A History of the Medical Class of '77, University of Pennsylvania, Part 3

Author: James Meschter Anders
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Buchanan
Number of Pages: 115


USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A History of the Medical Class of '77, University of Pennsylvania > Part 3


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some extent the degree of confidence which he enjoys at the hands of his fellow citizens, as well as his extended reputation, especially as a surgeon, it is only needful to note among the numerous respon- sible positions to which he has been called, the fol- lowing : physician to the St. Francis Hospital, Peoria ; chief surgeon to the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railway Company, with a corps of sixteen assistants, and division surgeon for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railway Company. It might be argued perhaps that the great fertility of soil in the State of Illinois forms a condition highly favorable to the development of a noted surgeon. But in this instance the more reasonable explanation is to be found in the fact that our fellow's natural bent has been toward self-improvement, and also that he formed good habits at college, by close association with some of his classmates. After all the arrange- ments had been made he was duly married June 17, 1879, to Miss Nellie Frye, daughter of Dr. J. C. Frye, and to-day he is the proud father of an heir and an heiress.


QUINTIUS C. FARQUHAR, M. D., a faithful rural member, born April 28, 1852, in the old homestead of his father, who was a farmer in Washington County, Pa., where surrounded by tragic, rustic scenes, he came to his majority. When sixteen years of age, he was sent to the State Normal School at California, same county, during the fall months, while he taught school during the winter season. Five years previous to his graduation as a doctoribus, he began the study of medicine, attending medical


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lectures for two sessions. Additionally, he pursued a post-graduate course of study in 1885. April 12. 1877, or thirty-one days after obtaining his diploma, he located as a general practitioner at Centreville, Pa., a village situated midway between Washington and Uniontown, on the National road. Here the beautiful picture formed by his sign, still attracts the attention, and excites the admiration of passers- by, and here, too, he has followed his profession until the present, to the entire satisfaction of his numerous patients, as well as his own. While his contri- butions to medical literature have been "few and far between," he has been an active member of the Washington County Medical Society ever since he was eligible to membership. During the first year of his practice he was called upon to operate for "impacted strangulated hernia," which he did suc- cessfully.


The strongest and most suggestive peculiarity of the case was the fact that his patient was a hermaphrodite, while the impaction consisted of cherry seeds. September 13, 1877, was made the occasion of a matrimonial venture on the part of our friend Quintius and Miss Belle M. Robinson, of Scenery Hill, Pa., which union was blessed with two nice boys.


HENRY C. FITHIAN, M. D., a valiant member, was bred and born in Bridgeton, Cumberland County, N. J., and educated at the West Jersey Academy. He was a three-session student, having additionally read medicine for two years previous to attendance at lectures. He was not specially favored, numerically


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speaking, in the way of preceptors, since he had but three, namely, Professors Smith, Rodgers and Leidy. During his second term he was quizzed by the latter gentleman, and now he would add fresh lustre to the doubtful eminence of Professor Leidy by terming him the best quizzer he ever knew, as well as the prince of story-tellers. At Scotch Plains, Union County, N. J., he pursued general medical and surgical practice for four years, when he went to Port Norris, Cumberland County, same State, con- tinuing here in the same arduous vocation, with good success. He is now one of the coroners of Cumber- land County, N. J .; also holds the conspicuous post of surgeon to the C. & M. R. R. R. Owing to his domestic unfamiliarity of the railway routes of the New Spain, the writer is unable to state more fully the signification of the foregoing abbreviation, but that the portion R. R. R. means Radway's Ready Relief is perhaps a fair conjecture. He has in the past shown considerable fondness for the operative branch of medicine, having amputated through the thighs as well as the legs. On February 23, 1880, Dr. Fithian was married in New York City to Miss Lillie Ritchie. The union, so far as heard from, has been without issue. During his college days our friend was exceedingly popular among his fellow- students, as he eminently deserved to be.


JOSEPH M. Fox, M. D., a friendly member, was born in Chester County, Pa., but his life, up to the date at which he registered in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, had been chiefly spent in Bucks County, same State, from


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which latter county have sprung within the past halt century not a few men of unquestioned eminence in the medical and legal professions. Dr. Fox, prior to his becoming a medical student, had been a pupil in the Department of Arts, University of Pennsylvania, but left during the last term of his senior year. He was a student in the Medical Department for three sessions. It is and has been his aim to become a surgeon. Thus, among the leading operations he has performed, the following seem to me to be worthy of special mention : cut for stone, Bigelow's operation for same trouble-in both cases success- fully. Last August performed laparotomy for rup- ture of bladder into peritoneal cavity. The latter operation was the first of its kind in this city, and the third in this country. Under these circumstances, so long as mere results continue to be regarded as being of subsidiary importance to methods, Dr. Fox is unquestionably entitled to the highest praise for hav- ing undertaken so difficult an operation as the above named, without a precedent in Philadelphia. If one would become a successful surgeon it is essentially important that he possess, primarily, a thorough knowledge of physic, since both the latter depart- ment and surgery are based, in their last analysis, on the same fundamental principles. Dr. Fox, before entering upon the field of surgery, received the proper preliminary training while resident physician at the Pennsylvania Hospital, where he served from September, 1878, to February, 1880. He is a fellow of the College of Physicians and a member of the Philadelphia County Medieal Society; also a mem- ber of the Society of Orthodox Friends. He is un-


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married, not having been prompted as yet to take that step.


HENRY F. FORMAD, B. M., M. D., an illustrious member, born March 10, 1847, in Scheleznowodsk, Province of Caukasus, Russia, and although of Rus- sion extraction, strange as it may appear, he has de- clared himself to be neither a Russian, nor a Ger- man, nor yet a Frenchman, but a true American. His early school years were spent in Simpheropol, Kremea, Russia, but his academic education was completed in Berlin, Germany, and Jassy, Rouma- nia, in 1863. He early began the study of the natu- ral sciences, in Heidelberg, in Germany, and Bu- charest, Rou., receiving the degree of B. M. in 1869. Subsequently he studied medicine, paying special attention to microscopy, in Heidelberg and Berlin, for a period of three years. In May, 1874, this young man of science first set foot on American soil. In the fall of 1875, he entered the Medical Depart- ment of the University of Pennsylvania, and at the end of his second year, was graduated. Since then he attended on three summer courses in pathology in Europe (Berlin, Strasburg and Wurzburg). In- deed, from the time of his graduation to the present, as a flower reaches out after the sunlight, so he has been reaching for all things pathological ; and flower- like he suddenly burst into full bloom. He has made researches along various lines in pathology, histol- ogy and medical jurisprudence, and some of the re- sults of his labors have been published in diversified ·periodicals. Uncle Sam, having recognized his genius as a discoverer of scientific truths, appointed


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him in conjunction with Prof. H. C. Wood to the task of investigating diphtheria, and to facilitate this work expeditions to the West were made in 1880 and 1881. The results accomplished were published in " Reports of the . National Board of Health," in 1883, and are now familiar to the medical world. Immediately after graduation he was appointed de- monstrator of pathology at the University of Pennsyl- vania, and lecturer in experimental pathology, in 1879. From 1883 to 1886 he was Mütter lecturer, College of Physicians, Philadelphia.


With Dr. S. Weir Mitchell he gave two years to an experimental study of the venom of serpents, the results of which were published in 1877. Since 1884 he has been physician to the coroner, a position for which his ability as a pathologist, and the ease and accuracy with which he detects the post-mortem evi- dences of criminal malpractice, eminently fit him. He is an active and influential member of all medi- cal and other scientific societies worthy of note.


As a surgeon he certainly has no peer among his class, haying performed successfully not less than five thousand capital operations, all on dead subjects. As long ago as 1872, as a result of friendship which ripened into a devoted attachment, a happy union was consummated. The issue has been a lovely girl, who is now fourteen years of age.


Dr. Formad has proved his title to the claim of "favorite" of the class of '77, while his fame as a pathologist is permanently fixed. He is on intimate terms with all the leading pathologists at home and abroad, particularly with the noted bacteriologist, Koch. His clear and able teaching of the science of


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pathology, as well as his kindly nature are appa- rently fully appreciated by the medical classes of the University. In short, by his geniality and simple cordial manners, he wins students, whom he also moves to an eager search after pathological truths.


THOMAS H. FENTON, M. D., a polished member, the place of whose nativity was Philadelphia, of which city he has also been a lifelong resident, and the date of whose birth, May 28, 1856. He was carefully educated at the Protestant Episcopal Academy, Philadelphia. In 1874 he became a stu- dent in the Jefferson Medical College, where he con- tinued as an appreciative listener during the next two winter sessions. In the autumn of 1876 he united with the present class in the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in June, 1877. Soon after he was made resident physician in the Protestant Episcopal and Wills' Eye Hospital of Philadelphia, respectively. Later he entered upon the practice of his profession, prosecuting with ardor and energy the study of the eye and its diseases, a specialty in which he has already attained a position of considerable prominence. In assuming this course it is to be hoped that he has not had an eye solely to his own pecuniary advantage. He has been con- nected with the following institutions in the capaci- ties below mentioned : Clinical assistant to Wills' Eye Hospital, attending surgeon and member of the Board of Trustees, Charity Hospital, Philadelphia ophthalmic surgeon, House of Good Shepherd. Among the numerous societies in which he has been elected to membership, are : Medical Society of the


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State of Pennsylvania, American Medical Associa- tion, Philadelphia County Medical Society, College of Physicians, and American Public Health Association. In 1886 he wedded Miss Remak, daughter of the late Gustavus Remak, Esq., one of Philadelphia's lead- ing lawyers, and for some time one of the Park Commissioners of this city. Dr. Fenton easily deserves the honor of being placed in the front rank, since he is not only able and versatile, but is, per- haps, the best graced representative of his class.


ISAAC C. GABLE, M. D., a delectable member, had his origin at Windsor, York County, Pa., June 26, 1849, where he was also tenderly raised. His intel- lectual food was obtained in public schools at Wind- sor and the State Normal School at Millersville, Pa. He had read medical literature for eighteen months prior to enrolling his name in the University, where he regularly attended during two full courses of lectures, besides taking the so-called spring and fall courses for the same period. During the spring and summer of 1878 he devoted himself to a post- graduate practical course. From his Alma Mater he went to York City, Pa., brimful of enthusiasm, and began the practice of his profession with almost immediate phenomenal success. He is a member of the York County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania, and American Medical Association. He is one of the attending physicians to the York City Hospital, which institution through his efforts has become quite famous. Though he considers himself to be noth- ing more than a family physician, he has attained


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considerable repute as a surgeon. Thus, among the really numerous operations he has performed we should mention here, disarticulation of a young man's arm from the shoulder joint, Erichsen's operation for cirsoid aneurism, size of a hen's egg, a double thigh amputation for elephantiasis. The patient on whom the latter operation was done, of course speedily departed this life, not, however, on account of lack of skill on the part of the operator. He also did another operation of great rarity, namely, removed rhinolith from the anterior nares, size fully that of a large almond. His patient after being relieved, promptly retaliated the doctor's kind act by knocking him out " in the first round," the tell- ing blow taking effect near the right mammary region. The doctor found it necessary to send for the city police. The record of this surgeon would be incomplete if the extirpation of an eye for glioma were not mentioned. Relative to his individual peculiarities, the writer can speak from personal knowledge, having had the good fortune to room with him during one session. To say that he is uniformly courteous, as well as kind, is unexag- gerated truth. He is practically free from bad habits, and adding to these qualities collectively, his sound, practical knowledge of disease, we have the foundation of the noble and successful career he has made for himself in a single decade.


ISODORE GALLANT, M. D., a brave member, who came to the University of Pennsylvania from Char- lottetown, Prince Edward Island. From one of his own countrymen, who is a member of our class, the


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writer has received reasonable assurance that Dr. Gallant is practicing at Cardigan Bridge, P. E. I., and is enjoying a fair share of the patronage of the community in which he resides. Further than this no facts pertaining to his career were ob- tainable.


MILTON U. GERHARD, A. M., M. D., a well-in- formed member, whose undivided attention since he became a member of the medical profession has been bestowed upon that exceedingly interesting and not less important subject, the care of the insane. While on the one hand it is true that the work in which he has been engaged is "slavish, unselfish and unthankful," on the other it is equally true, that no · other field of labor would afford equally favorable opportunities to exhibit one of the highest and noblest attributes of the mind, true humanity. May the predominating disposition of his heart, until the end of his days, continue to be a desire to relieve the unfortunate conditions of our insane. He was born April 10, 1851, near Buckville, Bucks County, Pa., and in 1859 his parents moved to Lancaster city, Pa., where he was sent to the public schools until prepared to enter Franklin and Marshall College, from which latter institution, he was graduated in 1871. He then taught school for four years, during which time, under the supervision of his brother and the late Dr. John L. Atlee, he was reading medicine. He entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, and after hearing two courses of · lectures was graduated. Soon after this notable event he was appointed assistant physician in the


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State Lunatic Asylum at Harrisburg, as a substitute for his brother, in which capacity he served about nine months. Shortly afterward he was made assist- ant physician to the Private Insane Asylum at Can- andaigua, New York, where he ministered four years, when failing health from overwork compelled him to resign. During the past four years he has been the assistant physician in the State Lunatic Asylum at Harrisburg. The fact that his health for the greater portion of the last decade, has not been good, will be learned with many regrets. Now since this impairment of his constitution, is probably due to the painful character of his work, and close con- finement, the writer with the approval of his fellows would suggest horse-back riding as a remedy.


ELLWOOD S. GLONINGER, M. D., a fine-looking member, and by virtue of his birth, an event which occurred November 9, 1854, a Philadelphian, the son of Dr. D. S. Gloninger, a prominent general practi- tioner of this city. He was educated first in the public grammar schools of Philadelphia, and after- wards in several well-known private schools. For two years before entering the University of Penn- sylvania as a student, where his medical instruction continued during three courses of lectures, he had been reading selected works pertaining to the heal- ing art. In 1884 he received from Lafayette Col- lege the honorary degree of A. M., attended lectures and received practical training in special branches at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y., for one year after he was graduated at the University, though during a portion of the same year he prac-


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ticed general medicine in the same city. During the years 1878, 1879 and 1880, he assumed the prac- tice of the late Dr. J. G. Murphy of Philadelphia. In 1884, the authorities of Girard College honored themselves by appointing Dr. Gloninger resident physician of that institution, which stands without a rival for the scope and character of its charity and beneficence. Not long after he gave up this posi- tion he resumed general practice in the office of his father, and at the same time made the treatment of affections of the eye, a special object of his skill. At present he is visiting physician at the Northern Home. One of his strong characteristics is his extreme modesty ; hence it seems to me to be in- cumbent to state here that his excellent traits of character and high attainments will, in the near future, win him fresh laurels.


WILLIAM E. GREGORY, M. D., a legislative mem- ber, born October 4, 1853, at Keesgeville, Monroe County, Pa. Reared away from temptation and evil of every sort, he beguiled the days of his youth with work on his father's farm. Later he became one of the most widely known schoolmasters of his native county, having taught in the common schools for nine consecutive terms. His own pre- liminary training was received at Carbon Academy, Lehighton, Carbon County, and at Keystone State Normal School at Kutztown, Pa. He had been a great reader of medical books for three years, when he entered college, where he remained during three sessions. Ever since graduation he has resided in Scioto, Monroe County, Pa., pursuing general prac-


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tice and enjoying great blessings, the natural result of perfect health.


In November, 1884, he was elected a member of the House of Representatives at Harrisburg, for two years, at the expiration of which term the pop- ular approval of his efforts during the same period was demonstrated by the fact that in November, 1886, he was returned to that active legislative body, where he is now serving his second term. Dr. Gregory is also a representative of the married ele- ment of his class, and in order to show that he has no aversion to having a family, it is only necessary to point out that he already has three children.


DANIEL S. GROSSMAN, M. D., a prudent mem- ber, born and bred at Marion, Franklin County, Pa. He was educated at the Millersville State Normal School, Pa., where he was duly made the happy re- cipient of the title Bachelor of Elements. A por- tion of his early life he consecrated to one of the noblest of callings, and one which seemingly has been in harmony with the inclinations of a majority of the members of his class, viz : teaching school. Before attending upon lectures, which he did for one preliminary and two winter sessions, he was an ardent reader and assimilator of medical treatises, for the period of one year. After leaving college he prac- ticed for two years at Milledgeville, Ill., after which, he moved to Minburn, Iowa. From the fact that he is still following his profession here, it may be safely inferred that he has been greatly pleased with his reception and prosperity up to the present moment. He has been made school director for several years,


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and is a private member of the Iowa State Medical Society.


" My health is delicate," he tells us, which sad bit of news cannot but call forth the unanimous commiseration of his fellow-graduates. He mar- ried Sue E. Zern, of Reading, September 10, 1879, and although the twain have since resorted to a new climate, they are without issue.


FRED. W. HARRIS, M. D., a pacific member, born in New York City, July 22, 1856. When he was four years of age his parents removed to San Francisco, Cal. Here, in the grammar and high schools he was educated. At the age of seventeen years he began the study of medicine at what was then known as the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of the Pacific, now known as the Cooper Medical College, from which he was graduated at the age of twenty years. Immediately thereafter he came to Philadelphia, joining the University class of '77. Soon after graduation with the present class, he returned to California and entered upon general practice, in Merced Co., continuing for about two years, making a success of it from the start. He then removed to San Francisco, where he has been actively engaged as a practitioner ever since, and while he has never affiliated with any of the local medical societies, has endeavored to the utmost to live up to the spirit of the code of the American Medical Association. Contrary to the last and em- phatic charge to this class by the valedictorian, Prot. Leidy, viz; to keep out of politics, he has seen fit to take an active part in the political movements of his


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own stalwart party, and this may in some measure account for the dyspepsia, from which he suffered in the past. It is noted with pleasure, however, that during the past year his condition has been greatly improved, and this is owing probably to the change of administration, though he ascribes it to the fact that he has during that period abstained from the excessive use of tobacco. It is equally pleasing to note that as a result of his noble efforts as a practic- ing physician, he has become quite a medical Cro- sus. In 1881, he married Miss Tallula Peck, of Merced Co., Cal., but the union has not been blessed with issue.


HERMAN HAUPT, JR., M. D., an honorable mem- ber, was born in Philadelphia, May 7th, 1852, in which city he resided during the greater portion of his life. His mental culture was received in the school of Henry D. Gregory, Esq., and at Cambridge, Mass. For a number of years he was a hard student of chemistry, while engaged as a manufacturing chemist with French, Richards & Co. In 1873, he took the degree of graduate in pharmacy. After devoting one year to the perusal of medical subjects, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he was graduated at the end of his third session. Immediately prior to the commencement of his medical studies, he was for a time assistant chemist and metallurgist in the University of Pennsylvania. He was fortunate in enjoying the benefit of the pre- ceptorate of Prof. Harrison Allen. He has a pro- nounced artistic faculty, and the writer clearly remembers his beautiful drawings on the board


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during the Spring course in the Auxiliary Depart- ment. Indeed he ranked as " special artist in crayon." In June, 1877, the degree of Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him by the provost of the University of Pennsylvania.


After graduation he pursued the practice of medicine, making a specialty of physiological re- search for three years, and during a portion of the latter period, was demonstrator of physiology in the Women's Medical College in Philadelphia. He now left the medical profession, at the same time removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he has been devoting his sole attention to the patent laws. Whether this step was a violation of the statutes, in a land of ice palaces and tornadoes, is a question the writer will leave with the compassionate judgment of his fellow-members, giving them the advantage of the additional light that while he was practicing medicine no patient died under his care. While at college he was a ready and close student, more particularly of nature's works; and afterwards entered upon his course as a physician, abundantly qualified.




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