Should it appear that, in my anxiety to avoid disagreeable discussions, I have left any subject imperfectly handled, as regards the high character of Mr. Abernethy, I should of course avail myself of the documents now in my possession. I trust, however, nothing of the kind may be necessary. Having long thought it would be interesting to many persons, old pupils and others, to record his manner in his later days, when delivering his Surgical or Evening Lectures, as well as the position he was so accustomed to assume when enunciating the fundamental axiom of that improved Surgery of which he was the author, I have added the lithograph at page 219. For this artistic sketch I am indebted scarcely less to the painstaking than to the genius of the late Mr. Charles Blair Leighton, who, as stated in the text, did not live to realize those expectations of future excellence to which his talents had given rise. Mr. Leighton, after a short illness, died in May, 1855. G. M. _The Court Yard, Albany, November, 1856._ MEMOIRS. [Illustration: My dear Sir I return you my best Thanks for your Book which you did me the favor of sending. I have read the new Matter with which I am well pleased. I feel also obliged to you for your kind Wishes, & asure you that they are on my part reciprocal I am a cripple with Rheumatism & good for nothing but still remain My dear Sir Y^{rs}. most sincerely John Abernethy Enfield 26 April To George Macilwain Esq^{re}] TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. 1 CHAPTER II. 10 CHAPTER III. 17 CHAPTER IV. 25 CHAPTER V. 31 CHAPTER VI. 41 CHAPTER VII. 55 CHAPTER VIII. 61 CHAPTER IX. 78 CHAPTER X. 86 CHAPTER XI. 93 CHAPTER XII. 99 CHAPTER XIII. 106 CHAPTER XIV. 118 CHAPTER XV. 126 CHAPTER XVI. 143 CHAPTER XVII. 164 CHAPTER XVIII. 173 CHAPTER XIX. 181 CHAPTER XX. 188 CHAPTER XXI. 197 CHAPTER XXII. 217 CHAPTER XXIII. 234 CHAPTER XXIV. 240 CHAPTER XXV. 247 CHAPTER XXVI. 253 CHAPTER XXVII. 266 CHAPTER XXVIII. 284 CHAPTER XXIX. 296 CHAPTER XXX. 311 CHAPTER XXXI. 327 CHAPTER XXXII. 340 CHAPTER XXXIII. 355 CHAPTER XXXIV. 369 INDEX. 391 MEMOIRS OF ABERNETHY. CHAPTER I. "The Author of Nature appears deliberate throughout His operations, accomplishing His natural ends by slow successive steps. And there is a plan of things beforehand laid out, which, from the nature of it, requires various systems of means, as well as length of time, in order to the carrying on its several parts into execution."—BUTLER'S ANALOGY.