The claims of forensic medicine : being the introductory lecture delivered in the University of London, on Monday, May 11, 1829. / By John Gordon Smith.

  • John Gordon Smith
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The claims of forensic medicine : being the introductory lecture delivered in the University of London, on Monday, May 11, 1829. / By John Gordon Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    27/30 page 27
    make a vastly better use of a few than the uninformed can of many And now, my Lords and Gentlemen,—having occupied as much of your time as could with propriety be done upon such an occasion, permit me to return my dutiful and re- spectful thanks for your attention and encouragement; and to take leave by alluding to one circumstance which, in jus- tice to myself, 1 think ought not to be passed over in silence. It has been said of me (both at home and abroad), that if there be any merit in making known the important science of Forensic Medicine to the English public, I may lay claim to it; and 1 should know very little indeed about it were I not fully aware, that when I took it up it could hardly be said to have an existence among us. L dare not boast of it as a discovery (in fact it has given me cause to boast of nothing but disappointment), but I do assert that I have made it an English study; and I promise, if duly supported, to advance it further towards perfection. I have not merely translated or compiled from foreign authors; I have gathered facts from every source,—from reading, correspondence, travelling, and observation; and having collected these, I found that the most useful lessons were to be derived from, and the most important doctrines founded upon them. With all due respect for, and taking all fair advantage of, the la- bours of others, it has been my object to assist the institu- tions of my own country. I am still willing to hope that 1 shall have much important work to perforin ere 1 attain the celebrated age at which the progress of improvement has been almost proverbially said to stop; and if so, to furnish at least one example of an exception to a rule, to which there are numerous exceptions now present. However it may fare with myself, I think it does not require prophetic * Analysis of Medical Evidence, by John Gordon Smith, M.D. page 122.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3