Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-12-08
OBITUARY NOTICE.


Of regret To The memory Of those will
whom we have lived, and " hose worll
has attracted our attention. Such homage
is espccia due hen, as in The ioEow
ing hisrai.ce. Death has sci IFS seal Il
the viru and the exer;ions of long ant
successful life, passed not obscurcly, an,
in which friendship fnds nothing which
she would wish to obIii, rate or forget.
DR. DAViD KING. (whosc drccast
was recently noliced) wa, bora il. Raln
ham, Massachusetts, in the year l77f.
lie. graduated at Brown University, dur.
ing the Presidency Of MAxcY, in 1896
and pursued his Medical studies under
the direction ofthe venerable DIR. james
Thacher, of Plymouth. Ia 1899 he came
to Newport, and began the practice of
his profession.
In tn. early period of his professional
career, his attention Was drawn To the
consideration Gfthe Vaccine disease, then
first introduced into the United States.-
Regarding it as all invaluable discovery,
he proceeded, Notwithstanding the strong
opposition Unpopular prejudice, to benefit
his fellow. .citizens. BY the application OF
the newly discovered principles in his
science.* In thus early adopting the
views ofthe immortal Jenner, aud carry.
ing them out in practice, he displayed
decision and independence of mind which
strongly characterized him through life.
Having acquired the habits OF student
during his collegiate course, he vigor'
ousiy applied them to the attainment OF IL
thorough knowledge of his profession,
In this he was aided by the valuable H.
brury Of the late DR.. Senter, which came
into his possession soon after his settle.
ms mt in Newport. His mi"d was eni.
nenly practical, and endowed with those
patient powers Of cxertion which are ne
cessary 20 arrive at truth, in any science
or art. professional knowledge was
therefore such AS TO give him just claim
TO the attentions of his fellow -ciizens !;
this, added to the kindness of his heart.
his correct depsr rtment and unassuming
manners, opened to hun almost from the
first an extensive practice. The exercise
ola sound, discriminating Judgment III
his medical practice, and the study Of the
standard works in his profession, furnish
ed his mind with principles to guide hln
in the treatment of the various forms Of
disease. The possession oftbese elevated
him above the sphere of The routine practi
toner, aud gave him in cases Of difficulty
manly confidence in the resources Of
his own mind. The University at which
he was educated. evinced their high esti
nation Of his Professional character, by
comforting OH him in 1921, the honorary
degree of nj. ID.
For several years he held the appoint.
me n, of Surg, on to the detachment Of y.
S. troops stationed at Fort Wolcott. - In
1910, during the prevalence of the yellow
fever in this place, his great skill and ex-
perience was actively and successful!
called into operation, in repclling that
terrible malady. At that time it was the
part of humanity to retute the errors oi
those. who regarded that disease as inva-
riabIy, and certainly propaga'ing itself,
and as exposing those who attended upon
the sick, to almost certain death. Not
admitting the contagious character of the
disease, he attributed it to a more general
and pervuding cause, and BY his intrepid.
ty, and free personal exposure, alicstcd
his confidence in the truth of his theOreii-
cal views.
Ardcnily attached to his profession, he
was ever ready to promote all useful and
liberal plans which might contribute to
the Improvement and elevation of its cha
ractcr. lie was one of the earliest pro.
moters of The Rhode Island Medical So.
cietv, in which he succcssiyely held the
Offices of Censor, Vice.Prcsidont and
President. He was elected President in
June 1880, and cont inued in that 1iiice
until July 1894.
But his profession did not usurp all his
attention. He was always friend and
advocate of those means of public i'm
provement by which the feelings Of a
community are libera!ized. and an impulse
is given to its moral, as well as ply steal
energies. The same practical understand
ing and active energy which he devoted
TO his profession, were exhibited in the
promotion ofthc various Institutions with
which he was connected,s so that wherever
he acted, his influence was felt. in the
revival Of the Redwood Library, in 1910,
he was an active co.operator, with other
public spirited men, and he was long a
Director, and at last President Of that ln-
titution, until i'll health compelled him TO
resign that office.
II was his pride to sdvance those en-
terprises which might benefit the Town 10
which he lived aud he regarded II with