Page:A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.djvu/176

 

CHAPTER XV.

 

E. Rogers to the Chair of Chemistry—Death of Dr. Horner—Sketch of his life—Election of Dr. Leidy to the Chair of Anatomy—Resignation of Dr. Gibson—Sketch of his Life—Election of Dr. Henry H. Smith to the Professorship of Surgery—Resignation of Dr. Wood—Election of Dr. Pepper to the Chair of Practice—Resignation of Dr. Jackson and of Dr. Hodge—Election of Dr. F. G. Smith to the Chair of Institutes, and of Dr. Penrose to that of Obstetrics—Resignation of Dr. Pepper and his decease—Sketch of his life—Election of Dr. A. Stillé to Chair of Practice—Supplementary Course of Lectures.

During the summer of 1852 the University sustained the loss by death of Dr. Rogers.

James B. Rogers was born in 1803, in the city of Philadelphia; but as his father, Dr. Patrick Kerr Rogers, had been appointed to succeed Dr. Hare as Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in William and Mary College, Virginia, he received his collegiate education in that institution. He studied medicine in Baltimore, and graduated, in 1822, at the University of Maryland, at the time the reputation of that school was sustained by the names of Potter, Davidge, Baker, and De Butts. He wrote a thesis upon Epilepsy.

After graduation, Dr. Rogers commenced the practice of medicine in Harford County, Maryland, but he soon abandoned the occupation of a country practitioner, and became the superintendent of the chemical works of Messrs. Tyson & Ellicott, in Baltimore. While engaged in this business he accepted the Chair of Chemistry in the Washington Medical College, of that city, and at the same time lectured in the Mechanics’ Institute. In 1835 he accepted the position of Professor of Chemistry in the Medical Department of the Cincinnati College, where he was associated with Drs. Drake, Gross, Parker, Cobb, and Harrison. During the four years of labor in that field, he devoted the summer season to the assistance of his brother, Professor