Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/376

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diploma he was made professor of chem- istry, natural philosophy and physiology in the University of New York, and in 1841 professor of chemistry in the University Medical College.

In company with Paine, Mott, Bed- ford, Pattison and Revere he inaugurated the New York University Medical College in 1841, himself occupying the chair of chemistry.

Although he practised as a physician in Virginia and New York, it may be said of him that he spent more time and pa- tience in perfecting hygiene as the result of experimentation than many physicians during a life-time of practice. During his chemical experiments he did much for photography in the way of original processes and he was the first in the state to take a daguerreotype portrait. When the news of Daguerrre's photographic discovery came to New York Draper fitted an ordinary spectacle lens into a cigar case and began his experiments first by taking views out of a window and afterwards by taking portraits. To shorten the time of exposure he whitened the faces of his sitters. He had a most original theory which must be styled pan- tophotography. He believed that no ac- tion at any time or place goes unrecorded ; in other words that an action done in a room or court would be permanently photographed on the surrounding sides, the next deed being photographed over this. So, if the tombs of the Pharaohs could be opened, Draper believed that by a proper series of actions a funeral procession of over 4,000 years ago could be brought to view.

In May, 1866, his fine library, his extensive notes and apparatus were all burned; a severe loss to such a book- lover and writer.

He was married to Astoria C. P. Gard- ner in England, a daughter of Dr. Gard- ner of Rio Janeiro, and had six children. Two of his sons, Henry and Daniel, became distinguished in science.

Physiology and chemistry, botany and natural history took the greater part of his time. As a lecturer he was concise

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without being ambiguous, calm and un- impassioned in utterance. " He would explain the phenomena of lightning or manufacture prussic acid in the same tone and way in which he lectured on milk, and having told his story left enthu- siasm to his hearers."

His biographer gives as two of Draper's virtues, first that he considered smoking "a dirty practice" and "belonged to the Protestant Episcopal faith."

He died at Hastings-on-the-Hudson on January 4, 18S2, leaving a gap which only a very eminent and philosophical thinker could fill.

Dr. Draper's numerous and valuable experimental researches were published in the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences," "London and Edinburgh Philosophical Journal," and the "Ameri- can Journal of Science and Arts." He was likewise the author of many literary works and reviews: "A Treatise on the Forces which produce the Organization of Plants" (1844); " A Text-book on Chem- istry" (1846); "A Text-book on Natural Philosophy " (1847) ; and one on " Human Physiology" (1856), which passed through numerous editions. His " History of the Intellectual Development of Europe" ap- peared in 1852, and was almost immedia- tely afterwards republished in England and translated into French, German, Ital- ian, Polish and Russian, and has passed through many editions in this country. In some respects, his most important work was the "Conflict between Science and Religion," which attracted great attent- ion, and was translated into all the prin- cipal languages. He was also the author of "A History of the American Civil War" and "Thoughts on the Future Civil Policy of America."

In 1S74 the American Academy of Science conferred on him the Rumford medal, the highest distinction in their gift, for his researches on "Radiant Matter."

Abridged from Distinguished Living New York Physicians. Dr. S. W. Francis. Boston Med. and Surg. Jour., 1843, vol.