88 PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



though he certainly was a very cautious if not timid practi- 

 tioner. No man read more extensively on the subject of dis- 

 eases in fact he was deeply versed in pathological knowledge 

 derived from book As, however, his medical practice was 

 never very extensive, his practical observations delivered in 

 his lectures were strikingly marked with the evidences of 

 overweening caution. Hence he recommended to his pu- 

 pils, and always employed himself, unusually small doses 

 of medicine. He was, however, in the main, an observ- 

 ing and intelligent practitioner, and was remarkably as- 

 siduous in his attentions and soothing in his behaviour to 

 his patients. 



" In figure he was tall and exceedingly well formed ; in 

 middle life he might be considered as having been handsome. 

 His physiognomy was strongly expressive of intelligence, and 

 his eye was remarkably fine and penetrating. 



"In temperament he was irritable and even choleric. His 

 spirits were irregular, his manners consequently variable, im- 

 petuous, vehement. These repeated vacillations between equa- 

 nimity and depression were generally owing to the sudden and 

 repeated attacks of his continual earthly companion irreg- 

 ular gout. 



" In familiar conversation he was often elegant, remarkably 

 facetious, but never witty. 



"As a parent he was kind, tender, and indulgent to a 

 fault. 



" He possessed some high virtues ; among the most ele- 

 vated of them was his unaffected love of country. Indeed, his 

 patriotic feelings were not only strong, .but frequently ex- 

 pressed with unreserved warmth." 



A sketch of Barton, extracted from that by his nephew, 

 'was published in The Portfolio for April, 1816 (Philadelphia), 

 and in an editorial note prefixed to it occurs this statement : 

 " Our estimate, too, of the character of the deceased is some- 

 what different from that which has been formed by the author 

 of this ' Sketch.' Dr. Barton was a very industrious man in 

 the pursuit of science, and though we do not think that he has 

 contributed much to enlarge its bounds, we are willing to be- 

 lieve that his collections will facilitate the labours of the stu- 

 dent, to whom he has left a laudable example of active dili- 

 gence and unwearied perseverance." 



