1880.1 1^'« [Hartshorne. 



daily when carried on with the patience, carefulness 

 and candor which attended those which have been thus 

 briefly recorded. 



Dr. Wood's professional eminence and personal 

 qualifications led, naturally and suitably, to his being" 

 called to high official positions. In 1848, he was 

 elected President of the College of Physicians of 

 Philadelphia; an office which remained with him there- 

 after until his death. In 1855, he was made President 

 of the American Medical Association; and in 1859, 

 President of the American Philosophical Society. In 

 this last position, he followed, after an interval of some 

 years, Dn Nathaniel Chapman. Both of these appoint- 

 ments may be regarded as not only altogether appro- 

 priate on account of the high individual merits of those 

 who received them, but, also, as evincing a recognition 

 of the relation of the medical profession to the general 

 advancement of science, to which medical men here, 

 as elsewhere, have rendered such large and numerous 

 contributions ; besides exemplifying, in their own vo- 

 cation, the principle that science lives and works most 

 fitly, not for its own intellectual aims alone, but also 

 for the common benefit of humanity. 



In 1870, Dr. Wood was disposed to retire from all 

 official duties, on account of his advancing- agfe and in- 

 firmity. On the occasion of his tendering his resigna- 

 tion of the Presidency of the American Philosophical 

 Society, its Secretaries were authorized, as a commit- 

 tee, to request Its withdrawal. In the communication 



PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XIX. 107. R. PRINTED NOVEMBER 5, 1880. 



