180 BULLETIN OF THE 



Iu the midst of this successful but laborious career, during the 

 month of May, 1877, his health, never very robust, gave way, and, 

 although he survived for several years, he was a constant invalid, 

 to whom death came in the end as a welcome release frqm suffering. 

 He was engaged at the time of his death on the third surgical vol- 

 ume, which he has left in an unfinished condition ; a colossal frag- 

 ment that must require great labor to complete in a manner worthy 

 of the first two volumes. 



Otis received the appointments of captain, major, and lieutenaut- 

 colonel by brevet, to date from September 29, 1866, " for faithful 

 and meritorious services during the war." He was promoted to 

 be surgeon in the army, with the rank of major, March 17, 1880. 

 He was elected a foreign member of the Medical Society of Nor- 

 way, October 26, 1870 ; a foreign corresponding member of the 

 Surgical Society of Paris, August 11, 1875; and an honorary life 

 member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in February, 1877. 

 He was also at the time of his death a member of the Philosophical 

 Society of Washington, and of the Academy of Natural Sciences 

 of Philadelphia. 



In expressing his high appreciation of the character and value of 

 the surgical works of his late colleague, the writer of these pages 

 does but echo the universal language of competent critics through- 

 out the civilized world. On all sides the opinion has been expressed 

 that they have not only made the name of Otis illustrious, but have 

 reflected the greatest credit upon the intelligent liberality of the 

 Government of the United States, and upon the Medical Corps of 

 the Army. 



During his connection with the Museum, Otis always took deep 

 interest in the anatomical collection, now embracing about two 

 thousand human crania. As early as January, 1873, the Surgeon 

 General at his instance made a fruitless endeavor to procure an 

 appropriation for the publication of an illustrated catalogue of this 

 valuable collection. To facilitate this object Otis prepared a check- 

 list of the specimens, which was printed in 1876, but the pecuniary 

 means for preparing and publishing the larger work have not yet 

 been provided. 



Until his last illness Otis retained much of the fondness for polite 

 literature which characterized him in early life. He had, moreover, 

 considerable taste for music and the fine arts. These qualities made 

 his companionship charmiDg to those who enjoyed his intimacy. 



