120 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [April, 



DOCTOR DIXON'S LIFE AND SERVICES TO THE ACADEMY. 

 BY WITHER STONE, SC.D. 



An institution such as this Academy demands the services of 

 many types of men, and of these three seem to stand out most 

 prominently before us. There is the student of the Natural Sciences,. 

 entirely absorbed in his researches, who sheds glory upon the society 

 by his discoveries; the benefactor, through whose generosity these 

 researches are made possible; and the executive, the man of ajffairs 

 under whose direction the institution is developed. 



One of these is equally as important as the other in the welfare of 

 the institution, and lacking any one of the three, successful develop- 

 ment is impossible. 



It is to the last category that Samuel Gibson Dixon primarily 

 belonged, and it is his untiring energy and devotion in guiding the 

 development of this institution, as executive Curator and President 

 for nearly a quarter of a century, that constitute his great gift to 

 this Academy. 



But great as were his services as executive, he was more than this. 

 Directly or indirectly he filled the role of benefactor as well, by 

 securing the funds which made possible the development of the 

 plant of the Academy from the modest building which housed our 

 collections twenty-five years ago to the commodious museum, 

 library and laboratories of to-day. Then, too, his experience in 

 medical research gave him a sympathetic interest in the work of the 

 staff and influenced him in guiding the development of the institu- 

 tion along the lines of scientific research which was its origmal 

 province and to which its reputation has always been due. 



The extent of Dr. Dixon's services to this institution and through 

 it to science in general is appreciated by few outside of our officers 

 and members. It was his later labors in the field of preventive 

 medicine and sanitation, as Commissioner of Health of Pennsylvania, 

 that brought him his great renown, not only throughout the extent 

 of this Commonwealth but far beyond its borders as well, and have 

 made his name a byword in every household of the State, coupled 

 always with the thought of public health. But the details of this 

 work, by far his greatest achievement, as well as his career in the 

 law and its influence on his later activities, are treated of by others, 



