New-York tribune., 1896-11-22

Benjamin Ward Richardson was born October
81. 1925 In Somerby. Le!cestershire. England. lie
was educated at a private school OF the county
and 1T Anderson's University. Glasgow. lie then
studied medicine the University of st. Andrews.
Glasgow. whore he was graduated IN 1854 He won
the Fo.herglllian medal and the As;icy Cooper
prize for essays on medical subjects. and In 1883
received the honorary degree OF NJ. a. from the
unversty In 1856 he became member OF the
Royal College Of Physicians and elected a fell
los Of the college In 1851 -..-
In 1855 Dr.. Richardson carried on experimental
researches on the nature OF the poisons OF the
spreading contagious diseases which resulted IN tho
detection OF a special poisonous product common
to these posons. TO which he gave the name OF
septine In 1856 he discovered the uso Of the ether
spray for local anaesthesa IN surgical operations.
and also introduced methylenc bichorde as gen.
era anaesthetic. and the use OF nitric OF amyl
intetanus He founded and edited for some years
THE journal ot Public Health" and efterward
'The Social Science Review"
Or. Richardson contributed many papers TO these
and Other medical and scientific periodicals In the
line OF exploiting 'hs experimental method as
means OF advancing the medical profession they
included monographs on the study OF disease by
synthesls, tho restoration OF life after various
forms - apparent death, the maintenance OF life
Fictitious investigation OF the
theory OF nervous atmosphere. the effects OF
electricity animal life. methods OF killing ami
mails without tho ncictlon OF pain. which led to
his invention OF tho "cthal chamber" now largely
used for this purpose: and numerous papers on new
medicines and modes OF treating diseases
The subject that brought Or. Richardson before
tho largest public. however and attracted the most
widespread interest TO his work. WAS his nvestiga-
ton into hygiene especially tho effect OF alcohol on
tho human system. and his prominence sup
porter OF total abstinence. lie was one OF the chtet
authorities in England upon which total abstainers
and proh!bi,ionisis retreat for scientific and med.
ici.l support and confirmation. and an unwearied
advocate OF their views. He delivered n series or
lectures this subject before the Society OF Arts
.n the Cantor course. In lS+75. which attracted
great attention. In 1875 he made an address before
the Social Scierce Congress at Brighton. giving
sketch Of imaginary Model City OF Health TO
be called iiygea. and this too aroused much dis
to the study of the diseases Incident TO modern
civilization. Between 1854 and 1899 hc published
quarterly The Asclepiad book OF original re-
search and observation on the science. art and
literature OF medicine preventive and curative, all
the work being from his own pen. Ho has also pub
lished volumes In the field Of general literature
'"rhe Son OF Star: a Romance of the Second
Century," and Thomas Sopwith. Biography"
He actively interested In bicycling. and was
president OF the Society OF Cyclists
DR.. Richardson was president of the Medical So
cicty of London. and was thirty-two times elected
president OF the ST Andrew Medical Graduates
Association and was honorary physician 10 tho
Royal Literary Furd, the newspaper Press Fund
and the National Society OF Schoolmasters. and In
his long and distinguished career had received
many honors from foreign scientific societies. The
University OF ST. Andrew conferred the degree OF
LII. d. on him In 1877. He was kn!ghted I'm 1893