The Portland daily press., 1881-09-19
WILLIAM WARREN GREENE.
Action on His Death Taken by Portland
Physicians

At meeting of the physicians and surgeons
of this city held Saturday afternoon, to take
action regarding the death of DIR. Greene, DIR.
Gilman was chosen chairman, and DIR. PEN
dleton secretary.
DR.. Gilman, on taking the chair, spoke as
follows:
Gentle,nen,-We have scarcely recovered
from the first shock which our city and the
commun ty sustained, in the announcement of
the unexpected death of our distinguished as
sociate and friend, DR.. William Warren
Greene. We were hourly expecting his re-
turn from England, whittier he had gone, as
you all know, to attend the International
Medical Congress held in the city of London
and composed Of many of the most abe and
distinguished physicians and surgeons of the
civilized world
He enjoyed uninterrupted health while
abroad, and was fully equal mentally and
physically, to take conspicuous part in the
proceedings of that ever memorable convoca-
ton.
He participated in the debates, and was al
ways listened to with profound attention and
respect and from the abundant resources of
his capacious and richly stored mind, he
doubtless contributed his full share to the
wealth of knowledge and learning which
characterized that august occasion.
We fondly cherished the hope that he
would come back to us with renewed health
and strength, and be able to gather new and
fresher laurels in his chosen field of labor.
But it was ordered otherwise by an all-wise
Providence, to whose inevitable DEGREES we
must ever bow with trust and reverent sub
mission.
To our limited visson, it seems as if our de-
ceased associate and friend was all too quickly
called away, in the very ripeness of manhood,
and full maturity of his varied gifts and pow
ers, and at PERIOD too, when, as we have
reason to believe, he was ready to coDsecrate
himself anew, and with devoted interest and
zeal, to the very arduous and responsible du-
ties of his profession.
This is not the time nor place for extended
remarks upon his character as man, or upon
the natural qualifications, both natural and
acquired, which placed him certainly among
the foremost surgeons of the age.
His reputation is secure, resting, as it does,
upon the solid basis of triumphs already
achieved in operative surgery, and which
recognized as such, we are proud to say, not
onlvi in this country, but i'll Great Britain and
on the Continent of Europe.
We are assembled this afternoon, gentle
men, to pay our tribute Of respect to the mem
DRY of very remarkable MANA genius, l
may say, whose great loss to the profession,
and to the public cannot be easily supplied
of one in whom, with a comprehensive and
commanding kintellect, fine scholarship, and
the very highest professional attachments.
were combined, in rare degree. truly generous
and noble impulses, and tender, sympathetic
heart
On motion, Drs Dana, Wood and Weeks
were appointed a committee on resolutions,
and the following draft was accepted and
adopted:
ResoEoed, By the physicians of Portland,
that in the death of DR.. William Warren
Greene, we have lost a brother of magnetic
personal attraction and distinguished presence:
man of genius, born for the profession, and
al. 1nx,a 80
gerry; one singularly gifted in the discrimina-
ton and diagnosis of disease; bold and bril-
liant, and at the same time safe and successful
operator, his boldness and success being based
upon his consumm&te anatomical knowledge;
a teacher of rare power; q surgeon of excep-
tional skill and experience.
ResolUed, That in the death of Professor
Greene the medical profession of Maine has
lost member than whom it never had a more
gifted or eminent one; whose well-earned rep
utation was not limited to his own State, or
the United States, but had travelled the oceans;
that the Medical School of Maine has lost
most gifted and accomplished professor; that
an invaluable worker has been taken from the
hospital; and that the whole community has
suffered bereavement.
Resolved, That his burial at sea, on his re-
turu voyage from London, where he had been
received with SO much honor at the grand
medical conference of the world, has, to us, a
special sadness in it; but we rejoice that, dying
in the zenith of his fame, he died. as we know
he would have chosen in the harness.
ResoE0ed, That we tender to his dear chill
dren and relatives our deepest sympathy, and
that the secretary be requested to send copy
Of these resolutions to them.
DR.. Wood afterwood introduced the follow
ing resolution:
ResolUed, That a committee OF three be APP
pointed to confer with the family and friends,
and with them to make arrangements for Me-
mortal services to be held at High street
church at as early day as is practicable.
1t was adopted, and the gentlemen compos-
ing the committee on resolutions were appoint
ed to make such arrangements.