4 The Scottish Naturalist 



Pathology and Practice of Medicine, in 1833. In 1834 he became 

 M.R.C.S. of London. 



He at one time intended to enter the naval medical service, but 

 relinquished that intention and returned to Aberdeen, where he 

 undertook for a time private medical practice. However, his 

 tastes from early life had tended very strongly in the direction of 

 scientific research, especially in Botany, and he found medical 

 practice therefore uncongenial and incompatible with his favourite 

 studies. In 1839 he was appointed lecturer on Botany in King's 

 College, and continued in that office till 1849. For a part of that 

 period he also lectured on Materia Medica and on Zoology, and 

 held the post of librarian of the University. In 1842, the honorary 

 degree of M.D. was conferred on him by the University; and on 

 his resigning his various appointments in 1849, he received the 

 thanks of the Senate " for the excellent manner in which he had 

 discharged the duties of these offices." 



In 1849 ne l e ft Aberdeen, having been appointed to the chair 

 of Natural History in the new University of Belfast. While there, 

 he had to deliver lectures on Botany, Zoology, Geology, and 

 Physical Geography. 



In i860, Marischal College and King's College were united to 

 form the new University of Aberdeen, and several new professor- 

 ships were instituted, among them one of Botany, for which Dr. 

 Dickie was a candidate, and being successful, became the first pro- 

 fessor of Botany in the University. Not long after his return to 

 Aberdeen he spent some days with his students botanising among 

 the hills and corries of Braemar. The weather was most un- 

 favourable during almost the whole of the time, and the exposure 

 injured his health so much, that on his return home he suffered 

 from a very severe and dangerous illness, which resulted in more 

 or less chronic bronchitis and deafness, becoming worse during 

 the rest of his life, though with occasional remissions. In 1877, 

 he felt unable to continue to discharge the duties of the professor- 

 ship, and resigned them in the spring of that year. The relief had 

 a beneficial effect on his health, and he was able to continue his 

 work among Marine A/gce, though with occasional hindrance from 

 attacks of illness, till within a short time of his death. In the 

 spring of 1882 he was confined to his room for some weeks, but 

 in June had become considerably stronger ; and his friends were 

 hoping that he had still some years of life before him. To their 

 sorrow, he was again prostrated by illness ; and after about a week 

 of gradual loss of strength, attended with great suffering, borne 



