Descriptive Sketches of the Medical Professors of Philadelphia. No. 1. The University of Pennsylvania.

Published by the Author, Philadelphia, 1857. Pamphlet, 8 3/16 x 5 3/8 inches, 24 pp. Chipped at edges, mostly at top edge and upper spine, with no text loss. Disbound. Rare in any condition (one OCLC library holding). "The following sketches were written for the purpose of presenting some outlines of the personal and mental characteristics of the Medical Professors of Philadelphia, for the special gratification of the Students who listen to their instructions. The author can only add that the work has been performed not only without malice in any instance, but with an absolute feeling of impartiality, and an earnest desire to be just." Sameul Jackson, M.D.: ".If you have ever seen Audubon, or the portraits of Audubon, the Naturalist, you will have an idea of the personal appearance of Professor Jackson." George B. Wood, M.D.: ".Dr. Wood is exceedingly polite and deferential to his class, and labors successfully for their instruction. He prepares his lectures with much care, and is remarkably luminous and perspicuous in his statements and demonstrations. He often discusses a dry question of Physiology or Practice with as much spirit as one would exhibit in replying to a personal attack. No branch of Medical study requires so much patient labor as that of Practice, in its common limits. But Dr. Wood embraces in his discussions a wide range of investigation in pathological and morbid Anatomy, illustrated by new and perfect models, drawings and preparations, imported from France for this purpose. The annual lectures of the University being now extended to six months, instead of four, which is the customary period in other colleges, gives an opportunity for the introduction of such topics, and greatly increase the labor of the Professors." Hugh L. Hodge, M.D.: " 'Hung be the heavens with black.' Such is the irreverent exclamation which rises to the mind as we commence our sketch of the eminent but solemn gentleman who occupies the chair of Obstetrics in the University. Dr. Hodge is one of the most perfect specimens of the good old-fashioned, serious, 'Apothecary Doctor,' of a past age, that we have ever seen. If any man ever looked like a Doctor, it is Professor Hodge. His whole aspect is suggestive of drugs --- nauseating drugs --- calomel and jalap, tartar emetic, blue pill, gum guaic and ammonia. He looks as if he had just been tasting of some offensive drug, or was meditating the administration of some disagreeable compound of drugs, or had just sealed the fate of some poor victim of drugs. He appears unmoved by any of the common emotions of humanity; cold, rigid, dogmatic, passionless. No man is certainly to blame for lack of personal beauty. No man should be blamed or ridiculed on account of personal deformities. A cold, rigid, passionless nature, may be more a misfortune than a fault. But it does not follow that men so unfortunately constituted should be maintained in conspicuous and important positions, where their defects of person and manner are a constant affliction to hundreds of their fellow beings. Dr. Hodge may be the most genial and amiable person in the world, for aught we know, for we have never seen him except in the Anatomical theatre, but there his influence is most depressing and injurious. He takes the life out of everything he touches, as carbonic acid gas robs the atmosphere of its vital properties and throws the brain into a state of coma, or vertigo." Joseph Carson, M.D.: ".We are rather pleased with the easy, pleasant, unpretentious manners of Dr. Carson, but we cannot speak so favorable of the style of speaking which he has adopted, or rather fallen into, for we do not suppose his style of delivery has ever occupied much of his attention. His voice is not strong, and he makes an effort to give it more force by speaking in a high, strained tone, which is not at all pleasant to the ear. We are almost painfully impressed with sympathy for such a speaker, being constantly apprehensive that he will lacerate his larynx, or fall a victimtochronic. F. Soft cover.