22 ELISHA KENT KANE. 



The health of Elisha Kane gradually improved. 

 In his nineteenth year he commenced the study of 

 medicine, in the office and under the tuition of Dr. 

 Harris, of Philadelphia. He engaged in this pursuit 

 with great ardor and success, inasmuch as he had at 

 that time determined to devote his life to the prac- 

 tice of the healing art. So marked was his progress 

 that, in October, 1840, he was elected one of the 

 resident physicians in the Blockley Hospital, al- 

 though he had not yet attained his majority, had 

 attended but one course of medical lectures, and 

 was still, therefore, an undergraduate. In the suc- 

 ceeding year, a vacancy having occurred among 

 the Senior Resident Physicians in that institution, 

 Elisha Kane was chosen to fill it. A promotion of 

 this important description clearly evinces superior 

 ability, industry, prudence, and general excellence 

 of character on the part of its youthful recipient ; 

 for, although some of this success may be ascribed 

 to the patronage of friends, much more should be 

 attributed to his own personal merit. 



