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 41

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 41

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the younger members of the profession, full of hope, of energy and of professional pride, will strive to emulate the example and worth of the illustrious dead, and push forward the car of progressive medicine. We are hopeful for the future prosperity of our city. Though we have some days of darkness and discouragement, the light is breaking and a brighter day is dawning. And when the association again assembles in this place in the near future, we hope to show you our restored harbor, a quickened commerce, successful factories and a city of largely increased wealth and population. We have recently been honored with a visit from that distinguished civil engineer, Capt. James B. Eads, whose fame is only coextensive with the splendor of his scientific achievements. Under his wise leadership, aided by a generous appropriation by the general government, we hope to show you in successful operation the most wonderful feat of engineering skill ever devised-the subduing and absolute controlling of the turbid and turbulent waters of the mighty Mis- sissippi. This fact demonstrated as it must and will be, to the satisfaction of the commer- cial world, who can foretell its measureless influence in the development and enriching of this great and fertile valley ?

Our historic city has withstood the rude shock of war, for months beleaguered by sword and famine. She has been wasted by a pestilence appalling and almost without parallel. She has been left high and dry by the great Father of Waters in his tireless march to the sea. Yet, by the energy and enterprise of her chivalrous people, she is destined to achieve a greater glory, and in the very heart of this marvelous cotton belt, sit enthroned like a crowned and sceptered queen amid her thousand hills. In addition to many other attractions, we may be able to show you the completion of the several railroad lines now contemplated, leading to this city and emptying here their untold treasures of wealth. Especially as we hope you may see here the completed transcontinental railroad, that indis- soluble iron band that shall link together the great oceans, one on the east and the other on the west, along the thirty-second parallel of latitude. Then, in the days of her increased prosperity, Vicksburg will open her heart and welcome the men whose heroic deeds at the bedside of the sick and dying, in hovel as well as mansion, are too often unknown and unappreciated, save by Him who ruleth above and with whom dwelleth all wisdom. In con- clusion, gentlemen, we congratulate you upon the large number of intelligent and experi- enced medical men present, aud express the hope that this reunion of the Mississippi State Medical association may be harmonious and profitable not only to those present but to the profession and people at large."

The following gentlemen were admitted to membership at this session: Drs. R. E. Howard, W. G. Stone, C. S. Hudson, W. E. Satterfield, George C. Phillips, O. B. Quin, John H. Lucas, T. J. Crofford, A. P. Harris, E. Fox, Daniel M. McGehee, R. T. Edwards, W. G. Kiger, G. W. Baskett, T. R. Henderson, J. A. Hull, W. P. Younge, F. M. Hal- bert, T. T. Beall, T. J. Murray, J. B. Pease, W. R. Blailock, S. D. Robbins, E. L. Mc- Gehee, O. S. Iglehart, J. R. Hill, Thomas A. Catchings, S. R. Dunn, F. W. Forbes, T. B. Ford, T. J. Lee, C. Hoover, R. E. Jones and W. F. Toombs.

The memorial to the senate and house of representatives, and the draft of a bill to incorporate the Mississippi State Medical association with power, to regulate the prac- tice of medicine in the state of Mississippi, were presented. Dr. Taylor, in reviewing the history of this attempt to regulate medical practice, said: "It will be observed that in drafting this bill the two fold object aimed at was kept in view, and the provisions intended solely for the charter of the association were restricted to the three first sections, whilst all the balance of the bill was devoted to the subject of regulating the practice of

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medicine. This was done that the charter might not fail on account of any objections to the balance of the bill, as it would be easy to strike off all after the third section. The bill was introduced in the senate, read and referred to the judiciary committee, from which it was never reported. The failure of the bill was not at all unexpected, and should not at all discourage its advocates. A measure of such vast importance should not be adopted until after it has been carefully and thoroughly considered, and, as far as possible, perfected. The bill, as presented, was not supposed to be free from imperfections and objections; but its principles and objects were thought to be sufficiently clearly indicated to serve as a basis for a more perfect bill to be presented and urged at the next session of the legislature. But it was thought a formal presentation of the subject before the legislature, even in an imma- ture form, would bring it before the profession and the public more prominently and more forcibly than could be done by any other course. It is a subject which needs only to be fairly presented to commend itself to all intelligent minds. The better it is understood the more highly its importance will be appreciated. The enactment of similar laws in other states will cause hundreds of peripatetic charlatans to migrate into our state, where they can pursue their nefarious calling with impunity, inflicting upon the uninformed and credulous untold injury in purse and in health. A similar law in Illinois, passed in 1877, had the effect, in one year, to drive fourteen hundred of these gentry from that state, and to send four hundred and fifty non-graduated practitioners to medical schools to qualify. themselves for practice.

The officers elected in 1880 were: W. F. Hyer, M. D., Hudsonville, president; D. L. Phares, M. D., Woodville, first vice president; H. Shannon, M. D., Vicksburg, second vice presi- dent; R. S. Toombs, M. D., Greenville, third vice president; W. D. Carter, M. D., Ripley, fourth vice president; Wirt Johnston, M. D., Jackson, recording secretary; M. S. Craft, M. D., Jackson, corresponding secretary; George K. Harrington, M. D., Jackson, treas- urer; S. D. Robbins, M. D., Vicksburg, orator; S. R. Dunn, M. D., Greenville, alternate orator.

The papers read before the association in 1880 are of interest even to-day. The sub- jects treated were: The duties we owe to our women, by E. P. Sale; Medicine in the cotton states, by B. F. Ward; Recent advances in surgery, by S. V. D. Hill; Recent advances in obstetrics, by N. L. Guise; New remedies, by B. A. Vaughan; Ascyrum crux-andreae, for pertussis, by D. L. Phares; Malarial hematuria, by J. M. Greene; Hemorrhagic malarial fever, by B. F. Kittrell; Treatment of wounds by C. A. Rice; Operation for strangulated inguinal hernia, by John Brownrigg; a Case of amputation of both legs-thymol being used as a dressing in one and salicylic acid in the other, by Wirt Johnston; a Case of amputation of the leg in which secondary hemorrhage occurred, by Wirt Johnston; a Case of traumatic tetanus that resulted in recovery, by Wirt Johnston; Notes on some cases of interest, by W. A. Taylor; Removal of urethral calculi by perineal section, by J. E. Hulbert; a Case in practice, by John S. Featherston; a Case of lithotomy, by J. W. Bennett; an Unusual case of congenital malformation of the anus, by J. C. Hall; a Simple uterine and vaginal irri- gator, by John S. Featherston; a Case of artesia, vagina, complicated with pregnancy, by E. P. Sale, and the History of yellow fever at Concordia in 1879, by John B. Pease.

The deaths of Drs. Turner, Sykes, Dulaney, Lowe, McLaurin and Davis were recorded in 1879-80, and the following tributes placed on record:

The tribute to David B. Turner, M. D., was written by T. L. Wilburn, M. D., of Winona, in 1880. "After hearing the report on necrology, and comparing its smallness to the long list of those faithful martyrs who perished at the post of duty during that memor-

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able year 1878, we are forcibly struck with the gentleness with which a benign Providence has seen fit to deal with us since the last meeting of our association. But while we have abundant reasons for gratulations and rejoicing, the black angel, death, has not been entirely stayed in his work of destruction, but has seen fit to appear again in our ranks and select, as his victim, one of our most worthy, esteemed and useful members. I refer to Dr. David B. Turner, who, in the prime of his manhood and usefulness, when the hand upon the dial- plate of time denoted the sun had just crossed the meridian, and life to him was offering its sweetest charms, was called to rest from his labors, it was my good fortune to meet him fre- quently when I first espoused the cause of the healing art-a time in our history when we feel so sensibly the need of wise counsel and encouragement, which he always gave in such a manner as to impress me so forcibly with his strict integrity of character as a man and physician-I deem it nothing more than a simple act of justice to pay some human tribute to his memory.

"He graduated in the medical department of the University of Louisiana in 1859; moved to Winona and commenced the practice of medicine there in 1861, where he remained, doing a lucrative practice until his death in September, 1879. His wife died soon after he moved to Winona, and he afterward married Miss Laura Moore, daughter of Col. O. J. Moore, who now, with five children, mourn their irreparable loss. In his death we can truly say a good man has fallen-one who ever enjoyed the confidence and love of his patrons and friends, and commanded the respect and esteem of his professional brethren. He was of the highest order of professional honor and medical attainments; if not seemingly as impressive as some, it was due to that modesty and unobtrusiveness which ever characterized his nature.

"Kind and attentive to his patients, generous to a fault, he faithfully performed his mis- sion: Going about doing good. In August, 1878, when it was announced the fair city of Grenada was visited by a scourge unparalleled in her history for the immensity of its proportions, we watched with eagerness the daily mortuary reports, bearing the sad tidings of departed loved ones, until at last it was flashed across the wires, "Drs. Hall and Hughes are no more." Dr. Turner remarked upon receiving the sad intelligence, "Two men have gone whose places in society and in our ranks will be hard to fill." Soon his own town was visited by the same destroying angel, and, her citizens thrown into sudden con- sternation, were fleeing hither and thither, seeking refuge from the grim monster, until the business little town of Winona, almost depopulated, assumed the aspect of some of Sherman's sentinels in his famous march to the sea. He remained faithful at the post of duty, con- tending with the insiduous foe, alleviating pain, and smoothing the path of the doomed to the grave."

"The tribute to Lucian Melville Sykes, M. D., was written by E. P. Sale, M. D., of Aberdeen, in 1880. Dr. Sykes, third son of the late Dr. William A. and Rebecca Barret Sykes, was born in Decatur, Ala., May 4, 1838. Whilst quite young his father moved near, and afterward to Aberdeen, Miss., where the subject of this sketch was brought up. Having been prepared by excellent high-school teaching for a collegiate edu- cation, he entered, in 1854, the University of Mississippi at Oxford, where he graduated in 1857, with credit to himself and alma mater. After graduation Dr. Sykes chose medicine for his profession, and with this in view he entered the medical department, University of New York, in 1858, where he attended one course of lectures. His inherited delicate constitu- tion refused to tolerate heavy drafts made on it in following his professional studies, conse- quently he was compelled to abandon them and engage in an occupation not so taxing to his health. He decided on farming, and having received as his patrimony, a plantation in Boli-

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ver county, Miss., he moved on it and remained until the commencement of the late war. He enlisted amongst the first volunteers from his county, and was in the Confederate army until its surrender. After the war he collected the debris of a once handsome fortune and determined to complete his medical education, which he did by again entering the medical department, University of New York, where he graduated in March, 1866. He selected for his field of labor a point in the prairie district, northeast Mississippi, near what is now the railroad depot, Muldon, on the Mobile & Ohio railroad. Having well fitted himself for the practice of his profession, Dr. Sykes brought to bear in its pursuit great energy and skill, until he soon attained, for a young practitioner, quite an enviable reputation. About the period of the acme of his professional success, his health for the second time gave way, and for about a year he had almost abandoned his profession; but upon it's restoration he recommenced an active practice in which he continued up to the period of his death, which occurred suddenly from lightning stroke July 16, 1879. In April, 1868, he married Miss Lou A. Walker, daughter of the late John A. Walker, a prominent citizen and planter of Monroe county, Miss. To them were born three children-two girls and a boy, the latter, his namesake."

"The tribute to William J. Dulaney, M. D., was written in 1880, by Wirt Johnston, M. D., of Jackson. Dr. Dulaney was born in Orange county, Va., in 1813. His family was an old and highly respected one, and he was a most worthy descendant of a worthy line of ancestors. He evinced a partiality early in life for the study of medicine, and graduated in his chosen profession at the University of Virginia in the year 1833. Of a strong and inde- pendent character, anxious to work out his own fortunes unaided, he came to the state of Mississippi in 1835, and located at Society Ridge in Hinds county, where he resided until ahout the year 1846. He then removed to Madison county where he resided at the time of his death, which sad event occurred on February 14, 1880. Dr. Dulaney was sincerely devoted to his profession, and of a kind and sympathetic nature; he was ever ready to respond to the calls of the afflicted. He did a large and arduous practice, extending over a number of years, and the last days of his life were devoted to a patient afflicted with a fatal disease. He was a close student, a strong and original thinker, and a successful practitioner of medicine. As a professional man he not only won in early life, but he retained to the end the confidence of his neighbors and friends. As a citizen, as a father and husband, and, indeed, in a word, in all the relations of life, he was an admirable and exemplary char- acter. He was just and fair in all of his dealings with his fellowmen, and was evidently actuated in all things by strong conscientious convictions."

"Dr. Hugh C. McLanriu, son of Daniel McLaurin, a Scotch emigrant, was born in Marl- borough district, in the state of South Carolina, on the 30th day of September, 1813. His father moved to Wayne county, in this (Miss.) state. Living there only two years, he removed first to Covington, then to Simpson county, in 1822, continuing there the remain- der of his life. In 1835 Dr. McLaurin went to South Hanover college, in Indiana; after a time, he went to the celebrated school of Hudson, in South Carolina; he read medicine in the office of Dr. Robertson, of Fayetteville, N. C., in 1839, and attended his first course of lectures, the following winter, in the medical department of the University of Pennsyl- vania; returned to Simpson county, and commenced the practice of medicine; graduated in the same school in 1844; married Miss Harriet E. Lowe, of Madison county, December 16, 1845; continued to practice in Simpson county, until he removed to Hinds county, in Decem- ber, 1860. He removed to Brandon in 1865, where he established a respectable and success- ful practice, and maintained it up to the time of his death, which occurred suddenly, from

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a paroxysm of apoplexy, of only about thirty-six hours' duration, on the 13th day of July, 1880, aged sixty-six years ten months and thirteen days."

"James Shelton Davis, third son and fourth child of James R. Davis and Elenora Tinsely Davis, was born in Madison county, Ala., March 24, 1819, and died at Iuka, Miss., November 29, 1879. When quite young, he removed, with his parents, to Limestone county, where he received a common English education, and a slight acquaintance with the Latin language. In 1837, he removed to Athens, Ala., where he did business in the mercantile house of J. H. & R. Hine. In 1839 he entered the office of Dr. John C. Spotswood, with whom he read medicine. He married, July 21, 1838, Nancy E., daughter of Samuel Tanner, of that place. In 1839 he attended a course of medical lectures at Louisville, Ky., and engaged in the practice on his return home, the following spring. In 1845 he removed to Marshall county, Miss., where he practiced till 1852, when he moved to Salem, Tippah county, Miss. In 1860, he was elected to the Secession convention at Jackson, and served in that body, voting for the ordinance of secession, the proudest act of his life. He was connected with the war that followed. After the convention, he moved to Iuka, and goon after commenced editing the Iuka Springs Gazette. He graduated in medicine at the Jef- ferson Medical college, Philadelphia, in 1854. At the commencement of the University of Louisville, Ky., in 1871, the ad eundum gradum was conferred upon him. In 1872 he was one of the democratic electors for president and vice president, for the state of Missis- sippi, on the O'Connor ticket."

The fourteenth annual meeting was held at Winona, in April, 1881. Papers were read in the following order: Surgery of Mississippi, by M. S. Craft; Cases, by Dr. Brownrigg, R. A. Cunningham, R. R. Blailock, J. H. Banks, W. D. Carter, S. V. D. Hill, F. E. Daniel, J. M. Green, B. F. Kittrell, L. M. Mays, A. P. Harris and M. S. Craft. Dr. W. Y. Gadbury explained the new appliance for fracture of lower extremities. Dr. Hyer delivered the address. A paper on the Abortive treatment of pneumonia was read by Dr. W. Y. Gadbury; one on New remedies by B. A. Vaughan; one on Diphtheria by Dr. J. B. Gresham; one on Recent advances in general pathology by Dr. B. F. Ward; one on the Diseases of gastroenteric mucous membrane in infancy and childhood by Dr. B. F. Ward; and one on the Rights, duties and responsibilities of physicians before the courts by J. S. Morris. Two members were expelled from the association on April 6.

The officers elected in April, 1881, were B. F. Ward, M. D., president, Winona; J. P. Moore, M. D., first vice president, Yazoo City; T. W. Fullilove, M. D., second vice president, Vaiden; John Tackett, M. D., third vice president, Richland; W. W. Hart, M. D., fourth vice president, Lodi. Wirt Johnston, M. D., recording secretary, Jackson; M. S. Craft, M. D., corresponding secretary, Jackson; G. K. Harrington, M. D., treasurer, Jackson; F. E. Daniel, M. D., orator, Jackson; T. R. Henderson, M. D., alternate orator, Greenwood.

The members of the executive committee appointed were: J. M. Taylor, M. D., Robert Kells, M. D., E. G. Banks, M. D., R. G. Wharton, M. D., B. A. Vaughan, M. D., A. G. Smythe, M. D., D. C. McCallum, M. D., B. F. Kittrell, M. D., S. V. D. Hill, M. D., W. F. Hyer, M. D., B. F. Ward, M. D., N. L. Gnice, M. D., George E. Redwood, M. D. Of the judicial committee: W. Y. Gadbury, M. D., Wirt Johnston, M. D., secretary, George K. Harrington, M. D., treasurer, S. V. D. Hill, M. D., B. F. Ward, M. D., B. F. Kittrell, M. D., J. M. Taylor, M. D. Of the committee on publication: M, S. Craft, M. D., Robert Kells, M. D., P. T. Baley, M. D., T. J. Mitchell, M. D .. Of the committee on necrology: A. G. Smythe, M. D., W. W. Hart, M. D., Robert Smith, M. D. And of the committee of arrangements: J. T. Chandler, M. D., T. D. Isom, M. D., and Paul A. Burt, M. D.

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The only death recorded was that of Dr. W. P. Finley. He was born in Madison county, Miss., on December 25, 1836, and died at Fannin, Rankin county, Miss., May 15, 1881, of pneumonia with asthma, being forty-four years of age. He graduated in the med- ical department of the University of Louisiana, in 1859. Soon after this he began practice in Kosciusko, and thence moved to Greensborough, Choctaw county, Miss. The war coming on, he was made regimental surgeon in the army of northern Virginia, in which capacity he served his country with success and credit. He was married during the war to Miss K. C. Carlton, of North Carolina.

Dr. James Wilson Holman died of meningitis, at Winona, Miss., April 21, 1881. He was born in Perry county, Ala., October 5, 1829. At an early age his parents moved to Mississippi. His father, by great industry, frugality and integrity, amassed a large fort- une. The deceased might, if it had suited him, have lived the life of an idler, as so many of our young men have done who were similarly situated, but Dr. Holman was made of a different kind of material, and as soon as he reached man's estate he determined to pursue the profession of medicine, believing that no calling could be more honorable than that of alleviating human suffering. He graduated at Louisville, Ky., in the year 1851, and immedi- ately located at Middleton, Miss. Soon after this he married Martha W., daughter of E. W. Bennett. After the war between the sections, when the town of Winona rose upon the ashes of Middleton, he located there, and from that day until the hour of his death his name was inseparably interwoven with the history of the busy and prosperous little city of Winona.

The rules and regulations adopted by the board of health in March, 1882, for the gov- ernment of boards of censors, in their examination for license to practice medicine under the provisions of "an act to regulate the practice of medicine in the state of Mississippi," approved February 28, 1882, were stringent, though few in number.

The fifteenth annual meeting was held in April, 1882, when the following-named officers were chosen for the year ending April, 1892: Wirt Johnston, M. D., Jackson, president; J. M. Greene, M. D., Aberdeen, J. E. Halbert, M. D., Leota Landing, J. T. Chandler, M. D., Oxford, E. L. McGehee, M. D., Woodville, vice presidents; T. W. Fullilove, M. D., Vaiden, recording secretary; M. S. Craft, M. D., Jackson, corresponding secretary; Robert Kells, M. D. Jackson, treasurer; G. W. Trimble, M. D., Grenada, orator; J. B. Sanford, M. D., Corinth, alternate orator.

Dr. J. Y. Murry, chairman of the committee on the nomination of delegates to the American Medical association, and other state medical associations, reported the following as delegates to the American Medical association: Drs. B. F. Ward, B. F. Kittrell, E. L. McGehee, J. P. Moore, W. D. Carter, T. J. Mitchell, J. H. Blanks, C. E. Oates, W. F. Hyer, William Powell, C. A. Rice, R. M. Young, T. D. Isom, J. E. Halbert; J. M. Greene, T. R. Trotter, H. A. Gant. To Tri-State Medical association: T. J. Chandler, W. R. Blailock, Frank Ferrall, W. B. Sanford, S. N. Walker, R. E. Howard, J. M. Hicks, T. J. Crofford, F. W. Dancy, R. S. Toombs, O. J. Sherman. Alabama association: J. M. Tay- lor, B. A. Vanghan, R. E. Jones, P. J. McCormick, L. W. Mabry, W. E. Todd, F. P. Bibby.

The papers read before the meeting included: on Alcohol, by Dr. B. F. Ward; New remedies, by Dr. B. F. Kittrell; Senecio lobatus, by Dr. D. L. Phares; Retained placenta, by Dr. T. R. Trotter; Scarlet fever, by Dr. F. W. Dancy; Traumatic tetanus, by Dr. H. A. Grant; Abortive treatment of puerperal convulsions, by Dr. T. H. Gordon; Infantile convulsions, by Dr. J. P. Moore; Puerperal eclampsia, successfully treated with veratrum

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viride, with cases, by Dr. N. L. Guice; Case of perforation of the illium by worms, by Dr. T. J. Crofford; Three cases of embryotomy, by Dr. J. D. Talbert; Spinal curvature, by Dr. Chesley Daniel; Surgical cases, by Dr. W. R. Blailock, and Report on the surgery of Mississippi, by Dr. M. S. Craft. Cases were reported by Dr. T. J. Crofford, of Coffeeville, Dr. R. C. Cunningham, of Verona, Dr. George C. Phillips, of Lexington, Dr. J. M. Taylor, of Corinth, Dr. D. C. Montgomery, of Greenville, Dr. R. E. Jones, of Crystal Springs, Dr. E. L. McGehee, of Woodville, Dr. J. E. Halbert, of Leota Landing, Dr. J. M. Green, of Aberdeen, Dr. S. V. D. Hill, of Macon, Dr. R. F. Edwards, of Edwards, Dr. F. W. Dancy, of Holly Springs, Dr. W. R. Blailock, of Carthage, Dr. W. B. Sanford, of Corinth, Dr. C. R. Henderson, of Deasonville, Dr. R. M. Young, of Corinth, Dr. J. H. Blanks, of Meridian, Dr. M. S. Craft, of Jackson.

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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 41

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