BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF JOHN ADAM RYDER. G79 



of embryos of warm-blooded vertebrates, which I have never enjoyed 

 until this season; and unless one can give his whole time to the work of 

 opening hundreds of females with great care and have the means and 

 time to preserve the material obtained it is but very little use to bother 

 with the subject. I have eviscerated about five hundred rats, mice, 

 held mice, moles, bats, and muskrats. I have a fine lot of embryos of all 

 stages nicely preserved. Besides this I have obtained 250 sparrow's 

 eggs in all stages of incubation, which I have also put in good condition." 



After an experience of nine years, terminating only in his death, it 

 can be said of him that all the expectations raised at the time of his 

 appointment were more than realized. He proved himself to be a dili- 

 gent teacher and an esteemed colleague. As matters appear to be 

 arranged for men of Eyder's attainments, a university position is the 

 best available. Speaking for the personal side of his career, it may be 

 said of him, as I am sure he might have said for himself, that to receive 

 the respectful admiration and affection of pupils and to influence for 

 good the mental development of youth is for any man a sufficient reward. 

 A former pupil, Mr. IT. F. Moore, says of him: "What he may have 

 lacked in some of the usual attributes of a successful teacher was more 

 than compensated for by his keen sympathy, his painstaking care, and 

 his skill with crayon and pencil. If he had found a point of interest in 

 his work he usually invited us to enter, and would unfold to us his 

 hopes and aspirations with the enthusiasm and simplicity of youth." 

 Yet, after all is said, one must agree with his friend, Mr. W. V. McKean, 

 that " Ryder was essentially the kind of investigator that it would have 

 been a public benefit to have established in an amply endowed univer- 

 sity chair, so that he might be entirely free to pursue his researches 

 unhindered by any mere task work." 



Dr. Ryder enjoyed perfect health until 1882, when he contracted 

 malaria while engaged in some researches in connection with his work 

 on the Fish Commission, at Ridge, Md. He suffered from a recurrence 

 in 1888, while residing in Philadelphia. About this time dyspepsia 

 announced itself. He suffered greatly and became much emaciated. 

 In the summer of 1890 he visited Furope, but returned scarcely at all 

 improved. He had an attack of the prevailing influenza in 1894, and 

 from this time more serious and obscure impairment of the general 

 health ensued. He died March 20, 1895, after an acute illness of a few 

 days, aged 43 years. 



Dr. Ryder's death was unexpected, and expressions of regret were 

 universal. The daily papers published detailed accounts of his life and 

 services. Immediately after the death the board of trustees of the 

 university held a meeting, at which Dr. S. Weir Mitchell made a feel- 

 ing announcement. The board then passed the following resolution : 



The trustees of the University of Pennsylvania deplore the loss sus- 

 tained by it in the death of John A. Ryder, Ph. D., professor of com- 

 parative histology and embryology. Called to that chair in 1886, he 



