It is not an ordinary form of testimonial, and may therefore claim notice in this place :-"It is with singular pleasure I bear testimony to the professional and moral character of Mr. Isaac Hurst. His zeal in the pursuit of science is unbounded; his attainments in practical knowledge are greater than those of any other person of his age I have had the pleasure to instruct. Also diffident, gentle, and humane, he is particularly qualified to practise a profession which requires skill, attention,

more »

... nd humanity. he had served his apprenticeship, expressed a strong wish for him to join him in practice, which he did, first as assistant, and afterwards as partner. On the retirement of his much respected partner, Mr. Hurst was appointed his successor as one of the surgeons in the Bedford Infirmary. He held this post until last year, when he relinquished the more active duties of his profession, and was appointed a consulting surgeon to that institution. For some years past he had been joined in partnership by Mr. Robert Couchman, nephew of his first tutor and subsequent partner, the late Mr. Charles Short. After the new charter had been granted to the College of Surgeons, Mr. Hurst was inserted in the first list of provincial surgeons upon whom the honorary distinction of Fellow of the College was conferred. About a year and a half ago, symptoms of ramollissement of the brain began to show themselves, and Mr. Hurst gradually withdrew from practice. During the last few months he was seized on three occasions with strong convulsions; from the last of these attacks, on the 30th of March, he never thoroughly rallied. The distinguishing characteristics of this lamented gentleman were, his ardent love of the practice of his profession, and his kind and liberal conduct towards every one with whom he came in contact. His love of his profession was unbounded, and his practice of it was self-denying and laborious in the extreme. During the last few years he was often called in consultation by his fellow-practitioners in the town and county of Bedford, and even in the neighbouring counties. From the first, he had enjoyed an extensive general practice; consequently, he had 1!een very much in all the departments of the profession : his mind was a rich store-house of large experience, and his judgment was greatly to be relied upon. When the writer of this short sketch was conversing with him, from time to time, upon certain important points of'practice, Mr. Hurst has often expressed regret that he had never made any record of interesting cases which had come under his observation. Few practitioners, during the last thirty years, have had ampler opportunities of enriching the practical medical literature of the day, and it is a source of regret that the results of his extensive experience should not have been communicated to others than his own immediate medical friends. His sincere and unvarying kindness to every one, and particularly to his professional brethren, was a pre-eminent characteristic of the deceased. The young medical practitioner looked up to him as a steady and unwavering friend—ready with his assistance and advice in every emergency. These services were frequently rendered without any fee, or any reward, except the gratitude of his professional brother and of the patient. Any difficulty which might present itself in the practice of his brother surgeon, whether the patient were rich and could pay a fee, or whether he were poor and penniless, would equally claim his best and most willing services. He was especially jealous, too, of the reputation of his brethren, and would most tenderly guard it from any imputation of unskilfulness. He scorned anything like an approach to meanness, and would practise nothing but the most straightforward and honourable mode of rivalry. At any time he would rather generously give up a patient than supplant a brother practitioner in public estimation. He has been known voluntarily to act as mediator between patient and medical attendant (to the former of whom he had been professionally called) when some misunderstanding had arisen. He has succeeded in reconciling the parties, rather than attempt to widen the breach for any selfish ends. On such occasions he would say, "My dear Sir, God knows that I would rather give you a dozen of my patients, if