Drs. Wilder, Adolphus and others, is pursued by us, the time is not far distant when the Eclectic school of medicine will be extinct. Why? Because, if we pursue the course these men advocate we cannot expect any fair representation upon Health and Examining Boards, and this is our only safeguard. Whenever we fail totally to obtain any representation on these boards, and especially through apparent faults and mistakes of our own, then we are gone. Graduates of Eclectic medical colleges that have opposed Health and Examining Boards and that are held under restrictions will naturally fear straight Allopathic boards. Students will attend colleges whose graduates will not be liable to suffer from embarassments, and the classes of defiant colleges will dwindle away to nothing. How does this bok? Are we willing to give up all we have, and go on crying "freedom," "liberty," "we'll live and die in the tracks of our fathers— Beach, Jones, Morrow, etc.," just for the privilege of doing so, and for the good feelings it may give us in the dying hour? No, we are not willing to sacrifice so much; but just so sure as the policy of Prof. King is persistently advocated by our leaders, and the National Eclectic Medical Association pursues the course its masters are now taking, and we fail to obtain an equitable representation upon State and local Examining Boards, good-bye to Eclecticism as a distinct school of Medicine. But, if we earnestly claim our rights in good faith, and work in harmony for a fair representation, and quit all this foolish cry of freedom, oppression, etc., we may secure at least one representative in every State Board of Health and Examining Board in the States, as we now have it in Missouri and Illinois. This public recognition, by the authorities, will positively and forever insure to us an identity as a distinct and reputable school of medicine, and will mean prestige, patronage, popularity and power. A representation upon all these boards is what we most need, and what we must have, and we can get it if we go about it in a proper manner; and we can hold it, if we behave ourselves as becomes us. Will the readers of the Eclectic medical journals make this matter an object of special thought, and work for it, that we may live and keep up our identity, or will they blindly cast away the last opportunity and suffer themselves to be ignored and appointed

out of existence? This may all seem like idle talk to many of our readers, but we are inside, and think we know what we are saying. Remember, State Boards of Health and Examining Boards will live, and we need not fight for their destruction. If we can be represented in these boards, we will live also; if not, then we die. We sincerely hope that a judicious, wise nolicy may be agreed upon and adopted.

Biographical Sketch of Prof. Edwin Younkin, M. D.

Is it a fact that the shape of a man's head has anything to do with his mental powers?

Can it be shown that one devoted to literature and science will in time acquire a particular conformation of brain, corresponding to his mental employment? If a philosopher looks like a philosopher, and a fool looks like a fool, will not a doctor look like a doctor?

Boxers and gladiators do not look like preachers and teachers; nor do robbers and murderers resemble good and honest men. If a man is known by the books he reads and the company he keeps, why cant he be known by his looks?

Herewith we present the likeness of Prof. Edwin Younkin, M. D., of whom many of our readers have already drawn their ideal picture, as they have read from the productions of his pen. This is a fair profile-an artotype.

You will observe the form and features; the prominent forehead; keen eye; striking nose, and exuberant beard. In fact, you will look the picture all over and compare it with your ideal picture.

Edwin Younkin was born March 19th, A. D. 1838, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His father, Jonas Younkin, was a physician, and had a family of seven sons and two daughters; the sixth and seventh children were girls. It was determined in very early life that Edwin should be the doctor, though he was the fifth of the family. His father, Dr. Jonas Younkin, was of German extraction, though the mother was American, perhaps of Scottish origin.

Dr. Jonas Younkin practiced medicine for twenty-five years in the county where Edwin was born, and gained some distinction in

his profession. He was of the New School, as it was known in those days. The reformed practice in that day was in its crudity, and physicians, from necessity, dug their own roots, gathered their own herbs, and prepared their own medicines.

Edwin's father resided at the foot of the Laurel Hill Mountains. He had his drug-mill, which was made from a section of a large gum tree that in its hollow cavity had fixed two largemill-stones, and which were made to run by a hand-sweep. Edwin took much delight in gathering drugs, which grew abundantly in the mountains and valleys, and, after drying, they were ground in the mill. Thus the subject of this sketch was literally born and reared in a physician's office, where he gained a practical knowledge of medical botany and the methods of compounding drugs according to his father's art. In very early life he was, therefore, called the young doctor by his brothers and associates. Up to the age of thirteen years our subject had received a fair common-school education. He had learned to read, write, spell, and had made advancements in mathematics, geography, etc.; but in 1851, when Edwin was thirteen years of age, his father pulled up from the old homestead to try the "wild West." In eighteen days sailing down the Ohio and up the Illinois rivers, the family made the trip to Hennepin, Ills., where they landed, and moved westward.

For six or seven years Edwin's life was that common to boys in a new country-but few school privileges afforded, and his time. was largely occupied in driving six to eight yoke of oxen to a huge prairie plough, or in other ways opening up the western farms.

With all, however, the early purposes were not to be forgotten, and at night time and upon rainy days Edwin was found pouring over his father's library. During this western life the father had attended to his practice, while the sons carried on the farm; but now, on account of the failing health of the father, Edwin was called into the rougher part of the professional riding. Feeling, however, that further preparation was necessary, and that his education was too limited, the subject of our sketch determined to strike for greater preparation. He told his father his intentions, and left home when nineteen years of age. This step was

not quite pleasing to the father, as it was felt that the boy could not be spared. After attending a district school one term, he entered a seminary in Kewanee, Ill. While attending school at this seminary he joined the Baptist church, but finally united with the Christian church. Manifesting a talent for public speaking, he was urged to the ministry. He was ordained a minister, and preached acceptably for a number of years; his labors were quite successful, and were crowned with numerous converts. In 1859 he entered Abingdon College, in Knox Co., Illinois, as a student, where he pursued his studies in the English branches, and made some advancement in Greek and Latin, though not to entire completion or graduation.

The practice of medicine still dominating in his mind, he gradually drew out of the ministry and set himself more earnestly to the medical profession. It was in the above college where he formed the acquaintance of Miss S. M. Hart, whom he married, April 28th, 1861. He has now two children, both daughters, and now young women. Shortly after his marriage he settled in West Liberty, Iowa, where he practiced medicine and passed through a severe epidemic of typhoid fever without the loss of a patient. He contracted the disease himself, and claims that his recovery is due to the nursing of his wife and mother. In 1863 he removed to Long Grove, Iowa, and met with an epidemic of diphtheria of the malignant type. In 1865 he sold out and entered the E. M. Institute, of Cincinnati, and graduated in the Spring term of 1866. Returning now to Abingdon, Ill., where he formerly entered college and met his wife, he began his practice and soon became widely known in that country. In 1872 he was burned out of all he had, and no insurance, and shortly afer this he was induced to go to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he met with other misfortunes, the results of drouth and grasshoppers. In 1875 he received a call from the trustees and faculty of the American Medical College to take charge of the Chair of Surgery, a position which he has held ever since.

Professor E. Younkin has been a hard worker, and has made his way through many embarrassments. He has filled public stations, civil, religious, political and professional. He has, with some, assisted in their birth; treated them in disease; tied the