The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-05-25

DIR. MARY HARRIS THOMPSON.
tended to her work as head physician and
surgeon of the hospital for Women and
Children as usual and was in her custom
airy excellent health, although 66 years CT
age. Sunday morning she was taken ill,
doctors were hastily summoned and it
was found Miss Thompson was suffering
from cerebral hemorrage Last night all
hope of her recovery was given up and
the physicians in attendance announced
that the patient could not live until
morning and at few minutes after 5
O'Clock she passed quietly away.
To-day the death of this eminent woman
will be mourned in every section of the
United States where there are physicians
and surgeons of learning. Aside from
the wonderful scientific skill and knowl-
edge of the deceased she was woman of
such executive ability as distinguished
her even in the front rank and woman
of such sweet and broad charity as made
her beloved by all with whom she came
in contact
Two weeks ago tomorrow the hospital
founded by DR. Thompson celebrated it's
thirtieth anniversary, and at the recep-
ton held at the institution such encomi-
ums and praises were given the founder
in the speeches made by the ministers,
physicians and prominent citizens who
were on the programme that the modest
woman hid her face behind her FAM.
Sixty years ago on farm in Washing
ton county, New York, Mary Harris
Thompson was born. The child grew to
young womanhood in the country and re-
I,,r, al l.
schoolhouse. The academy was the great
thing for young women in those days and
after Miss Thompson had finished her
studies at the country school it was de-
cided by her parents that she should go to
an academy to complete her education.
The young lady went first to Fort Edward
institute, New York, and afterward to
Thompson became SO interested in the
study of hygiene that she determined to
fit herself to teach the sciences. With
this object in view the young student
went to the New England Female Medi-
cal academy and pursued the proper
course of study. While engaged in the
work Miss Thompson became so fascinat-
ed by the science of surgery that she
concluded to abandon her intention of
teaching hygiene and devote all her ener-
gies to the study of surgery and medicine
Leaving the New England academy, she
went to the New York Infrmary for
Women and Children, and there worked
and studied under the famous DR.. Eliza
beth Blackwell
About 1868 Miss Thompson came to
Chicago to enter the profession of sur
gerry. Then was the pathway opened
which virtually shaped the whole life of
the great woman. The war was at it's
height. Hundreds of families in Chicago
had been left by husbands and fathers
who had gone to serve their country. In
most cases the mothers, wives and child
rem were in very poor circumstances
When disease came there was no money
in the house to employ doctors and often
only the hand of charity could save the
suffering ones from despair. The Rev.
William FL. Ryder and others called the
attention of Miss Thompson to the nee
essity of charitable doctoring among the
poor families of the soldiers. The young
physician went at it with will and it
was finally out of this practice that the
Chicago Hospital for Women and Child
rem was born and took shape. 1t was
the idea of Miss Thompson alone and it
was she who was the present spirit
that pushed the great project to its COM
pletion. The institution was finished in
1865 and from that day to this Dr.
Thompson has been the head physician
and surgeon of the fine staff that has ever
been the pride of the hospital So thor
oughly has she been identified with the
establishment that among those who are
familiar with the profession it was always
referred to as CDR. Thompson's hospi-
tai
Throughout the entire country DR..
Thompson was well known and stood in
the highest esteem Of all the profession.
She was prominent member of the
American Medical society and was once
elected to the chairship of the division
on the diseases of children. The doctor
was the inventor of a surgical needle
that is considered of such great yalue that
it is now in use in every part of the
country.
Dr. Thompson's work was not limited
to her connection with the Women and
Children's hospital. She was one of the
promoters of the Woman's Medical college
and has been very largely instrumental
in its success For many years she held
a chair in the faculty and at the time of
her death still occupied the position Of
professor Of clinics. )