The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-11
FOUR OLD DOCTORS
Interesting Memoirs Read Before
Marion County Medical Society.
DR.. p. II. jameson Gives "reminiscences
of DPs. John s. Bobbs, Charles
Parry and Others.

ne SAUL IN lIe currents anu counter cur
rents of thought which lead 10 the various
forms OF action in pursuit of honor, wealth
or power there is little indeed that car
ries one back to the past. How quaint the
humor and tender pathos of Joe Jefferson's
Rip Van Wrinkle, when. after twenty years
of unconscious absence, he exclaims,
When we are gone how soon we are for
gotten Stronger than the instinct of life
is that of Immortality. and equally strong
the more humble desire to live in the
memories of coming generations. The rude
ly carved initials upon the tree or rock, or
the inscriptions on the more costly mOnu-
ment in the cemeteries of the dead alike
attest this.
1.-The above men. who were severally
prominent in the profession, were all my
seniors in practice and each had a strong
and pronounced individuality. Alike in
much. they were unlike in more. John S.
Bobbs. who justly stands at the head of
this list, was born Dec. Is, 1909. His YER
nacular was Pennsylvania Dutch. a modi-
fed form OF the German tongue. He had
a good knowledge of English and a limited
knowledge of Latin. He was well versed
In history and in the English classics and
had given some attention to religio 'philo-
sophical writings of Voltaire, Hume, Glib
bon, Bolingbrooke, Paine and others in
that line of thought. While he was a ra-
t~ionalist, he held the author Of Christianity
in the highest esteem and as being above
all other teachers of religion and morality.
He located in Indianapolis about the year
1895 and soon after took high rank as a
physician and a surgeon. There was less
sham about DR.. Bobbs than any physician
/ ever knew. 1t was said Of him most
truly bV a member of this society at his
death that he had never been known TO
give a placebo in any case. DR.. Bobbs be-
lieved strongly in an organized and united
profession and labored with that end in
view. He was prominent and first in the
work of establishing the Marion County
Medical Society in 1S47 and he was active
In helping TO organize the state society IN
1919. He never vaunted his own honor or
silent as to both. The latter part of DR..
Bobbs's life was devoted mainly to sur
gery; He sn vas wei 1a o up in for the Sat the o2Tgin OF
and bold almost TO recklessness. He was
an untiring worker. generally outlasting
one of the original commissioners who or
ganized the Indiana Hospital for the In
sane. for one term a state Senator and also
a brigade surgeon during the civil war, In
which latter office he was the medical d.
rector for the district of Indiana; In every
position his conduct was marked by faith
fulness, ability and integrity. He was by
nature ali ~altruist. He thought not of him
self but of Others. At his death he gave
-fbV " n llCt GiAi HtfNVV " Il
medical library. He had loaned an i'm
R PROV lent friend Ri 0rds by dT ram;t; about Tb,s 81 200 200;
but one of a hundred instances.
"Dr. Bobbs had a rare ability as an ex-
temporaneous speaker. He might have
form had his talents so directed him. In
person he was slender. of medium height
and strongly nodded features. His fore
nose nose large and aquili9 ne his sal" lips SffaaiKi' and
the chin prominent He generally wore a
full suit Of black broadcloth. a f%aultless
manner of the old-style gentleman. He
died May l, 1870. aged sixty years"
DIR. CHARLES PARRY.
DR.. Charles Parry was born Feb. II, 1914,
and was reared on a farm in New Jersey,
near Philadelphia His family was of the
better type of plain, substantial Quakers.
His early education was only English, and
defective at that. as his syntax and Or
biography We're both quite faulty. Still, his
chirography was beautiful and his spoken
English strong, clear and impressive. He
paid little attention to literature, and his
knowledge Of science was severely restrict
ed to medicine. His memory was retentive
and accurate. 1 never saw any one, not
even the late DIR. Pancoast, handle the knife
more deftly than he. Had his ambition SC
led him he had the judgment, nerve and
manual deXterity for a frst-class surgeon.
He was very popular as a practitioner.
Cool, courageous and se~lf-contained, no
danger or responsibility could in the least
daunt him. He never stopped over. DIR.
Parry located here in 1889. From 1910 to
1915 he was associated in practice with DIR.
John II. Sanders. one of the noblest and
best men / ever knew. They dissolved in
the spring of 1915. with considerable bad
feeling, which somewhat involved several
other members of the profession. Sanders
was impulsive, outspoken, honest and gen.
erOuS, and as such was no match for his
shrewd, cool and calculating rival, who sell
dom struck but always hurt. DR.. Parry,
when quite young. performed a bold and
successful operation. An account of the OPP
Grafton was published in the American
Journal of Medical Sciences. DR.. Parry
was quite witty. and always took the laugh
heartily when he got the worst of a joke.
on one occasion, in company with Drs.
Mothershead and Billiard. he was return
ing from a call on the Bluff road when a
tallow-faced, siXteen-year-old boy stopped
his work and ran toward the fence to inter
Just look at that boy" said one of the
doctors.
Leave him to me-" said Parry.
Mounting the fence the boy shouted:
How is that mani" referring to the pa
tient they had just left.)
He's SICK" replied Parry.
Il knowed that already" said the boy.
We'll. then. why the devil did you ask?'
demanded Parry.
Tire boy instantly rejoined: Cause /
a id fool"
His companions laughed, while Parry
L luis Ills a I'll tlldL " OllNE1 G ldI
met his match.
Parry was six feet in height, had a mass
i've head, a large chest, and was in all a
commanding figure. His manners were
rather brusque, and he affected a plainness
in dress which resembled that Of a farmer.
lie died Aug. IL. 1861, of typhoid fever. and
was very respondent during his illness
DIR. TALBOT BULLARD.
DIR. Talbot Billiard was born in Sutton,
Mass. in 1915. His father was a physi-
clan. his mother a lady of refinement and
education. and both were of the old Pur-
itan stock. lie had a good education for
the times and engaged for several years al
New Orleans in teaching school. During
this time he took UP the study of medi-
cine. He graduated at the Ohio Medical
this city in partnership with the late Dr.
Mears. lie at once took high rank in the
community as a practitioner and was soOr
In the full tide of practice. He seemed
10 begin At the top OF the ladder instead
OF having 10 climb from the bottom DR.
Billiard was the impersOnation OF nerV1
force and energy. / never met one WnOst
mental processes were at once SO prompt
and correct. He attended a patient down
on the S~helbyville pike, near Lick creek.
once protested 10 me that Or. Billiard had
passed his house. visited his patient and
returned In ten minutes by the clock. Ten
said that tl.s was making $ "A little toe
quick for him. Dr.. Billiard, like myself
was never n love with surgery. First
class surgeons are like poets and orators,
they are born SUCH and few OF either are
Z made han1r nee fhaW 4 nnnAnI IN 1880 IAr