Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-03-27
From the Atlanta Ga Medical and Surgical Journal Tor
March, 1851
THE LATE JOHN NORCOM, M ID.
ny s. S. BLACKWELL M. D., OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY,
NORTH CAROLINA.


ny $. S. sArcHwELL, NJ D., OF NEW HANOVER COUNTY.
NORTH CAROLINA.
DIED, in the town of Elenton, North Carolina, on
the god of January. 1856, of pulmonary apoplexy,
JOHN NoRCoM, M D., in the fifty fifth year of his
age.
He was man of mark in the profession and in the
community. Frank. educated, and high. minded as
a man, be was skilful hight toned and accomplish
ed as physician. knew him long and we'll was
his Office pupil Then, and always afterwards, ne
honOred me with his confidence and friendship. /
am unwilling that physician OF bis character anu
a of his undisputed worth. should pass away un-
noticed.
1t is due 10 the profession, that the character and
services of our leading medical men should be made
public.
The life f The physician is one of gentleness and
devotion ministratons for the relief of suffering
humanity, rather than of show and selfish sims.-
They know but little of the properly educated ply
stefan, who charge that his great aim is money. He
must eat and drink, and love Independent subsIs
tence like other men, it is true but the cares and
anxietes and labors of such man are based on high
err motives, nober impulses than the love of man.
mon.
In tn" hour of danger, he is greeted with warm and
grateful welcome in seasons Of pesenCe, he is
hailed as the benefacor of his But when these
trying times over, how his services for
gotten and when he dies, how soon does his name
become cold in the hearts and upon the lips OF men.
Look around you in society, and who are the men
that receive The honOrs and emclun ents OF lie Noisy
political demagogues, Fictitious statesmen, visionary
TefOrmeTs cunning SPECTATORS and other pretendeTs
in the various walks of lie. These are The men who
are crowned with popular applause, and with what
the void calls success while the real benefactors Of
our race, the of science and worth, and honor,
scorning 10 degrade themselves by using unworthy
mears of advancement, are elbowed aside by these
pressing throngs of INSCRIPTIONS asprants for power
and wealth. In such a contest, and in such age
of resteSsness, and shallow pretensions, the phys-
clan OF genuine worth and merit is apt 10 live unre-
warded and to die unnoticed
But it is not our purpose 10 dwell on these things,
nor to descant on the merits of the medical profess
sion farther than to remark, that no profession is
laborious and self-sacrifcing ours, and none so
poorly rewarded in purse and public reputation.
DR.. NOrcom was born and raised in Edenton, N c.
He was educated under the watchful eye of his
father Dr. James NorcOm, an excellent scholar, and
of the most distinguished physicians of his day
John Norcom graduated with honor in the collegiate
department of the University of Pennsylvania. He
studied medicine under his father and graduated in
the medical department of the University of Balt-
more. He then practICed with bis father year or
two, deriving great advantage from his experience
He then removed 10 Washington county, and practic
ed with success He gained here rapidly upon public
favor; but he desired better field for his talents ;
and IN year or tV more removed to the town of
Washington, IN Beaufort county There he soon
waVerng attachment TO his profession, which ever
characterized him, secured him large practice, and
many trends. But his young ambition urged him to
seek still better field of exertion. He removed 10
Baltimore, under favorable circumstances, and com
menced practice. He did we'll His social and pro.
iessiOnal walks in this city, were in the front ranks
Of the profession. But severe and contagious dis
ease brought atHctlon in his family. His wife became
dissatisfied with Baltimore. His relatives and friends
IN North Carolina were strong and incessant in their
petitions to him TO return. He yielded. He gave up
all his fatterng prospects in Baltimore and returned
to the town of Washington. He soon regained the
large and profitable practice he had previously left,
and re-instated himself The leading physician 10
that whole section of country. This position he con
tnued to maintain as long as he lived. He was well
worthy Of the distinction.
His fOndness for his profession was proverbial. 1t
caused him 10 store his mind, we'll disciplined by
early training, with vast amount of professional
leaning. The doctrines of the older authors, we'll
as the views of modern writers and contemporary
practitioners familiar to him. He kept himself
well posted up in progressive medicine. With mind
thus learned and devoted he brought to the bedside
power of analysis, accuracy of examination. and
Judgment in the application of remedies, rarely
surpassed. 1t was this fine discrimination, this power
OF analysis, and OF applying remedies accordingly,
that gave to him. to every successful practitioner,
such fine success in the treatment Of disease Hence
II was, that his cOunses were so often invoked in
dltcult and complicated cases far and 1t was
on such OCCASIONS so we'll calculated try the metal
OF the physician, that DR.. Norcom was always ready
lie was, indeed, blessing to the community. Often,
when superficial minds were torturing instead of re
levng the patient by prescribing for effects and am
bIguous symptoms would he apply his critical mind
to the investigation of the case, discover the
often hidden, aid obscure, and by an appropriate
corresponding treatment, the case. and bear
away the palm OF victory. But he woud never use
1t to the injury of the attending physician rather
would he seek to bolster him up, unless his conduct
was Inioerably outrageous. Often has 1t happened
that patients, afflicted with severe and lingering
chrome disease, haN gone the rounds among regular
and irregular practitioners, sometimes remaining fol
months under the treatment of some celebrated ply
scian at the North, and at last, without relief and
In the agony of despair, have applied o Dr. Norcom
and were cured by him. But Dr. Norcom lived in
plain old North CarOliAa-too artless and honest tc
proclaim her renown in The popular bugle blasts Of
the tmesand be never stood at the corners of streets
TO publish his own deeds and hence, such trumphs
OF skill are unknown abroad
When not engaged in active practice, he a
his office porting his Understanding his cases
or in the bosom of his family nstructing his children
He had no time for light company or the frivou,
pleasures of the day. That time, which so many
give 10 such rivoities, was appropriated by him. Il
more intellectual enjoyments, and 10 nobler purposes
Ills office was never sought by oilers, politicians, OF
demagogues DR.. Norcum was not the man 10 give
counlenance to such Characters. His friends were
select anu no man enjoyed the company of his fri nds
at proper seasons with better RELISH than he did
In refined and cultivated social circles, he was a
home, and the delight of the company.
have said, that in the hour of danger hope ant
confidence settled upon him. At such times, ever
his bitter, personal enemies invoked his assistance
and he cheerfuy extended it. In difficult cases, h,
was sent for far and near, obtain his services II
consultation. His practice extensive, and ht
applied himself to it with much zeal and persever
ance.
He had an elevated sense of the duties and respon