d at
that time. This distinguished man had taught the doctrine of
non-absorption by the skin. This was supposed to have been proved by
an experiment in which a young man, confined in a small room, breathed
through a tube running through the wall into the open air, the surface
of the skin being rubbed at the same time with turpentine, asparagus,
etc. As no odor of these substances was perceptible in the secretions,
it was inferred that no absorption had taken place through the skin,
and that it was impossible. Dr. Mussey, believing this doctrine to be
fallacious, immersed himself in a strong solution of madder for three
hours. He had the satisfaction of getting unmistakable evidence of the
presence of madder in the secretions for two days, the addition of an
alkali always rendering them red. He repeated this experiment with the
same result, and made it the theme of a thesis on his graduation. Some
of the Faculty who differed with Dr. Rush on the subject were much
pleased with these experiments, and predicted even then for our friend
a distinguished career."

Professor Mussey died at Boston June 21, 1866.

* * * * *

We quote from Dr. J. W. Barstow's obituary notice in the "New York
Medical Journal," November, 1873, of Professor Mussey's successor.

"Dr. Dixi Crosby, for thirty-two years professor of Surgery in
Dartmouth College, died at his residence in Hanover, N. H., September
26, 1873. Dr. Crosby was born February 7, 1800, at Sandwich, N. H., of
pure New England stock,--strong in the best Puritan element, where
self-reliance, love of justice, and unbending will, formed the basis
of character and the mainspring of action. His father's father was a
captain in the Revolutionary army, and served with two of his sons at
the battle of Bunker Hill. His maternal grandfather (Hoit) was one of
Washington's body-guard, and later in life a judge of some
distinction. His father, Dr. Asa Crosby, who married Betsey Hoit, was
a surgeon of eminence in eastern New Hampshire. At the age of twenty,
he entered upon the study of Medicine in the office of his father.

"The practice of a country doctor in New Hampshire of course embraced
every department and variety of professional work. But Surgery offered
to young Crosby a special charm, and the ardor with which he threw
himself into this branch of the profession showed early fruits. From
the day when he commenced his Anatomy, his practice and his study