THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 201 



continued to characterize his writings and teaching in after 

 life. 



Soon after graduating Dr. Carson was elected one of 

 the resident physicians in the Philadelphia Almshouse, 

 then situated on Tenth Street, betweeen Spruce and Pine. 

 He did not, however, immediately enter upon the practice 

 of his profession, but determined to take a voyage to the 

 East Indies. Dr. Carson set sail as surgeon, on board the 

 ship " Georgiana," commanded by Captain John Land ; 

 during which voyage he visited Madras and Calcutta, 

 returning to Philadelphia August 3, 1S32, having been 

 absent nearly a year. While on this expedition he kept a 

 journal, in which we find, neatly and methodically arranged, 

 tables indicating the temperature of the sea and air, and the 

 barometical conditions of the atmosphere, with excellent 

 drawings, some of them colored, of the flora and fauna, 

 which did not escape his quick senses and inquiring mind. 

 His description (recorded in the journal) of sea-sickness, as 

 experienced by himself, is graphically and clearly given, 

 with its physiological causes and conditions well presented. 



After his return from India we find Dr. Carson, at the 

 age of twenty -four years, entering upon the duties of the practi- 

 tioner, and he was not an exception in regard to the customary 

 tardiness with which the public receives the young phy- 

 sician, since for the first nine years his monetary realizations 

 from practice were very small. At the expiration of this 

 time, and at thirty-three years of age, he was united in 

 marriage with Mary Goddard, sister of Dr. Paul B. Goddard, 

 and granddaughter of Paul Beck, of this city. From this 

 union there was no living issue, and Mrs. Carson was 

 prematurely carried off within a year of their marriage. 



