The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-08-03
PROCFFDINGS
oFTHE
Medical Society Of Hartford County

The Medical Society of Hartford County,
pursuant to call by the President, DR..
w. Stump Forwood, held special meeting
at Churchville, July 18th, 1877, to give ex-
preston to the feelings of respect and, hon
or so long entertained, and to the profound
sorrow now occasioned the. profession in
the loss sustained by the death ofProfessor
| Nathan r. Smith.
The Society was called to order by the
| President, who said
Gentlemen: We have this day assem-
bled as members of the Medical Society of
Hartford county, to make manifest and to
| place upon record the sentiments of honor
and respect that we all entertain for, and to
| give expression to the feelings of deep sor-
| row felt for the loss we have sustained in the
death of great benefactor of the human
race, of the great leader ofthe profession in
Maryland, Professor Nathan r. Smith.
Full of years and full of honors, he has
succumbed to the immutable and the inevi-
table law of nature. His work is done and
has been "well done, and he has fully mer
| tied the title of "good and faithful servant"
in everything pertaining to his profess
sion--the relief of -human suffering
Thousands this day mourn the loss of him
through whose superior knowledge and
peculiar skill in the "healing art" they
have been rescued from untimely graves !;
and his professional brethren everywhere
for the world was his country-bow down
with sad hearts over the loss Of this great
man, whose light, 50 long their guide, is
now cXtinguished forever. The counter
ance of him, "the human face divine" that
for three score years radiatcd beams Of
hope and comfort upon the hearts of thou
sands rackcd with pain and suffering, grief
and despair is now itself no longer ilu-
mined with the light of life; but his life
record has been indelibly engraved upon
the memory of this generation and in let
tiers of gold will be preserved in the ar
chives of the Chirurgcal Art, for centuries
yet to come, the name of Nathan r.. Smith,
the great physician of this age, whose in
defatigabio labor, as legacy to the profess
sion, will be as carefully treasured in the
annals Of American Surgery, as that per-
haps of any of his many illustrious prede-
cessors.
On motion of DR.. w. w. Virdin, a COM
mttee of five were appointed to draft rcso.
buttons OF respect to the memory Of Profess
sor Smith. The President named Drs.
John Evans, w. w. Virdin, r. d. Lee, ST.
las Scarboro and w. w. Hopkins as the
committee. The above committee, through
their chairman, DR.. Virdin, reported the
following resolutions, viz:
ReSoloed: BY the Medical Society of Har-
ford County, that in the death of rofessor
Nathan r. Smith, the medical profession
has lost not merely foremost surgeon in
the State of Maryland, but one whose quail
fications and deeds entitle him to rank
among the memorable men of the times in
which we live, and whose skill has left
with his successors in practice many appli-
ances not before known for the alienation
of human suffering. United to wise OBJ.
servaton, lie possessed a sound and dis
Greet judgment and zeal in the advance.
ment of science, which commanded respect
and invited reliance on his surgical and
medical skill.
Resolocd: That his modest and urbanc
manners, his purity of life and untinching
| integrity, have won for him the esteem and
love of all who knew him, and especially
those of us who have received the benefit
of his teaching at the bedside and in the
lecture-room. We mourn his loss and have
engraved upon our hearts the model of q
| Christian gentleman.
| ReSoloed That we deeply deplore the
loss of Professor Smith, and direct that
this testimonial of our veneration for his
memory, our appreciation of his skill as a
surgeon and love for him as a man, be con.
veyed with cordial sentiments to his fami-
ly.
After the eading Of the resolutions, DR..
Virdin said:
In presenting the resolutions, Mr.. Presi-
dent, | desire to add my testimony to the
high appreciation in which the subject of
this tribute was held in the State of his
adoption, where he had lived and practiced
for over half century. His was a life
crowded with the pursuit and practice of
knowledge, for the benefit, not Of one fam
lily or one community, but for the good OF
the human race. 1t has been sagely said
that "by the pursuit of knowledge only
can we really lengthen our lives" PROBES
sor Smith was granted many years of life
which he crowded with observations and
deeds. His achievements are too well
known. to this body to need recapitulaton
here, but the great virtues with which he
crowded wide spread practice of the
surgeons art and the physicians skill were
bcnevolence, simplicity of life and direct
ness ofpurpose. My personal knowledge ex-
tends back to my youth, when as student
under his wise guidance / caught the first
inspirations which the great surgeon shed
around him. 1t has been said that an ora
tor should be selected to do honor to the
character of one so distinguished. In that
we all should concur. Although the
goodness and greatness of his character
were manifest to the passer-by in his every
day life, yet careful study of his charac-
ter would reveal facts that would shine as
beacon light to guide the future, DESTROYS
of emulating the virtue and skill of so re-
nowned a gentleman.
DR.. John Evans said:
Mr. PRESIDENT: In seconding the resolu-
tions, it is with feelings of sadness and sor-
row that /, an alumnus of the University
of Maryland, arise to say few words to
the memory of a personal friend, and con-
fessedly one of the greatest surgeons of the
age. For forty odd years have known Pro-
fessor Nathan r. Smith personally, and dur
ing that time had many opportunities OF
witnessing numerous capital operations by
him, which were executed with the great
est skill, as he was always ready and had q
happy knack in overcoming all difficulties
and obstacles in the way. had the pleas
ure of listening to his instructive lectures
in surgery and can testify to his able
manner of conveying his reasonings and
deductions clearly and consisely to the
class. His great professional requirements
and extensive practice, coupled with unu-
sual industry and great physical cndur.
ance, enabled him to accomplish much
beyond the capabilities Of ordinary men
His invention ofseveral important surgical
instruments; more particularly the "anteriol
splint" for fracture of the thigh and leg