His studies in comparative anatomy and natural history were not, however, neglected during this period. He was an active member of the Wernerian society, and, along with his friend, Edward Forbes, communicated both to it and other scientific bodies several papers on the anatomy of 'animals, new to science, which they bad discovered. His papers on Pelonaia, Thalassema, and Ampliioxus attracted especial attention.
In 1844. he was appointed assistant to Dr. professor of anatomy in tile uni versity of Edinburgh. His enthusiasm and devotion to anatomical work rapidly gathered around him a large class of students, and on the resignation of Dr. 3ionro in 1846, lie was appointed by the town-council to the chair of anatomy. 'His reputation. as an anatomical teacher now became materially extended. numerous students were attracted to his class, and years the attendance each winter-session amounted to between 300 and 400. His great success as a teacher was due, not so much, perhaps, to any Special aptitude for public speaking, but to the earnest and painstaking way in which he brought his subject before his students; to his thorough knowledge of •anatomy, not only in its minute details, but in its relations to physiological and pathological pro cesses; and to the influence exercised by his manly and straightforward character. He devoted much of the time not occupied in the duties of his class to the extension of the anatomical museum of the university, and dissected and prepared a large number of specimens to illustrate the modifications, in form and structure, of the organs met with in the diss6ction of different kinds of animals. His preparations of the echinodermata,
mollusca, and cetacea, are especially worthy of notice.
He had a keen sense of the beauty and symmetry of organic forms, and his phil osophic mind early led him to undertake an investigation into the constitution of the skeleton in the vertebrate, the general results of which he communicated, in the year 1856, to the British association for the advancement of science.
His devotion to work, and his unremitting attention to the duties of his chair, at length began to tell on his robust frame; and for some years before his death, signs of failing health were visible. Early in 1867 he was obliged to withdraw from all active work; and he died at South Cottage, 'Wardle (near Edinburgh), Mar. 6, in that year.
Goodsir's intellect was eminently comprehensive. He was not a mere technical anatomist, but studied his science in its relations to morphology, teleology, and pathol ogy. In his philosophic grasp of principles, in the extent of his acquirements, and in his devotion to his science, he was a worthy disciple of his great compatriot, John Hun ter. For a full account of his life, etc., see Anatomical Jlemoirs of John, Goodsir, pub lished under the editorship of his successor in the chair of anatomy, prof. Turner (Longman's, 1868).