Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 31

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II > Part 31

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laity, Dr. Hammond was a great favorite and friend. As a general practitioner he had few equals, but his inclinations led him also to surgery, and in this field he ranked far above the average of his day. He was a man of broad views and firm convictions, and once satisfied of the utility of any operation, he did not hesitate for a moment to perform it. And while he was a conservative man, and reasoned well upon every case presented, yet he was, with it all, a bold and fearless operator; and his success was rather phenomenal for his day. Although he operated before the day of listerism, when surgeons battled against the universal vile influence of germs and its concomitant septic poisons, yet his record in many of the capital operations compares favorably with any modern surgery. He did, under the old regime, twenty-three lithotomy operations, and never an untoward symptom. As a man and citizen Dr. Hammond was held in high esteem. He possessed a well-balanced mind, and his courtly manners, his firm, sterling qualities, and high-toned professional bearing, gave him no ordinary prominence in the hearts of his professional brethren, hence he was elected, in 1876, as a representative from the Georgia Medical association to the Inter- national Medical congress, at Philadelphia, and worthily represented our state at that meeting. When the experiment of a state board of health was made some years ago for Georgia, he was elected by Gov. Smith as worthy the honor of representing the Fifth congressional district on that board. But his modest nature caused him to shrink from so responsible and conspicuous a position, and it was his pleasure to name the late Dr. Nottingham as one worthy and well qualified to assume so important a trust. For sixty long years Dr. Hammond adorned his profession by a well-ordered, quiet, unostentatious life, and in this has set for us an example well worthy our imitation. And in other respects, the life of the doctor should be to us an inspiring example. He was open and unselfish, and was glad to impart to his professional brethren whatever his careful observa- tion and long experience had taught him to be useful, hence in the prime and medium of his life, he was a constant contributor to the current medical literature. No man was ever more devoted to his profession, and it might almost be literally said of him that he "died in harness." Almost up to the date of his death he was daily visiting the sick and dispensing cheering words. On the morning of July 4, 1887, he quietly fell asleep, and was gathered to his fathers. Peace to his ashes.

JURIAH HARRIS, M. D. The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia county, Ga., Oct. 28, 1825. His early education was received under the cele- brated Dr. Waddell. He then attended Mercer university, finally graduating in 1845 at William and Mary college. He studied medicine in the office of the famous Dr. L. A. Dugas of Augusta, his brother-in-law, and graduated M. D. from the medical college of Georgia, at Augusta, in 1848, with honors. Although possessed of an unusually brilliant mind, and trained under one of the most renowned medical teachers in the world, Dr. Harris, with full appreciation of the sacredness of his calling, and the want of full preparation for its duties, refused to enter upon practice until he had spent three years in further preparation by hospital experience. To this end he visited Europe and remained there for three years in attendance upon lectures in the most celebrated medical colleges and hos- pitals in the world. Returning from Europe in 1851 he entered upon the prac- tice of medicine in Augusta. His alma mater recognizing his gifts as a brilliant young doctor gave him the position of adjunct professor of surgery. In pursu- ance of his duties in the college he lectured on minor and operative surgery. To hold such a position in a college so renowned as the medical college of Georgia was indeed a high compliment, but the young doctor creditably sustained himself

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in the position to which he had been called. In 1857 the Savannah Medical college called him to the chair of physiology. This position he accepted and moved to Savannah. The next year, 1858, Dr. Harris became the editor of the "Savannalı Journal of Medicine." For a long number of years he discharged the onerous duties of medical practitioner, teacher and editor, and filled these positions with marked ability. He was eminently gifted as a writer and lecturer. After the war Dr. Harris was elected professor of theory and practice of medicine in the Savannah Medical college and held this professorship at the time of his death. He had held numerous positions of prominence in the medical association of Georgia, and was president of the Georgia Medical society of Savannah. He was for years one of the visiting physicians to the Savannah hospital. He contributed numerous articles to medical journals upon important topics in medicine. His ability was such that among the most renowned medical men of the state he was regarded as the peer of any of them. He was a great man. Great in brain, great in heart, great in the nobility of spotless manhood, and great in the humility of the medical philosopher. A man of marked dignity and courtliness, a member of one of the most aristocratic families of the state, he was utterly devoid of ostentation. At all times, in all places, he was a gentleman-a gentleman of the old school. As a physician he was profoundly skilled. His confreres and patients accorded him the position of great prominence in the healing art. In his ministry to the sick he was at once physician and friend-healing their diseases, comforting them in their hours of distress. Tender-hearted, generous to a fault, never failing to respond to the call of the sick even when worn out with work, never prostituting his high calling by making it a mere money-making machine, always promptly and cheer- fully responding to the calls of the poor, he was a typical follower of the Great Physician. His patients loved him, and had unbounded confidence in his great skill. They felt that his mere presence was full of healing. No man had a higher conception of the dignity of his profession. He sacrificed his life to his sense of duty. In 1876, broken in health through overwork, in the onerous duties of his too large practice, he went to the mountains of Virginia to rest, and seek restora- tion to health. While there he heard that yellow fever was epidemic in Savannah. He was distressed at the thought of his friends and patients being stricken with the dire pestilence and he so far from them. He at once arose from a sick-bed and hastened to his afflicted people. His friends urged him not to go in the midst of pestilence in his then feeble condition, and said: "If you go you will die." Dr. Harris replied: "My people need my services, and if need be I am ready to lay down my life for them. I appreciate the danger, but I must go to them." He went to the pestilence-stricken city, met hundreds of them fleeing from their homes as though another hour spent under their own vine and figtree meant certain death, yet this man bravely went into Savannah and took up his Christ-like calling. In the doomed city-where the cheeks of brave men turned pale with fear -- Dr. Juriah Harris quietly, unostentatiously, heroically went day and night, heroically ministering to the sick, and with his tender touch smoothed the dying pillow. Soon the Angel of Death called him to the bosom of the Great Physician. He sacrificed his life to his conviction of duty. The history of the world records no higher example of heroism than Dr. Harris' return to the plague-stricken city of Savannah. He calmly weighed the danger, knew that his life would probably be sacrificed, yet he unhesitatingly walked into the valley of the shadow of death- laid down his own life to save the lives of his patients. "The deed is registered in the rolls of heaven, where it will live a theme for angels when they celebrate the high-souled virtues which forgetful earth has witnessed."

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JOHN MACPHERSON BERRIEN HARDEN, M. D., of Liberty county, Ga., born in 1810, died Feb. 16, 1848, aged thirty-eight years. Though young in years, no physician in the state ever stood higher in his profession or contributed more learnedly to the literature of medicine. When in feeble health, and even when far advanced in the disease which caused his death he continued with praise- worthy industry and zeal to publish his experience and researches in medicine for the benefit of his brethren. One of his medical papers was favorably reviewed in the "Medico-Chirurgical Review," of London, England. I regret that I am unable to furnish a complete list of medical contributions from the pen of Dr. Harden. The following is a partial list of his published contributions. "Review of Memoirs of M. de Haldst upon the Mechanism of Vision," "Procidentia Uteri," "Soil and Climate of Liberty County, Ga.," "The Relative Areas of the Trunks and Branches of Arteries," "Cases Connected with Pregnancy and Childbirth," "Notes on the Medicine of Moses," "Mercury and its Compounds," Translation of Dumas' researches on the blood, "Researches on Isopathia, or Parallelism of Diseases." The editor of the "Southern Medical Journal" in which Dr. Harden's paper, "The Medicine of Moses," was published, has this note at the head of the article. Note. -- We are compelled to omit the Hebrew and Greek employed in the article. We learn that the talented and indefatigable author studied the Hebrew language for the express purpose of comprehending this very subject, "The Medicine of the Bible."-Editors.

On page 255, "Southern Medical and Surgical Journal," 1848, published in Augusta, is the following just tribute to the memory of Dr. Harden, from the pen of the editor of that journal: "With deep regret it becomes our painful duty to record the death of Dr. Harden, of Liberty county, Ga. It was never our good fortune to meet him in life; but for years past we have been associated with his name in the medical periodicals of the day. He was a graduate of the Pennsyl- vania university; had contributed largely to our medical journals. In a pre- ceding number of this journal, vol. 2, p. 500, we took occasion to express our opinion of Dr. Harden's contributions to the medical literature of our country. His articles in the "Southern Medical and Surgical Journal," and in the "American Journal of Medical Sciences," had secured to him a well-earned reputation as a writer. His researches on "Isopathia, or the Parallelism of Diseases," were alone sufficient to stamp him an indefatigable student, and a man of decided talent. No one in this state has done more for medicine. Under many disadvantages he toiled on undismayed by disease or death itself, and with the Christian's hope he sank into an early grave. We mourn the loss of one of the most active and interesting collaborators in the death of Dr. John MacPherson Berrien Harden; society one of its most useful and benevolent members; science a true friend and ardent culti- vator; and our profession a most devoted and kind-hearted brother.

G AMALIEL WYATT HOLMES, M. D., was born in Wilkes county, Ga., in the year 1823; died at his home in Rome, Ga., Nov. 3, 1890, aged sixty-seven years. His father was Ichabod Holmes, his mother Maria (Brooks) Holmes. He graduated in medicine in 1849 and located in Blakely, Early Co., Ga., in the prac- tice of his profession. He continued in practice in Blakely until 1868, when he moved to Rome. In 1853 he served as a member of the senate of Georgia. Dur- ing the civil war-1861-1865-Dr. Holmes was surgeon-in-chief of the Florida department of the Confederate army. He was regarded as a model medical officer, and rendered valuable service to his country. Among the members of his pro- fession he was highly esteemed as evidenced by the fact that in 1872 he was elected president of the medical association of Georgia, the highest honor which

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the physicians of the state can confer upon one of their number. In 1873 he was elected professor of principles and practice of medicine in the Atlanta Medical college, and in 1875 and 1876 was a member of the state board of health of Georgia. Dr. Holmes was a strong man in his profession, and enjoyed a large and lucrative practice in all departments of medicine. He was possessed of a ten- der heart, refined nature-was loving, charitable and unselfish. He won fame in his chosen vocation, and was no less distinguished as a citizen. In all the rela- tions of life he was ever the typical southern gentleman. His love for his relations was unselfish and generous; he generously rendered financial aid to his brothers and sisters in preparing them for lives of usefulness, and similarly assisted their sons. A man of liberal education, coupled with a genial, sunny temperament, he was a delightful companion in both social and professional life.

D R. P. M. KOLLOCK, Savannah, Ga .- Dr. Phineas Miller- Kollock was born in Savannah, Ga., June 7, 1804. His father, Dr. Lemuel Kollock, was long a venerated resident physician of Savannah. His mother was Maria Camp- bell, daughter of Macartan and Sarah Campbell, of Augusta, Ga. His ancestors were originally Huguenots from the south of France, where the name was De Colloque. On the maternal side, the grandinother of Dr. Kollock was Sarah Fenwicke, sister of the late Brig .- Gen. J. R. Fenwicke. Dr. P. M. Kollock resided in Savannah, where he attended the Chatham academy as a pupil of Hon. Wm. Law until old enough to prepare for college at Exeter, N. H. In 1823 he graduated at Harvard college, Cambridge, Mass .; then proceeded to Philadel- phia and entered the niedical department of the university of Pennsylvania in the study of medicine under Dr. Parrish from whom, on graduating in 1826, he received a high testimonial in these words: "P. M. Kollock, M. D., was one of my private pupils, who after receiving a liberal education commenced and com- pleted his studies under my direction, and graduated in the university of Pennsylvania. His talents and diligence as a pupil have rendered his medical attainments highly respectable, while his correct morals and amiable deportment have secured my esteem. I do cheerfully recommend him as a young man whom I believe to be well qualified to enter upon the important duties of the medical profession, with credit to hinself, and with advantage to any community that may offer him their patronage." The subject of his thesis at the university of Pennsylvania was Mania a Potu. Immediately upon receiving his diploma lie commenced the practice of his profession in his native city, where he was one of the most prominent physicians to the day of his death. He was one of the founders of the Savannah Medical college, filling the chair of obstetrics and diseases of women and children in that institution. The following testimonial is from Dr. J. B. Read of Savannah: "Dr. Kollock's practice was remarkably select. He early in his professional life established a reputation as a brave, cool and daring surgeon, and though he was at one time compelled by ill-health to abandon his practice, and turn his attention to planting on St. Catherine's island, on the Georgia coast, still as soon as his re-established health permitted him to again enter on the active pursuit of his profession, his previous reputation at once restored him to his former standing in the community. During his life he performed many capital operations. Dr. Kollock was in an especial manner celebrated for his judgment, manual dexterity and skill in the perform- ance of the various operations called for in a large obstetrical practice. Few serious cases in the city and neighborhood were concluded without his aid and assistance. He was one of the first to follow in the footsteps of the illustrious Sims, in his operations for vesico-vaginal fistula. Many of his cases were published in the journals of the day, and he wrote a monograph on the subject

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with cases. His success was remarkable and owing to his perseverance and manual dexterity, few were more fitted by nature and study for the performance of those most vexatious cases. In the year 1852 he applied the galvano-cautery to an obstinate and incurable fistula (vesico-vaginal) with complete success. This is probably the first time this cautery was used for this purpose in the United States, and probably in the world, he therefore claims priority for him in this operative procedure. The battery was fixed and arranged for him by R. J. Nunn, M. D., and the operation was performed at the Savannah Medical college on a negro woman who had previously been operated upon in vain by Sims' method. Dr. Kollock was well up in the medical literature of the day, and was eminently conservative in his practice. He did not permit himself to be hurried off by rash and new ideas, and although he was among the first to apply and use the new medicines and the improvements in surgery, he always proceeded cautiously and carefully. With a strong body and a cool temperament he was one of the few persons who seemed to be born to be a physician and surgeon." Besides the article above referred to mentioned in the medical journals of the day, two others may be noticed. Ist. Cases of Traumatic Tetanus, cured by Strychnine, October number of "Southern Medical and Surgical Journal," Vol. 3, No. 10, year 1847. 2d. On the Cutaneous Eruption Induced by the Internal Use of Tartar Emetic, by P. M. Kollock, M. D., of Savannah, Ga. 3d. "Medical and Surgical Journal," August, 1852, Vol. 8, page 465 (No. 8), Topography and Epidemic Diseases of Georgia. This paper was read before the American Medical associa- tion in 1847. Dr. Kollock was twice married and at his death left a wife and six children. His eldest son, Edward, in 1865, wishing to adopt the profession of his father, studied medicine at the university of Maryland in Baltimore. By his own choice he became a resident in the infirmary that he might better obtain clinical instruction. While there typhus fever of malignant type appeared among the patients, and by the most untiring devotion to the sick, he contracted the disease and fell a victim to it in 1866. His father never seemed the same after the lamented death of this, his eldest son, for he fondly hoped to see him take his place as Dr. Kollock in the third generation. Dr. Kollock was a member of the Georgia Historical society, and in turn president of the Georgia Medical society and president of the medical association of Georgia. He served as an alderman of the city of Savannah, doing all in his power to insure proper progress; was solicited to be a candidate for the mayoralty, but declined as not deeming it compatible with the practice of his profession. He was a devoted son of Georgia during the late war between the Confederate and United States. He continued his professional duties to the end of his life, never swerving at the call of sickness to rich or poor. His death occurred at the age of sixty-eight and one-half years, on Dec. 25, 1872. He was buried from Christ church (Episcopal), of which he was senior warden. This memoir cannot be more fittingly closed than with the words of a brother practitioner-Dr. J. B. Read of Savannah: "Exegi Monu- mentum Aere Perennius. An event, to many of us not unexpected, has come to pass; it is none the less mournful. Dr. P. M. Kollock, the oldest, and one of the most honored of our body, has gone to his rest. Sorrowful as we felt to see him bravely struggling against the gradual destruction of his bodily powers, our grief at his loss is not lessened. Whilst we mourn with his family and the community at his death, we can but feel that he died, as he lived, in the endeavor to carry on the exacting duties of the profession he loved so well. His life, full of honors, and his departure from life followed by the regard and esteem of his fellow-men, is an example for us, by which to guide our steps. Of cold exterior, and quiet unpretending address, his kindness of heart was hidden from the masses of the people. Those, only, who were honored by his friendship, were aware of

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the great generosity of his soul. He was distinguished for his strict sense of justice, and for the courtesy of his demeanor in his intercourse with his fellow- practitioners. His observance of the ethics was carried to a chivalrous extent. He injured no one, and had a kind word for all who sought the assistance of his great experience. We will miss him from our midst. His good acts and charit- able deeds have made his monument. He needs none other. Our recollections of our departed friend and brother will always be of one who was willing to assist and who never injured a fellow-practitioner."-Extract from minutes of Georgia Medical society, February; 1873.

JOSEPH PAYNE LOGAN, M. D. Born Nov. 9, 1821, in Botetourt county,

Va. His literary education was received at Washington college, now known as Washington and Lee university. He received his degree of M. D. from the medical department of the university of Pennsylvania in 1841. From 1841 to 1854 he resided on his farm in Culpeper county, Va., following the practice of medicine and also engaged in farming. In 1854 he located in Atlanta, in this state, and engaged in the general practice of medicine. He was then a man strikingly handsome in appearance, most engaging in his manners, stainless as to character, and an experienced and accomplished physician. His merits met with immediate recognition and he entered upon a career of marked and honorable success. He soon came to enjoy, and retained through his long life, a large, select and lucrative practice. His exalted character, his professional skill and his loyalty and devotion to his patients made them his sincere and enthusiastic friends. As an enlightened, public-spirited and useful citizen, he enjoyed the esteem of the community in which he lived. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and for many years an elder therein, and always gave the cause of religion a hearty support. When the war between the states came on, Dr. Logan accepted an appointment as a Confederate surgeon, and in that capacity, and as a medical director, he served till the restoration of peace. In 1866 he located in Baltimore, Md., and was elected professor of principles and practice of medicine in Washington university in that city. This honorable position he held until 1869, when he returned to Atlanta and resumed the practice of his profession. Upon his return to Atlanta he was elected professor of physiology in the Atlanta Medical college, and con- tinued his duties in this college to the time of his death. As a medical teacher Dr. Logan was an eminent success, enjoying the highest respect of his associates in both of the colleges in which he held professorships, and in the esteem of his students he was an ideal teacher. As a teacher, as in all other relations in life, he was faithful, honorable, conscientious and able. He was for many years a member of the medical association of Georgia. In 1858, four years after locating in Georgia, Dr. Logan was elected president of the Association of Distinguished Physicians. He was a member of the American Medical association, and at one time vice-president of this national association. He was a member of the state board of health, and chairman of the prudential committee, and also of the committees on finance and sewerage, and the author of a paper on Prevention and Control of Smallpox, published in the first annual report of the board. He was for several years editor of the "Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal." He has contributed a number of papers to current medical literature. The "Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal" said of Dr. Logan: "Dr. Logan was a great physician, a noble man, and genuine Christian. Like the pastor, the doctor deals with the spirit, but unlike him, heals the body, mingling two sacred missions. Dr. Logan blended physical healing and Christian comforting in a marvelous degree. His sympathy was as gentle as his science was skilled. He had a remarkable patience and subtlety in reading ills and an extraordinary grasp of cure. He was

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a born doctor by mind and temperament. He had a natural medical genius. His strong native intuitions in healing were fortified by the largest culture in medical science. He had a face and forin that typified his noble nature. He was a strikingly handsome and imposing man of majestic proportions and carriage, and a head and countenance benignant and comely. He was a rare character, strong, yet pure, manly and gentle, proud, though tender, able and pious. He enjoyed an enormous practice in Atlanta, and it is doubtful if any of its citizens ever shared more widely in the sorrows of its good people, was ever linked more closely to its sacred memories, or will be more regretted than Dr. Logan. He was a pious member and efficient elder in the Central Presbyterian church. He was a wise and successful business man and the soul of integrity. He was full of charity and public spirit."

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 31

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166