Mexico weekly ledger., 1878-12-12
DEATH OF DIR. THOMAS A.
ARNOLD.

-
1t becomes our melancholy duty to
announce the death from d~iphtheria,
at his residence in Columbia, on this,
Thursday December 5, 1878, at 10
a. m. of DIR. Thomas A. Arnold, so
well known and highly esteemed in
our community as a citizen, physician
and gentleman. His illness was quite
brief. The disease, first appearing
en- Saturday night, not quite five
days since, Notwithstanding the COM
bined efforts ofthe medical communi-
ty, progressed with resistless rapidity
in its tragic work. On yesterday
DR.. j. T. Hodgen, of st. Louis, was
telegraphed for in the hope that the
operation of tracheotomy might, if it
did not stay the disease, at least al
~leviate the painful and conyulsive
struggles for breath. He arrived this
morning-but too late. 1t was plain
to all that the hours of life were but
few, and that the mitigation of pain
was beyond the reach of human effort
Or skill. With a physical strength,
which was remarkable, he moved
about the room up to within five min
utes of his death, when he requested
all to leave the room, saying: II
want to be quiet / want to Sleep"
Hc lay down upon the bed, and in a
moment slept the sleep that knows no
waking.
Thomas Allen Arnold was the son
OF the late DR.. Matthew r. Arnold,
and brother Of Il. r. Arnold, cashier
of Mexico Exchange bank Mexico,
Mo, and was born in Boone county
in Q5ct6Ue., IsA... He was therefore
81 years of age. He graduated at
the State University of Missouri in
1867, and afterwards at the st. Louis
Medical College in 1869. He after
wards located IN st. Louis, and was
> for some time assistant physician in
; the City Hospital of that city. He
returned to Columbia in the year 1871,
and in 1872 was elected Professor of
Anatomy in the Medical Department
ofthe State University here, a position
which he filled with signal ability up
to the close of last session. In the
meantime he never ~relinquished the
practice of his profession which was
extensive and constantly increasing.
AS to his abilities as physician
and surgeon it is no tlattery to affirm
that they were of the highest. All,
who knew him, his professional breth-
rem, as well as the community gen.
orally will accord to him a rank in
, his profession possessed by few and
surpassed by none in the section in
, which he lived. Wherever a difficult
surgical operation was to be per-
formed, or a desperate case of sick
ness occurred in which the most judi
: cIous and learned counsel was need
ed, he was almast certain to be sum-
moned, and his superior Judgment
and skill called into requisition. 1t
was the performance of the difficult
operation of tracheotomy in a case
l of diphtheria about a week since, in
which it is thought he contracted the
fearful c~ontagion, which resulted i'll
his death.
OF his character probably no one
possessed a more intimate knowledge
or Just appreciation than the writer
OF this poor tribute. knowing him
, from childhood, identified with him
; as class-mate, roommate, and later
through years of unbroken friend
: ship TO q mature manhood, we can
c bear intelligent and truthful testimo-
; ny to his answering integrity, his
: uniform amiability, his unselfish gen.
crosby and goodness of heart. AL.
though of decided and clearly defined
convictions upon all subjects he made
, few, if any enemies, while he drew to
f himself hosts Of warm and devoted
friends. None met him that did not
enjoy his radiant and refreshing hui
; NOR, or feel the inspiration of his
u genial nature.
; Certainly no death has occurred in
our community more profoundly eX-
. pressive of the uncertainty of life and
the futility of all human calculation.
> Here, a strong man, a master surgeon
4 and physician, learned in the physi-
4; olgy of human frame, and in all the
remedies and treatments for disease,
but a few days ago upon u streets
in the practice of his profession, and
, buoyant with the eXuberance of young
: manhood, suddenly is stricken down
: and despite all medical efforts, passes
swiftly TO relentless death. Surely
may it be said of man that ''He
cometh forth like a flower and is cut
$ down he feeth also as a shadow and
, continueth not" Ought not this sad
dispensation of Providence to carry
Q with it a most impressive and endur-
i, ing lesson to our communicated
nnhia Herald