New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-20

generation OF captain Thomas Fleet the founder OF
the Fleet family in this country, who came 10
America In 1850 and settled at Northport, Long
Island. Captain Thomas Flee. whose full name 10
England Fleetwood was at one time an OFFICER
in the British army. He wealthy. and became
one Of the Original patentcas Of Huntington, Long
Island.
Dr. Speir when a boy studied a. the POLYTECHNIC
Institute and also under a private tutor lie hrs'
took up the study OF medicine In 1871, ~heh ne
ma circulated IN the Medical Department OF the Uni
versity Of New-York. He graduated In 1850,
having received in the course OF his studies the
Mott god media and the Van Buren, prize for
scholarship. The Wood prize was also awarded to
him at Bellevue Hospital. After his graduation he
studied for eighteen months In Europe attending
numerous hospitals ard clinics. 1t was at this time
that plaster OF paris spnts first introduced IN
Europe DR. Spelr became interested In them anu
recognizing the immense value they woud haNe -, =,
the treatment Of the injured soldiers IN inc .Ni.
War he returned 10 this country IN me IAN u
1862 after calling the attention Of the Inltea
states Sanitary Commission to the spin,s ana was
sent 20 visit the Army Of the Potomac. For severai
months particularly at the battle OF Seven fheS'
he superntended the applying Of the splints to
hundreds of wounded soldiers.
In 1863 he opened his office in Brooklyn but IN
1884 he again visited Europe where he pursued
special studies in ophthalmology and otoiogy Upon
his return TO this country he was recognized as one
OF the promising and ablest OF PHYSICIANS hc'
ony in Brooklyn but in the State, and was made
the surgeon Of the Brooklyn Eye ard Ear lnfirn-
ary.r "a.
In 1853 DR.. Speir called upon to treat num-
Der of cases of jaundice. His observations led him
to adopt a theory regarding the disease ana lts
treatment widely differing from that previously hell
He wrote a paper on his work entitled the "a
thoogy Of Jaundice." Tor which he received gold
medal from the American Medical Association. In
1871 he contributed through The Medical Gazette
Of New York a valuable series Of papers on The
Use Of the Microscope in Morbid Growths, with a
new method for determining the diagnosis pr TS
careful study and deep research shown 10y thest
writer's OF the time and his wide reading and pro
found study Of all discoveries and appliances IN
use in MS profession gained him considerable repu-
tation. In 1871 ne introduced "a method of ar
resting surgical hemorrhage by the artery con-
strictor" This appliance was designed for the in
Simultaneous hermeic closure of arteries without
the OF ligature other foreign substance being
left in the wound. This method proved to be an
immense Improvement over old ones and vas uni
yersa adop,ed he wrote on ths su9sc5 an
prize awarded by the New-Yorh State Medical So
Or. sper had been leading member Of numer-
Gus medical societies. in nearly all OF which he
been connected Win many hospitals He served at
different times as physician. curator microscopic
geon 10 the tuInOr cancer department OF the
Brooklyn cry Pspfnsary and Is
M sa 6e" the X State s9s Medca socey
the New-York Pathological oc.eiy, the Kns
County Medical Society, the New.York Medic la
Of The mternatioonel Medical Congress held in
Home for Children, and was leader in thu Lake;
wood enterprise He founded the Helping Hand
Charitable Institutions In Brooklyn.
a handsome summer home at Bensonhurst. over
looking Gravesend Bay. He was the organizer Of
time Of his death. He gave much attention TO the
raising Of domestic and exotic flowers and shrubs.
AS en admrer and breeder OF valuable setter dogs
ne gained wide reputation, and had extensive
kennels at Robins Island and near his Bath Beach
mails and his big collection Of prize ribbons
dog shows are an indication OF his success.
& M aa "9 En1s sa o @ The ms smcns
ST. Elmo and the celebrated Mazda and Emperor
fTed ,S XII r Ss ms arTicf Pyancess eyeman
daughter OF Peter Hegeman, who survive. him, to-
he had an unusually strong attachment, died sud
denly few years ago, and this loss affected DR.
bother OF Dr, Robert speir, physician in Abel
phl-st His Wiz is in san!t1rium. and the many
e GHy has, es d'f his dsath o' '''e years
Or speir was an eccentric and extremely sens-
had Withdrawn largely from professional connec-
before medical societies and their critical reception
afterward associated intimately with many brother
physicians' although his practice among wealthy
Heghts, was large. At one time he probably
earned $2 900 $1,000 n year. but his practice had
declined somewhat Of recent years: He was gem
surgeon one connection ne retained OF late years
was the office of surgeon OF the Brooklyn Hos
no man began practice with brighter future
before nm man s hs pbvcan Who wo EI ye en5
his profession in Brooklyn, and the decay OF those
prospects in some ways was undoubtedly due, In
and conded the lat years Of his life ,.
at ESQ oci5ck at the second p chuTeh
al Rensen ana CLINTON sts.