The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 64

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II > Part 64

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Young Norris was immediately placed at the parish school of St. Patrick's Cathedral, where he evinced a decided love of study, and where he showed great proficiency as a scholar. Having attained the age of fourteen, he entered a large drug house in the city of New York, where he became a proficient in Materia Medica, which prepared him to commence his medical studies.

In the meantime he was forming his plans for the future, and with great industry studying for the medical profession. In the winter he attended lectures at the medical school of the New York University, graduating in the spring of 1854; besides the regular diploma, he received a degree of "Honor," which-to use the language of the certificate-"was given in consideration of his having pursued a fuller course of medical studies than is usually followed by students." Not long after receiving his degree, he was appointed Examin- ing Surgeon in the United States Army, for North-western Ohio, and at once entered upon his professional duties. He

* The publishers acknowledge, with the highest gratification, the obligations they are under to a gifted and accomplished friend of the subject of the foregoing admirably written biography, for its con- tribution to the History of King County.

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Thomas PAonis ml

devoted himself to them so intensely that his health became impaired, and he was compelled to resign; after which he went to Brooklyn, the home of his wife. Not long after this she died. Her death was soon after followed by that of his mother.

He was prosperous and successful in his profession, and had attained a position so eminent, and an influence as a practitioner and as a citizen so extensive, that he was ap- pointed to superintend the Marshals in taking the United States Census for Kings county, a trust which he discharged so satisfactorily that he received the thanks of United States Superintendent Kennedy. It was during the discharge of these duties that lie first exhibited his rare statistical abili- ties, in compiling numerous tables of statistics relating to the various interests of Kings county. These were apart from the regular tables, and have often been referred to as matters of authority. Dr. Stiles, in his valuable History of Brooklyn, cmbodied many of these tables in his work. These produc- tions were published in most of the leading journals. Their merits were so thoroughly appreciated that they brought Dr. Norris prominently and favorably before the public.

To use the language of the Brooklyn Eagle, "Dr. Norris is an able and accomplished statistician. He knows all about Brooklyn, and can describe almost everything it contains; indeed, he has done so." The Eagle might have said the same of Dr. Norris in regard to the city of New York.

He was nominated by the Unionists for Coroner and elected by a large majority. In the discharge of the duties of this office he exhibited such high professional abilities, united with so much judicial acnmen, that he soon stood prominent among the coroners of the state. There were several terrible accidents within his jurisdiction, the investigation of

which required the highest abilities and learning. Among these was the explosion of the United States gunboat " Che- nango," in April, 1864, while on her trial trip, whereby thirty persons lost their lives. The investigation of this explosion before Coroner Norris, was long, close and interesting. It involved the consideration of many abstruse, scientific questions. The charge of Dr. Norris to the jury was one of the ablest and most exhaustive judicial and scientific pro- ductions on record. It was subsequently published, with the other proceedings, by Messrs. Hurd & Houghton, of New York, in book form, finding a welcome place in the best law and scientific libraries in the state and nation. The inquiry into another terrible explosion-that of a coal-oil still, led to another long and interesting investigation before Dr. Norris, as coroner, which for a long time attracted public interest.

In 1874, he was, without any previous knowledge or solici- tation on his part, nominated and elected Commissioner of Charities for Kings County to fill an unexpired term of one year ; he was afterwards elected for the full term of three years.

Dr. Norris brought to this office most admirable qualifi- cations, rendered practical and profitable by the adminis- tration of his duties as Coroner. During the time he held this office, $200,000 a year was saved to the county. Sub- sequently, he successfully engaged in an effort to improve the condition of the insane of the county. His labors in that di- rection aroused much public attention, and were highly commended by the press and the people.

In the fall of 1874, Dr. Norris was elected Superintendent of the Poor of Kings County, entering upon his duties Janu- ary 1, 1875, and discharging the duties of that office during the

F. . . TILL PhiLA.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

years 1875, '76 and '77. He took an important part in the Con- vention of the Superintendents of the Poor held at Pough- kespsie, June 8th and 9th, 1875; in that held at Saratoga, June 13th and 14th, 1876; and in that held at Binghamton, June 12th and 13th, 1877. His speech at the Convention at Poughkeepsie, on the subject of "Out-door Relief to the Poor," was highly commended. He was elected Chairman of the Convention held at Binghamton, June, 1877. The records of those conventions bear creditable evidence of Dr. Norris' ability as a parliamentarian. We have already alluded to him as a writer, to which we may add that his productions ars numerous, and are read with avidity and profit.

As Dr. Norris is comparatively a young man; his expe- risnce, his learning, his well-matured mind and the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of Brooklyn, give promise of future usefulness and distinction.

DR. GEORGE WACKERHAGEN.

DR. GEORGE WACKERHAGEN was born at Albany, N. Y., October 28th, 1845. The name of Wackerhagen consists of two German words, "Wacker," vigorous, brave ; and " ha- gsn," to hedge, or a hedge. His father was George Augustus Gerard Wackerhagen, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a nephew of Rev. Dr. Augustus Wackerhagen, a distin- guished scholar and minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The genealogy of the Wackerhagen family can be easily traced back several hundred years, forming an interesting history for the various high public official positions in church and state which its members have held. The Wackerhagen domain at one time composed a portion of what is now the city of Hanover, Germany. Dr. Wackerhagen's grandfather, Charles Wackerhagen, was engaged in diplomatic services, and later was Postmaster-General of Harborg. The doctor's great-uncle, George Wackerhagen, for whom he was named, was a distinguished character in Germany. He was born in 1778, and when 14 years of age he entered the Hanoverian Army as a cadet ; he was engaged in active service in Fland- ers for nine years ; was captured by the French in 1801 ; after hie release he entered the University of Gottingen, where he completed his studies. He afterwards entered the Anglo- German Legion which formed a part of the English army in Spain. This Legion was under the command of the celebra- ted Sir John Moore. He entered this service with the rank of Captain and was soon promoted to Major. He was a personal friend of the Duke of Wellington. At the siege of Bay- onne he commanded a battalion of German and English. During the siege, the French broke out of their works, attack- ing his position ; hut, in spite of their repeated attacks, he maintained his position until the enemy were largely re-en- forced, and Major Wackerhagen being left almost alone, and severely wounded in two places, ordered the remainder of his troops to retire, and sank senseless to the ground. The enemy, seeing their object was unattainable, retired, taking with them a few prisoners, among whom was Major Wackerhagen. After his discharge from captivity, he was promoted to the rank of Lieut .- Colonel, and his subsequent history was hon- orahle and distinguished.

When old enough, Dr. Wackerhagen entered Trinity School on the Hudson, where he obtained a thorough practical edu- cation. Early in life he had evinced a decided love for the study of medicine. On completing his classical studies he immediately commenced preparing to enter a profession for which he seemed by nature especially qualified. We find him giving his attention to the study of medicine at the early age of fifteen. While pursuing it, the rebellion

broke out, and the young student, imbued with a high spirit of patriotism, enlisted as a private in the U. S. V. S. The Rebellion had then been in progress a year. He soon became a well-drilled, brave and competent soldier. In his first en- gagement the battalion to which young Wackerhagen be- longed began to retreat, when he, by his bravery and pres- ence of mind, arrested the flight of his fellow-soldiers, restored order, and in due time they captured the breastworks from behind which the rebels were pouring a destructive fire. A number of prisoners taken by the regiment added largely to its laurels and to those of young Wackerhagen. He was then but seventeen years of age. Dr. Wackerhagen was at the siege of Port Hudson, where he was attacked by illness which incapacitated him from active duty for a time." On his recovery he was detailed as apothecary at the U. S. G. Hospital at Baton Rouge, where he continued the study of medicine with such success that upon examination he was con- sidered entirely competent for hospital steward in the regular U. S. Army, to which place he was duly appointed by the Secretary of War. In 1866, desirous of attending medical lectures, he tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and he took his first course of lectures at the University of the City of New York. He pursued his studies and attended lectures until 1869, when he graduated at the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, and entered at once upon active prac- tice in the city of Brooklyn, where he has continued down to the present time. His success was assured from the be- ginning of his medical career, and though still a young man, he has made his way to the front rank of his profession in surgery.

Dr. Wackerhagen is an able, thoughtful and vigorous writer, and has largely enriched the literature and learning of his profession with the productions of his pen.

The following are among his contributions to the New York Medical Journal, which gained for their writer much credit in and out of the profession: "Case of Posterior Angular Curvature of the Spine, with Paralysis of the Lower Extremities, complicated with Permanent Muscular Contrac- tions." This appeared in August, 1874. In October, 1874, he contributed an article on "A New Method of Applying Plaster of Paris for Fracture of the Bones of the Leg." This was his own discovery and has proved eminently successful.

Another communication, contributed by him to that jour- nal appeared in the September number, entitled, " An im- proved Method of obtaining Support for Fractured Bones of the Extremities."

In January, 1875, there appeared in the New York Medical Journal an able and thoughtful article from the pen of Dr. Wackerhagen on "Free Incisions, with Drainage-Tube, vs. Paracentesis, in the Treatment of Pyothorax." Many cases are referred to in this article which came under the doctor's own observation.

. In November, 1880, he wrote an article entitled, "A Convenient and Rapid Method of Removing Plaster of Paris, when applied in the Form of a Continuous Roller," for the same journal. In April, 1881, he read a paper before the Kings County Medical Society entitled " A Case of Plastic Surgery; Ligation of Femoral Artery for Popliteal Aneur- ism ; Re-section of the Hip-Joint." This production was bighly commended.

Space will not permit us to mention all the productions of his pen. In October, 1872, Dr. Wackerhagen invented an in- strument which has afforded much satisfaction to the medi- cal profession. This was a vaginal speculum. He is also the inventor of other appliances and instruments used in surgical operations, which have met with the unqualified approbation of the profession.

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HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Dr. Wackerhagen is a member of the Kings County Medi- cal Society; of the Brooklyn Pathological Society, and of the New York City Pathological Society. He is Consulting Sur- geon to the Southern Dispensary and Hospital, to which place he was appointed May 2, 1881. He was united by marriage to Miss Elizabeth B. Hazlett, of Brooklyn, October 25, 1875. It will be seen that Dr. Wackerhagen is a man of unwearied industry, extensive mental resources, and ardently attached to his profession, which he adorns in practice, in theory, and . with his pen.

GEORGE RYERSON FOWLER.

GEORGE RYERSON FOWLER was born in the city of New York on the twenty-fifth day of December, 1848. His father, Thomas W. Fowler, a carpenter by trade, and his mother, Sarah Jane Carman, were both horn on Long Island, their ancestors being among the earliest settlers of the island. When eight years of age his parents removed to Jamaica, L. I., where his father became a master mechanic of the Long Island Railroad. The circumstances of the parents were such as to allow their son only a public school educa- tion, of which he availed himself at the town school.

It was the early desire of the father that his son George should become versed in all technical knowledge pertaining to railroad management. With this end in view, when the boy had passed the different grades taught at the town pub- lic school at the age of thirteen, he placed him in the local office of the company by which he was himself employed to learn telegraphy, and to become familiar with the general duties of a station agent. Here he remained for upwards of a year, at the end of which time he was entered as an ap- prentice in the machine shop of the company. Long prior to this the boy had evinced a taste for anatomical study, but agreeable to his father's wishes he served a regular appren- ticeship with the company; and when "out of his time," as it was then called, at the age of eighteen, he left its employ to follow his own plans for life. About this time he made the acquaintance of Mr. Clarence Sterling, of Bridgeport, Conn., an amateur astronomer and earnest scientific worker, then engaged in a manufacturing business. He succeeded in making an arrangement with the latter gentleman whereby the knowledge previously acquired in the machine shop could be made available for the furtherance of Mr. Sterling's business, at the same time allowing him opportunities for scientific study. In this latter he found an encouraging friend in Mr. Sterling.

After a year of hard work he found himself in possession of sufficient funds, saved from his own earnings, to enable him to matriculate at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and hegin a course in medicine. In the meanwhile his parents had removed to Brooklyn, and with them he made his home during his student life.

In the late Dr. John W. Hamilton, who had served during the War of the Rebellion as an Assistant Surgeon in the United States Navy, he found a warm friend, who thoroughly appreciated the aspirations of the young student, and who encouraged him in every way.

At the close of the college season, he found himself again without funds. Here his mechanical education and knowledge of telegraphy both proved of incalculable value to him; for he was offered, and at once accepted, a position with William Pitt Phelps, a manufacturer of improved printing telegraph instruments, in the Eastern District of Brooklyn.

What with this engagement and a short period subse- quently with Mr. Sterling at Bridgeport, he managed to earn the money needed to complete his course at Bellevue,

from which institution he graduated with the degres of Doctor in Medicine, in February, 1871.

Immediately upon receiving his diploma, Dr. Fowler en tered upon the duties of his profession in the Eighteenth Ward, a comparatively new portion of the city of Brooklyn. He subsequently removed to the Twenty-first Ward. His mechanical knowledge led him into a fondness for the sur- gical portion of his profession, and ample opportunity was soon afforded him for following out his desire to devote himself as much as possible to the practice of that branch. In the year following his graduation he was appointed upon the staff of the Central Dispensary, which position he held for two years; and then only resigned on account of the dis- tance from his office to the Dispensary, and his consequent inability to do justice to the work of the institution.

In 1878, he was commissioned as one of the medical officers of the 14th Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., upon the staff of Col. James McLeer. In the same year the Brook- lyn Anatomical and Surgical Society was organized, of which society he was one of the founders. He was elected its first Secretary, and two years afterwards becams its President.

As the society grew, a journal for the publication of its scientific work was established, with the title, "Annals of the Anatomical and Surgical Society." Of this he was associate editor; and when, a year later, a wider scope was planned for the journal-it being purposed to make it an exponent of work in its special field wherever done-Dr. L. S. Pilcher and Dr. Fowler became its editors; the name of the journal being changed to the " Annals of Anatomy and Surgery."

Upon the organization of the Bushwick and East Brook- lyn Dispensary, in 1878, he was appointed its first visiting surgeon; and, upon the complete organization of its medical staff, he was chosen by the latter hody as its presiding officer. In 1880, he was elected a delegate to the American Medical Association from the Medical Society of the County of Kings; in the same year he became a permanent member of the former.

In 1882, by a unanimous vote, he was appointed by the Board of Commissioners of Charities and Correction of Kings County, Consulting Surgeon to the Kings County Hospital at Flatbush. As a part of the resolution by which this appointment was made, a clause was inserted directing a reorganization of the consulting staff, and a conversion of the same into a visiting staff, which the latter hospital lacked. The latter measure met with some opposition on the part of certain members of the consulting staff, as at first constituted, and in the following year, by a majority of one, the Board rescinded the resolution.

In 1883, he was appointed Surgeon-in-Chief to the Depart- ment of Fractures and Dislocations of St. Mary's General Hospital, Brooklyn. One-third of the general surgery of this institution was also assigned to his care. During the same year he served as one of the Board of Censors of the Medical Society of the County of Kings; and, in 1884, he was elected a delegate from the same body to the New York State Medical Society.

In 1873, he married Louise R. Wells, the youngest daughter of the late James Wells, a prominent and highly respected citizen of Norristown, Penn., and for a number of years Sheriff of Montgomery county. Of this union, four chil- dren were born : Russell S., George R., Florence G., and Royal H .; the second son dying in infancy.

He became a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church in 1872, and for several years served upon the vestry of St. Matthew's church of that denomination.

George R. Fowler M. D.

Very Sincerely yours Edmain 6. mann

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

903ª

EDWARD C. MANN, M. D.

This gentleman, who, though still young, has achieved a very enviable position in his profession, especially in the department of Psychology, is a native of Braintree, Mass., where he was born April 21, 1850. He traces his descent, in a direct line, from Richard Man, one of the original " Mayflower pilgrims " of 1620; and who lived near " Mann Hill," in Scitnate, Mass., early in 1655. Dr. Mann's grandfather, the Rev. Cyrus Mann, was, during a long and useful life, a Puritan clergyman; and was settled in the pastorate of Westminster, Mass., for a period of twenty-six years. His father, Dr. Cyrus S. Mann, is a physician of over forty years' prac- tice, sixteen of which have been spent in Brooklyn.

It may be said, with pardonable pride, of the Mann family in England that various individuals of the name were honored with the royal favor on several occasions, and in successive reigns. They filled important offices under government, and secured the public confidence by their fidelity to the trusts imposed upon them, their steady loyalty and firm attachment to civil order, in op- position to insurrection and revolution. For many years the king's private secretary was selected from this family.

Dr. Edward C. Mann, the subject of our sketch, was educated mostly under private tutors; and gained his professional education at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York city, and Long Island College Hospital, in this city, graduating from the latter as Doctor of Medicine in June, 1870. After some years of hospital practice in New York, mostly in the field of Mental and Nervous Diseases, he located in that city, pursuing his specialty with much energy and devotion.

In 1876, he commenced the preparation of a work on this subject, entitled A Manual of Psychological Medi- cine, which fully occupied all the leisure allowed him by his professional duties, until 1883, when it was issued from the press of P. Blakiston & Son, medical publishers, of Philadelphia. Believing that Psycho- logical, or Mental Medicine, should occupy a position as an authoritative science, Dr. Mann, in this work, has bent all his energies to its elaboration; and, in the opinion of such judges as Profs. Skene and Armor of this city; Prof. Da Costa, of Philadelphia; Prof. Flint, of New York, and many other eminent physicians who tendered him their congratulations on the completion of his work, he has achieved a decided success. In a letter from one of these gentlemen, which we have seen, it is said: " Your book seems to me of great value, and well calculated not only to bring deserved honor

to yourself, but also to the name of American medi- cine."

In addition to this work, Dr. Mann has contributed to various medical journals the following valuable papers, viz .: to the London Journal of Psychological Medicine and Mental Pathology, "The Brain, in Health and Disease;" "The Psychological Aspect of the Guitean Case " (1878); "Codification of the Com- mon Law as to Insanity " (1877); "State Medicine and its Relation to Intemperance and the Inebriate;" "Psychological Aspect of the Laros Case, on the trial of Allan C. Laros, at Easton, Pa., for the murder of his father by poison ; the defence being based upon the allegation of Epileptic Insanity;" "On the Treat- ment of Blindness and Deafness resulting from Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis, by the constant current of Electricity " (1881); " Intemperance and Dipsomania as related to Insanity " (1876); in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, "The Pathology and Morbid Histology of Chronic Insanity " (1877); in the Alienist and Neurologist (1882), " A Case of Multiple Abscess of the Brain, etc .; " in the Medico-Legal Journal (1883), " A Plea for Lunacy Reform; " in the Quar- terly Journal of Inebriety, " A Plea for a Medical Ju- risprudence of Inebriety to keep pace with the con- clusions of science respecting this disease" (1884); "The Pathology of Inebriety " (1883), and "Some Practical Points relating to the Treatment of Ine- briety " (1883); in the Am. Psychol. Journal, 1884, " The Psychological Aspects of the Rowell Trial;" and other papers upon Inebriety, the Nature and Effects of Opinm, the Opium Habit, on Brain-tissue Degeneration and Mental Disease as a result of over- stimulation of the brain in school-children ; and on various diseases of the centric nervous system.

Dr. Mann holds views in regard to the much mooted subject of inebriety, which are in advance of those generally accepted by the public and by the profession.

In a work recently completed, but not yet published, on Disease of Inebriety, he presents a phase new to literature, and of the greatest practical and scientific importance, viz., its medico-legal relations. A modi- fied responsibility is claimed, in this work, for those whose inebriety depends upon a neurotic constitution inherited from their ancestors ; and a careful medical examination is claimed for those who commit overt acts during the continuance of this disease, which affects the intellect, manners, temper, disposition, habits and character. Dr. Mann, as a close student of

904ª

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

mental science and inebriety, expresses himself most energetically as to the necessity for a co-operative public sentiment, as a practical aid in stemming the great and growing tide of these diseases. He insists upon the necessity of the early recognition and repres- sion of the first signs of these diseases, which threaten family deterioration.

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The civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the county of Kings and the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., from 1683 to 1884, Volume II, Part 64

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co Number of Pages: 1345

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909, ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co
Number of Pages: 1345