Punch or The London charivari: Punch or The London charivari (2.1842)

THE MEDICAL STUDENT

So.n of the scalpel! from whatever class

You grind instruction just enough to pass

St. George's, Guy's. North London, or King's College—

Thirsting alike for half-and-half and knowledge—

Thou who must know so well, (all jibes apart,)

The true internal structure of the heart —

This heart—which you " a hollow muscle" call,

I offer thee—aorta, valves, and all.

Though to cheap hats and boots thy funds incline,
And light rough Chesterfields at one pound nine ;
Though on the virtues of all plants thou'rt dumb
Save the Nicotiana Tabacum,
(Pentandria Digynia .'—Lindley-—mum !)

Though thou eschewest the hospital's dull yloom,

Except to chat in the house-surgeon's room.

And practically practise, in addition,

The "Physiology of Deglutition."

Yet much I love thee, and devoutly swear,

With lips that move controll'd by " the fifth pair,"

That I will ne'er know peace until our hands

Shall form a "ganglion" with Hymen's bands.

Then haste, my love, and let me call thee miue,
Precious and dear as sulphate of quinine,
Sparkling ami bright as antimonial wine,
Sharp as the angles of a new trephine,
My reckless, noisy, fearnought Vai entine !