Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/354

DRAPER 332 DRAPER were found to be little more favorable than those met at lower levels, and the only con- clusion that was arrived at was that the summit of a lofty mountain near the seacoast was best adapted to the purposes of astronomers. A total eclipse of the sun, observed by the pro- fessor from the same elevated standpoint the following year, afforded another illustration of the nicety with which his photographic ap- paratus registered celestial phenomena. The last two years of his life were devoted mainly to taking photographs of the nebula in Orion, a feat which only those who are intimately ac- quainted with the subject can properly appre- ciate. Only after the most laborious efforts was he able to accomplish results in this special With too little opportunity for authorship, save so far as occasional papers on the progress and results of his researches were concerned, only two works stand prominent, one "On the Construction of a Silvered-glass Telescope," the other "A Text-book of Chemistry." These, with his other papers and contributions to scientific periodicals, comprise the bulk of his literary work. He paid strict attention to his duties as a professor and was eminently qualified to fill the chair of chemistry in the academic department of the university, to which he was called on the death of his It was his habit, whenever the National Academy of Sciences held an annual meeting in New York, to entertain its members in splen- did style at his Madison Avenue mansion. At these dinners he almost invariably gave an illustration of some new invention of interest to the scientific world. One of these enter- tainments took place on the night preceding his illness, and was remarkable for the display given of lighting by electricity. The motive force for these displays was furnished by a gas engine of four horpse-power, which was situated in the laboratory at the rear of the house. A visit to this laboratory has always been considered an event of no common im- portance by those who have had the good fortune to be admited to it. All the newest electrical appliances, dynamos, arc and incan- descent lamps, induction coils and batteries, were to be found under its roof, to say nothing of the collection of delicate instruments re- quired in astronomy, spectrum analysis, and photography. He died November 20, 1882, of penumonia, supervening upon exposure to a severe snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains, whither he had gone some months before to make certain scientific observations. Med. Reg. of the State of New York, 1882. Med. and Surg. Reporter, Pliila., 1882, vol. xlvii. Pop. Science Mon., New York, 1882, vol. xxii. Draper, John Christopher (183S-188S) John Christopher Draper was born in Meck- lenburg County, Virginia, March 31, 1835, and died in New York City December 20, 1885. He entered the University of New York in 1852, but leaving the classical department, was graduated at the medical school in 1857. From March, 1856, until July, 1857, he held the office of house physician and surgeon to Bellevue Hospital, and published at that time papers on "The Production of Urea" (February, 1856), and "Experiments on Respiration" (July, 1856). The year subsequent to his graduation was spent in Europe in travel and study. In December, 1858, he became professor of ana- lytical chemistry in the University of New York, holding that chair until 1871. From 1860 till 1863 he was professor of chemistry in Cooper Union, and in 1862 he accompanied the Twelfth New York Regiment to the front as assistant surgeon, serving for three months. In 1863 he was elected professor of natural sciences in the College of the City of New York, and in 1866 professor of chemistry in the medical department of the University of the City of New York, chairs he held until his death. Dr. Draper was a member of the New York academy of medicine, and in 1873 received the degree of LL. D. from Trinity College. He was an occasional contributor to medical and scientific journals, and besides twenty-four original papers, published numerous articles on diet, dress and ventilation in the Galaxy (1868-71). In 1872-3 he edited the "Year Book of Nature and Science," and also the department of "Natural Science" in 'Scribner's Monthly from 1872 till 1875. He published "Text Book on Anatomy, Physiology and Hy- giene" (New York, 1866) ; "A Practical Lab- oratory-Course in Medical Chemistry" (1882); and a "Text-Book of Medical Physics" (1885). Appleton's Cyclop, of Amer. Biog., New York, 1887, vol. ii, 227. Draper, John William (1811-1882). "A native respect for republican institu- tions" is the reason assigned by an old biog- rapher for John W. Draper leaving England for America. Be that as it may, he was soon equally well known in both countries. Born May 5, 1811, at St. Helens, near Liverpool, the son of John Christopher, a Wesleyan min- ister, and Sarah Draper, he was educated at a Wesleyan school, the Woodhouse Grove Academy. A clever boy, at fourteen he was studying Hebrew and the old divines, and intended to be a minister, but a strong bent to-