ation_, speaks thus of his labors at this period: "The severity of
his exertions and self-denials, joined to other causes, especially a
feeble constitution, brought on him a most violent attack of erysipelas,
from the effects of which, though he escaped with his life, he never
entirely recovered."

About this time he commenced the study of medicine, and the succeeding
winter, 1825-6, attended medical lectures in New Haven, not so much with
the design of making it a profession, as with the hope that it might
prove an aid in fitting him to become a more thorough teacher. The
following March he received a license to practice medicine and surgery.
But his health was far from being good, and he was, himself, more
apprehensive of a fatal result, than consumptive people usually are.

However, he soon found an opportunity to engage in teaching again, and
embraced it eagerly. But here he was destined to disappointment. His
pulmonary tendencies, which had for ten years been increasing upon him,
aggravated, no doubt, by hard study and improper diet of the preceding
winter, now became very alarming. Beside a severe cough and great
emaciation, he was followed by hectic fever, and the most exhausting and
discouraging perspirations. He fought bravely to the last moment, but
was finally compelled to quit the field, and endeavor to regain his
health.

For a time, he followed the soundest medical advice he could obtain;
kept quiet, took a little medicine, ate nutritious food, and when his
strength would permit, breathed pure air. This course was at length
changed, for one of greater activity and less stimulus. He abandoned
medicine, adopted for a time the "starvation system," or nearly that,
and threw himself, by such aids as he could obtain, into the fields and
woods, and wandered among the hills and mountains.

In autumn, he was able to perform light horticultural labors, a few
hours of the day, and to ride on horseback. For six months he rode
almost daily in company with a physician; at the end of which period he
commenced the practice of medicine, in the place where he had last
labored, and where he was born.

After continuing in the practice a few years, and his health seeming to
be restored, he ventured to return again to the work dearer to him than
any other--that of teaching. But his labors seemed again to be slowly
undermining his health, and, fearful of a relapse of the pulmonary
tendencies, he abandoned for a time all hop