The National tribune., 1889-04-25
IN MEMORIAM.
DIR. D. W. Bliss.

On the 21st day of February, 1885, there passed
from time 10 eternity ID. Willard Bliss. NJ. d.
On the day appointed for his funeral we gathered
around his tomb and gave him last soldiers fare
well-"Auf Wiedersehen" and After LIES fiLful
fever, he sleeps we'll"
Inexpressby dreary were the surroundings, and
mingled with sadness there was a touch of Bit
terness which never can be effaeed.
Happy were our comrades who fell In battle
pierced through the heart by n leaden bullet in
comparison to our heroic martyred comrade. In
consequence of his devoted attention to the MUIR
dered Garfield his health was impaired, and he
was not physically able to attend TO the laboriouS
duties of his profession. Well can the friends of
d. w. Bliss say that Republics are ungratefui
Prior to the election of Garfield President of
the United States, the professional income of DIR.
Bliss amounted to $4,000 a year, and one year it
exceeded $32, 600. Our Government thought it
proper 10 allow DR. Bliss $500 for his profess
sional services TO the late President Garfield.
We have all watched with anxiety comrade
during the past eight years, and now that he has
passed the dark river we will cherish his mem
DRY, and will remember him as he was in his prime
and early manhood.
1t was the writer's good fortune to have met DR..
Bliss in the Fail of 1862, when the U. S. Regular
Hospital at the Circle" was disbanded and we
were ordered 10 report to DR.. Bliss at Armory
Square Hospital.
we were all young then, all full of animal spir-
its, and all devoted to our calling DR.. Bliss took
a great interest in all of US. By him was always
called by my first name and by him / was praised
and admonished as if were his own son.
At this time DR.. Bliss was in his glory. and a
glorious man he was. lie was not reckless Sur
geou, but was exceedingly careful. and kept well
up in his anatomical knowledge. Many comrades
now owe useful limbs 70 Dr. Bliss; other Surgeons
would have Gmputated them. In our own Post
Comrade John Reartton, also a member of the Old
Guard. now shoulders a muslSet with arm that
DR.. Bliss Tesected ard removed the head of the
humerus and several inches of the shaft. The rec
ords of the Surgeon Generals Office show that DR..
Bliss performed more surgical operations than any
Surgeon in the army during the war. In the thou
sands OF surgical operations that DR.. Bliss per-
formed he never lost patient from shock or from
the use Of angBsii= yties.
After battle Br. Bliss and his staff have ope-
rated from sunrise TO sunset Our work was never
done. We were constantly on the "qui vive for
news Of secondary hemOTrhagc.
Hancock was superb at Gettysburg. Bliss was
glorious and magnificent for four years at Armory
Square Hospital.
HENRY A. RoBBINs, NJ D.,
Surgeon OF Kit Carson Post, No. 2 and Medical
Director Department of the Potomac.
At n late mcetngo of Kit Carson Post, No. 2, De-
pHrtment OF the Potomac, Comradc DIR. Robbins
WAS appointed Commute of one to write obit-
nary notice of the late Comrade ID. W. Bliss NJ. D..
On its presentation TO tile Post it ordered to be
placed record in the archives of the Post, and
COPY to be sent 10 tile family.