ral detail of
a student's service. Being a discreet lad, he often accompanied the
elder Crosby in professional visits; and thus the face of the 'parvus
Iulus,' became, early, as _familiar_ as that of the 'pater Aeneas,' and
grew, later, to be as welcome.

"When chloroform in Surgery was first introduced, Dr. Dixi Crosby went
to Boston to study its effects, and was one of the first surgeons in
New Hampshire to employ it in his practice. Young Ben was then a
school-boy of fifteen. His father, with full confidence in the
coolness and self possession of his son, at once commenced training
him as an assistant for the administration of the anaesthetic; teaching
him to watch the pulse and respiration, and to note all the necessary
conditions for its safe employment. And from this time, even long
before our friend commenced the systematic study of his profession, he
assisted his father, and administered the chloroform in many important
operations, sometimes even making long journeys for the purpose. It is
interesting to add, also, that in all the years of their practice
together, and in all their operations, performed under the use of
chloroform, there never occurred a single accident from its
administration.

"On graduating at Dartmouth, in 1853, our young friend pursued his
medical studies in the office of his father. He attended lectures both
at Dartmouth and at the College of Physicians in New York City, and
served for one year as interne in the U. S. Marine Hospital at
Chelsea, Massachusetts. With the exception of these necessary absences
from home, he gave every day of these preparatory years to the
assistance of his father in his wide and laborious practice. To this
course he was stimulated no less by filial ardor than by his growing
professional zeal.

"His medical degree was taken at Dartmouth, in 1856, and instead of
_beginning_ to practice, we may say that he _continued_ to practice
with his father in Hanover, going in and out as a favorite, both with
patients and in society.

"Immediately on receiving his medical degree, Dr. Crosby was appointed
demonstrator of Pathological Anatomy in the Dartmouth Medical College,
an office which he ably filled for five years.

"At the outbreak of the rebellion, in 1861, he was appointed surgeon
of the first regiment New Hampshire Volunteers, for three months'
service. This being concluded, he was at once commissioned as Brigade
Surgeon of U. S. Volunteers, and soon after pr