The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-05-29
A NOBLE CHARACTER.
DIR. Jas. A. Dibrell's Life Was One
Which Lends Lustre to the
Medical Profession of
the State.


Medical Profession of
the State.
From the little Rock Democrat
During the memorial services held
by the Arkansas Medical Society, DR..
C. S. Gray. of this city, spoke as fol-
lows of the late DR.. James A. Dibrell,
of Van Buren,, father of Drs. J. A
and E. R. Dibrell, of this city:
MR.. CRAIRMAN-While have known
DR.. Jas. A. Dibrell, Sr., for many
years l had not the privilege of an
intimate acquaintance with him.
Nevertheless my medical life, as well
as that of every other physician who
began the practice as young man in
north Arkansas, was influenced to
greater or less degree by his example.
When l came to this state about
twenty five years ago, among the
medical men in the territory bounded
ON the north by Missouri, on the south
by Arkansas river, on the west by the
Cherokee Nation, and stretching away
to the east for more than hundred
miles, two names led all the rest.
These were DR.. Thomas Jefferson
Pollard and Dr. Jas. A. Dibrell.
say this with every degree of respect
for the physicians who lived there then
and were prominent, and who deserved
ly retain their prominence to this day.
/ feel that l will be pardoned for
associating for moment the name of
Dr.. Pollard with that of Dr. Dibrell. |
am sure if DR.. Dibrell could speak he
would not object to such an association
with that grand and venerable nestor in
medicine who died only few years
ago. These gentlemen located in that
part of the state, one in the northern
and the other in the southern extremity
section comparatively new, where
nature had been lavish in the bestowal
of all that makes a country great,
already populated by a people thrifty,
honest, intelligent and hospitable, but
in which there were few if any
graduates in medicine. These gentle.
men had been trained for years in the
very best medical schools of the
country. Their professional attain
ments would adorn the greatest capitals
in our land Not only were they good
physicians, but their literary acquire
ments were of the highest order, They
met with speedy appreciation from the
people among whom they had deter
mined to live, and at once began tc
establish the more than enviablt
regulations which survived unsullied
through lives greater in length than is
granted to the vast majority of mankind
regulations which rose above the
bitter prejudices engendered by civil
war regulations which will survive fol-
generations to come. In time they
became the standards by which other
medical men were measured, very otter
to the discontinue of the one who
attempted to fill the measure. Theil
ethical conduct, always above reproach
inspired and compelled the imitation Of
their confreres. Even the laity by
observing them learned what was
courtesy between honorable physicians,
and respected them more for Its
observance. The manifest confidence
in their professional skill, while it could
not and did not exceed that which they
deserved, was and must have gone fal
to compensate for the arduous toi
incident to the extensive practices
which they possessed. If delicate OIL
difficult surgical operation was to bt
done, or the wisest consultation was
needed in a grave case of illness, nc
matter where in the large territory
which have described one or the Other
of these men was sent for. They
directed medical sentiment to high
plane; they inspired the younger ant
less gifted members of the profession
with whom they came in contact tt
emulate their habits of study and pains
taking care in discharge of duty. No
only were they distinguished doctors
they were good and honorable citizens.
In every enterprise which had for it'
object the betterment of their people
and the improvement of their country
they were conspicuous. Their cult
waited manners as well as their unvary
ing politeness found ready imitatori
among their numerous admirers. TIL,
patient. widespread influence for goot
which these men exercised was felt moi
only by members of the medical pro.
fession but by those in every other call
ing in the avenues of trade and com.
merce, in every grade of society.
/ saw DR.. James A. Dibrell for the
first time many years ago in Fayette.
vile, Ark. | recall with distinctness
his appearance-his face, strong; his
tall, spare frame elegantly but incon-
spicuously dressed his hair and beard
then even quite gray. His was a per-
sonality which would have been marked
in any assembly for everything that