
          And [Answered] Oct. 7.

Buffalo Aug 29th 1853

Dr. Torrey

My Dear Friend

I have delayed answering
your last, simply through want of something
to communicate. I wish to show to you that
I have not entirely left the field of Botanical
pursuit. so I have put up a small parcel out
of the collections that I have made during the
past spring & summer. My opportunities for
collecting, and preserving, are very limited.
I have made occasional excursions into the
fields, and woods surrounding the city, each
of only a few miles in extent. These excursions
have always been to me a delightful recreation,
and refreshing, as well as gratifiying to my
Botanical taste, but I cannot accomplish much
in this way, and at the same time give that
attention to Medicine and Medical literature
that is demanded of the young practitioner
in the present advanced, & still advancing,
state of our noble combination of sciences
in the practice of medicine. I feel bound while
in pursuing my profession, to devote myself to
such studies as shall have a more direct bearing
upon the detection, & cure of disease.
        