* thoracic affections. He was also one of the earliest investigators of
the morbid anatomy of Phthisis Pulmonalis; and his volume on that
subject, although superseded by .the later and more extensive researches
of the French pathologists, is a monument of his industry
and accuracy, and a credit to American medicine.* He also edited
Mackintosh’s Practice of Physic, with notes, which add materially to
its value to the American physician, f In 1849, he published a textbook
of anatomy, remarkable for its clearness and succinctness, -and
the beauty of its illustrations.;]: He was early selected by Dr. Parrish
as one of his associates in teaching, and lectured upon anatomy in
that connexion for a' number of years. He subsequently filled the
chair of anatomy in the Medical Department of Pennsylvania College
from 1839 to 1843. As a lecturer he was- clear, calm, and self-
possessed, moving through his topic with the easy regularity of one
to whom it was entirely familiar. He served for several years as one
of the physicians and clinical teachers of the Alms-house Hospital,
and it was there that most of his researches on consumption were
made. He was a Fellow of the College of Physicians, but did hot
take an active part in their proceedings, from the fact that their stated
meetings occurred on the same evenings as those of the Acfademy,
where he felt it his first duty to be. His only contribution to their
printed Transactions is a biographical notice of his valued friend,
Dr. George McClellan, prepared by request of the College:
We now come to a portion -of his scientific labors, upon which I
must be allowed to dwell at greater length. I refer of course' to his
researches in Anthropology, commencing with what may be designated
Comparative Cranioscopy, and running on into general Ethnology
The object proposed primarily being the determination of
ethnic resemblances and discrepancies by a comparison of crania,
(thus perfecting what Blumenbach had left lamentably incomplete,)
the work could not be commenced until the objects for comparison
were brought together. The results of Blumenbach were invalidated
by the small number of specimens generally relied upon by him; for
in a case where allowance is to be made for individual peculiarities
of form and stature, the conclusions gain infinitely in value by extension
of the comparison over a sufficient' series to neutralize this
disturbing element. There was' therefore necessary, first of all, a
* Illustrations of Pulmonary Consumption, its Anatomical Characters, Causes, Symptoms
and Treatment.' With twelve colored plates. Philadelphia: 1834.
t Principles of Pathology and Practice of Physic. By John Mackintosh, M. D., &c. First
American from the fourth London edition. With notes and additions. In 2 vols. Philadelphia
: 1835.
X An Illustrated System of Human Anatomy,- Special,1'General, and Microscopic. Philadelphia:
1849.
collection of crania, and that not of a few specimens, but widely
enough extended to give reliable results: The contemplation of
these facts shows the magnitude and boldness of the plan, which
would have sufficed to deter most men from the attempt. But Morton
was not easily discouraged, and although he doubtless occupied
a wider field in the end than he proposed to himself in the outset,
it is evident that from the beginning he contemplated a full cabinet
of universal Craniology, Human and Comparative. His own account
of the commencement of the collection is-as follows: “ Having had
occasion, in the summer of 1830, to deliver an introductory leeture
to a course of Anatomy, I chose for my subject The different forms
of the sJeull as exhibited in the five races of men. Strange to say, I
could neither buy nor borrow a cranium of each of these races; and
I finished my discourse without showing either the Mongolian or the
Malay. Forcibly impressed with this great deficiency in a most important
branch of science, I at once resolved to make a collection for
myself.”* Dr. 'Wood (Memoir, p. 13,) states that he engaged in
this study soon after he commenced practice; and adds, “ among the
earliest recollections of my visits to his office is that of the skulls
he had collected.” The selection of the topic above-mentioned shows
that he was already interested in it.
The increase was at first slow, but the work was persevered in with
a constancy and energy that could know no failure. Every legitimate
means Was adopted, and evety attainable influence brought to bear
upon the one object. Time, labor, and money, were expended without
stint. The enthusiasm he felt himself he imparted to others, and
he thus enlisted a body of zealous collaborators who sought contributions
for him in every part of the world. Many of them sympathized
with him in his scientific ardor, and quite as many were
actuated solely by a desire to serve and oblige the indivicfhal. A friend
of the. writer (without any particular scientific interest) exposed his
life in robbing an Indian burial-place in Oregon, and carried his
spoils for two weeks in his pack, in a highly unsavory condition, and
when discovery would have involved danger, and probably death.
Before his departure he had promised Morton to bring him some
skulls, and he was resolved to do it at all hazards. This effort also
involved, of course, a very extensive and laborious correspondence.
He was in daily receipt of letters from all countries and from every
variety of persons. I t was mainly by the free contributions of these
assistants that the collection eventually grew so rapidly. Among the
* Letter to J. R. Bartlett, Esq. Transactions of the American Ethnological Society,
vol. ii. New York : 1848.