NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



in the college records, and as no such title as the above appears in 

 any of his published papers, it has been found impossible, to verify 

 the statement. Two papers, however, covering much the same 

 ground appeared shortly afterward. The first, " Experiments on 

 Endosmosis," came out in the Journal of the Franklin Institute for 

 March and July. The second, entitled " Experiments on Absorp- 

 tion," which was much more extended, was printed in the Amer- 

 ican Journal of the Medical Sciences for May. 



The published scientific memoirs of Dr. Draper had now won 

 for him a very considerable reputation. His graduating thesis 

 had by its originality and by the experimental ability shown in it 

 attracted the attention of the authorities of Hampden Sidney Col- 

 lege, Prince Edward county, Virginia. Accordingly, in the fall 

 of 1836, he was tendered, and accepted, the professorship of chem- 

 istry and natural philosophy in that institution. This appoint- 

 ment was especially agreeable to him, since it enabled him, as he 

 said, "to convert experimental investigation, thus far only an- 

 amusement, into the appropriate occupation of his life." In the 

 new sphere of labor thus opened to him he continued his scientific 

 researches with largely increased experimental facilities. 



In 1837 a movement was made to establish a medical school in 

 connection with the University of the city of New York, and Dr. 

 Draper was elected professor of chemistry in the new institution. 

 The financial embarrassments of that year, however, crippled the 

 university and the project was temporarily abandoned. 



In 1839, however, he was elected professor of chemistry in the 

 undergraduate department of that university, and removed with his 

 family to the city of New York. In 1840, in conjunction with Drs. 

 Mott, Bedford, Pattison, and Revere, he took an active part in 

 organizing the medical department, in which he became the pro- 

 fessor of chemistry. His intimate relations with the chancellor, the 

 Hon. Theodore Frelinghuyseu, resulted in his assuming a large 

 share in the preparation of the constitution of the new department, 

 to the wise provisions in which its subsequent prosperity has been 

 largely due. Moreover, in doing this he exerted a marked influ- 

 ence on the development of medical science in the city of New 

 Yo'rk. At that time there were but few medical students there, 

 probably not more than forty or fifty. But in the session of 1841- 

 '4*2 the University Medical School alone enrolled 239 students, and 

 the number in attendance at the College of Physicians and Sur- 



354 



