May the heavens be your bed! Long life to your honnor! To the divole with the spalpeens that said your honnor would cut it off!' &c. The man had come into the hospital about three months before, with a diseased ankle, and it had been at once condemned to amputation. Something, however, induced Abernethy to try what _rest_ and constitutional treatment would do for it, and with the happiest result.