Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-30

VIM. VI. Smith secretary, l)r. PoWeii III the
absence OF DR. Brown, the chairman OF the
Committee on Resolutions, submitted the
following which were unanimously endorsed
Whereas, 1t hath pleased Almighty Cod in his
infinite wisdom 10 call hence esteemed friend
aud h0norcd associate, and W hist We mummy DOW
10 the Divine will We cannot but mourn his loss
Rcxoiced That tue death of nr. NJ. N. Lewis. al
the period of his greatest usefulness, has brought
gloom and sorrow to this society.
Rcsolred That this sad event is Ali irrcmediable
loss, only To this society, but to the profession
At large, and TO the community amongst whom he
!aborrd and who have learned to admire the high
intellectual character and esteem as beyond price
the professional attainments of our friend; that
his uniform kindness and courtesy endeared him
To his professional brethren that bis skill and
ability in conending against sickness, disease and
death. together with his great surgical acquire
n',Its render his death loss to this people which
can never be over estimated.
Resoirsd That By this dispcpsaton our society
hiss lost its most valued member and brightest
ornament, whom it delighted to honor and whose
absence from lis deliberations will be long re-
! ulcIubcrrd with alrctionatc regret
Rtsolred. That this society tenders to The be-
rc:vcd wife and snrruwing friends their heartfelt
,ylniathy in this hour of gloom.
Re<oir,d That these resolutions he published IN
lii. 'laily press.
DIR. BEDFORD Brown,
DI. r. G. POWELL, fCumn!ttee
| DIR. w VI. M. SMITH. J
After the reading Of the resolutions, DR..
r. G. Powell read the following sketch
Of The lie of DR.. Lewis:
Mr.. President 1t is a trite saying that "a
dead mau's place is quickly filed but
death has lately made a vacancy in this
community which our day and generation
will never see completely filled. Society
has lost a gentleman, our profession an or
| nd bn
take him all in all we shall not look upon his
like again. In speaking Of him, who to me
was guide, counsellor and friend, my heart
| is too full for the use of highly polished
phrases or carefully rounded sentences; III
only speak right Oh" and briefly tell you OF
the noble life so lately ended
| DR.. NJ NJ Lewis was born in Jefferson
county, Virginia, on the Sth of February,
| 1924: his academical studies were finished
at the school of Benjamin Hallowell,
80 widely and favorably known as Il
teacher Leaving Hallowell's he studied
medicine, and took his first course
of lectures at tho University Of Virginia.
From there he went to the Jefferson Medi
cal College in Philadelphia, where he was
graduated in the spring oflS47. Shortly after
graduation he settled in this city and liter
ally devoted himself to his profession
| rightly believing that no man, without hard
study, in this profession, can rise above me-
diocrity He applied himself diligently to
the acquisition of that knowledge, which, in
after years, he used with so much skill and
judgment. For some time his practice
was amongst the very poorest of our popu-
laton.
lin misery's darkest novels known,
His useful care was ever nigh,
Where hopeless ansus! poured his grown.
And lonely want, retired to die ."
but regarding the clinical experience thus
acquired as compensation for his work.
their summons were never Knocked by cold
delay, but responded to with promptne-s
and with care his talents and ability were
quickly recognized by his acquaintance
and he soon acquired more lucrative
practice.
When the war between the States broke
out, he left this city with the 18th Virginia
Infantry, and while at Manassas Junction,
he was appointed surgeon of that reg ment
he was soon made Medical Director OF
Longs,reeL's Brigade, and was eventually
Chief Surgeon Of Picketts Division in each
of these positions he acquired additional
reputation. He possessed in an eminent
degree three essential qualities for sur
geon, good sense, good judgment and good
nerves. What was the limit 10 his ability,
can not say, for it was ever superior TO
the occasion. After the surrender of Lees
Army, he returned home, and showed this
people that
"A wise physician skilled 10 heal
l. than armies to the public veal
and before long his growing reputation
overshadowed his older predecessors. Of
bis successful surgical operations, | can now
recall, an amputation of the thigh for very
L. rna rf ba tho removal
of an immense Gbro cartilaginous tumor
from the neck of an old man tracheotomy
in child for removal of foreign body; the
excsion of an encysted tumor of the throat
which had been pronounced malignant, and
unfit for surgical interference by eminent
surgeons previously consulted he also had
successful synchronous double amputa-
ton Of the legs, all operation nearly always
fatal. AS surgeon, he was always bold:
but never RASH and the soundness of his
Judgment was generally attested by the sue.
cess of his operations. Of him it might be
quoted:
How he solicits heaven, himself only
knows; but persons strangely visited, the
mere despair Of surgery, he cures"
His attitude to his professional brothers
was one in which the gentleman and phys
clan were ever blended; to that native
dignity Wnlcn so cnaracterlzeu nitn, auo w
that marked observance of etiquette SO ne
cessary i'll our profession, he united a rare
unselGshness which often prompted him TO
share the success and reward of an opera
ton with physicians younger than himself.
The loving confidence and loyalty of his
patients was something of which any man
might justly boast, and oft times was his
only recompense; in the eyes of his female
patients he stood like Saul among his
brethren, much taller than the rest, and
long will they hold in tender remembrance,
| The touch of u vanished hand
And the sound of voice that is STILL
| Nearly eighteen months ago, DR.. Lewis hrst
snspected the cause Of certain symptoms, which
| had previously troubled him. He sought the
ablest counsel in the country, but from none did
| he receive encouragement; his disease unhappi-
| ". was too well marked to be mistaken; but like
man he submitted to the inevitable, and BORE
| 40 oil