The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-09
Meeting and Action of the Medical
Profession ON the Death OF DR..

| Meeting and Action of the Medical
Profession ON the Death Of DR..
Kersey.
A meeting of the medical fraternity
of the city and vicinity, assembled at
DR.. Weist's Office Saturday last, at 2
o'clock, p M. DIR. j. f. Hibberd
acting as Chairman, and DR.. ID. H.
Dougan, Secretary.
/ The Chairman etated that the meet
ing had been called to express the
feeling of the profession in regard to
the loss it had recently sustained in
the death of an honored member, DIR.
| Vierling Kersey, whereupon DR..
Weist offered the following which
was adopted:
~ IN MEMORIAN.
II The medical profession of Rich
mOnd and vicinity, are called together
by the death Of Vierling Kersey, M.
D., one of the oldest practitioners of
medicine in Wayne county, and by
our action to testify to our reverence
for his memory and affection tor his
person.
DIR. Kersey was born in Guilford
county, North Carolina, September 3,
1909, and died in Richmond, Indiana,
June 3, 1875. His family removed to
Indiana in 1925, and settled near
Dublin. He studied medicine with
DR.. VIM Butler, of Knightstown, and
attended course OF lectures at JET
ferson Medical College, in the winter
Of 1887 8, in the latter year he COM
menced practice in knightstown,
where he married in 1889. In 1910
I - ~ ho R,,ch .onukv
In 1S41 he moved to Spiceland, Henry
i and located in Marion, Grant county.
where he remained until 1874. when
/ he came to Wayne county, locating in
business he remained until the winter
Of 1850 81, where he attended course
| of lectures in the Ohio Medical Col
the degree Of M. D. Returning to
Milton he continued in practice until
November, 1861, when he located in
Richmond. In this city, he soon OBJ,
tanned good business; this he held
until his death. In the estimation Of
his patrons and that of the community
generally, his place as physician,
neighbor and friend, was second to
none
For several years he was subjected
to attacks Of slight peritonitis. About
two years since he was dangerously
| he expressed the belief that another
attack would probably destroy his
life. During the year preceding his
death his health was extremely good.
! During the two or three weeks pre-
ceding his final sickness he suffered
occasional pain; this gave him to fully
understand that recurrence of bis
old lnalady was threatened. He con-
tinued actively at work, however, un-
til Sunday, May 30th, when he was
seized BY a violent chill that ushered
in active peritonitis. Despite the as
siduous care of relatives, friends and
physicians, the disease progressed un-
til Thursday evening, when the final
! scene was reached.
Thus died our professional brother
and friend. Died as he wished in the
midst of his work, before his useful
ness as physician was impaired by
age or disease.
In his professional life he was act
i've, enthusiastic ard unremitting in
his labor for the good of his patient.
He was entirely devoted to the study
and practice Of medicine. His pro-
fession, therefore, held no divided
place in his life. Not his intellect
| alone was delighted with the problems
of disease, his heart was moved to
pity by human suffering, and his be.
nevolence exercised for its alienation.
With the greatest frmness and de-
cision he united the tenderness of a
woman. Unsparing in his denunci-
atoms of shams and pretences of all
| kinds, with a rare penetration he dis
covered and honored true worth.
With great originality of thought he
combined caustic wit and directness
of speech that sometimes wounded
those who knew not the kindly feel
ing that lay beneath.
To the grave problems connected
with the position and destiny of man,
he gave much thought. their consid-
Grafton had for him peculiar attrac-
ton, and he was always ready to dis
cuss them with the gravity demanded
by their Importance. He was Catho-
| lie in his opinions, tolerant of differ
/ ences and universal in his charity.
, With an abiding faith in the future
he believed the best preparation for
tile unknown tomorrow to consist in
performing the duties of to-day. Car
rying into practice his belief. he kept
fresh natural buoyancy of spirit so
that he seemed to grow old only in
| body, and even when passing into the
shadow of death his serenity and phi
| losophy did not desert him.
As a neighbor and citizen he COM
manded universal respect, as in all
| the transactions of lite he was gov
erned by delicate sense of personal
honor and of the rights Of others. As
| friend he was true and unwavering,
and to those who enjoyed the honor
of his intimate friendship he disclosed
richness and delicacy OF thought
hardly suspected by others
Among the natural qualifications
necessary for the successful physician,
DR.. Kersey possessed in marked
degree a delicacy of touch and per-
ception logical mind and untiring
industry; always q careful student he
was thoroughly verse6 in the science
of medicine, and during his years of
active practice accumulated a vast
amount Of practical experience. that
rendered him especially valuable as a
| counselor in cases of obscurity and
danger.
In our various medical societies,
county, district and State, he held a
leading place, being elected President
| of the latter in 1869. Many papers
| from his pen, published in the various
medical journals of the country, attest
| his professional industry. He died
in the possession of a professional
reputation, equal to any in the State,
| and rich in the general good will.
Wherefore be it