Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-23
3TsY stsaE. flsIsl n. y.
THE LATE DIR. WOODWARD.
His Life and Services-SOme Of His I'm.
POrtant WOrks-The Medical and Sur.
gical History Of the Rebellion.

His Life and Services-SOne Of His Inn
pOrtant WOrks-The Medical and Sur.
gical History Of the Rebellion.
woodward Joseph Janvier), NJ. D., surgeon
q. s. A., was born in Philadelphia in 1888: died
of disease Of the brain near Philadelphia 18th of
August. 1884. He received bis academical ed
ucation at the Philadelphia central high school.
from which he received the degree of A. B. in
1850 and his A. NJ. in 1885, and was honored on
the occasion with the position of valedictorian
After receiving his first academic degree he be-
gan the study OF medicine in the office of Prof
George B. Wood. and attended lectures at the
same time In the University Of PENNSYLVANIA,
from which he received the degree OF N. %. in
1858. His graduating thesis was on the anti
septic properties of chloride of zinc. He at once
began the practice Of his profession in his native
city. DR.. Woodward formed class for instruc-
tion in the use of the microscope and the study
of pathological anatomy and the examination of
students preparatory to their final examination
by the faculty for their medical degree.
His practice was growing, and he was becom-
ing favoraby known as teacher and practi-
toner. when the war between the states broke
out He at once rendered his services to the
government and was commissioned assistant
surgeon 5th August, 1861, and served for
time in the peninsula of Virginia. He
was assigned to duty in the surgeon gen.
erals office 10Th May, 1862. and continued in
this position until his illness and death. He
was curator OF the Army Medical museum, which
grew up under his Immediate supervision.
Dr. Woodward was advanced to the rank Of
captain and assistant surgeon 2Sth July. 1866.
and promoted to the rank of major and surgeon
26th June, 1876. He received commissions
OF brevet captain and lieutenant colonel
for faithful and meritorious services dur
ing the war; To DR.. j. j. Woodward
and the late DR.. Geo. A. Otis. U. s.
A. was entrusted the editing of the Medical
and Surgical History of the Rebellion. The
medical profession Of the country know and
appreciate how ably this work was accomplished.
His classification. naming and describing the
many pathological specimens in the Army Med
ical museum was of itself a vast work. and one
which will be an enduring monument to mis-
genius industry and accurate knowledge of the
subject. 1t is true that in the surgical part Of
this he was ably seconded by his ACCOMPLISHED
associate DR.. Otis.
DR.. woodward was a yolumiuOus writer in
various departments of medicine and of the COL
lateral sciences A simple enumeration BY title
OF his papers would I'LL several columns Of this
Journal HIS contributions were welcomed by
every medical and scientific periodical and
they adorn the pages Of many of them. His
work was always we'll and conscientiOusly
done He had true love for scientific investi-
CATION His mind was analytical and demanded
evidence. which he weighed in most searching
work which he taxed severely and to which
may be ascribed as clearly as in any case I ever
knew his failure ofhealth and premature death In
1919 his health underwent something of strain
and far some six OF eight months he suffered
from series Of painful phlegmnous boils but a
little rest restored him to his usual good health.
BREAKDOWN FROM ovERwoRK
In 1879 the doctor from overwork impaired
his digestion, and for time he suffered ex-
tremely from insomnia, but trip to the noun
tans OF Switzerland and rest for some six or
eight months apparently restored him again to
full health. The completion and character of
the worK done on his last volume shows no per-
ceptible Impairment of his vigor or powers In
the winter Of 1880 his horse fell with him in
Pennsylvania avenue and fractured his leg. This
confined him to his room for some time but he
apparently fully recovered from this
The range of studies i'm which Dr. Woodward
was proficient and master We're numerous With
the microscope he was an authority of wide and
general recognition by those most competent to
Judge. His writings and opinions have a high
value with the profession. In point of magni-
tude the Medical History of the Rebellion" is.
perhaps. the most colossal professional
work ever published in the United States
Upon this and his work upon Typho-Malarial
Fever, and his Photographic. micrOscOpcal work
will probably rest his fame as a medical man
anu oCitulIst DIS literary WOTk not ONLY called
Tor a familiarity with Latin and Greek but with
the French, German, Spanish and Italian Ian
guages, all OF which he was able to read and
translate with ease His proficiency in Ian
guages he acquired while engaged on his other
work, and his last volume of the medical his
tory OF the rebellion Is particularly rich in
classical ausion. comparison of texts. and quo
tations from original authors. DR.. Woodward
early Identified himself with medical OrganiZa-
lions, and was an earnest supporter OF high
standard Of medical education, professional
worth, and medical ethics He was q member
of the Philadelphia County Medical society, and
OF the college of physicians and surgeons of
fhiladelphla. He was a member of the
central international medical congress, which
met in Philadelphia in 1876, and read an
aD!e paper opening the discussion in the section
OF practical medicine ON fever. He became a
member OF the American Medical Association in
1870. attended its meetings in 1866 81 49, TO
ID 4-75, (when he was chosen one of the
vice presidents) 1876 TITS and 70. In 1881 at
the meeting in Richmond, Va, although not
present, he was chosen president of the associa-
ton. Shortly after this his health broke down
and ne, with his devoted wife started on trip to
Europe in hopes of benefiting him. On the 31st
OF January, 1882. just before leaving, Dr. Wood
ward wrote touchingly kind letter to the as
soclatl0n informing them of his impaired health
and his purpose to travel. and the regret he felt
In not being able to be present at the meeting
III ~ raul. This letter was read to the meet
ing, and may be seen in full on the third page of
the volume of transactions for 1882
His trip abroad, although protracted, did not
stay his disease, but on the contrary it pro-
crossed unfavorably, and he returned home in
the spring OF 1883 in worse condition than
when ne left. After some months treatment in
MS own house he was taken to an institution
near Philadelphia. which was under the charge
OF personal friend and an accomplished phy-
siclan, where he received every attention which
friendship and the best medical skill could COM
mand, but without Improvement.
HIS CAREER IN WASHINGTON.
DR.. Woodward was elected an honorary mem.
Der of the medical society of the District of
Columbia in 1874, and occasionally read papers
before it. He was a member of the Philosophi-
cal society OF Washington, and its president in
1881. He was one of the original members of
the National Academy of Sciences. and an &C.
tive and valuable worker in its ranks. 1t was
characteristic of the doctor that he ALWAYS en-
gagged in his scientific studies with zeal and en-
thusiasln, never saving himself labor or taking
facts at second hand which he could verify by
experiment or examination. He thus by
his temperament and his love OF trne
science kept himself in strain all
the time. He was fine cOnversationalist
and popular in society, but late years became
SO engrossed in his work as to give but little of
ms time to mere social intercourse He was
also good debater, possessed fine flow of
language and presented his points in logical Sc
quence and with convincing clearness and force
Although Dr. Woodward is chiefly known ont
side OF his near acquaintance by his writings
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