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An important contribution was made, also, by Dr. Wood, to the organization of Girard College, in the form of a report of a committee of which he was chairman, upon the clothing, diet, etc., of its orphan pupils. This report comprised a brief but clear and systematic statement of the principles essential to the healthy conduct of such an establishment; such as, if carried out, must have secured to it from the start, excellent sanitary conditions.
Among other subjects upon which Dr. Wood wrote well, as he did upon all topics which interested him at all, was that of the Temperance reform. He contributed to the United States Review, in January, 1834, an article about fifty pages in length, on the "Temperance Cause." His views, in this article, were advanced for that day, although confined to an exposition of the evils attending the use of ardent spirits as a drink, and of immoderate indulgence in the use of fermented beverages. That, with longer reflection and experience, his mind did not greatly change upon this subject, was shown by a note appended by him to a reprint of the above mentioned article, in 1872. "Were our efforts confined," he there says, "to the exclusion of ardent spirit or distilled liquors from use, there might be some hope of success in the end; as a people among whom temperance could be established, with this limitation, could never, so long as the rule continued, become a nation of drunkards."
It may be remarked that Dr. Wood's retired position
