Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-10
The Lafc Rr. Hall.

Or. James Crowdhin Hall, whose death was
announced Monday. was born In Alexandria,
then portion OF the District OF Columbia. July
10, lsOs. His father who was OF English birth.
was snccessiul merchant In Alexandra, and
carried on considerable shipping business with
Europe. His mother was a Miss shepherd, OF
an old Virginia family. His father died when
the doctor was child, and his mother removed
10 Washington that her son might have the ad-
vantage OF Rev. Mr.. Canadians classical school
In Georgetown. This eminent teacher was
afterwards president OF Princeton College. HIS
mother about this time was married TO the Rev.
MT. Laurie, popular and eloquent Presoyte-
rtan minister OF Washington city, with whom
she lived happily until her death.
When sufficiently advanced In years and study
pr. Hall was sent 10 Jefferson College. at Cam
onsburg, Pa, where he graduated IN letters. He
then commenced the study OF medicine with
Dr. Henderson, OF Georgetown. Having read
over the usual course he attended lectures I'm
the University OF Pennsylvania where he grad
uated M. ID. Ia ls2,. He wrote his thesis for the
Nerves" After receiving his degree he was ap-
pointed one OF the physicians 10 Blockley hos
pital, Philadelphia. where he spent a year in
attentive and laborious study. Returning TO
Washington he opened an ofllce and soon ac-
Quired good practice He was an expert ana
tomist, and was on that account, when at col
lege and In the hospital at Philadelphia, chosen
by Prof. Gibson TO prepare his subjects for de-
monstratioD. He disSected the famous case or
ANtllary Aneurism. reported by Prof Gibson
and referred 10 In all works on surgery, which
shoulder that had been out OF place for six
weeks. DR.. Halls report OF the anatomical or
post mortem appearances is published In the
l4th volume or the American journal OF the
MEDICAL Sciences, PIP. l60-l62, March, 1S2S. The
doctor opened a room In the square between 9Th
and 9Th streets on Pennsylvania avenue for
teaching anatomy to medical students. This
enterprise was quite successful. and was con-
unued until he accepted chair In the medical
college.
Dr. Hall was one OF the original members OF
was one OF the first subscribing members and
stockholders OF the Franklin Fire Insurance
Company, I'm which he has been for many years
one of the directors He was a leader IN many
OF the early business enterprises IN the city. He
was an early member and one OF the directors
OF the society for the building OF the Washington
National Monument, but resigned some years
since.
DIR. Hall inherited some considerable means
but still better he possessed sound business
Judgment, and frequently made good invest
mentS, buying desirable real estate, which, when
ii advanced In value, he sold. OF late years he
dealt more I'm stocks, and made his investments
through his banker. He was for many years
one or the active members OF the Washington
Library Company. an institution founded IN
1912 and chartered two years later. To this
library he gave the valuable collection OF books
which formed the library OF the Rev. Mr.. Lsu-
Tie. which he bought from the executors OF the
eState at the appraiSement Many OF these
books are now In the Young Mems Christian
Association Library.
mind, and was never satisfied with a superticlaI
knowledge OF any subject, much less one In any
way connected with his profession. lie was,
therefore not only well informed, but learned
In medicine. lie was also a flne classical
scholar, reading the classics with ease and
pie aSure The whole range OF the sciences and
letters interested him. so that but few persons
would appear 10 better advantage, even among
these OF the highest culture. He was a man OF
fine address, and In early professional life IN
clined TO be tond OF social intercourse, and was
always welcome guest in the best society. His
sup ror education and the dlgnfied and leading
position taken by DIR. Hall led TO his election 60
the chair OF surgery In the medical department
of Columbian University, In 1880, a position
which he filled with great ability until pressure
OF private business induced him TO resign IL In
1881. He was a close and intelligent observer.
and was greatly interested from an early day I'm
the health department OF our city, and has fire.
Quently been confidential advisor OF the city
offc ais on public health matters
When the epidemic OF cholera in 1882 reached
this city DIR. Hall was In fun practice, and gen.
erously gave his services TO all who applied 1
have with him looked over his book or charges
and names OF patients at that time. For days
together he visited and prescribed for as many
as one hundred patients
DR. Hall was the physician who attended most OF
the cases recurring in that mysterious epidemic
of sickness which prevailed at the National
Hotel In 1851. Many thought IL TO be the result
OF intentional poisoning. but the doctor looked
upon IL as resulting from sewer gas. The Ma
tiOnal Hotel was at the time filled with guests.
il being the season preceding the Inauguration
of President Buchanan, when many OF the lead
ing statesmen OF the country were In the house,
SO that numerous persons from all parts OF the
country were sufferers. His views OF the causes
were given TO the board OF health. and in private
letters to leading physicians at distance.
The doctor was an extensive reader or the
best books and reviews up 10 the time OF his
death. The latest views or diseases and OF new
remedies particularly interested him. He was,
therefore. in consultations never at a loss 10
suggest efficient agents that had not been tried
| I'm the case. He was a careful and an accurate
diagnostlcian. and the thorough study he had
| made OF the brain and the nervous system made
/ him an authority on all diseases affecting them.
| In the sick room DR.. Hall wa, a model physi-
clan, possessed OF gentlemanly instincts and
| full OF sympathy, clear perceptions or what was
essential to be DONE and manner that secured
confderce and respect, and which insured the
| carrying odt OF his directions TO the letter.
From the time he retired from teaching in
college until advanced years and impaired
health admonished him TO retire from practice,
Dr. Hall was at the head OF his profession In the
city OF Washington. In his life time he had
rendered professional services TO more OF the
eminent statesmen OF our country than any
| other single physician. Hewas the regular ply
sician to all OF the Presidents from Jackson TO
Lincoln. He was also the medical adviser %
most IL not ALL OF the foreign ministers resident
| In Washington during that period. During these
years he had also an extensive consulting prac-
| tice, and even after he deemed the carei OF
patients, which he announced In published
/ card. was sought by the physicians for advice in
| critical Eases as long as he would consent TO
| out or 10 {, a them in his own room.
For many "eaTS Doctor Hall was one OF the
Trustees of the Washington City Orphan Asy.
lum. founded in 1s1s' sod one OF the charities IL
which his mother had 'aeY been one OF the mosl
Jealous and efficient mel % ne ibeS eo1 a
active interest in and has eren,s HosnitaI IOo ot
tr1butor In money TO the Chill "a oF yoe aer.
which he was one OF the boa va e0'
since its foundation. Me ,ounda
When MIR. W. w. Corcoran made ohoOa nr
tOn for the Corcoran Art Gallery, he +or wa,
Hall as one of the trustees The DoC yosar
elected president OF the board, and has dc ~
much time and brought TO the discharge OF =
dut eS OF the position mind well stored vii
taste and knowledge essential to the success OF
this noble institution. He was at the Gallery
the last time he was out OF his house.
The deceased was also member OF the Medi-
cal Society OF the District and one OF its char
tered members, and was its president from 1915
TO 1850. He was likewise one OF the original
members OF the Medical Association or the Dis
u1ct OF Columbia and OF the Pathological So
ciety OF DC, organized In 1910, and an honor
ary member or the Clinco Pathological Society
formed here In IoG5 and a member or the Amer
lean Medical Association. In these positions he
was accustomed TO take part in the discussion
OF medical subjects, but he was always averse
10 writing or publishing, and thus but few arti-
cleS from his pen have appeared In medical liter
ature. This proceeded from peculiar sensitive
ness and shrinking from public notoriety, for he
was Lot only ready but forcible and elegant
writer, as all who have had the pleasure OF a
correspondence with him will testify. AS has
already been stated, he acquired a considerable
estate, but he might have been quite wealthy
even fn these times had he collected what his