 In 1855 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in Rush Medical College, but resigned after one year and devoted himself to practice, especially to surgery.Soon after his arrival in Chicago he aided in founding the Chicago Academy of Science, and was its first president, serving several times in this capacity.A short time after this he, in connection with Dr. Horace Wardner, established a charity dispensary, and a private dissecting room, where he taught a class in anatomy.