Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-10-24
Dv. Ioha Joseph williams Is Dead

As the above simple sentence passed
on yesterday from mouth TO mouth, the
strong choked with grief, and the weak
wrung their hands and said, Good
Lord, why didst Thou take hin, he who
was the prop and stay Of his family who
was in the budding promise Of ripe and
useful manhood; who was doing so much
good by his acts aud his exAmpleT But
it is not given TO us to understand the
intricacies Of the almighty polity, and
we must bow the head, and hard asis the
task, say, Thy will, o Lord, not mine,
be done" DR.. Williams died at the age
Of forly.six years, Seventeen years
since he can6 from Someryille, in
Fayette county, TO reside near this city,
aud, FIVE years since, the story OF his abil-
tiles and goodness of character having
spread to this city, he was called here to
large and lucrative business, aud a
front position in his profession. He
was called, soon after. TO the chair Of
Physiology in the Medical Department
of the Cumberland University, located
in this city; aud his lectures were ever
listened TO with attention, interest and
instruction. Had Doctor Williams pub
lisbed his different discoveries in medi-
cine, be would have been one of the
most famous men of his time. Thirteen
or fourteen years ago he succeeded in
mastering what had before that been
considered an incurable disease; to.wit,
dyptheria, and since that time wherever
he has been called, he has saved the
little sufferers as surely as be saw them.
Within a year his practice has been also
discovered in Europe, and the London
medical journals have resounded with
praises which were rightfully
due to the noble yet modest gentleman
whose genial smile VIC are no more to
see. and whose commanding presence
we are hereafter to miss from the sick
chamber. Wherefore, o Lord Within
month we heard him remark that he
hoped to be spared through this epidemic
to write two papers-one upon the treat
ment of smallpox and the other on
cholera. He said that in fifteen years
he had not lost single case Of small
pox, and that his system of treatment
was Numerically opposed to that gen.
orally adopted, in that he used stimu.
lants freely. whilst the orthodox practice
forbid them. We are thankful that he
was spared to give us his treatment Of
cholera. On the afternoon previous to
the night on which the bolt fell that sped
him on his journey, we talked with him
an hour or more on the subject of yellow
fever. His previous success in the
treatment Of blood diseases mad led us
to hope that he might hit upon the treat
ment; find some specific. When asked
what be had found out, unknown before,
be shock his head and replied, Moth.
ing" The yellow monster had baiiled
his skill, was beyond the reach of treat
ment. II he came gently, nature would
overthrow him, assisted by palliatives;
but when he approached in his 6crcer
moods the struggle was hopeless. II
feel, said he, utterly powcrlcss when
find the fever raging at a certain in
tensity. | have no shaft in my quiver
with which to strike the enemy. Qui-
nine, brandy and cold water are the
| only remedies with which to bring down
the heat, and they fail, or, for cause, arc
not admissible. THE cause of the disease
is actively operating in the blood, and !
have an idea that we must there meet
him, end the hypodermic syringe is the
engine, il ws bat only knew with what
projectiles to charge 1t y am" he
added, " learning moro Of the various
shoals and rocks with which the yellow
fever channel is beset, and although we
too frequently get ia Haelstrom aud
perish, yet am now better pilot than
at Grst. To the young and rising mem.
bers OF his profession he was as gentle
aud thoughtful as father. II was not his
province to smi,e the forward and mista-
ken tyro, but TO patiently bear with him
until experience had taught him better.
As q Christian he was not OF those who
acknowledge the Master in passive
manner. Like the great and go1d
Stosewall jackson, beside whom he now
slaHds wearing the crown of glory, he
was not ashamed Of Jesus. He had
put on the harness of the cross, and be
boldly ppheld its banner. At
,~xSyer meeting ks did bis duty,
in fs,.>ily worship be vas ppnetssl and
exemplary. Not q spot or mark can
be found on his i,r"eord'
AS son, husband, ia:.SeT and brother
what can we say that will do justice te
this admirable man2 Nothing. WorSs
are inadequate to the task. Go ask the
aged and weeping nother, the frenHed
and distracted wife, the broken-hearted
brothers and sisters aud the stricken
orphans; their tears and anguish may
express poorly what our friend was.
Though he fell not amid the crash OF
battle, hearing the bellowings Of those
big guns which make ambition virtue
though he went sot down to the dust
leading the plumed troop, or was not
stricken whilst cheering his followers in