MORTON
195
MORTON
bitter was the Rev. Dr. Bachman, of
Charleston, South Carohna, who pub-
lished a book and several monographs
attacking Morton. While they were of
no value from the scientific standpoint,
they served to stimulate Morton to get
and publish new evidence. While in the
midst of publishing such evidence in
support of his own point of view, Morton
was suddenly stricken with mortal iUness,
and died in Philadelphia, May 15, 1851.
The end is thus described by Patter-
son:
" Never had Morton been so busy as in that spring of 1851. His professional engagements had largely increased, and occupied most of his time. His cranio- logical investigations were prosecuted with unabated zeal, and he had recently made important accessions to his collec- tion. He was actively engaged in the study of archeology, Egyptian, Assyrian, and American, as collateral to his favorite subject. His researches upon hybridity cost him much labor, in his extended comparison of authorities, and his indus- trious search for facts bearing on the question. In addition to all this, he was occupied with the preparation of his contribution to the work of Mr. School- craft, and of several minor papers. Most of these labors were left incomplete. The fragments published in this volume will show how his mind was engaged, and to what conclusions it tended at the close. For it was now, in the midst of toil and usefulness, that he was called away from us. Five days of illness — not considered alarming at first — had scarcely prepared his friends for the sad event, when it was announced on the fifteenth of May, that Morton was no more. It was too true, he had left vacant among us a place that cannot soon be filled. Peacefully and calmly he had gone to his eternal rest, having accomplished so much in his short space of Ufe, and yet leaving so much undone that none but he could do as well."
Dr. Morton was considerably above the medium height, of a large frame, though somewhat stooping, with a fine
oval face, prominent features, bluish-gray
eyes, light hair, and a very fair complex-
ion. His countenance usually wore a
serious and thoughtful expression, but
was often pleasingly lighted up with
smiles during the relaxation of social
and friendly intercourse. His manner
was composed and quiet, but always cour-
teous, and his whole deportment that
of a refined and cultivated gentleman.
(G. B. Wood.)
Dr. Morton, according to Meigs, was a member of the following societies:
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; Philadelphia Medical Soci- ety; College of Physicians of Philadelphia; Massachusetts Medical Society; American Ethnological Society, New York; Medical Society of Sweden; Academy of Science and Letters at Palermo; Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries at Copenhagen; Academy of Science, Letters, and Arts de Zelanti di Arce-reale; Imperial Society of Naturalists of Moscow; Medical Society of Edinburgh.
The following is a list of his principal papers and published works as given by Meigs:
"Observations on Cornine, a New Alkaloid." (" Medical and Physical Jour- nal of Philadelphia," for 1825, 1826.)
Dr. Morton's name is connected, in the "Journal of the Academy," with the following papers and notices:
"Analysis of Tabular Spar from Bucks County, Pennsylvania," with a notice of various minerals found at the same locahty, May, 1827. ("Journal of the Academy," vi.)
"Description of a New Species of Ostrea," with some remarks on the Ostrea Convexa of Say, May 1, 1827. ("Journal of the Academy," vi.)
" Geological Observations on the Sec- ondary, Tertiary and Alluvial Forma- tions of the Atlantic Coast of the United States of America," arranged from the notes of Lardner Vanuxem, by S. G. M., January 8, 1828, vi.
" Description of the Fossil Shells which Characterize the Atlantic Secondary Formation of New Jersey and Delaware,
