309 
of Edinburgh, Session 1864 - 65 . 
once vigorous constitution. About two years ago his friends began 
to notice his failing health, but it was only within the last six 
months that they became seriously alarmed. Early in the summer 
of 1864 he removed to the house of his brother near Kichmond, in 
the hope that change of air might restore him. Unfortunately his 
illness made rapid progress, and he rested from his labours on the 
17th August last, to the inexpressible regret of a wide circle of 
friends. 
Dr Thomson was an accomplished chemist. His elementary 
works on that science (“ School Chemistry” and the ‘‘ Cyclopaedia 
of Chemistry”) are of standard value, and he has enriched it by 
numerous detached papers. His labours in physiological chemistry, 
and on sanitary questions, were of the highest value. The adul- 
teration of drugs, the chemistry of digestion and of cholera, were 
in turn skilfully treated by him. He investigated most ably, under 
the orders of Grovernment, the nutritive value of the different kinds 
of food for cattle. The question of water supply he made especially 
his own ; and his monthly analyses of the waters of the different 
London companies, published by the Kegistrar-Greneral, were the 
best safeguard of the public. He was also an enthusiastic meteor- 
ologist, and at the time of his death President of the Meteorologi- 
cal Society of London. He became a Fellow of the Koyal Society 
of Edinburgh in 1850, and he was elected a Fellow of the Eoyal 
Society of London on 1st June 1854. He was also a Fellow of 
the Chemical and Medico-Chirurgical Societies of London, of the 
Botanical Society of Edinburgh, and of the Berwickshire Natural- 
ists’ Club, which he entered on 22d September 1831. He con- 
tributed a paper on Tea-oil to the Eoyal Societ}?' of Edinburgh. 
Alexander Wood, Esq., late one of the Senators of the College of 
Justice, Fellow of the Eoyal Society of Edinburgh, was born in Edin- 
burgh on the 12th November 1788. He was the son of G-eorge Wood^ 
M.D., and grandson of the well-known Alexander Wood, surgeon 
in Edinburgh. His mother was Miss Campbell of Grlensaddle, 
through whom he was descended from the Earls of Crawford. 
He was a pupil of the High School of Edinburgh, and afterwards 
under a clergyman in the city of Durham. His later education 
was completed at the University of Edinburgh. 
