Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 40

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314

USA > Mississippi > Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II > Part 40

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The eleventh annual meeting was opened at Jackson April 3, 1878. B. L. Kittrell was elected president, R. G. Wharton, H. Hauslow, G. W. Vasser and E. P. Sale, vice presi- dents; Wirt Johnston, recorder; M. S. Crafts, correspondent; Robert Kells, treasurer; E. G. Banks and John Brownrigg, orators. The members in 1878 are named in the history of the board of health. Dr. Vaughan's address was a masterly review of medical methods; Dr. Halbert's oration was historical and descriptive, but, like other annual orators, he indulged in lashing the ancient physicians for their supposed ignorance, when in fact they were as learned in the diseases and remedies of the ancients as the physicians of the present are in the diseases of the moderns. The ancient physicians were learned, honorable men, who always acknowledged the ideas they received from the tribal doctors of an earlier civilization. Dr. Wirt Johnston treated the Manufacture and uses of salicylic acid, Dr. P. F. Whitehead, the Treatment of diphtheria; Dr. Hill, A Case of poisoning with arsenious acid; Dr. J. R. Barnett, A Case of suppuration of antrum highmorianum; Dr. William Powell, Syphilis in

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the negro as differing from syphilis in the white race; Dr. H. J. Ray, A Case of hydrophobia; D. L. Phares, Posture in treatment of colic; Dr. J. W. Holman, Croupous pneumonia; Dr. Thomas Bryan, Malaria, what it is, how produced and how prevented; Dr. R. G. Wharton, Chronic catarrh; Dr. H. Hanslow, A Case of poisoning by hydrate chloral and camphor, and report on the wound of plantar arch; Dr. J. E. Halbert, Chloral hydrate in obstetrics; Dr. B. F. Kittrell, Treatment of cholera; E. W. Hughes, Epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis round Grenada in 1862; Dr. J. T. Parker, Early management of the infant; A. H. Cage, Typhlitis, and Dr. W. W. Hall, Continuation of surgical history of Mississippi.

Each paper is a testimonial to the earnestness of its author and a valuable addition to medical and surgical literature, as well as to sanitary science.

Dr. W. T. Balfour, who located at Jackson, Miss., in 1837, and shortly after moved to Vicksburg, to fight the yellow-fever epidemic, died there December 12, 1877; Dr. LeGrand G. Capers died December 2, 1877; Dr. H. B. Kidd, who located at Yazoo City in 1845, died there August 11, 1877; Dr. L. L. Gadberry died at Yazoo City, December 12, 1877; Dr. Henry C. Stackhouse, born at Crystal Springs, Miss., died at Utica in 1877, and Dr. C. B. Galloway, of Canton, died there in 1877.

The twelfth annual meeting was held at Aberdeen, April 1, 2 and 3, 1879. The first two days were devoted to memorial services for the members of the association and other physi- cians who died while on duty during the epidemic of 1878. On the 3d, members to fill vacancies on the state board of health were nominated as follows: First district, Dr. E. P. Sale; second district, Dr. John Wright; third district, Dr. S. V. D. Hill; third district, Dr. B. F. Kittrell; fourth district, George E. Redwood; fifth district, Dr. J. W. Bennett; sixth district, Dr. C. A. Rice.

The officers chosen were: E. P. Sale, M. D., Aberdeen, president; W. F. Hyer, M. D., Hudsonville, first vice president; W. C. Jarnagin, M. D., Macon, second vice president; William Powell, M. D., Torrance, third vice president; J. S. Cain, M. D., Okolona, fourth vice president; Wirt Johnston, M. D., Jackson, recording secretary; M. S. Craft, M. D., Jackson, corresponding secretary; George K. Harrington, M. D., Jackson, treasurer; B. F. Ward, M. D., Winona, orator; and W. H. Baird, M. D., Indian Bayou, alternate orator.

The papers read before the association in 1879 were: Address, by Dr. B. F. Kittrell; The Spas of Mississippi, by Dr. D. L. Phares; Helenium tenifolium, by Dr. D. L. Phares, Bayou Sara vs. Yellow fever, by Dr. D. L. Phares; Surgical diseases of the rectum, by Dr. M. S. Craft; Malarial fevers, by Dr. N. L. Guice; Intentional anaesthesia, by Dr. J. M. Taylor; Ligation of the femoral artery, by Dr. E. P. Sale; Use of the obstetric forceps, by Dr. S. V. D. Hill; Climo-therapy of phthisis pulmonalis, by Dr. John Brownrigg; New remedies, by Dr. B. A. Vaughan; Report of a case of meningitis, by Dr. A. G. Smythe; Diagnosis and treatment of yellow fever, by Dr. W. F. Hyer; Wound of the knee joint, by Dr. S. V. D. Hill.

The members of the association who fell in the epidemic of 1878 were: W. H. Armi- stead, Lee Shackleford, D. W. Booth, P. F. Whitehead, A. H. Cage, W. M. Lea, G. C. McCallum, E. W. Hughes, D. A. Kinchloe, W. B. Williamson, W. M. Compton, N. W. McKie, W. W. Hall, P. F. Fitzgerald, W. J. Nesmith, J. R. Hicks, W. E. Monette, R. S. Ringgold, Z. T. Woodruff, and H. W. Johnson.

The physicians who were not members, but who died while attending the sick, were: Dr. V. F. P. Alexander, Greenville; Dr. M. Blackburn, Vicksburg: Dr. Barber, Vicksburg; Dr. Birdsong, Vicksburg; Dr. George Dickson, Crystal Springs; Dr. J. S. Roach, Vicks- burg; Dr. Sappington, Vicksburg; Dr. W. B. Wilkerson, Vicksburg; Dr. Gilliland, Vicks-

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burg; Dr. Hayes, Vicksburg; Dr. Happolat, Vicksburg; Dr. Glass, Vicksburg; Dr. E. W. Hughes, Grenada; Dr. Lindley, Grenada; Dr. W. B. May, Grenada; Dr. G. W. Woolfolk, Grenada; Dr. Gillespie, Grenada; Dr. Hawkins, Grenada; Dr. J. L. Milton, Grenada; Dr. Lewis, Holly Springs; Dr. Leach, Holly Springs; Dr. Thomas Manning, Holly Springs; Dr. W. O. Mckinney, Holly Springs; Dr. Frank Fennell, Holly Springs; Dr. J. M. Fen- nell, Holly Springs; Dr. Fenton, Holly Springs; Dr. M. J. McKie, Canton; Dr. J. S. McCall, Greenville; Dr. William Montgomery, Greenville; Dr. James Newman, Vicksburg; Dr. J. P. Norris, Vicksburg; Dr. Potts, Vicksburg; Dr. M. C. Blackman, Vicksburg; Dr. A. S. Gardner, Greenville; Dr. Stafford, Greenville; Dr. J. J. Tate, Lake; Dr. Powell, Hernando; Dr. W. D. Sprott, Port Gibson; Dr. J. C. Strowbridge, Port Gibson; Dr. Thomas Young, Port Gibson; Dr. Blickfeldt, Port Gibson; Dr. Barber.

Dr. William Henry Armistead, son of John and Julia E. (Gaines) Armistead, was born in Randolph county, N. C., on the 5th of August, 1820. At the age of fifteen his father removed to Alabama. Of his early education but little is known. He graduated at the University of Louisville, Ky., in the spring of 1848; commenced the practice of medi- cine in the county of Choctaw, Miss., where he continued until May, 1854, when he removed to Shongalo, Carroll county, Miss., and married Miss Mary E. Wilson. After a time he removed to Vaiden. While Dr. Armistead was all his life engaged in practice, he was, from time to time, a representative from the counties of Choctaw and Carroll, in the state legis- lature. He was a member of his county medical society; also a member of the state and American Medical associations, and served as a delegate to the latter in Louisville in 1875. In the latter years of his life Dr. Armistead suffered much from rheumatism, declining rap- idly, and finally fell a prey to paralysis, and died at his residence in Vaiden, on the 30th day of November, 1878, aged fifty-eight years and three months, leaving a wife and several chil- dren to mourn his irreparable loss. Honored and respected by all who knew him.

Dr. David W. Booth was born in the city of Vicksburg, Miss., of American parents, who were of English and Irish origin, on the 17th of July, 1840. Received his elementary education at Hampden Sydney college, Virginia, and his medical training at the University of Louisiana, where he graduated in the spring of 1861. During the late war he served as assistant regimental and brigade surgeon, also as medical inspector. At the close of the war he settled in his native city. In 1865 he was elected physician to the city hospital, of which he continued in charge until 1869. In 1875 he leased the same and established the Hill City infirmary, of which he was in charge at the time of his death. He fell a victim to the terrific plague of yellow fever, at his home in Vicksburg, on the 27th of August, 1878, aged thirty-eight years, leaving a wife and four children to mourn his untimely death. Thus has fallen, in the prime of life and eminent usefulness, one of our fellows, who was an ornament to the profession, and who bid fair to attain to an elevated position in the ranks of the med- ical men of the state. Of his private life and social relations we know but little, but presume they were pleasant and honorable. Said to have appeared to be cold, stiff and formal to strangers, but warm, genial and generous to a fault with friends and acquaintances. Par ad rejus memoria.

Dr. Peter Flanagan Whitehead, a descendant of English and Irish ancestry, was born at Winchester, Ky., on the 9th of June, 1838. Was educated at the academy of his native town. Studied medicine at Jefferson Medical college, and graduated in 1859. Remained in Philadelphia hospital one year, after which he located at Independence, Mo. At the com- mencement of the late war he entered the Confederate army, in which he served three years as regimental surgeon, and one year as chief surgeon of General Loring's division. After

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the war he settled in the city of Vicksburg, where he soon obtained a respectable and lucra- tive practice.

In 1874 he was chosen president of this association, and represented it in the American Medical association in 1875. He was also a member of the state board of health. He was an occasional contributor to the current medical literature of the day, and nearly every recent volume of our transactions contained one or more papers from his pen, of bold, pointed and practical articles. On the approach of the late epidemic of yellow fever, he remained at his post, and fell a victim to that terrible scourge on the 5th day of September, 1878, in the prime of a life of honorable usefulness, mourned by his family and lamented by his friends.

Dr. Willis M. Lea, of Marshall county, Miss., was born at Leesburg, in North Carolina, on the 5th day of November, 1802. He took the degree of A. B. at the university of his native state, in 1821, and the degree of M. D. at the University of Pennsylvania in the year 1826. Located and practiced in his native town ten years, after which he removed and set- tled near Holly Springs, in Marshall county, Miss., where he engaged in practice and plant- ing until he was disabled by a fall from a horse, which misfortune was followed by paraly- sis. His early training and close application placed him above a large number of those by whom he was surrounded. He was for many years president of his county medical society; was a member of the state convention which passed the ordinance of secession. He died of paralysis in Marshall county, Miss., on the 8th day of December, mourned by his family, and respected and venerated by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

Dr. John R. Hicks was born on the 18th of November, 1839, in the city of Vicksburg. Of his early education the committee knew nothing. Received his professional training in the medical department of the University of Louisiana, graduating in 1861. Was vale- dictorian of his class. Entered and served in the army of Virginia until the latter part of 1862. Was transferred to the department of Mississippi, serving as surgeon to the close of the war. Married Miss Ida Yerger in 1865. Located in his native town. Had charge of the city hospital for a time. Died in Alabama, where he was resuscitating his health, on the 7th of October, 1878. Particulars not known.

Dr. Z. Taylor Woodruff was born in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on the 22d of June, 1849. Removed to Vicksburg when a youth. Studied medicine with hospital advantages; took his course at the University of Louisiana, graduating in 1872. Practiced one year at St. Louis, Mo., and for a time in Hale county, Ala .; but finally settled in Vicksburg, where he was made health officer, and continued to fill that office up to a short time before his death. His health being seriously impaired, he went to Turk, Ala., where he had friends, at which place he died just fifteen days after leaving Vicksburg, and on the 17th of July, 1878. Ita est vita.

Dr. G. C. McCallum, son of Judge A. McCallum, was born near Claiborne, Jasper county, Miss., on the 9th- day of August, 1845. Received his primary education at the neighboring schools of the county. He graduated in the medical department of the Univer- sity of Louisiana, in March, 1867. In January, 1870, married Miss M. J., daughter of the late S. R. Adams, of Paulding. He was located at Lake Station, Miss., where he died of yellow fever on the 7th of September, 1878. His whole family, except a son of six years, having died of the same scourge.

Dr. Edward W. Hughes descended from Irish ancestors, and was born on the 15th of March, 1819, in Charleston, Va. Received his education, first at the academy of his native town and last at the Classical and Mathematical high school, in Washington City. He graduated at the University of Louisville, Ky., in March, 1847, and settled in Grenada, Miss.

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Was a member of his county society, also its president. Was vice-president of this associa- tion, and but for his extreme retiring modesty, would have been its president. Was a member of the International congress in 1876, and a member of the state board of health. Author of many valuable papers. Had a large and interesting family. He fell with his armor on in the cause of humanity, August 31, 1878, battling against disease, suffering and death, in the terrible scourge which visited the doomed little city of his home. He died as he had lived, a faithful physician, a man of honor, and Christian gentleman.

Dr. W. E. Monette was born in Warren county, Miss., the 7th of January, 1834. Obtained his early education at Oakland college. Graduated at the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1857. Attended a course at the University of Louisiana, and practiced for a time in that state. Served as a brigade surgeon in the Confederate army. Had resided in his native county since the war. Was a member of this association. Fell a prey to the epi- demic of 1878. It is to be regretted that the day of his death, place and circumstances of his last illness are unknown to the committee.

Dr. David Anderson Kinchloe, of Scotch-Irish parentage, was born in Barren county, Ky., October 18, 1823. Was educated at Farmington academy, Missouri. Studied medi- cine and graduated on the 4th of March, 1846, in the medical college of Ohio. Located at Belmont, Panola county, Miss., but on the declaration of war with Mexico he entered the volunteer service as surgeon under contract. Was afterward commissioned and assigned to duty in the Second regiment of Mississippi volunteers. Was afterward placed in charge of the hospital at Buena Vista, where he remained until the close of the war. He served as captain, and afterward as surgeon in various commands, and finally as chief surgeon in the staff of Major-General Withers, in the Confederate army, and was surrendered with the army of Tennessee at Greensboro, N. C. After the war he located at Sardis, Miss., and was in practice when able until he was prostrated by disease. He contracted chronic bron- chitis in Mexico, from which he suffered in his last illness. But the final cause of his death was chronic enlargement of the liver, inflammation of the stomach and alimentary canal. Dr. K. was a fair contributor to the medical literature of his time. He died at Sardis on the 9th day of September, 1878, aged fifty-five years.

Dr. William Boswell Williamson was born on the 23d of November, 1812, at Sussex courthouse, Va. Graduated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1835. Was surgeon of volunteers in the revolution of Texas in 1836. He afterward settled and remained several years in Hinds county, Miss. He removed to New Orleans, but returned and settled at Edwards. He was secretary of the first state medical society formed in Mississippi. Was a member of the Medico-Physico society of New Orleans. He was a member of the Hinds County Medical association. He was superintendent of the state lunatic asylum in 1857 and 1858. He was a surgeon in the Confederate states army during the Civil war. He died with yellow fever at his home in Edwards, on the 27th day of September, 1878.

Dr. William McCorkle Compton, of American parentage and Irish ancestors, was born in Madisonville, Hopkins county, Ky., on the 4th of March, 1833. His early education was obtained in Alabama. His professional course was commenced at Louisville, Ky., and com- pleted at Jefferson Medical college, where he took the degree of M. D. in 1854. He com- menced practice in Marshall county, Miss. During the war of the states he served as a private and as surgeon in the Confederate army. He was a member of the state legislature in 1861, and a delegate to the constitutional convention in 1865 and 1868. He removed to the city of Jackson to take charge of the state lunatic asylum, and was superintendent eight years. While he was a general practitioner he devoted much time and study to special

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subjects-insanity, public health and kindred subjects. Was author of a number of papers upon various topics in relation to medicine of high character and peculiar merit. After the expiration of his time of service as superintendent he removed to Holly Springs, where he was preparing to erect a private asylum or hospital for the treatment of the insane. He was not engaged in practice at the time of his death. He was member of the state and Amer- ican Medical associations and had been president of the former. He was a member of the state board of health for the state at large, and was probably a member of the International Medical congress at Philadelphia in 1876. He was probably one of the most prominent general practitioners in the Southern states. In the prospect of a brilliant success in his new enterprise he fell a victim to the terrible scourge of yellow fever. He died at his home near Holly Springs on the 23d of October, 1878, leaving seven motherless children to mourn his untimely death. Dr. Compton was the last physician who died in the epidemic in this state.

Dr. Nathan W. McKie, son of Dr. M. J. McKie, was born in Canton, Madison county, Miss., on the 5th day of July, 1849. His elementary education was obtained at Canton aud Sharon, in his native county, and was a superior scholar of the grammar-school class. Had charge of the postoffice in Vicksburg in 1866. Commenced the study of medicine quite early under his father. Took his first course at New Orleans, in 1868, and graduated at the Washington university, of Baltimore, Md., in 1870, dividing first honors with two others in a class of forty or fifty. Immediately after his return commenced to practice at Sharon with his father, even rivaling him in the estimation of the people. Married Miss Molly McCool in 1871. Removed to Canton in 1877, and after a time he in a measure secured the conti- dence and practice of the lamented Cage during the temporary absence of the latter. At the breaking out of the yellow fever at Canton, when all was confusion and dismay, he, like a true hero, remained at his post surrounded by disease, suffering and death, doing his utmost to relieve suffering humanity until stricken himself, and fell a victim to the relentless plague on the 19th of August, 1878. Thus has passed from the stage of life, in the full vigor of manhood, with the prospect of a long life and a brilliant future in the practice of the pro- fession of his choice. He left a wife and three small children to buffet the cold charities of a hard world.

The late lamented Dr. William Wood Hall was (probably) born at or near Grenada, Miss., on the 17th of August, 1839. His early education was chiefly obtained by his per- sonal exertion, and it may be said truly that he was a self-made man. He began the study of medicine under the direction of the late Dr. E. W. Hughes, and took his course at the University of Nashville, where he graduated in 1861. Practiced one year in the swamp region; entered the Coufederate army, a lieutenant, then a captain, promoted to be regi- mental surgeon of Taylor's regiment, serving with credit to the close of the war. Went to Coffeeville, but removed to Grenada in 1866, and settled permanently and did a fair and successful practice; was at one time vice president of this association; was and had been engaged by appointment of the same for two or three years in collecting material and writ- ing the surgical history of the state, which labor bid fair to be an honor to the author and an ornament to the professional literature of the state and county. Dr. Hall had received the appointment to fill the chair of gynecology in the new medical college at Memphis, Tenn. Dr. Hall died as he had lived, sacrificing his life to his profession and humanity. Thus has fallen at the premature age of thirty-nine years, at the very threshold of a new field where his energy of character and persevering labor were almost sure to have been crowned with success. He fell a prey to the fell destroyer on the 29th of August, 1878, like a hero with his face to the foe with no hope of success. Sic transit.

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Dr. Peter Fletcher Fitzgerald was born in Smithville, Brunswick county, N. C., on the 2d of November, 1836; was raised at Grenada, Miss. ; received a liberal academic education; took his first course at the University of Nashville, and graduated at the University of Louisiana in 1858; located twelve miles south of Grenada, in the county of Carroll, and commenced practice; married Miss Eliza A. Purnell; entered the war of the states as a private, was promoted to assistant surgeon and served to the end of the war; returned and married a sister of her former wife, she having died some years before. At the time the epidemic made its appearance in Grenada, Dr. Fitzgerald tendered his services to the board of health, which were not accepted for the reason that he would be likely to fall a prey to the disease, but urged that he await and hold himself in readiness to meet it provided it should, as it did, spread to the country. He met it as a hero should meet a foe, face to face, and although not strong physically, he continued to respond to all calls, until, worn out and exhausted, he fell a prey to the relentless plague of yellow fever, on the 13th of October, 1878. He was a man of modest and unpretending demeanor, animated by a generous sympathy and possessed an unblemished character.

Dr. Lee Shackleford was born in Perry county, Ala., December 15, 1833, and died May 19, 1878, being in the forty-fifth year of his age. He graduated in medicine in the Univer- sity of Louisiana, New Orleans, in 1858, and subsequently attended a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia. He commenced the practice of his profession at or near Meridian, Miss., 1860, but the war breaking out soon after he volunteered as a private in the Thirty-seventh Mississippi regiment, then under the command of Col. Ro. McLain, but was detailed as a surgeon of the same. He was soon promoted, upon examina- tion, to the full work of surgeon, in which capacity he served on various duties, with great fidelity and ability till the close of the war. He then resumed practice in Meridian, and prosecuted it with distinguished ability and success till stricken down by disease.

Dr. A. H. Cage, of Canton, Miss., was forty-seven years old and graduated in medicine at the University of Louisiana, in March, 1846. He was an educated, polished, Christian gentleman and physician far above mediocrity. Always courteous and hospitable to his brother physicians, kind and sympathetic in the sick room, the rich and the poor were alike the recipients of his faithful care. His health of late years had been much impaired, and for this reason he thought that to remain in Canton during the epidemic would be certain death to him, and frequently so expressed himself, but when urged to leave by both citizens and physicians, his reply was that death to him was preferable to disgrace, and that the pro- fession should not suffer dishonor at his hands.

The thirteenth annual meeting was held at Vicksburg in April, 1880. The address of Dr. Shannon in welcoming the association was the beginning of one of the most interesting and instructive conventions of the association ever held. He said: "As chairman of the committee of arrangements, and in behalf of the physicians of Vicksburg, it becomes my duty and pleasure to welcome you to our city. We welcome you as citizens of a great and populous state, as patriots and Christian gentlemen, as well as members of a learned and honorable profession. Since Vicksburg was last honored by the presence of this association, our fair city, as well as many portions of our beloved state, has been desolated by an epi- demic which will ever stand as a memorable epoch in history. I need not remind you, that when so many fell victims to the scourge, that some of the brightest and most useful mem- bers of this association went down at the post of duty. The places of such men as Hughes, Hall, Whitehead, Booth and others whom I could name, are not easily filled in society or in the ranks of the profession. Difficult as the task may seem, we have an abiding faith that Q

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi, embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the state and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy and illustrious families and individuals, Vol. II, Part 40

Author: Goodspeed Brothers Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Number of Pages: 1314

Author: Goodspeed Brothers
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed
Number of Pages: 1314