Page:Transactions of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia (ser 03 vol 05).djvu/77

Rh occupation far into the evening of life; until indeed his waning health and physical disabilities warned him that the time of his departure was at hand.

His name recalls that of the great sage of Verulam, whose writings may have contributed to mould his intellect; but, unlike him, there was nothing venal, sordid, penurious, or mercenary, in the disposition of Dr. Wood. He was as kind and liberal to others as he was hard and exacting to himself. Recognizing his stewardship as that for which he was to give account, he endeavored faithfully to discharge its obligations. His private charities were large and gracefully bestowed. They were not it is true dispensed indiscriminately, for he justly thought that all should work who had the power to do so; but no really deserving person or object ever sought relief or assistance in vain. With a far-seeing philanthropy, he was munificent in some of his benefactions. The Faculty of Medicine auxiliary to the University, consisting of the five chairs of zoology and comparative anatomy, botany, mineralogy and geology, hygiene, and medical jurisprudence and toxicology, founded at his instance in 1865, was supported by him during his life, and permanently endowed at his death. A greater sum was devised to the University for the increase of hospital accommodation; and the Philosophical Society and the College of Physicians also shared largely in his beneficent dispositions.

Dr. Wood was by birth-right a Friend, but, marrying as it is termed "out of meeting," he was according to the rules of order formally disowned by the society, though he always maintained friendly relations with its members. He was cosmopolitan in his disposition, and his sectarian affinities were consequently never very strong. He often accompanied his wife, who was a Lutheran, to her place of worship; and