1885.] -L-L^ [Ruschenberger. 



The experience of a few years satisfied him that the career of 

 a practitioner of medicine was uncongenial, repugnant to the 

 sensitiveness of his nature and mental habits. He returned to 

 Baltimore, and was soon appointed superintendent of an exten- 

 sive manufactory of chemicals. Here he sedulously cultivated 

 scientific and applied chemistry. 



While thus employed he accepted, but after some hesitation 

 based on a notion that he lacked fluency of speech, a quality for 

 which he was subsequently distinguished, the professorship of 

 chemistry in the Washington Medical College, of Baltimore. 

 The position was not remunerative. During the same period he 

 lectured on chemistry before the Mechanics' Institute, which 

 was designed for the encouragement of the mechanic arts in imi- 

 tation of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania, 

 and was also occupied in original investigations. 



In September, 1830, at the age of twenty-eight, he married 

 Rachel Smith, of Baltimore, who was a birth-right member of 

 the Society of Friends. 



During the winter of 1831-32 he lectured twice a week on 

 natural philosophy and chemistry in Baltimore. 



When the Medical Department of the Cincinnati College was 

 established in 1835, he was appointed professor of chemistry, 

 and filled the office until the establishment was closed in 1839. 

 The summer vacations of these four years were spent in field 

 work and chemical investigations in connection with the Geo- 

 logical Survey of Virginia, as an assistant of his brother Wil- 

 liam, who was the State Geologist. 



While in Cincinnati he declined the office of melter and refiner 

 in the branch Mint at New Orleans, offered to him by the Presi- 

 dent of the United States. 



He became a permanent resident of Philadelphia in 1840, and 

 in August of the same year he was elected a member of the 

 Franklin Institute. His brother Henry, then Geologist of Penn- 

 sylvania, engaged him as an assistant in field and laboratory 

 work. During seasons of leisure he delivered lectures to classes 

 of medical students and examined them. He was appointed 

 lecturer on chemistry, 1841, in the Philadelphia Medical Insti- 

 tute, then a flourishing summer school, founded by Dr. Nathaniel 

 Chapman. August 21, 1844, he was unanimously elected Pro- 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. S0C. XXIII. 121. O. PRINTED NOVEMBER 10, 1885. 



