The Portland daily press., 1870-12-02
DAILY PRESS.
Friday Morning, Dec .mbebr Q 1870.

PON1IANE

| BENJAMIN FoRDYCE BARKER. M. n
| Dr. Barker was born in Wilton Me obop,
the year 1918. His father was somewhat dis
tinguished as physician in the State. and re-.
ceived the Honorary degree of NJ. D, at Bow
doin College in 1886, think.
| Young Barker was special friend of ]. A.
Andrew, while in College. Their initials
brought them together side by side, in all
class arrangements and recitations. They
seemed to be each others model or ideal. If
Andrew was unprepared we would expect
Barker TO be so too, and rice rerSo. If one
was late why should not the other be?
| Young Barker's speciality in College was mu-
sic. Lie was the @olan harp of College. He
was the lie of the Band (Pandean) and his
instrument had fewer moments of rest or ST.
lence than perhaps any other in the Halls
Barker was known in College as a social, ijo-
vial, good-humored fellow, rather than as la
| borious and successful scholar. He was one
OF the few whose term of vigorous applica-
ton to books came after graduation.
He devoted himself to teaching music for
some time after he lef. college and was de-
servedly distinguished in that department..
de at length took to medicine by natural
htness OF mind or genius, in which profession
he has become distinguished. He visited Eu-
rope at several different times ayailng him
self of the best skill of the continent, com
manding IN turn the recognition and respect
OF The same. He seems to have spared no
| expense or time in fitting himself to take and
hold the first place in the profession.
He established himself some twenty-five
years ago in New York city, and has easily
held select practice there since. He was
Mr.. Websters special physician in the latter
part OF his life. He was also the physician of
| Washington Irving and of other celebrities in
the nation. He was for years in the Medical
College in New York city, holding the place
| with great distinction and success till compel
ed to leave it by loss of voice.
He was several years President of the New
York State Medical Society, which office he
was forced to resign for the same cause.
| DR.. Barker is acknowledged to stand at the
head OF the profession in his State, particular
| ly in his own speciality. He adheres to what
| is styled the regular practice, the old style
views of the art improved indeed by modern
ideas and discoveries.
1t may not be breach of confidence if
state his opinion of Mr.. Webster's health as
affected by his habits. have said he was
Mr.. Webster's medical counselor in the latter
| period of his life. DR.. Barker contradicts the
report that Mr.. Webster was incorporate to
the degree that had been charged upon him
He admits that he was moderate drinker
| and that in his later life he thought he re-
| quired stimulants to raise him to equal the
| great efforts Of former years. Occasionally
the effect of spirits used for this purpose was
| apparent; as the amount required to raise
him to the standard of former efforts was at
length but little short of the amount that
would carry him beyond the point of entire
| selfcontrol.
DIR. Barker assured me that this was all
| that could be said. in truth, Or the worst that
could be said, in respect to his habits in the
use of spirits. He was during life moderate
drinker, going beyond this only in the cir
| cumstances above named.
| record this not at all in vindication of the
habit in question, much less of the excess
that occasionally followed almost as natur-
| al result.) but to set the great statesman in
his true character before his countrymen.
take pleasure in making this record of the
great success of DR.. Barker in his profession
and all the more, in that it distributes distin-
guished classmates of 1887, among the differ
ent professions in each of which some have
| become eminent in name and -infneneo-
| xn