Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-10
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
DIR. F. D. CUNNINGHAM.
Death Last Nish, Of this D,ssinsuisAed Phy.
sicfou.

Death LAST Might Of this Dissinsuished Phy.
sician.
DIR. Francis Deane Cunningham,
whose illness has been mentioned seve-
raj times Of late, died st 9:20 O'Clock
last night at his residence, at the south
west cornef Of Franklin and Eighth
streets. He was one of the most emf
nent physicians in this State, and one Of
the gentlest and truest of men. He en-
joyed the confidence and goodwill OF
his professional brethren in q marked
degree, and was loved and hon
ored by this whole community.
His life was sacrificed to the claims
OF his patients. For three years he
was sufferer from chronic dysentery,
and his judgment long ago told him
that absolute cessation from the la
borious and exacting demands OF his
practice was requisite to his recovery,
but he could not gain his own consent
to stop work until he had gotten be-
yond point where neither rest nor
medical skill could avail.
The deceased was q son of the late
DR.. John II. and Eliza Dillon Cunning
ham, and was born at Howe's Neck,
Goochland county, in 1886. His
father was distinguished practitioner
Of medicine, and is well remembered
and reverently spoken Of by many Of
our elderly citizens.
The deceased, after attending schools
in Richmond and Albemarle, attended
the University Of Virginia in the ses-
sions of 1853, "a, and '55, and gradu-
sted in medicine at the Medical College
Of Virginia in 1857. He was subse-
quently house-surgeon of the Brooklyn
City Hospital, and in 1859 and 90
studied in the hospitals Of London and
Paris. He began the practice Of his
profession in this city in January, 1861.
In April Of that year he wentto Aqua
Creek as surgeon of Company F; next
was promoted surgeon of the Thirtieth
Virginia infantry then medical d.
rector Of the Trans-Mississippi Depart
ment, and at the close of the war
was inspector of hospitals in Richmond.
In 1868 he was elected professor Of
anatomy in the Medical College Of .Vir-
ginia, in which position he remained
until few years since; was from its
organization until recently member Of
the City Board of Health; was for
many years a member Of the American
Medical Association, and at one time
president of the Virginia Medical So
ciety, and at the time of his death, in
addition to great private practice, was
the chief surgeon of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway Company's organization.
1t may be truly said of him that in
the wide range Of general practice he
had hardly a superior here he was
we'll skilled in almost every branch Of
his profession, but particularly so in
surgery and diseases ofthe eye. Withal,
he was one Of the most modest and un-
assuming Of men, and his gentle man.
ners made him great favorite and
great helper at sick-beds. Last sum-
mer he was weak and ailing and took
quite lengthy vacation, considerable
portion of which time he spent
at the White Sulphur Springs. Re-
turning here in the fall, he resumed his
profession with all his wonted zeal, but
with inadequate strength. In April Of
this year he found it necessary to quit
work and to seek medical attention.
For two months he was at Philadelphia
and Atlantic City under the care of a
physician. Then he returned to this
city, and, after brief stay, went to the
Rockbridge Alum Springs, hoping to
derive some benefit from these
waters but there was no i'm
provement, and evidently anticipa-
ting the worst, he insisted upon
coming homecoming home to die, he
must have known. Three weeks ago
DR.. Brock brought him here. He
stood the trip as well as was hoped for,
but went into . steady decline. He
was emaciated to an almost unprece-
dented degree, and at times suffered
great deal, but his death was very
peaceful.
The Doctors wife died about a year
ago. They leave but one child--a son
Of eighteen or nineteen years Of age.
The members of the medical faculty
will hold a meeting at their hall, Fourth
and Franklin streets, this evening at 5
O'Clock. to take action expressive OF
their feelings at his death. The funeral,
which will take place tomorrow at an
hour to be hereafter announced, will be
attended by Joppa Lodge, of which he
was a member and past master.