The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-07

nr. Ts.eacrs RnIroth.

Dr. Theodore Blllroth Ia dead In Austria He
was every where recognized as one Of the Lead
Ing surgeons OF the world. He was called in
consultation TO Paris. Constantinople. st.
Petersburg and even to Egypt. lie was tho
con Of q clergyman. and was born nearly sixty
1--WE years ago in the island Ut li0gen. in the
Baltic. lie first asrired 70 be a musician.
but soon gave his attention to medicine.
Music. however. was always his hobby.
and he became an excellent pianist After
he had obtained emiuence rs a surgeon his
house became sort OF rendezvous for people
OF musical tastes Tho most conspicuous
among them was the composer Brahms. and
they were for many years fast friends Some
OF Drahmss compositions were 'lrst berforme ed
at Dr. Billroth's house. Here. too. musicales
were OF frequent occurrence. and as the lloc;
tor entertained la\ishly his house attracted
tho best talent in Vienna.
lie studied medicine in G0ttngen. Berlin.
and Vienna, and was assistant to iangcnbeck
three years later went to Zurich as urpiessor
Of surgery and director Of the surgical clint.
In 1876, he was calle to- Vienna. In lSS he
performed an operation Tor cancer of the
stomach which was the FIRST completely sue
cessiul one Of its kind. This added to his
fame. He did some excellent work with the
microscope and. indeed. there was no branch
OF HIS profession in which his attachments
were not conspicuous. During the Franco.
Prussian war he performed invaluable services
In the military hospitals along the thine. q,
Dr. Billruth was never n money getter lie
was too open handed. Even after he began to
rctrench. about ten years ago. he did not accu-
mulate n fortune as rapidly ns one would sup
pose. People came to him from all over the
world. and lie was called everywhere In com
sutation. but lie SCENE ed to have an aversion
for handling comparatively unimportant cases
simply for the sake OF money making.
oh 20 to IIr Blank " lie would say recon-
mending some one Of his assistants In clinical
work ono Of these Is said to have DrOilted
very much during the last two years in this
way.
OF his family he preferred the companion
ahip Of his eldest daughter who was unmar-
RED. 1t used to be remarked ia Vienna that
they seemed to lie more like brother and sister
than Ike father aud daughter. lie left \ widow
and three daughters.
DR.. Bilroth did not seem TO care great deal
for hOnors. but he received a great many of
them during his lifetime Some ten years ago
Emperor Francis JOSEPH made him member
Of the highest legislative body. He also had
decorations almost without end turkish.
Russlap. German. Austrian. and others.
In his younger days he was very plucky and
performed some daring operations; Yet no
was always kind especially to children. upon
whom lie often operated.
In appearance he was a little above the me-
dunn height and OF rather heavy build. He
slightly and with head bent forward He
had small blue eyes. aud was OF an easy going
DISPOSITION.
Dr. :. Iustgarten Of 10 East Sixty-secon
ago, and who was at one time a student under
DR. BillIoth. says OF him
Dr. Billroth was fascinating man. He
the most respectful attention
There never was any occasion for Il. His lee |
lures were Interesting because of their sub
ject matter. but hc did not have an impressive
method OF delivery; As professor he had
advanced students than with the younger
men"