Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

was accustomed to visit with great regu-
larity. and where he was as welcome as
member Of the family. To these his
death will come as great blow.
Librarian spOffords Tribute.
Mr.. Spofford. the librarian Of Congress.
was much shocked and grieved at the
news Of the sudden death of his friend. For
five and thirty years he had known the
doctor. had aided him in his collection of
books and in his historical researches. and
had been associated with him in half q
dozen literary and scientific societies.
He was" said Mr.. Spofford, lone Of the
most genial and delightful companions I
have ever known: He had that natural
bonhomie and pleasant address which
made him a welcome visitor, and his en-
trance into a room seemed like CLEAN of
sunshine. He was lifelong student and
investigator. and his printed contributions
to history and biography were numerous.
Besides his work on the medical men of
the revolution. and his three recently edit
ed journals of George Washington, he had
Just completed an elaborate unpublished
study Of the pre-revolutionary services
and campaigns of Gen. Forbes Of the Brit
1sh army in America, an obscure historical
subject, respecting which but little ls
known.
DIR. Toner'S public spirit was well IL
lustrated in his free gift to the public,
through the Congressional Library, of his
valuable collection of books, pamphlets. pc
cepted by Congress III 1892 and the Toner
library. which will occupy a permanent
place In one Of the corner pavilions OF the
new library building. has been annually in
creased by the donor. He frequently ex-
pres sed his intention to leave by will n
fund to trustees for the increase of his
collection in the direction most desired by
him.
DIR. Toner was affiliated with many So
c1etles besides the strictly professional or
medlcal ones He was leading officer of
the Washington Monument Society and one
OF the Oldest members of the Literary So
clety. the Philosophical Society, etc He
bore leading part, with the late Dr. ]. c.
cling and others, in the formation of the
columbia Historical Society, which it was
his privilege and pleasure to welcome to
ms spacious apartments on Massachusetts
avenue at its regular monthly meetings
he was its first president. S1d continued
| as such by reelection for three years past.
AS a member Of society DIR. Toner'S in
tercourse was extensive rather than init
mate. except with few friends of very
| long standing, to whom he was strongly
attached, and with whom he never tired Of
conversing. He was the soul of hospitality,
and his bountiful spreads when he enter
| tanned at his mansion some of the societies
OF which he was member have left a
| pleasant memory in the minds of very
| many people. beverage which became
| widely known as the Toner punch" serv-
| ed In an immense and capacious punch
| bowl, and kept constantly replenished was
the medium for many a gracious toast as
health and reunion were drunk around the
| board.
| His removal from the world. sudden and
| Unforeseen as 1t was, and carrying with it
| the keen regrets Of his hosts of friends,
| was by no means sorrowful or untimeiy
simply 1t closed in placid sleep. without
! and useful life-a euthanasy to be enyied
| rather than deplored."
His Long and Active Career.
Dr
Pittsburg April 80. 1926. His parents were
Lancaster county. Pa, people, Of Irish
| descent. He received his classical educa-
ton at the Western Pennsylvania Univer-
/ sity and at st. Marys College. His med:-
cal studies were pursued at the Vermont
Academy of Medicine in 1850 and at the
Jefferson Medical College. from which. in
| 1853. he was graduated with the degree
| of doctor of medicine.
After residing for brief periods in Sum-
nit and Pittsburg. Pa, and at Harpers
Ferry. w. Va, he established himself in
this city in 1850 He was a member of
the American Medical Association. and in
| 1873 served as its president, and was also
president Of the American Public Health
| Association in 1874. He was also con-
nected with the Medical Association of the
District Of Columbia and Medical Society
of the District of Columbia, and at va
rious times filled leading offices in both
ORGANIZATIONS In 1910 ne was d uelCSdte
to and one Of the vice presidents of the
international medical congress, which met
at Philadelphia, and a vice president and
registrar Of the ninth International con-
gress in 1887. His name is also borne on
the rolls Of several Of the prominent med
zeal societies in the country.
Since 1856 he has been physician to ST.
Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum and for a
| in St. vincents Orphan Asylum and St
AIMS Infant Asylum. He was largely
| instrumental in the founding Of Providence
Hospital. and was on it's staff of physi-
| clans for long period.
Interest in Science and Literature.
Being aware OF the perishable nature of
| the early medical literature of this coun-
| try, he devised a plan for a repository of
| medical works by the American Medical
| Association. that should be under the con-
| troll of the medical profession and located
in this city. This collection contains now
| over G.0O0 volumes, and is deposited in the
| Smithsonian Institution.
| In 1871 he founded the Toner lectures
placing $1,000. since increased to 5000 in
| the hands of trustees, who are charged with
| the duties of procuring two lectures an
nualy containing some new fact valuable
! to medical science. The interest of this
fund. except 10 per cent, which is annually
| added to the principal is paid to the authors
| Of the lectures, which are included in the
| regular Smithsonian publications. This
| was the first course of lectures endowed in
| this country on these conditions.
In 1875 and for three subsequent years he
gave the Toner medal at Jefferson Medical
College to the person presenting the best
| thesis embodying the results of original
| investigation, and for many years he do
mated a medal to the Georgetown Unfyer-
| sity to the student who should collect and
name the greatest number of specimens in
any department of the natural sciences
His entire library, consisting of 2S. 600
books and $4,000 pamphlets, he presented in
| 1852 to the general government, and this
| library Is now portion of the Congress
| SIGNAL Library known as 1.-THE Toner Col
| lection 1t is required by law to be kent
| separate from the other books in the library
| and treated as rare books.
Important Medical Publications.
OF his more important medical publiea-
| tions may be mentioned: Abortion in a
Medical and Moral Aspect" 1861; ARREST
| of Development Of the Cranial Bones-En,-
lepsy," 1851; Maternal Instinct or Love. -
| 1854; "Propriety and Necessity of Com
| pelling Vaccination" 1865; History of In
oculation in Pennsylvania" 1865; "Anni-
versary Grafton Before the Medical Society
Of the District Of Columbia" 1858; the
Portability Of Cholera and Necessity for
Quarantine" 1S66-joint paper with DR..
Charles A. Lee; History of Inoculatfon