During the long summer vacation he noted carefully his observations on the botany, zoology, geology, and even the meteorology of the Bathgate district. Dr. Duns, in his memoir, points out that he was much more at home with the phenomena of organic than with those of inorganic forms. His highest powers came into play when he had to do with the presence of life and its varied manifestations. Even his antiquarian notes illustrated this. He passed at once from the things to the thoughts and feelings of the men associated with them. In the holidays he also assisted the village doctor in visiting and dispensing, and lent a willing hand in his father's shop when he was wanted, often enough driving the baker's cart on the daily round of bread delivery. In January of the year 1830 his father was taken seriously ill, and James hastily left Edinburgh and tended him till his death. On his return he presented himself for the final examination at the College of Surgeons. This he passed with ease and credit in April, and found himself a fully qualified medical practitioner at the age of eighteen. CHAPTER III FURTHER STUDIES. 1830-1835 Applies for a village appointment--Disappointment--Brother's help to further studies--Dispensary assistant--Obtains University M.D., 1832--Thesis--Assistant to the Professor of Pathology--Turns to obstetrics--Attends Professor Hamilton's lectures again--Royal Medical and Royal Physical Societies--Edward Forbes--The Oineromathic Society--Foreign tour--Visits Liverpool and meets Miss Jessie Grindlay--His characteristics, principles, and methods, with extracts from addresses.