Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-31
THE LATE DIR. LIEBERMANN.
An Interesting Sketch Of the Life OF an
Eminent Physician.

An Interesting Sketch Of the Life OF an
Eminent Physician.
The funeral of DR.. Charles H. Liebermann.
who died on the 9th inst at his home, e22
18th street. aged "a years. took place yesterday
afternoon. AT special meeting of the Medical
society Monday DR.. ]. NJ. Toner read an inter
esting sketch OF their deceased associate. He
was born, DIR. Toner'S sketch said, In Riga, the
capital OF the province of Livonia, in Russia,
on the 18th OF September, 1912. His father
was military surgeon and died when DIR.
Liebermsnn was a child. His mother belonged
to the family Of the Radetzkeys, which has
furnished many famous personages in German
and Polish history. The doctors uncle became
his guardian and faithfully carried out the in
functions OF his father to give his child a good
education. He passed through the usual course
OF the gymnasium, after which he entered the
University OF Dorpot, from which he gradu-
ated In letters and the natural sciences in 1886.
FROM Dorpot he went to wilma, where he pur-
sued for a time the regular medical studies, but
after some time returned to porpot and nom
there he went to the University OF Berlin. from
WHICH he received his medical degree In 1898.
IN vienna he became private pupil OF Prof.
Dieffenbach, and served for sometime as his
assistant and became entirely familiar with
methods OF practice in surgery. This was
at period when the profession of Europe was
making rapid advances in the study and treat
inent OF class OF cases which fell rather under
deformities than diseases, and which had been
everywhere much neglected, and at the head OF
foot. DIR. Liebermann enjoyed the adyantases
OF the lectures and clinics of the famous Won
Graafe In his treatment of affections OF the eye.
Inls surgeon was then among the most noted
surgeons of Europe in this speciality. After re
ceiving his degree he visited the chief capitals
OF Europe TO familiariZe himself with the prac-
tice of medicine and surgery In their best hos
pitais. DIR. Liebermann came to the United
states early In 1s40. He landed at Boston,
put mad conceived a desire to settle nj the CAPT.
tai OF the United States and
CAME ON To WASHINGTON.
This preference was probably developed be-
cause OF the political views he entertained and
the disagreeable experiences he had already
suffered from the despotic regulations exercised
over the actions OF the private citizen i'm his
native land. He made a short stop en- route To
washington city at New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore. DIR. Liebermann began the
practice OF his profession in Washington shortly
AFTER his arrival, opening an office on the north
side OF Pennsylvania avenue, between 9th aud
moved TO the corner of 18th aud r streets
Alter a residence at this location for about two
years ne returned 10 Pennsylvania avenue and
look house on the south side, between 9th and
lOfh streets. DIR. Liebermann had To contend
with prejudice then pretty strong against for
elSners, but he was SO well equipped in PROBES
slonai attachments, and 50 dscrete and honor
able In his intercourse with medical men
that he soon gained not only the high regard OF
MS Drother practitioners, but of the citizens i'm
general, which he retained to the close of his
life. He identified himself as soon as prac-
joining the Medical society OF the District OF
Columb ia, which he did in 1874. He held In il
at different times many OF its offices, and was
It's president from 1S6o TO 1865. He is regis
tered as Joining the Medical association of the
District of Columbia in 1S43. He was also "A
member OF the Columbian institute which had
In 1t "A section devoted To medical science This
was, before the days of the Smithsonian insti-
tuition, an active scientific organization. DIR.
l-lebermann was one of the founders of the
medical department of the University of
Georgetown, and filled the chair of professor of
surgery from lo4S to 1888 He again filled the
same Chair from 1857 10 1861, when he re-
signed and was elected emeritus professor OF
surgery. He was also member OF the first patho-
logical society OF Washington, organized i'm
ISL. This was for some years a Very active
association, and before which the doctor pre-
scented several communications, and always
took prominent part in its discussions. He
was also a member of the American Medical
association since 1858. His tastes, however,
led him TO surgery, in which he excelled. He
was for over twenty years
THE LEADING oCULrsr
in Washington city, and performed with sue
cess many delicate and important operations
on the eye. For years he was physician TO the
Sisters OF the Visitation convent, corner OF 10th
and u streets northwest, and the consulting
physician TO Georgetown college and the con-
vent in that town: also, consulting physician
for a number of years in Providence hospital
lie took an active part in the founding of the
Children's hospital, and for some years served
on its board OF managers, and took much salts
faction in its success. DIR. Liebermann was
married in Is4I 10 Miss Behold, OF Aiexan.
dria, by whom he had two children--a son and
daughter. His son Charles only survives. His
daughter married William N Roach. She died
about eight years ago, leaving four children
which the doctor took and has cared for most
tenderly ever since. Alter his daughters death
the doctor, to secure quiet and recover from
the shock it caused him, bought a hand
some house, with large grounds, in An
grandchildren and lived until 1854. when hs
returned to his own house, on 18th street. He
has been sending the children to school in
at,l,t
mental and physical development DIR. Leber-
mann ia 1872 retired from the practice OF medi-
cine. He occasionally since met physicians i'm
consultation in cases OF old patients, when
strongly urged TO do SO, but has never, however,
assumed charge OF a case. OF late years he grew
mewhat hard of hearing, but, with the use of
mechanical contrivauces, was able to carry on
conversation, his visitor speaking in an ordi.
nary voice. His mental powers to the last
seemed as active and strong As in the middle
period OF life.
PERSONAL TRAITS.
In stature he was rather below the average
height. He wore glasses when upon the street
but removed them when he would go TO read
His weight was not much above 125 pounds.
While he was of delicate constitution his life
was regular and prudent that he was enabled
to perform a great deal OF labor. He was a
man OF marked traits of character. His tena-
cious memory for details was rarely equalled.
He had at the same time an orderly and logical
method of reasoning, aud was pertinacious in
getting direct answers to his questions put to
patients or to persons on matters OF business
In every day life he was methodical and exact
A close investor of his means he possessed
wonderful good judgment in business and con.
sequent1y accumulated means. He lived we'll,
but not extravagantly; en- tertained his friends
occasionally at his table and was a capital host,
and at times told an anecdOte in quiet and in
imitable manner. He leaves a considerable es-
tate, mostly invested in real property. WASH |
ing.on city has had few physicians OF more en-
Inc nee.
The society adopted appropriate resolutions Of
respect to the memory OF the dead and yesterday
a farn d.Ah hxaf
remains were inferred in Rock Creek cemetery |
The pal-bearers were Drs. johnson, Antisel |
Toner, Lovejoy, Hartigan, Fisher, Thompson |
and Davis. |