Page:Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia (ser 03 vol 05).djvu/54

xliv which was as instructive and satisfactory as it was interesting and novel.

In 1856, Dr. Wood gave to the profession another valuable work, also in two volumes, entitled a Treatise on Therapeutics and Pharmacology, of which three editions have been published. A volume consisting chiefly of occasional lectures and addresses followed in due course; and in 1872 he issued still another, with the title of Historical and Biographical Memoirs; being a selection from the various productions of his indefatigable pen during the previous half century, and addressed for the most part to unprofessional readers.

Those who can recall the medical annals belonging to the beginning of the period just mentioned, may, perchance, remember the North American Medical and Surgical Journal; in the establishment and editorship of which Dr. Wood bore a very prominent part. The extent and value of his contributions may be seen by an inspection of the volumes in the library of the College. It was a quarterly publication, admirably conducted by an association of gentlemen; and was quite equal in learning and ability to any similar periodical either in this country or in Europe. It had an existanceexistence [sic] of six years; when it was discontinued, as so many other good enterprises have been, from insufficient patronage.

The East Indies appear to have had a wonderful fascination for Dr. Wood in the early part of his career, and his unemployed leisure, while waiting on practice, was devoted to the eager perusal of every accessible work relating to that country. At length the idea occurred to him of entering the field of historical authorship in his own person. He accordingly began to write a history of Christianity from its first introduction into India, as a part of his general plan; and had actually completed ten chapters of the narrative, when the