Thomas Henry Huxley; A Sketch Of His Life And Work | Page 6

P. Chalmers Mitchell

science, but were doctors engaged in practice, who, in addition to their
private duties and their work at the hospital, each undertook to lecture
upon a special scientific subject. Huxley came specially under the
influence of Mr. Wharton Jones, who had begun to teach physiology at
the hospital a year before. Mr. Jones throughout his life was engaged in
professional work, his specialty being ophthalmic surgery, but he was a
devoted student of anatomy and physiology, and made several classical
contributions to scientific knowledge, his best-known discoveries
relating to blood corpuscles and to the nature of the mammalian
egg-cell. But perhaps his greatest claim to fame is that it was he who
first imbued Huxley with a love for anatomical science and with a
knowledge of the methods of investigation. At the end of his first
session, in 1843, Huxley received the first prize in the senior
physiology class, while his brother got a "good conduct" prize. Of
Wharton Jones Huxley writes:
"The extent and precision of his knowledge impressed me greatly, and
the severe exactness of his method of lecturing was quite to my taste. I
do not know that I have ever felt so much respect for anybody as a
teacher before or since. I worked hard to obtain his approbation, and he
was extremely kind and helpful to the youngster who, I am afraid, took
up more of his time than he had any right to do. It was he who
suggested the publication of my first scientific paper--a very little

one--in the Medical Gazette of 1845, and most kindly corrected the
literary faults which abounded in it short as it was. For at that time, and
for many years afterwards, I detested the trouble of writing and would
take no pains over it."
This little paper, although Huxley deprecates it, was remarkable as the
work of so young an investigator. In it he demonstrated the existence of
a hitherto unrecognised layer in the inner root-sheath of hairs, a layer
that has been known since as Huxley's layer.
There is no record in the minutes of the hospital school that Huxley
gained any other school prizes. His name reappears only in formal
applications at the beginning of each session for the renewal of his free
scholarship. In this respect he is in marked contrast to his
fellow-student, afterwards Sir Joseph Fayrer, who appears to have
taken almost every prize open to him. On the other hand, his
attainments in anatomy and physiology brought him distinction in a
wider field than the hospital school, for he obtained, in the "honours"
division of the first examination for the degree of Bachelor of Medicine
at the University of London, the second place with a medal. And it is
certain that he was far from neglecting his strictly professional work,
although, no doubt, he devoted much time to reading and research in
pure science, for in the winter of 1845-46, having completed his course
at the hospital, he was prepared to offer himself at the examination for
the membership of the Royal College of Surgeons; but, being as yet
under twenty-one years of age, could not be admitted as a candidate.
It was now time for Huxley definitely to enter on his profession. He
would have preferred to continue his investigations in London and to
wait for the chance of a teaching post in physiology, but it was
necessary to earn a living. One of those whom he consulted was his
fellow-student, Joseph Fayrer, who, hailing from Bermuda, knew
something of those who go down to the sea in ships. He advised
Huxley to write to Sir William Burnett, at that time Director-General
for the medical service of the navy, for an appointment.
"I thought this rather a strong thing to do," says Huxley in his
autobiography, "as Sir William was personally unknown to me; but my

cheery friend would not listen to my scruples, so I went to my lodgings
and wrote the best letter I could devise. A few days afterwards I
received the usual official circular of acknowledgement, but at the
bottom was written an instruction to call at Somerset House on such a
day. I thought that looked like business, so, at the appointed time I
called and sent in my card, while I waited in Sir William's ante-room.
He was a tall, shrewd-looking old gentleman, with a broad Scotch
accent--and I think I see him now as he entered with my card in his
hand. The first thing he did was to return it with the frugal reminder
that I should probably find it useful on some other occasion. The
second was to ask whether I was an Irishman. I suppose the air of
modesty about my appeal must have struck him. I satisfied the
Director-General that I
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