The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-06
death OF DR.. HAMMOND
The Eminent Surgeon Expires After
a Half Heur's Illness.
His stormy Career i'm the United
States Army Twice Dismissed
From the Service - DISTINGUISHED
for His Rcscarchcs Into the Cause
and Cure of Nervous Diseases.


William 4. Hammond. formerly Surgeon
General OF the United States Army, died
last evening at about O'Clock at his resi-
dence. eS0o Thirteenth Street northwest,
this city
DR.. Hammond was stricken with an
alarming illness about $50 O'Clock. and
Dr. W W. Johnston was hurriedly sum
moned. Nothing. however could help the
distinguished sufferer and he died in half
an hour Dr. Johnston declined to give his
opinion OF the cause of death. saying he
preferred 10 await until after a consulta-
tien this morning.
Mrs. Hammond was prostrated by the
sudden taking of Of her husband. and no
arrangements had been made last night
looking toward the funeral.
William a. Hammond was born in An
napolis. Md. on August *. 1925 After
n rudmentary education in his native city
he took up the study of medicine and grad
uated from the University of the City Of
New York and entered the Army in lSi9
In 1859 he resigned to accept the chair of
anatomy and physiology in the University
Of Maryland. but at the beginning Of the
Civil War again entered the military sery-
fee, and was assigned TO the general or
ganization of the hospitals at Frederick.
Hagerstown. and Baltimore. Nd. The
United States Sanitary Commission urged
his appointment rs Surgeon General of
the Army. and he was appointed. with the
rank of brigader general. He at once in
stituted radical changes in the official
routine of the department, established the
Army Medical Museum, and suggested the
Medical and Surgical History of the Re
bellion
Charges Of Irregularities in the award
ment OF liquor contracts were made
against him. and in 1864 he was tried by
court-lnartial and dismissed from the
Army. In general the charges preferred
alleged Disorder and neglect Of duty;
conduct unbecoming an officer and gen
tiernan: conduct 10 the prejudice Of good
order and military discipline
There were many specifications. most
of them concerning irregularities and cor
Tuption in connection with the purchase
of medical and hospital supplies. He was
sad 10 have directed Christopher c. Cox,
acting purveyor in Baltimore. 30 receive
a supply OF blankets from William c.
Stephens of New York. which blankets
were found afterward to be quite unfit
for use. He was charged also with bav-
ing agreed to purchase from John Wyeth
d Bro manufacturing druggists. with
headquarters at Philadelphia. an indefinite
quantity OF medical supplies. :.
Mai. Gen. r. j. oglesby presided over the
court which tried General Hammond. The
associate officers we're Brig. Gems. ". s.
Harvey. ". W. Morris. A. 7. Howe. John
Z. Slough. ii. z. Paine. and J. {. STARK
weather. Four months were spent in hear.
ing testimony aud considering the verdict
Whcr the record was completed IL wa
found % consist Of e.69a manuscript pages
Dr. Hammond was found guilty as 10 most
of the specifications and sentenced to he re-
moved from the service. This finding Pres
ident Lincoln. after much 1eliboTa licn. ap-
proved. He al once removed 10 New York
where he engaged In pra- -tice making a
specially OF diseases Of the nervous system. .
From 1861 TO 1873 he was professor CT dis 4
eases OF the mind and nervous sys-sn in
Bellevue Hospital Medical College. and was
elected to a similar chair IN the University
o. the City OF New York Re remained
there until 1852. when he became one of
the founders OF the New York Post Grad
uate Medical School. He also delivered lee 4
lures on his specially in the University Of
Vermont and in 1879 became physician OF
the Now York State Hospital for Diseases .
OF the Nervous System.
In 1873 a bill WAS introduced in Congress 4
aGthorlzing the President tG review the /
court martial by whose sentence he had 4
been dismissed from the service and il jus 1
tice demanded TO reinstaie the Surgeon
General The bill passed unanimously in .
the House, and with but one dissenting
vote in the Senate, that of Preston B. 4
Plumb Of Kansas. and In August, 1879, /
President Hayes reinstated him as Sur
geon General OF the Army with the rank
and pay OF brigadier general, and le was
retired.
About seven or eight years ago, Dr.
Hammond again became involved in trou-
bic with the Army authorities. this time
because of bis connection with the prepara-
ton and manufacture OF certain propri-
tary medicines. In addition 10 being inter
ested in a company formed for the pur-
pose OF exploiting the medicines prepared
according to DR. Hammond's formulas, he
Was at that time conducting a large san
itarium in Mount Pleasant. this city. II
WAS considered that his connection with the
institutions mentioned was unprefession-
al and he was again removed from the
Army.
From that time DR.. Hammonds fortunes
began to wane. His company did not pros
per. and before long he was compelled to
sanitarium WAS one OF the largest and
most completely equipped in the United
States. The interior court was rooted
over with glass, making Il a tropical
garden the year round II has. since been
sold and transformed into the Hotel Stat
ford. and is operated as a fashionable
apartment house. Dr. Hammond's man
sion In Mount Pleasant was one OF the
in the city. II was almos;
as large as his sanitarium, and like it had
an interior court rooted with glass, and
fitted with tropical plants and surrounded
xith galleries. Unfortunately for him.
while he recognized the growth Of the
city toward the northwest he located his
house considerably out OF the line OF ex-
and was never able TO dispose
Of II az anything like its cost, which was
about sZ50,000. Just before the holiday re-
cess a bill was introduced into the House
Of Representatives directing the President
10 again restore DR.. Hammond to his rank
In the Army and retire him, and there
was strong probability that 1t would
have passed had DIR. Hammond lived.