29 
anything that might appear like egotism, that he never carried out 
the suggestion. He was rarely given to talking about himself, and 
all that those most intimate with him know about his youth and the 
struggles that must have attended the beginning of his scientific 
career is from chance hints he dropped now and then. Ls 
When a mere boy, while upon a visit in the country (the upper 
part of the island was then ‘‘the country,”) he saw two young men 
pass along the road, all travel-stained and laden with strange parcels. 
The unusual appearance of these young men prompted him to 
inquire about them, and he was told that they were “the Le Conte 
boy ” and another whose name I have forgotten, and that they were 
“botanists.” The young Torrey for the first time saw a botanist, 
and he looked upon him as a curiosity, little thinking that he him- 
-8elf would in time be a chief among botanists. The “ Le Conte boy ” 
afterwards became the celebrated Major Le Conte, who contributed 
largely to botany and other sciences. 
While still a youth it was Dr. Torrey’s fortune to be brought 
into relations with Amos Eaton, who was the great instructor in 
opular science of his day, and it was through his teachings 
a that the young Torrey first learned the rudiments of 
tany. 
Up os the time he became a medical student we know but little 
of his career. He had a marked natural talent for practical mechan- 
ics, and at one time seriously entertained the idea of becoming a 
machinist. This love for mechanical affairs remained with him 
through life, and his talent in this direction was often displayed in 
various useful ways. He ultimately chose the medical profession 
and entered the office of Dr. Wright Post, the eminent physician 
and surgeon of his day. At that time the practice of medicine was 
very different from what it is now. Then the physician not only 
dispensed his own medicines, but they were for the greater part 
prepared in his office by the students. In the preparation of chem- 
ileal and pharmaceutical compounds Torrey, the student, found occu- 
pation in accordance with his tastes, and he often alluded to his ex- 
perience here as of great service to him in after life. : 
Either during his apprenticeship, as it was then called—in our day 
medical students onl y read with their preceptors—or after he 
entered the college of Physicians and Surgeons, he was an inter- 
ested attendant upon the botanical lectures of the eminent Dr. 
Hosack, at the Elein Botanical Garden, which were given not far 
from the spot where we are now assembled. At that time young 
Torrey was an industrious collector and he often carried to Dr. 
Hosack the fruits of his herborizations. On one occasion Dr. Hosack 
_ Was so much pleased with some rare species that he remarked before 
the class, “ That young man has an old head.” Medical students 
then were the same as now; the generic type holds in all times and 
-in all countries, They were not slow to take up the igdips i pe 
professor, and Dr. Torrey during his student’s career was the ~ ol 
head ” of his class. : 
Asa ec weg Dr. Torrey must have devoted much time 
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