Page:Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia (ser 03 vol 05).djvu/44

xxxiv the College of Physicians, with its older, smaller, and jealously guarded fellowship, a more congenial sphere.

The College of Pharmacy was founded in 1821, and, the year following, Dr. Wood accepted an invitation to the chair of Chemistry, without, however, severing his connection with the Association. This position he held with increasing reputation until 1831, when it was exchanged for the chair of Materia Medica in the same institution. It is not too much to say that the instruction there given could not easily have been surpassed. Never had it been so well done in either department before. In matter and in manner, it was all that could be desired, or that the knowledge of the time permitted; abounding in experiment and illustration, and admirably adapted to the requirements of the young men who were to become our future druggists and apothecaries.

Duty thoroughly and conscientiously performed, knowledge extended and matured, and powers enlarged and strengthened by exercise, with the uncommon excellence and attractiveness of his lectures, placed him foremost among the teachers of these two branches of science; and it is not surprising, therefore, that in 1835, a vacancy occurring in the chair of Materia Medica in the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Wood should have been chosen to fill it. Promotion thus steadily followed step by step, and always found him equal to the labor and responsibility which it involved. He was of a nature too refined to canvass or intrigue for place, however much it might be desired; and had too nice a sense of honor, too just a conception of what was due to the dignity of the profession, and to his own self-respect, to descend into the field with rough and jostling competitors. Like the lamented Godman, whose sun went down ere it