The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-13

NATHANIEL CHAPMAN, NJ D., OF PHILADELPHIA
PERSONAL REcoLLEoTIoNs, ETC.

Obituary.
NATHANIEL CHAPMAN, N. D., OF PHILADELPHIA
PERSONAL REcoLLEcTIoNs, ETC.
DR.. Chapman was native of Virginia. He COM
pleted his medical education at the University Of
Edinburg, having previously been student OF the
celebrated DR.. Benjamin Rush.
At the time Of his residence in the Scottish
capital, its University was at its zenith, and its
Professorships were filed with many of the most
learned and eminent men of Europe.
Among other lights which were then rising above
the armament with whom the Doctor became in
timately acquainted, were Brougham and Jeilreys,
with whom he continued to correspond for some
time after his return to America.
On his return from Europe he chose Philadelphia
for the field of his professional career, which, ut that
time contained large number of established ply
sicians of the highest rank known in the country.
TO Young man without fortune, however am
bilious the prospect of success against such odds
must have appeared discouraging.
The Doctor, however, WIS endowed with genius
Of high order. He welded ready aud able pen,
and was pleasant and eloquent as speaker. lie
possessed, withal, warm, ardent and social tenn
permanent, with good address, which soon drew
around him large circle of friends, of standing aud
influence.
He employed much OF his time in medical COM
position, and at an early period published disser-
tations on different medical subjects; and at sub.
sequent period put on foot and edited medical
journal OF great merit and usefulness. We have not
time to follow the Doctor up through all the gra-
dations of his professional advancement. We pre-
sumo that his biography will be given TO the world
by some party every way competent to do justice to
his memory.
The writer Of this, though at one time pupil OF
the doctors is not familiar with all the details OF his
parentage and youth His acquaintance with him
commenced when he had already reached very
high rank as lecturer in the University OF Penn
sylvania. 1t may be stated, however, that he mar
RED Miss Biddlc of Philadelphia, the sister OF Ncho
las Bidde and Of Commodore James Biddle, OF the
U. S. Navy.
His first introduction to the University Of Pennsyl
yania was as professor of Mateia Medica and
Therapeutics in ISL. This chair he filled with dis
tingushed success. Though his department EN-.
bluced subjects, (the materials of medicine and
their application in the cure of diseasc0 ordinarily
cons dered dry descriptive Details yet the Doctor,
by dressing them up in new and elegant dlction,
delivered the same in an earnest and eloquent
manner which impaired new impulse to the whole
science. Materia medica, as branch OF medicine
had existed previously as i'll arranged jumblo Of
materials the good being obscured by the worthless
and obsolete absurdties, curative powers being as
crbed to some remedies which they never possessed
while others really valuable. were undervalued or
misunderstood in their meth ID OF operation. Indeed
from the imperfect state Of chemistry, at that tme
many Wanted remedies were known TO contain ma
terials-chemcally antagonistic, and which could do
no more in the human stomach than change or
nulfy each other The Doctor, in his lectures, ex-
posed all these ncongrutles He brought order ont
Of chaos rejected the rubbish of the science elevated
those things that were good, and explained the
| nature and power OF their action.
His eloquence as lecturer drew large classes of
| students, while some OF the lecture rooms were
dad IN nn rtr ants uhnya
| both the subjects and materials were more varied
and better suited to orat0rcal display yet the Doc
tor never appeared without full house, and never
| went through a lecture without receiving openly
| expressed applause from those present. The class
almost idolzed aim. Tho student always found in
Inn a generous aud coniding friend Whether in
health or sickness pecuniary distress Or other diff
Guilty they always appealed to him, from whom they
ard even pecuniary assistance when demanded b
the circumstances OF the case. His soul was as big
and as warm as his eoGuen:e was elevated. Being
deeply read in English and classical literature, his
lectures were interspersCd with the happiet quota
tons from both ancient and modern works Of merit.
He also possessed very pleasant humor, and fire.
queDty enliyened his subject by amusing anecdotes,
| particularly when examining his pupils. This he
did to remove their dltdence and to give them con-
| fdence.
| Examining his class one day on angina pcctoTis,
one of Them said, that suddenly going up stairs pro-
duced difficulty Of breathing, which sign Of
| the existence of the disease. Very well, said
the Doctor and turning to the next, whc vas q
dull customer, asked him what other circumstance
was likely 70 induce an attack When he, after o
| moments reflection, repid, +. Going do vn again
sir Tie Doctor said lie was wrong, and that he
should remember the quotation from Virgil Of
Facilis deccnsrs Auerni." This produced con side
| rable mcrriment among the class.
On another occasion lie was examining them on
matera metica, and asked student for the boani-
cal name Of SIENNA, who promptly replied :" Cassia,
SIENNA" BE then turned to the dull student, and
asked him " from what country is cassia i'm
ported ~ Who, after tapping his forehead with the
end of his fore finger, which was his custom, as
though intended to elicit thought, very deliberately
| replied, Cassia, sir" THIS produced hearty
asked the Doctor. . IL is new country not disco.
yered yet, 1 suppose, SIR The Doctor, without
further remark, passed on. 1t is proper to state,
that the student here referred to was OF very rich
family, whose ncapacity was such that notwithsand-
ing every opportunity he had allied TO gain any solid
education. It seemed as though his friends had
merely entered him at the Medical University to
keep him SEt Of mischief He Ucver passed the
wards as holding any important professional other
position.
Or. Chapman was extremely delicate towards the
feelings 81 young men, and even when they exposed
their ignorance, be would treat them with such
courtesy and deicacy as to relieve them as far as
possible lreia immediate embarrassment.
One morning. be was examining his class on the
ureyous day lecture he reached Young intelligent
ard flank NIrginian, whom he asked question
The young man sat perfectly DUMB and slightly
cooled in The face; the Doctor seeing his cmbarrass
ment, said . have no doubt sir, but you fully under
stand the question, yet it SO happens that young
men, from tlc embarrassment Of the moment, some
times arc unable to give an answer That il not
my case sir" promptly answered the young man,
do not understand the question, sir This caused the
Doctor to blush in return, who immediately discon-
tinued the examination, and commenced his lecture.
On another occasion, he was examining the class
on intermittent fever; he had in his Undergraduates
nearly exhausted his subject all the usual remedies
had been stated, by first one young man, and thea
another, not emitting qainne .cobweb arsenic g..
Nltn all these Lad bctD given, the Doctor turned
tie next student, and said, Suppose, sir, all thesG1
remedies failed, what would you do nexts' al
would recommend travelling, sir and change OF
air, with water, &c., replied the Young man.
VERY good" said the Doctor, turning to the next
stucent, % And suppose, sir, all these remedies
fAied. whit would You do ueXtiN ! Tie student