I worked hard, and I had a natural, perhaps an hereditary liking, for the work.

Medicine always fascinated me.

I think it the greatest of the sciences, and from the beginning I was determined that I would be among the greatest of its masters.
At four and twenty, having finished my curriculum with high honours--I was gold medallist of my year in both medicine and surgery--I became house-surgeon to one of the London hospitals.

After my term of office was over I remained at the hospital for another year, for I wished to make a practical study of my profession in all its branches before starting a private practice.

At the end of this time my mother died while still comparatively young.