Licence: In copyright
Credit: On malformations of the hind end of the body. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![ON MALFOPvMATIOXS OF THE HIXl) END OF THE BODY. L—SPECIMENS ILLUSTRATING MALFORMATIONS OF THE RECTUM AND ANUS. When, in October, 1773, Hunter gave his first course of lectures on the “ Principles and Practice of Surgery ” at his house in Jermyn Street, introducing, as was his wont, “ so much of the Animal Economy as may be necessary to illustrate these Principles,” he produced in support of the truth of his teaching those preparations which afterwards formed the nucleus of this museum. On the table now before you there are a number of specimens made by Hunter to illustrate the malformations of the rectum; side by side with them are others from his “ Physiological Series” to show the manner in which matter is voided from the hind end in vertebrate animals. Here are other two preparations of malformation of the rectum, made and presented by Sir William Blizard, on which he doubt- less gave many a discourse to a long-past generation of students at the London Hospital. The foundation of the museum was thus made on a “ teaching ” collection. The magnitude of the collection now in the museum, the accu- mulation of material that requires an expert eye for its proper interpretation, are apt to obscure the fact that in its origin and in its growth the museum is designed not only for the purpose of preserving rare and precious specimens, but also for the purposes of teaching. In order that the unrivalled wealth of material at the disposal of this College may be the better utilized for the advantage and progress of medicine, its Council has committed to Professor Shattock and myself for the present winter session the responsible duty of bringing before you sets of specimens from the museum and explaining to you the facts they show and the principles they illustrate. Teaching is the touchstone of a museum; it discovers both the merits and deficiencies of a collection; we wish to make both known to you, so that you may assist us to improve the first and mend the second. [tJG5/08] A](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22472915_0003.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
