Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-27

the crowning effort of his life has been the
organization of the Army Medical Museum
and the library. Readers of The. Star are
familiar with the history of this library,
which is the most complete aggregation of
medical literature in the world. In con-
nection with it is an indexed catalogue
which excels anything of the kind in any
other country. The completion of these
works. the organization of the museum and
the placing of the whole in a fireproof
building has been the arduoUs labor of
years.
Old residents will remember Dr. Billings
as having been in charge of army hospitals
located here durng the war, the one in
Clifbourne barracks, at the head of 18TH
street; the Union Hospital. in Georgetown,
and others. He. is the author of Reports
on the Vital Statistics of the District of
Columbia and Baltimore, and of New York
City and Brooklyn. covering six years, end
ing May 81, 1880" For that matter, how
ever. his publications upon vital statistics
cover wide range, and in the compilation
of the last)census Dr. Billings was called
upon to furnish all of the matter relating
to that subject. and which was given to the
public through the bulletins of the census
bureau. He is the author of the National
Medical Dictionary. His reports, papers and
briefer treatisess make a long list of ltera
ture with which the medical profession of
the world is well acquainted.
sketch of His Career.
DR.. John Shaw Billings was born in
Switzerland county. Ind. April II, 1887.
He received his. education in number of
places, and took degrees OF Miami Univer
sty, Medica College of Ohio. Edinburgh,
Harvard, Munich and Oxford. He was
resident physician at St. Johns Hospital
and the Commercial Hospital Cincinnati,
between 1858 and 1860, and was demon
strator of anatomy in the Medical College
of Ohio in 1861. In September. 1861, Or.
Billings passed the army examining board,
and the following November was appointed
an acting assistant, surgeon. He was pro-
NOTED rapidly and received the brevet rank
of lieutenant colonel before the close of
the war, being confirmed in that rank by
promotion in 1894. After his service in
charge of tie Washington hospitals he par
and Gettysburg.
From October, 1862 to February, 1864, he
served on hospital duty at David's and
Bedloe's Islands, in the vicinity of New
York city; was sent on special mission to
West Indies: also acted on a board of
enrolment, after which became medical
inspector to the Army of the Potomac, and
in December, 1864. was ordered to the
surgeon generals office, Washington, where
he had charge of the organization of the
veteran reserve corps, of matters pertain
ing to contract physicians, and to all prop
erty and disbursing accounts until 1879:
also of the library of the surgeon generals
1883, as curator of the Army Medical Mu-
scum and library; medical adviser of the
board of trustees, Johns Hopkins Hospital.
DR.. Billings was engaged in the reor-
ganiZation of the United States marine
hospital service in 1870; was in 1S79-S2 vice
He is all active member CT large number
of medical and scientific societies and an
honorary member of the principal ones of
the world.