Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13

the successor of DR. Godding. Aside from
the fact that the appointment would be
following the idea of civil service as
matter of promotion. DIR. Wilmer has
grown up with the institution and has
knowledge Of its affairs that no outsider
could possess.
the Secretary to order an examination to
establish eligible register. This vas
done in the Freedmen's Hospital case. and
is another way of shifting responsibility.
Secretary Hitchcock said to a repOr er
for The Star this morning that there Is no
immediate prospect of the appointment of
superintendent at st. Eliza beth's. 1t is
an inDOrtdnt pos ton. he said and ne de-
sires time to carefully study the conditions.
He said several applications have been re-
ceived already. but cal ed attention TO the
fact that the position is protected by the
civil service.
DR.. Winners Career.
DR.. A. H Wilmer born in Lancaster
county. Pa. April 10, 1Si5 His early edu-
cation was obtained through instruction OF
private tutors and in local academies. Ha W
ing entered upon the study of medicine
when quite young. ne had the distinction of
graduating from Jefferson Medical College
in Philadelphia, Pa, before he was twenty
one years of age, and upon his twenty-first
birthday anniversary he was engaged in
practicing his profession in the hospitals of
Philadelphia being particularly connected
with the work going on in the department
for the insane OF the Philadelphia City Hos
pitaL About the same time DR.. Wilmer be-
came engaged as a private teacher OF anat-
omy and later became demonstratOr of
anatomy al his alma mater, Jefferson Med
teal College, remaining in this position for
five years. After this he served as demon
strator of anatomy at the University of
Pennsylvania for several years.
1t was In September 1876. that DR.. Wit
mer called TO the Government Hospital
for the Insane to take charge of the male
department as third assistant physician I'M
der DIR. Charles II. Nichols, who was then
superintendent.
Twice Promoted.
After a short time he was advanced to
the position of second assistant physician
under the late superintendent, Dr. w w.
GOdding, and later was again promoted,
this time to the post of first assistant ply
stefan in charge Of the female department,
which position he has held for the past
fifteen years In 1881 he found his health
becoming somewhat impaired, and secured
leave Of absence for six months, without
pay, and went to Europe During his trip
he visited the majority of English asylums
for the insane, noting the methods in treat
ing insanity and in caring for the patients.
During this time he acted as a delegate
from the Government Hospital to the in
ternatiOnal medical congress at London.
While making this tour he also visited asy-
lumS III France and spent some time at
st. AIMS Asylum for the Insane In Paris,
as the guest of the well-known DR.. Beau
chereau. In 1890 Dr.. Wilmer was again
abroad and spent half year in touring the
continent, visiting hospitals and asylums
in Germany. Italy, France and going into
Turkey, Egypt and Algiers. He again
acted as delegate to the International med
ical congress. this time at Berlin. He has
made other trips abroad and has been an
extensive traveller T.. his own country as
well.
DR.. Wilmer is member Of the National
Geographic Society, and IS also connected
with prominent medical societies. including
| those of the District. He is the medical
staff Of the Georgetown University Medical
College He has published an interesting
work on Insanity in the ColOred Race"
He has acted superintendent of ST.
Etizabeths many times during DIR. God
d!ngs absence on leave. and, having been
conhdant of the late superintendent Is be-
| heved to be better able than any other man
TO continue his policy