The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-11
THE STORY OF A DOCTOR.
How Ex-surgeon General Hammond
Cured a Patient.

Cured a Patient.
once in a while I run across a doctor
who maintains the old-time dignity of the
medical profession. Recently two have
turned up who do not speak to ex-Sur-
geon General Hammond, u S. A., because
he patented certain nerve cures and ad-
vertised them. At one time they were
Hammond's warm friends and adherents.
All came from Maryland where the sur
geon was born in 1928. He is now in
Washington, after a brilliant career, con-
Quoting sanitarlum. Probably he is
rich. He became an assistant surgeon
in the army In 1849, and was retired by
special act Of Congress in 1879 as briga-
der general.
Passing David's Island, in the sound.
near New Rochelle, the other day | was
reminded fOrcibly of the time. thfrty-five
years ago, when the federal government
had several hundred Confederate prisoners
of war there In hospitals. Hammond
came one day In gold braid and lace, ropes
and tassels to make an inspection, and
such a gathering Of lovely matrons you
never saw before. They came from New
York I'm low neck and short sleeves ono
of the more conspicuous was Mrs. James
Gordon Bennett-the elder, of course-who
was Miss Henrietta Agnes Cream in her
early days a poor but accomplished music
teacher. Hammond was as great a hero
then as Hobson was a few weeks ago.
Some of the women kissed him The
prisoners looked with amazement on bare
necks and shoulders In the hight of the
afternoon-something they never had seen
in the South.
do not Tecollect why Hammond was
dismissed from the service, but he was in
1854. In 1879 he was restored to rank and
retired He had resigned before the war
to accept a professorship in the Univer-
sity of Maryland but went to the front
at the first call in 1861. After his retire
ment he opened an Office in the house
where DIR. Chauncey Depew lived or lives,
and entered upon an extensive and highly
lucrative practice as a specialist on dis
eases Of the nervous system. Thousand
visited him for relief His anterooms
were filled from morning to night with
waiting patients. A big negro man from
Baltimore called to each I'm Turn, and IL is
said that he never made a mistake.
To visit Hammond in those great days
cost $l5. He visited nobody. People must
go to him. He sat behind long green
table, and as patients deposited their mon
ey he knocked the bills into q common
pile with the end Of a stick. Touch mon
ey2 Not on your life. Large plies grew
as the day advanced. and In the evening
the man servant folded and pressed each
note for deposit on the morrow.
One day a man went to see Hammond.
bearing a letter of introduction After
waiting an hour and half he was admit
ted 10 the august presence. Are you a
brother Of So-and-So?' asked the surgeon.
He Is my brother" was the reply.
Then, how IL il ] never met you before?
! knew you father and mother, your two
brothers and your sisters" IT saw you
at David's Island when you came there
to make an inspection ! was lying on a
cot in the lawn tent" You recognized
me7' "Of course" why didn't YOU
make yourself known? I would have done
anything for you" Il was being very
well treated and had no complaints TO
make. Besides ] wasn't anxious 10 in
crease my list Of acquaintance" what
Is the matter with your" II haven't the
remotest idea" How long have you
been troubled2" About six years"
The SURGEON made brief examination.
then, as The patient expressed 1t after
ward. shot charge Of lightning" through
the back Of his neck. Did you feel THAR"