Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-04-01
TO INSTRUCT, TO BENEFIT.
Original gketf5es.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
LIVES OF
Distinguished Jerseymen.
BY Henry ward.
XVI.
CHARLES MCKNIGHT, M. D.

The patient, skillfnl. attentive and be-
nevolent physician, whose life is spent in
alleviating human suffering, in healing
the sick, the wounded and the bruised, is
worthy of the warmest gratitude and es-
TEEN of all who have hearts to feel, and
sense to appreciate the inestimable value
of.his too frequently UNI Iuited services.
Extraordinary gifts in the healing art,
fall to the lot Of but few. Not many have
attained the eminepce of a Rush. a Hun
ter, an Abernethy, a Cooper and a Good.
But there was one, who rose full as high
in his profession as any Of his Medical
Brethren either on this, or on the other
side of the Atlantic: and that was the
subject Of the following Sketch.
CHARLES mcknight, was born in New
Jersey, in the year 1850. la his early
youth, he was possessed of a mind that
seemed to take delight in searching into
the mysteries Of Nature, which are hid
den from the casual observer. He was
not satisfied with noticing the mere out
ward forms OF natural objects; but be en-
deavored to make himself acquainted with
their peculiar properties, their internal
structure and organization. Nature
formed him for q philosopher; and he ar.
IDENTIFY pursued the path which she had
kindly marked out for him. He was ad-
mitted a student in Princeton College, IN
1857. Here he paid strict and close at
tention to his studies, and soon gained
the reputation Of being one of the best
and most thorough scholars in that cele-
brated Institution, at which he graduated
in It'll. Being now twenty-oneyears OF
age. he determined to make choice of a
profession. AT this time, the Healing
Art in this country, was comparatively in
Tits infancy. There was bat one old fash.
Iioned round of practice; and to vary
from that in the least degree, was'deemed
downright presumption. and nefarions en-
pyricism. The rules were laid down by
doctors of the antiquated school: who
were regarded as oracles of wisdom; and
to deviate from them in the least degree
was to incur the severe displeasure of the
| whole Medical Faculty. The clear and
penetrating mind of Mcknight saw tina
great improvements might be made il
Medicine and Surgery; and he resolved
to qualify himself for the task, by every
means in his power.
He commenced the study Of medicine
with DIR. Shipper, one Of the most emin.
ent physicians in his day. His attain
ments in the Medical Science, were sur
prisingly rapid and extensive; and after
three or four years intense application tc
his favorite pursuit, he received his diplo
ma. and was admitted to practice. Hi:
reputation as a judiciods physician and
skillful surgeon soon became as extensive
as the utmost. limits Of the then British
Colonies.
During the War of the Revolution he
held the Office of Senior Surgeon to the
Army of General Washington that
time a high and important station, He
was, for several years attached to the
FLYING Hospital in the middle Depart
ment: as Surgeon-G General, an Office, which
the distinguished Dir. Rush, of Philadel
phia. had held before him. DIR. Mcknight
proved himself a most worthy successor
of one of the most eminent physicians thai
America ever produced. 70 the sick and
wounded soldiers he devoted the utmost
care, skill and solfcitude; and his prompt
ness in alternating their sufferings, and
in most instances, restoring them tc
seundness of health, was without a par
allel in the stormy days of conflict and
alarm. With frmness o ner7e and stead
mess Of purpose he applied all his pow
ers to the task of raising the wounded
the sick, and d;spiritcd, to new life as il
were; and never gave up the case of one
as hopeless, SO long as a possibility re
Emained of his convalescence.
+. When the War came to a close, he re
moved to the City of New York; where
he continued to practice with his usual
success, for a number Of years. He had
the warm friendship and implicit conf
dence of the venerable DR.. Rush, who was
proud to acknowledge him as his equal
While in New York, he delivered a course
of lectures to a large number Of medica'
students, on Anatomy and Surgery; which
have gone through many editions. Ever
at the present day, they are considered {
standard work; and are worthy of the
deepest attention Of all WAC are DESTROYS
Of excelling in the great Hygenian Art.
To say that he is worthy of being class
ed among the greatest medical reformer,
of the age, is no more than a Just, thougl
it be but q faint tribute Of praise to hi,
memory However short his career o
usefulness may have been, he accomplish
ed more in that course, than most mel
are capable Of doing, who attain to erea