of Physicians of Edinburgh.” In 1805 he was chosen President of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, succeeding, as the second President, the venerable Dr. John Redman. This office he held until his death.
On the decease of Dr. Shippen, the full duties of the Professorship were assumed by Dr. Wistar, by whom for some time previous they had been performed, teaching during the succeeding years both anatomy and midwifery.
In 1809, a change was brought about in the Chair of Chemistry by the death of Dr. Woodhouse. This gentleman was born in Philadelphia in 1770, and was educated at the University, from which, in 1787, he received the degree of A. B. He studied medicine with Dr. Rush, and graduated in 1792, as Doctor of Medicine, at the first Commencement after the union of the Schools. His Inaugural essay was upon the “Persimmon.” Before his graduation he had served in the army as a medical assistant, and took part in the unfortunate campaign of General St. Clair against the Indians, during which he was exposed to the risk of massacre which befell the army of that commander.
The attention of Dr. Woodhouse had been especially directed to chemical pursuits, in which he had acquired some reputation, and hence his election in 1795, under the circumstances that have been detailed, although he had as his competitor so able a chemist as Dr. Adam Seybert. Immediately upon his appointment, it is stated, “he went to work with zeal, and delivered a course of lectures with great applause; and as almost the whole of his time was devoted to the study of his favorite science, he added to the number, variety, and brilliancy of his experiments.”[1] Dr. Caldwell, who was an attendant upon his lectures, informs us that he became in a short time so expert and successful an experimenter as to receive from Dr. Priestley, who had just arrived in the United States, and had declined the appointment, very flattering compliments upon his dexterity and skill. That distinguished gentleman, on seeing him engaged in the business of his laboratory, did not hesitate to pronounce him equal, as
- ↑ Thatcher’s Lives, p. 222.
