Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-07-31
Philadelphia Times.

Second only to the interest. with which
the wounded President is regarded is that
which surrounds the surgeon whose skilful
hand has twice brought relief when unfavor
able symptoms appeared to be gaining the
upper hand When DIR. Bliss handed the
knife to DIR. d. Hayes Agnew and invited
him to perform the operation of Sunday, he
drew to him the eyes of the country. The
act was entirely complimentary in character
but it has been recognized as peculiarly ap-
propriate by professional men and it has
drawn public attention more strongly than
ever to the honorable career which called
for such recognition. Philadelphia med
ical men are especially pleased, since there
is no member of their fraternity more high
ly respected or generally popular than its
recipient. For forty years DIR. Agnew has
made this city the scene of his labors
Contending with great difficulties at
first, he won step by step name for broad
| and accurate knowledge, consummate skill,
cool Judgment, steady nerve and humane
impulses which has kept improving year
after year. DR.. Agnew has not contributed
any great discovery to science; he has not
been the author of any remarkable invention,
and no great operation so far stands insep-
arably connected with his name; but his
writings, wherein the results of his wide
rea ding and varied experience are combined
! are regarded as high authority. Besides
this, he bears a high reputation as lectur-
er, and is accounted one Of the most rapid,
efficient, accurate operators and one of the
keenest and most reliable consulting sur
| geons in the country.
DR.. Agnew was the son of a physician
who had considerable local reputation in
Lancaster County, where he was born in
1918. The foundation of his education was
laid at the Moscow Academy, Chester Coun-
ty, which at that time, under the charge of
Rev Francis Latta, was very fourishing
seminary. He next proceeded to Jefferson
College, Cannonsburg, Pa, and completed
his course at Newark College, Delaware,
where relative, Rev John Holmes Agnew,
was professor of languages. Having de-
termined to adopt medicine as profession
| he entered the University of Pennsylvania,
whence he graduated in 1888, retired to the
| country, where, without relaxing
his studies, he endeavored to ac-
| quire a practice. His success in this re-
spect, however, was not equal to his hopes,
| and after a couple Of years he came to
Philadelphia to open up a career for him
self He was at this time laboring under
considerable difficulties; he was without
| friends or infuence-in short, he had moth
| ing to look to for success save his own
ability and industry and the fund of infor-
| nation with which he had taken care to be
| supplied. One Of his strongest points has
always been his perfect familiarity with the
human structure. 1t was this that gained
him his first decided step in his profession,
and this even to-day is one of the qualities
| that lead success in the track of his scalpel.
Shortly after he came here he began a
course of lectures at the Philadelphia
School of Anatomy, on College avenue. He
maintained his connection with this institll-
ton until about 1862 and the result of his
work is best summarized III the fact that
his last class numbered 265 members.
Shortly after his resignation the institution
ceased to be- " He was the SCHOOL, said a
fellow surgeon, speaking of his connection
with it. ''He made it and it made him. If
he did not found it he was the first that
brought it into prominence, and, on the
other hand, it did a great deal for his fame.
He very soon came to be well known and
highly thought of through his lectures and
when he left the place it was practically
dead"