8 Obituary Notices. [sess. li. 



and Dr Gilchrist was appointed his successor at Dumfries. 

 It was no ordinary trial for any man to be called to occupy 

 the place of such a prince of psychological physicians, and 

 no man could realise that position more than the subject of 

 our sketch. Under a deep sense of responsibility he re- 

 turned to " The Crichton," and it was no small comfort and 

 encouragement to him to find that his return among them 

 was welcomed with much pleasure by the patients. He 

 threw himself heartily into his work, and, as the friend from 

 whom I have already quoted, says, " there was scarcely a 

 day in which something to interest the patients was not in 

 progress to which he himself largely and unweariedly con- 

 tributed during his whole tenure of office, by giving courses 

 of lectures in Botany, Natural History, Mineralogy, and 

 even at a time when rest would have been most needful for 

 the preservation of his health." And as had been said by 

 another friend, who also knew him well, " with what zeal, 

 unwearied toil, and abundant success he conducted the 

 affairs of that large institution for the long period of 

 twenty-two years, its records amply testify." 



During this period he spent his holidays in prosecuting 

 his favourite sciences all over the country. But not limited 

 to his native land, he made several tours on the Continent, 

 and no one who had the privilege of being associated with 

 him, as I on two occasions had, can fail to recall to mind 

 the kindness and genuineness of his friendship, the ardour 

 of his devotion to natural science, and his devout and 

 reverent spirit. 



Our limited time, and the consequent rapidity with which 

 our tours were accomplished, prevented us making any 

 collecticm. Our scientific work was mostly confined to 

 inspecting the various Natural History Museums, some of 

 which were peculiarly interesting and instructive. 



The constant strain which the arduous duties of the 

 asylum involved proved at last too much for Dr Gilchrist, 

 and in 1879 he was compelled to resign his post as medical 

 superintendent. The restwliich this secured for liim proved 

 very beneficial, but no sooner did lie feel himself improving 

 in health, than he was impelled by his love of science, and 

 the promptings of his generous heart, to conduct, as a 

 labour of love, classes for the study of Botany, Geology, and 



