oceeded to interrogate
me about my age, the town where I served my time, with the term of my
apprenticeship; and when I informed him that I served three years only,
he fell into a violent passion, swore it was a shame and a scandal
to send such raw boys into the world as surgeons; that it was great
presumption in me, and all affront upon the English, to pretend
sufficient skill in my business, having served so short a time, when
every apprentice in England was bound seven years at least: that
my friends would have done better if they had made me a weaver or
shoemaker; but their pride would have me a gentleman, he supposed, at
any rate, and their poverty could not afford the necessary education.
This exordium did not at all contribute to the recovery of my spirits;
but on the contrary, reduced me to such a situation that I was scarcely
able to stand; which being perceived by a plump gentleman who sat
opposite to me with a skull before him, he said, Mr. Snarler was too
severe upon the young man; and, turning towards me, told me I need not
be afraid, for nobody would do me any harm: then, bidding me take time
to recollect myself, he examined me, touching the operation of the
trepan, and was very well satisfied with my answers. The next person
who questioned me was a wag, who began by asking if I had ever seen
amputation performed; and I replying in the affirmative, he shook his
head and said, "What! upon a dead subject, I suppose?" "If," continued
he, "during an engagement at sea, a man should be brought to you with
his head shot off, how would you behave?" After some hesitation, I owned
such a case had never come under my observation, neither did I remember
to have seen any method of care proposed for such an accident, in any of
the systems of surgery I had perused.

Whether it was owing to the simplicity of my answer, or the archness
of the question, I know not, but every member at the board deigned to
smile, except Mr. Snarler, who seemed to have very little of the 'animal
risible' in his constitution. The facetious member, encouraged by the
success of his last joke, went on thus: "Suppose you was called to a
patient of a plethoric habit, who has been bruised by a fall, what would
you do?" I answered, "I would bleed him immediately." "What!" said he,
"before you had tied up his arm?" But this stroke of wit not answering
his expectation, he desired me to advance to the gentleman who sat next
him; and who, with a pert air