The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-06-30
Death of DR.. p. A. Wilhite.

| al
in Anderson at clock, a. M, on Satur-
| day morning, the 25th inst, after an ILL
ness of more than one week from bilious
fever. followed with heart failure. uo
had passed his three score years and ten
and for nearly forty years had been res
ident and practitioner of medicine in
Anderson, where ho was known and re-
spected for the many excellent traits Of
character established by his long and USE
full life in our midst.
DIR. Wilhite was born in Madison Coun-
ty. Georgia, and was tho son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Turner Wilhite, Of that County. His
mother died when he was about six years
old: and he was thus deprived of her
was a farmer Of limited means, but pos
sessed of an ordinarily good education,
| and he gave to DR.. Wilhite such common
school education as the surrounding
schools afforded, and he being ambitious
and determined to enter professional life
worked on the farm, and by energy and
economy made the money necessary to
enable him to study medicine. In 1872
he read medicine in the Office of DR.. Craw-
| ford w. Long, of Athens, Georgia, and
| just preceding this and during this time
he was connected Intimately with and had
an important part in the discovery Of an
esthesia-a boon to suffering humanity,
which is ranked second only to the dis
coyery of the principles of vaccination.
The distinguished DR.. J. Marion Sims, Of
New York, in an article in the September
number Of the Druggists Circular for
1878, wrote noted article on the discove-
ry of anmsthesia, in which he showed
| that DR.. Crawford W. Long was the first
physician to Intentionally produce anes-
| thesia in his patients for surgical opera
tions, and that he did so from reasoning
| it out from experimenting with sulphuric
ether and after hearing of and being en-
couraged by the experience of his then
student, DR.. P. A. White, at what they
called ether frolics, near Athens, Ca, in
| 1899. DIR. Sims gives the account of this
incident as follows:
Old-fashioned "quiltings'' were very
common in his day and time, and in the
evening the boys and young men would
go to these for the purpose Of dance or
an ether frolic.
On one occasion, he met several young
people at Mr.. Wares, about five miles
west of Athens, at quilting. The girls
and boys all finished the evening by in
cry, some fight, and some dance, just as
when nitrous oxide gas is inhaled. 1t was
in the fall of 1889. Wilhite was romping
bow of seventeen. All the boys and all
the girls had inhaled the ether, some Of
them more than once. They were look
ing around for new subjects for it, when
White saw negro boy at the door, who
seemed to be enjoying the sport. Wilhite
invited him to come in and try the ether.
he refused. Other young men then insis-
ted on his taking it. He refused again in
most positive manner ;whereupon some
of the thoughtless young men caught
Hold of the boy, and called Wilhite to
give him the ether. He struggled vio-
held him there while Wilhite poured out
some ether on handk erchief and pressed
it firmly over his mouth and nose. He
fought furiously. They persisted, think
ing it was great fun. After long strug-
gle, the boy became quiet and unresis-
ting. The young men then let him alone.
They were greatly surprised that he did
not get up Immediately and say'or do
some foolish thing for them to laugh at.
He lay quietly, and with stertorous
breathing. They tried to arouse him,
but could not. They then became great
lv alarmed, and sent one of their num-
ber on horseback for DR.. Sydney Reese,
at Athens, five miles distant. The mes
ssnger rode with all possible speed. He
fortunately found DR.. Reese at home, who
lost no time in going to MIR. Wares. On
his arrival, he found the negro lying on
his back still soundly asleep. The young
ladies had left the frightful scene.
Young White, and his principal accom-
plice. thinking they had, in mere play,
murdered fellow being, were 50 much
alarmed, that they lad contemplated
making their escape from the country;
but the timely arrival of DIR. Reese soon
restored their courage. DR.. Reese heard
the history Of the transaction. He then
threw water in the face of the sleeping
negro, slapped him, raised him up, shook
him violently, and after little hs was
reused to consciousness, greatly to the
relief of all present. The Doctor then
gave the youngsters lecture on the dan
gers of such frolics, and cautioned them
against repetition of their needless act.
This of course broke up the ether frolics
in this neighborhood. DR.. Wilhite thinks
il was moro than an hour from the time
the messenger started for DR.. Reese, till
he returned with him to Mr.. Wares.
The distance to Athens and back was ten
miles, and all this time the negro boy
was profoundly narcotized.
From this it will be seen that DR.. Will
hite was really the accidental Giscoverer
of this great scientific principle.
Soon after reading medicine with DR.,
Long he took course of lectures in med
icine in the University of the city of New
York, and, returning home, located and
practiced medicine in GAINESVILLE, Ca,
for several years. During this time he
was married TO Miss Cora J.. Hilley, Of
Elbert County, Georgia, who survives
him. After locating in GAINESVILLE he
practiced quite successfully and accumu-
lated enough surplus to complete his
professional education, which he did, in
the Charleston Medical College, gradual
ing in the class of 1852, Of which DR.. T.
Gaillard Thomas, afterwards the famons
New York physician, was member.
In 1858 he removed to Anderson, s. e.,
and lived for three years in the house
situated where Mr.. a. B: Towers now
lives. He then bought the site upon
which the family residence now stands
and first built two-room cottage OH it in
which he lived for two years, until the
elegant and commodious residence that
now stands upon it could be erected
When he came to Anderson his father
moved here with him and taught school
for number of years in the Anderson
Academy, then located where Mr. 0. 3.
VanWyck now resides. Mr.. Turner Will
hite O few years later moved to Elbert
County, Ga, where he died on June 9th,
1861, at the advanced age Of nlnety-three
years.
Soon after coming to Anderson he went
into the drug business in connection with
the practice of medicine, and the firm of
Wilhite e. Harrison continued in this
business until DR.. o. r. Horton bought
out Mr.. Harrison's interest, and then the
firm of Wilhite 6, Horton continued in
the business until the war. Their drug
store was located on Brick Range. In
1874 DR.. Wilhite and the late Maj. John
r. Williams bought out the firm Of Ben
son & Sharpe, and under the firm name
of Wilhite d: Williams continued in bus
mess until 1878, when Maj. Williams
went out and Mr.. +. T. Wilhite, the Doc
tors eldest son, became a partner, the
firm name changing TO Wilhito & Will
hite, and so continuing until the present
time, although DR.. J. o. Wilhite, young
or son, also became partner in 1883.
DR.. Wilhite was the oldest Mason, in
time of membership, in the upper part
of the State, if not in the whole State,
having for very many years been Royal
Arch Mason, and being at the time Of his
death respected and active member of
Hiram Lodge, No. GS, A. +. NJ, and also
of Burning Bush Chapter.
In 1878 DR.. Wilhite was appointed a
member of the State Board of Health,
then created by the Act of the Legisla-
ture of this State, and remained an ear
nest, efficient and influential member of
L