1889.] obJ [Rothrock. 



BiograpJiical Sketch of (he Late Nathaniel Archer Randolph, 31. D. 



By J. T. Rothrock, M.D. 



(Read before the American Philosophical Society, May 3, 1SS9.) 



It is not unusual to find men, young and old, who have lived with so 

 clear a conscience that they have few regrets and no fears when the 

 supreme hour of their earthly career comes. It is also very certain that 

 these men leave behind them vacancies which arc hard to fill, and that 

 those who knew them best mourn their departure most. 



When a young man, jealous of his integrity, conscious of his powers, 

 devoted to the work and welfare of the world, is unexpectedly snatched 

 away after years of preparation, it is but natural that we should regard 

 our loss as almost beyond repair. 



We, to-night, deplore the removal from our midst by death of just such 

 a man. Lest it should be supposed that this is the expression merely of an 

 overfriendly opinion, I shall reinforce what I have said by the further 

 statement that Doctor Randolph was both a positive and a popular man ; 

 to have been both is so remarkable that it presupposes some extraordinary 

 qualities, which are not often combined in one individual. 



Nathaniel Archer, son of Nathaniel and Eliza S. Randolph (now Eliza 

 S. Turner), was born November 7, 1858, after the death of his father. 

 From his earliest childhood he appears to have been conscientious beyond 

 the measure of most boys. To illustrate the above statement : on one 

 occasion, he refused to say, I will be glad to see another child, because, 

 said he, how can I be glad to see one whom I do not even know ? With 

 most persons a fondness for natural history, or a special branch of it, can 

 be traced to a particular influence. So far as we can see, this was not t])e 

 case with young Randolph. He grew up with it, and no more wondered 

 at his mental preferences, or thought of questioning their validity or im- 

 portance than why he should eat or sleep. His fondness for living things 

 was as decided as was his power of making friends with them. It is said 

 by those who knew him best, that later in life, in his physiological experi- 

 ments, he was scrupulously careful to reduce suflfering to a minimum and 

 never to inflict it at all, save with a clearly defined purpose in view. 



His tastes are thus seen to have been naturally those of a student and an 

 observer. Young Randolph rather avoided than courted the manly sports 

 which most boys admire. In fact, it is said by one who had abundant 

 opportunity for knowing, that he did not incline to enough exercise to 

 keep him in the best physical condition. This, however, was due to no 

 lack of spirit, but because he preferred to study, or to amuse himself, in a 

 quieter way. His disposition was gentle ; hence, it was an exceedingly 

 rare thing for him to utter a harsh word against any one. This was so 

 trae that even his most familiar friends, to whom he confided most of his 



