New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-19
DEATH OF DIR. C. R. AGNEW.
AN ILLNESS OF ONLY EIGHT DAYS.
FRUSTRATED WHILE ATTENDING Mr. CONK
LlNG-A SKETCH OF HIS USEFUL CAREER

| N"ihchus hca ARncW, inc celfDrdieu cyo ana
ear specialist, died yesterday afternoon about
o'clock at his home, No. 900 Madlson-ave. He was
taken III on Monday Of last week. with peronitis, and
iaed rapidly until Friday, when his physicians prac-
tcaily abandoned hope. But he rallied in tho next
'"cntyfour hours, and Sunday his condition gave
hopes OF recovery. Tho next morning tho favorable
symptoms seemed to continue but the day
| III hopes were abandoned, owing TO tho removed
uVity OF the disease, which gradually Slapped his
strength until It gave way
when ex-senator Conhling was taken Ill. on April o,
Ut Agnow was called to treat him. As tho case was
so serious no called In Dr. Barker and Dr. Sands, and
expected to iaio part In the operation which length
ened Mr. Conklngs life several days, but his III.
ness prevented his being present Last Thursday his
attending physicians decided that operation
/ necessary, II Dr Agnew's lfo was TO be saved, and
iaparotomy was performed, DR.. Agnow himself adj
inihstering tho other. Tho ncision about four
! inches long Pus discovered and removed, but
the operation failed TO bring the expected relief Tho
funeral will be held in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church on Saturday at 1890 a. IN.
Dr. Agnew was born In the city on August 8,
1880 His father, William Agnew, commission
and shipping merchant in the CITY, On his fathers
sldo Dr. Agnew OF 6cotchrlsh Huguenot ancestry.
Tho family left Franco after the revocation Of tho
Edct Of Nantes, and settled Belfast, Ireland.
in 1856 John Agnew the grandfather Of DR.. Agnew,
camo to this country. He went first to Philadelphia,
but aftcrward removed to New-York and with his
son, DIR. Agnew's father. entered IN business horo.
Dr. Agnew received his carly education In prl-
vato school He entered Columbia College IN 1s45
and was graduated in 1910. Afterward no studied
medicine with Dr. j. Kearncy Rodgers, for many years
| surgeon OF the NewYork Hospital. He attended the
regular Of lectures In tn. College Of Physicians
and Surgeons. serving also In tho NewYork Hospital
After being graduated from the medical school in 1852
DR.. Agncw practlsed for year tho shores Of
Lake Superior, now tho town Of Hought0n, and then
small mining town He then returned to New-rork,
and being offered the appointment surgeon Of the
Ego and Ear Infrmary, he went to Europe to oom-
plete his studies. In Dublin no became q resident
pupil Of the LyingIn Asylum, and also attended the
clinics given by william Wilde, afterward Sir william
Wilde. at st. Marks Eye and Ear Hospital subso-
quently no visited London and walked Its hospitals,
observing tho practice Of William Bowman and George
Crchett and attending the clinical lectures Of WILL
lam Ferguson Ho next visited Paris wherc no
studied tho practice Of vopeau and Rcord. Of sichel
and Desmarrcs in diseases Of tho oyo, AID that OF
Hardy in skin diseases.
EFFICIENT SERVICE FOR THE NATION.
In 1856 he returned to America and became a gem
oral practitioner in this city. Tho following year no
married Miss Mary Nash, daughter Of Lora Nash,
a merchant OF this city. He held his position
as surgeon to tho New-Yorl Ear and Eye Inhrmary
until April, 1864, when his duties the United States
Sanitary Commission compelled him to resign. In
1858 Governor Edwin d. Morgan appointed Dr. AgRew
to be surgeOnGenoral Of this State and at the out
break Of tho Rebellion Governor Morgan appointed
him medical director OF tho State Volunteer Hospital.
In this position no performed most efficient service.
For long time he had charge OF the important trust
OF obtaining for tho regiments passing through this
State to the seat OF war their medical supplies.
When tho United States Sanitary Commission was
organized, DR.. Agncw elected member. Ho was,
in fact one of tho promoters of the Commission. In
history of tho Commission DR.. Agncw IS spoken Of
az ono who brought to the service Of the Commission
the valuable experience he had gained while performing
the duties OF medical director OF the troops then
being raised in New-York. lie exhibited skill,
executive ability and at all times perfect generosity
of personal toll and trouble in carrying on the Com
MISSIONS work, which gave him, during Its whole
progress, a commanding influence in Its councils HIS
friends used to demonstrate with him for giving up
so much time from his practice, but his patriotism
always led him where his services were needed Dr.
Agnew with DIS. wnlcott Gibbs, now Professor Gibbs
of Harvard University, and William II. Van Buren,,
prepared tho Quartermasters department tho plans
which were subsequently carried out in the Judiciary
Square Hospital at Washington, and which wcro more
or less accurately followed In tho pavilion hospital
system during the Rebellion
HELPING TO FORM THE UNION LEAGUE CLUB
The Union League Club Is the child OF tho United
States Sanitary Commission. That body was repro
sented, when not in session. by TN executive COM
mttee all residents Of this city, consisting, up to the
date of the origin Of the Union League Club. OF ivo
persons only-its president, DR.. Bellows Georso l.
Strong the treasurer; DR.. Agnew, Professor Wacott
Gibbs and DR.. william II. Van Buren, Theso mon
wec compelled during tho Civil War to pass somo
part OF each day or night with each other Professor
Gibbs was the first to suggest that tho Idea on ~noh
the Sanitary Commission founded ought TO taRe
on the form of club devoted to tho social organzar
ton OF tho sentiment Of loyalty to the UNION oh
January 49, 1862 the confidential circular was issued
calling for the formation In this city of National
club for loyal purposes. Dr. Agnew was one OF tho
slCieIs of The circular AMI with him were sss'cit"A
Henry W. Bellows, George c. Anthem, Walcott Gioos,
Crorg, T. Strong George Gibbs. George L. Allen ana
William J. Hoppin From the inception OF the ciuD
until recently, when no was made an honorary moh'
bcr Dr. Agnew took strong interest In us anairs
He served for several years on the Committee on All
mission. 49,
He was Obliged in 1864 on account Of other duties
IN rcsrn his Office as surgeon Of the Eye and Ear In
Urinary His life had become busy one. In leoo
he established the ophthalmc clinic In tho CoHeso
OF Physicians and Surgeons In 1e6S he origna'cu ''
Brooklyn Eye and Ear Infrmary; the year AFTER inc
Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital In New-l orh shu
IN the same year he elected clinical prolcssor VI
the eye and ear diseases In the College OF fhy soa
and Surgeons Dr. Agnew was appointed IN leoo
ope ~ IN, managers of the New-York State Hospital
for the Insane in PoughEcepse, and no was t"ioo
reappointed He served for several years as trustee
Of tho public schools, and in 1864 was ono oil Ia.
associate trustees to organize the School OF Mines ?,
Columbia College, which institution he had 'orVuu
faithfully for more than a quarter OF century '
was one Of the oldest members of the board Oh
and at the time of his death the chairman Oh w.
Committee on tho School OF Mines and MEMBER VI
the COMMITTEE, on the Course and tho Statutes Oh
which Dr. Morgan Dix IS chairman.
APUBLICSPIRITED CITIZEN. ~.
Dr. Agnew always took an active interest," ~
relating TO tho city, He was secretary Vi .no ., Ia
society organized in New-York for neai'h Io 49,, ~.
was a mcuhor ~ the committee which prepared the
first draft OF the clty health laws He was nemoer
Of most of the leading medical societies Of tho Guy
and country, including the Medical society "a nv
City and State Of NewYork, the New 'fN ,hs
OF Medicine. tho New-York Pathological oocisv, ".
Medical and Surgical Society, the Amercsn So