The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-11

the graves of the Union dead. A salute
of 38 guns was fired, and brief and elo-
quent impromptu address delivered by
Mr.. w. Fl. Fl. Lynn.
Death of DIR. j. Newton McChesney
On last Thursday morning about one
O'clock, DR.. J. Newton McCheSney died
at the residence of his mother, in the SD
year Of his age. Last summer his health
began to decline, the result of over work,
and in the hope of a restoration he visited
Canada. Whilst there he contracted a
deep cold which settled on his lungs and
speedily developed pulmonary symp-
toms. He spent the winter in the south,
and despite the attention of some of the
most skilIful physicians in the country
and the multiplying effects of the climate,
the disease continued its ravages upon a
system so i'll prepared to resist it. Sew
eral weeks ago he started for Virginia,
and was met on the way by his brother.
Upon reaching home there was tempo
rary rally, but even the loving care and
tender nursing of those to whom he was
so dear, were p6weTrss 70 stay tho The s
vance of the fatal malady, whose conquest
was so soon complete.
DR.. McChesney was educated at Wash
ington & Lee and the University of Vir-
ginia. In 1874 he was graduated from the
Bellevue Medical College of New York.
He returned to Staunton and in associa-
tion with his father, the late DR.. VIM. S.
McChesney, commenced the practice of
medicine. His enthusiasm for the pro-
fession, and unusual requirements and
skill, soon gained for him an extensive
practice, whilst his genial manner, warm,
generous heart, and sterling manhood,
drew to him friends in all classes of So
ciety. His skill as a surgeon was remark
able, and his successful treatment of nu-
merous difficult cases, won for him a repu-
tation rarely achieved by one of his years.
Among the poorer classes he was an espe-
cial favorite. Their summons was never
disregarded because he knew that the SER
vice would be gratuitous. Whenever there
was life to save, or suffering to alleviate,
he was always ready to minister. The cry
of the afflicted was to him the call of duty
and it mattered not whether it came from
the howell of the poor, or the home of lux
ury, it was responded to with the same
alacrity, the same skillful service, the
same sympathetic manner, the same assid-
ious care and gentle attention. Desiring
a wider field of usefulness, he, after sew
eral years practice here, removed to
New York city, where his pronounced
talents soon became recognized, and he
was selected as one of the physicians to
the city hospital on Blackwell Island.
During an epidemic of small pox in 1880,
DR.. McChesney received an appointment
in the Health Department as assistant at
Riverside Hospital Subsequently he be-
came assistant sanitary inspector, but con-
tinued to perform special work investi-
eating contagious diseases. AS an expert
in cases of small pox and typhus fever, he
stood very high with the profession. He
wrote several articles on small pox for the
Medical Record, which called forth the
strongest commentator from the leading
physicians of the city, and were regarded
as valuable additions to medical literature
1t was his intense devotion to his profess
sion that caused career of such conspic-
uous promise to be cut short at the very
threshold of its usefulness. In his ardent
desire to search out the causes of human
suffering, and relieve others, he forgot that
nature resents an infraction of her laws
by the overwork and exposure which he
daily imposed upon himself. His life was
a sacrifice to a noble ambition.
1t was not alone for his professional at
tainments that he will be sadly missed.
His place in the esteem of the world may
be filed, but his place in the hearts OF
those who were bound to him by the ties
of blood and friendship will remain vacant
for all time. No man had truer friends
and none deserved them better. No pa
rent had son more dutiful no brother
was ever kinder or more beloved.
The funeral took place from the family
residence on Friday morning, Rev. j. P.
Strider conducting the services. The
pail bearers were Drs. Carter Berkeley and
/ G. C. Phillips, Messrs. H. st. G. Tucker
Frank Alexander, r. p. Bell, w. P
Tams, VIM. Patrick and J. Yost.
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