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failed； I would order Grauvogl as a heroic remedy； and if he survived that uncured； I would give him my blessing； if I thought him honest； and bid him depart in peace。 For me he is no longer an individual。 He belongs to a class of minds which we are bound to be patient with if their Maker sees fit to indulge them with existence。 We must accept the conjuring ultra…ritualist； the dreamy second adventist； the erratic spiritualist； the fantastic homoeopathist； as not unworthy of philosophic study； not more unworthy of it than the squarers of the circle and the inventors of perpetual motion； and the other whimsical visionaries to whom De Morgan has devoted his most instructive and entertaining 〃Budget of Paradoxes。〃 I hope； therefore； that our library will admit the works of the so…called Eclectics； of the Thomsonians； if any are in existence； of the Clairvoyants； if they have a literature； and especially of the Homoeopathists。 This country seems to be the place for such a collection； which will by and by be curious and of more value than at present； for Homoeopathy seems to be following the pathological law of erysipelas； fading out where it originated as it spreads to new regions。 At least I judge so by the following translated extract from a criticism of an American work in the 〃Homoeopatische Rundschau〃 of Leipzig for October； 1878； which I find in the 〃Homoeopathic Bulletin〃 for the month of November just passed： 〃While we feel proud of the spread and rise of Homoeopathy across the ocean； and while the Homoeopathic works reaching us from there； and published in a style such as is unknown in Germany； bear eloquent testimony to the eminent activity of our transatlantic colleagues； we are overcome by sorrowful regrets at the position Homoeopathy occupies in Germany。 Such a work ＇as the American one referred to＇ with us would be impossible； it would lack the necessary support。〃
By all means let our library secure a good representation of the literature of Homoeopathy before it leaves us its 〃sorrowful regrets〃 and migrates with its sugar of milk pellets； which have taken the place of the old pilulae micae panis； to Alaska； to 〃Nova Zembla； or the Lord knows where。〃
What shall I say in this presence of the duties of a Librarian？ Where have they ever been better performed than in our own public city library； where the late Mr。 Jewett and the living Mr。 Winsor have shown us what a librarian ought to be；the organizing head； the vigilant guardian； the seeker's index； the scholar's counsellor？ His work is not merely that of administration； manifold and laborious as its duties are。 He must have a quick intelligence and a retentive memory。 He is a public carrier of knowledge in its germs。 His office is like that which naturalists attribute to the bumble…bee； he lays up little honey for himself； but he conveys the fertilizing pollen from flower to flower。
Our undertaking； just completed；and just begunhas come at the right time； not a day too soon。 Our practitioners need a library like this； for with all their skill and devotion there is too little genuine erudition； such as a liberal profession ought to be able to claim for many of its members。 In reading the recent obituary notices of the late Dr。 Geddings of South Carolina； I recalled what our lamented friend Dr。 Coale used to tell me of his learning and accomplishments； and I could not help reflecting how few such medical scholars we had to show in Boston or New England。 We must clear up this unilluminated atmosphere； and here；here is the true electric light which will irradiate its darkness。
The public will catch the rays reflected from the same source of light； and it needs instruction on the great subjects of health and disease；needs it sadly。 It is preyed upon by every kind of imposition almost without hindrance。 Its ignorance and prejudices react upon the profession to the great injury of both。 The jealous feeling； for instance； with regard to such provisions for the study of anatomy as are sanctioned by the laws in this State and carried out with strict regard to those laws； threatens the welfare； if not the existence of institutions for medical instruction wherever it is not held in check by enlightened intelligence。 And on the other hand the profession has just been startled by a verdict against a physician； ruinous in its amount；enough to drive many a hard… working young practitioner out of house and home；a verdict which leads to the fear that suits for malpractice may take the place of the panel game and child…stealing as a means of extorting money。 If the profession in this State； which claims a high standard of civilization； is to be crushed and ground beneath the upper millstone of the dearth of educational advantages and the lower millstone of ruinous penalties for what the ignorant ignorantly shall decide to be ignorance； all I can say is
God save the Commonhealth of Massachusetts！
Once more； we cannot fail to see that just as astrology has given place to astronomy； so theology； the science of Him whom by searching no man can find out； is fast being replaced by what we may not improperly call theonomy； or the science of the laws according to which the Creator acts。 And since these laws find their fullest manifestations for us； at least； in rational human natures； the study of anthropology is largely replacing that of scholastic divinity。 We must contemplate our Maker indirectly in human attributes as we talk of Him in human parts of speech。 And this gives a sacredness to the study of man in his physical； mental； moral； social； and religious nature which elevates the faithful students of anthropology to the dignity of a priesthood； and sheds a holy light on the recorded results of their labors； brought together as they are in such a collection as this which is now spread out before us。
Thus； then； our library is a temple as truly as the dome…crowned cathedral hallowed by the breath of prayer and praise； where the dead repose and the living worship。 May it； with all its treasures； be consecrated like that to the glory of God； through the contributions it shall make to the advancement of sound knowledge； to the relief of human suffering； to the promotion of harmonious relations between the members of the two noble professions which deal with the diseases of the soul and with those of the body； and to the common cause in which all good men are working； the furtherance of the well…being of their fellow…creatures！
NOTE。As an illustration of the statement in the last paragraph but one； I take the following notice from the 〃Boston Daily Advertiser；〃 of December 4th； the day after the delivery of the address： 〃Prince Lucien Bonaparte is now living in London； and is devoting himself to the work of collecting the creeds of all religions and sects； with a view to their classification；his object being simply scientific or anthropological。〃
Since delivering the address； also； I find a leading article in the 〃Cincinnati Lancet and Clinic〃 of November 30th； headed 〃The Decadence of Homoeopathy；〃 abundantly illustrated by extracts from the 〃Homoeopathic Times；〃 the leading American organ of that sect。
In the New York 〃Medical Record〃 of the