AMERICAN GEOLOGY DECADE <>F 1830-1839. 



323 



In order that be might devote himself more fully to the work of the 

 .survey, he severed his eonneetion with the institutions of learning 

 about 1838. The move, however, proved an unfortunate one, as the 

 survey was shortlived and he was thrown 

 back upon his own resources. 



In 1846 he visited, in the capacity of a 

 geological expert, the Lake Superior mining 

 regions. Through exposure while there he 

 contracted a severe illness, which left him 

 in an enfeebled condition from which he 

 never fully recovered. He died from con- 

 gestion of the lungs in 1849. 



Ducatel is represented to us as a man of 

 generous traits and of winning character, 

 ardent and enterprising. Physically he was 

 short in stature, with square shoulders, black 

 eyes, dark complexion, and face strongly 

 pitted by smallpox. He bent forward and 



walked with a nervous, energetic step, which betokened the ceaseless 

 activity of one accustomed to work and think for himself. 



Few publications bear his name, though as a writer for the journals 

 of the day he is said to have been quite prolific. I lis principal work 

 was a Manual of Toxicology, which, it is stated, was well received. 



In July, 1831, G. W. Featherstonhaugh, who was introduced to the 



reader on page 301, was authorized by Lieut. Col. J. J." Abert, acting 



under instructions of the War Department, to make a geological and 



mineralogical survey of the ''elevated country lying 



known 



Fig. 24.— Julius Tiruoleon Ducatel. 



sufv h e e v ( st i°834 augh ' s between the Missouri River and Red River 



under the designation of the Ozark Mountains."" 



The 



survey was duly made and a report rendered bearing the date of Feb- 

 ruary 17, 1835. This comprised altogether 97 pages, the first 42 of 

 which were given up mainly to a discussion of general principles not 

 germane to the report at all, but which, as indicating the condition of 

 mind of the writer, are worth}- of consideration. He regarded the 

 continents and islands as having originated through an expansive sub- 

 terranean force, and believed the mineral veins to have been tilled 

 from below, rather than from above, as taught by Werner. 



Granite was regarded as an igneous rock, and designated as "ignige- 

 nous." Gneiss he recognized as often passing into granite, while some 

 of the primary limestones he thought to have possibly "come from 

 central parts of the earth, in a state of aqueous solution, and to have 

 subsequently received their high crystalline character from being in 

 contact with ignigenous rocks in an incandescent, state.""' To the coni- 



" Thia appears to have been the first formal recognition of the science of geology 

 bv the General Government. 



