income that he derived from his chair—his pathological cabinet alone having cost ten thousand dollars.
In any biographical sketch of Dr. Wood, the influence on his fortunes of his marriage relations should not be overlooked. His excellent father-in-law, Mr. Hahn, with rare prescience, confidence, and magnanimity, not only gave with his daughter a very liberal dowry, but, dying intestate, left her—as was no doubt foreseen and intended—sole heiress of his whole remaining property.[1] Becoming thus early independent of his practice, with no obligation to make provision for others, Dr. Wood was raised above the indignities of low estate, and, unvexed by care and anxiety, was enabled to live in a state befitting his position and aspirations. His amiable helpmate therefore, to say nothing of her priceless value as a good wife, must be regarded as having contributed largely to his professional advancement; and although there is no reason to doubt that he would have achieved distinction under any conditions, however difficult and adverse, she made easy and smooth a path that might otherwise have been rugged and thorny.
All the elements of happiness rarely meet in any one individual; for privations and trials have their use, and it is not designed by Divine Providence that man should be supremely blessed in this stage of existence. If one common ingredient were wanting in the cup of Dr. Wood—otherwise full to overflowing—the very defect secured for him an undivided affection, and enabled him to pursue his patient investigations with less distraction than he could otherwise have done.
- ↑ The estate amounted altogether to about $200,000. Mr. Hahn died May 10, 1835. at the comparatively early age of 55 years. Mrs. Wood was born on the 16th of May, 1805, and died on the 4th of March, 1865.
