John Hunter's operation applied to the main artery supplying the lower extremity, and surgeons have since extended the proceeding to many other arteries. The first extension of it, however, occurred to Mr. Abernethy, who, about this time (1797), placed a ligature on what is called the external iliac artery; and as he seldom touched anything which he did not improve, he made an important modification in the mode of proceeding. Subsequent experience, it is true, has, in some measure, rendered that improvement no longer necessary; yet, whenever circumstances arise which lead to any material disturbance of the artery from its situation, we apprehend the caution of Abernethy in tying it in two places close to its connection with the surrounding parts, is a valuable condition. He also sent, about this time, an ingenious paper to the Royal Society, on certain small openings into the cavities of the heart. They are called the "Foramina of Thebesius," from an anatomist who particularly described them. This is to us one of the prettiest of his physiological contributions. The facts are stated with great simplicity, their relations to disease beautifully pointed out, and the inference from the whole very striking, as being in harmony with the facts whence it is deduced. Abernethy's idea being, that the holes were for the purpose of obviating excessive repletion of the nutrient vessels of the heart, by allowing them to relieve themselves by pouring a portion of their blood through these holes into the general mass of the circulation. It could hardly, however, be made interesting to the general reader without going into the subject more than is suited to our present object. In 1799, Abernethy's reputation had gone on rapidly increasing. His numerous pupils, too, had become the media for frequent consultations, in addition to those which arose from his own connection, and his reputation with the public. He now moved from St. Mildred's Court, and took the house in Bedford Row. This was some time previous to October, 1799, the September of that year being the last time his name appears on the rate-book of St. Mildred's Court. He never again changed his professional residence. The move was an important step, but it was only the precursor to one still more interesting. In the January of the following year, an event occurred which seldom fails to exert a greater influence on a man's future prospects and happiness than any other. This was no less than his marriage—of which we must say a few words in a separate chapter. [Footnote 28: That the nature of a thing is not to be sought only out of itself, but from things more in common.] CHAPTER XIV. HIS MARRIAGE. "Ye solvers of enigmas—ye Who deal in mystery—say, What's cried about in London streets And purchased every day?