THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 205 



cine, made vacant by the resignation of Dr. Nathaniel 

 Chapman, Dr. Carson appKed for the position, now without 

 an occupant because of the transfer. His well-earned repu- 

 tation, and his already established position as a learned and 

 successful teacher and writer, made the selection an easy 

 one, though his competitors were men of distinction. He 

 was therefore duly elected, and assumed the responsibilities 

 of Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the 

 oldest medical school in America, in the year 1850, and 

 held this chair until May, 1876, a period of twenty-six years, 

 when he resigned on account of ill-health, and w^as then 

 made one of the emeritus professors of this institution. 



Dr. Carson was always a great favorite with his classes. 

 His genial and sympathetic manner, and the parental regard 

 he manifested towards them, created a strong affection 

 between preceptor and pupils. He was ever ready to listen 

 to their troubles, and help them out of their difficulties ; 

 and these intimate and kindly relations did not cease with 

 graduation, but were continued by correspondence, which, 

 increasing year by year, entailed upon the kind professor a 

 labor which few knew of or appreciated. 



He was not a voluminous writer, yet w^hat his pen 

 undertook was accomplished and complete. His powers of 

 research and sound discriminating judgment, made all his 

 essays studies of their kind. One work, however, will ever 

 be a monument of his ability as a historian ; I refer to 

 his " History of the Medical Department of the Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania," a work which cost him much 

 labor, and displays great learning, and which also we 

 should look up as a testimonial of the regard, love, and 

 loyalty which he bore to his alma mater, and the theatre 



