1918. J NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 117 



independence of character, by political consistency and by spotless 

 purity both in public and private life." 



Dr, Dixon's early leaning was the study of chemistry and from 

 that to medicine generally. His health, however, as he reached 

 manhood was not good and he went to Europe, visiting Vienna in 

 1873 during the World's Exhibition held in that year. On his return, 

 when about twenty-five years old, he entered the office of his brother, 

 Edwin S. Dixon, and studied law with him and at the Law School 

 of the University of Pennsylvania, being admitted to the Bar on 

 June 30th, 1877. 



It is of interest to recall the fact that Dr. Dixon's immediate 

 predecessor as President of the Academy, Gen. Isaac J. Wistar, 

 was also a man of varied pursuits and until the Civil War 

 practiced law. 



In 1886 Dr. Dixon received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from 

 the University of Pennsylvania, so that his years at the Bar were 

 not more than six. The importance of those years in rendering 

 more useful his distinguished career in his later activities is not 

 probably recognized by many. 



The training in a lawyer's office before the system of acquiring 

 knowledge of the law entirely in a school, as at present, was of great 

 value. A student under a careful preceptor was guided in his reading 

 and studies. He had the advantage of being able to apply his 

 knowledge to the daily business of the office. Typewriters and 

 stenographers and even office boys had not then been introduced, 

 and all letters and papers were copied, notices were served and 

 messages carried by the students. The student then not only 

 acquired practical knowledge of the duties of a lawyer, but he 

 became known to the members of the Bar and clients in a way that 

 enabled him to gain their confidence if it was deserved. 



In an office of general practice every kind of business and occu- 

 pation and the method of being conducted have to be investigated. 

 A lawyer should be an expert accountant and bookkeeper, with an 

 insight into all commercial and manufacturing methods. Until 

 title companies superseded the work of the conveyancer, I mean in 

 the correct sense and not that of a scrivener, which is usually meant, 

 the lawyer had to possess the closest familiarity with all the 

 incidents connected with real estate and mortgages and the rights 

 of inheritance. In these and many other fields the lawyer of fifty 

 years ago was very truly Une homme d'affaires. 



The profession of the law is more important in this countrj^ than 



