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MAHENDRALAL SIRCAR. In Bengal, during the last century, there was no greater votary of science than Dr. Mnhendralal Sircar* He was born in 1833 at Paikpara in the District of Howruh, where he was brought up by his maternal uncle, for he lout both his parents at a very tender age. After studying in the village school, he joined the Hindu College with a junior scholarship from the Hare School Both in the Hindu College and in the Presidency College (which latter succeeded the Hindu College) ho won high laurels and soon distinguished himself for his love of science. He then entered the Calcutta Melical College, where he was so much esteemed by his professor that ill the very second year of his course he was invited by them to deliver a series of lectures on Optics to his fellow-st'.tdents, which task he performed honourably. He had an exceptionally brilliant career in that College, where, besides winning several scholarships, he passed the final examination in 1360 with the highest honours in Medicine, Surgery and Midwifery, Tn 18G3 he took the degree of M.D. with special success. He soon joined the Bengal Branch of the British Medical Association, instituted by the late Dr. G. Chakravarti whore hn rose to bj the Secretary and also a Vice-President. At the very npeningmcctinghe delivered an able" address denouncing Hoinreopithy as au inposture. The infinitesimal doses prescribed by that system, he contended, could have absolutely no effect on disease. But soon his views began to be modified. After having observed several cases under a Homoeopathic practi- tioner, he began to suspect that the system might be something more than mere quackery. With characteristic energy he began to study the new system, and gave it a practical test. With re- markable moral courage he changed his views and openly declar- ed his conversion to the new creed in his celebrated speech "On the supposed uncertainty in medical science and on the relation between diseases and their remedial agents" read at the Medical Association in February, 1807. In he started the