42 Memoir of Sir Andreiv Smith, by Alex. Michie. 



the extra work involved in the publication. It, however, has not 

 been wholly lost, as much of the information, and many of the 

 illustrations have appeared in some of the most widely known 

 books of African travellers, and men of science. 



Dr Smith's professional advancement had been slow hitherto, 

 but in 1841, he was made staff-surgeon of the first class, and ap- 

 pointed P.M.O. at Chatham. In 1845, he was promoted to the 

 rank of Deputy Inspector of Hospitals, and transferred to Lon- 

 don as professional assistant to the Director General. On the 

 retirement of Sir James McGregor, in 1851, he was selected by 

 the Duke of Wellington to succeed him with the rank of Super- 

 intendent-Inspector General, and in 1853 he received the status 

 of Director General. 



These successive appointments were received with approbation 

 by the Medical and other journals, and satisfaction by the great 

 body of the medical officers in the army ; he being esteemed, by 

 those best qualified to form a correct opinion, as " a man of talent 

 and high professional acquirements, of ready and acute business 

 habits," and " of high principle, in whom the utmost confidence 

 could be placed." 



While endeavouring faithfully and efficiently to discharge his 

 official duties, Dr Smith had sufficient leisure to devote to scien- 

 tific pursuits. He was elected a Fellow of the Eoyal Society and 

 the Zoological Society, and of other associations of similar 

 character. At this period his favourite study was the Class Eep- 

 tilia, and he spared neither trouble nor expense in making his 

 collection as complete as possible. Having numerous friends in 

 all parts of the world, he received specimens from time to time, 

 from every quarter, so that his collection was acknowledged to be 

 the best in that particular department, of any in Great Britain.* 



The aggressive policy of Eussia in the East having led to a 

 declaration of war by the British Government, it devolved on Dr 

 Smith, as head of the Medical Department of the Army, to make 

 provision for the proper care of the troops, which might be called 

 on to take part in the struggle. To this task he brought all his 

 energy, forethought, and administrative ability, and, long before 

 the army was called on to take the field, he seemed to have anti- 

 cipated every want ; but in a short time grievous charges were 



* The greater part of this collection he afterwards presented to the Uni- 

 versity of Edinburgh, and it is now exhibited in the Industrial Museum. 



