SEVERAL years having now elapsed since the publication of Addison’s treatise on ‘Diseases of the Supra-renal Capsules,’ a fitting opportunity would seem to have arrived to undertake an examination of the additional facts which have in the mean time been collected, in order to discover whether they tend to strengthen or to weaken his conclusions. I may say at once, that my own observations entirely uphold his argument ; and the cases, therefore, which I shall bring forward, will be found to substantiate (I consider), beyond disputation, his original facts.

It may be said, I think, with truth, that Addison’s views have by no means received the support of the profession at large ; but this scepticism, as far as I can judge from the circumstances which have induced it, can carry no important weight against their ultimate reception ; for, when it is remembered that all true and valuable discoveries require a long time to strike root, and that a hasty and general acceptance of a novelty is to be regarded in the light of a bad omen

VOL.VIII.

1