Henry Draper. 93 
difficult photographs, Dr. Draper obtained some excellent ones 
of the spectrum of the nebula. These are chiefly interesting 
because, besides the general bright line spectra characteristic of 
this nebula, they show in several places traces of continuous 
Spectra suggesting condensation. 
Professor Draper’s preéminence in celestial photography led 
to his selection in 1874, by the Transit of Venus Commission 
of the United States, as the Director of the Photographie 
Department. During the spring of that year, he spent three 
gold medal to be struck in his honor at the Philadelphia Mint. 
This medal is 46 millimeters in diameter and has upon the 
curatores R. P. F. S. Henrico Draper, M.D., Dec. VIII, 
he motto: “Decori decus addit 
Tn 1878, Professor Draper organized a party of five persons 
to observe the solar eclipse of July 29th. The station which 
he selected for observation was Rawlins, in Wyoming, on the 
line of the Union Pacific Railroad. The expedition proved an 
entire success, Professor Draper himself securing an excellent 
Photograph of the corona and also one of its diffraction spec- 
‘rum, which appeared continuous. Others of the party detected 
~ Besides that spent in scientific work, Dr. Draper's time was 
largely Occupied with his duties as instructor. In 1859 he was 
’ppointed on the medical staff of Bellevue Hospital, and served 
eighteen months. In 1860 he was elected Professor of Physiol- 
ogy In the Academic department of the University of the City 
ot New York; a position which he held until the past year. 
