Evening star., 1902-04-10
EMINENT PHYSICIAN
Tributes to the Memory Of
DR.. W. w. Johnston.
SKILLED IN DIAGNOSES
QUALITIES WHICH MADE HIM
PROMINENT.
His Work in Connection With the City
Hospitals-Advocacy Of Sani-
tary Reforms.
SKILLED IN DIAGNOSES

large number of those who knew the
late DR.. w. w. Johnston respected his at
tainments in his profession and admired
him for his many excellent traits united
last evening in paying respect to his men,
ory. Memorial services were held under
the auspices of the Medical Society of the
District, and the assembly hall of Colum-
bian University was hardly adequate to
| accommodate all those who wished to at
tend. The great throng that filled the room
was an evidence of the love and respect in
| which this eminent practitioner was held
by the community. Beloved alike by his
associates in the profession and by those
| with whom he sustained the relation Of
family physician, the audience last evening
was a representative one of both of those
classes. In addition the young men, men,
bers of the classes in the medical school
of Columbian College, who sat under DR..
Johnston's teaching filled the gallery which
surrounds the hall and listened with appre-
cfative interest to the tributes which were
paid to their late professor.
In the body of the hall were seated a
large number of the members of the medi-
cal society, while all about were those who
knew DR.. Johnston as a physician. 1t was
a gathering animated by single purpose
to do honor to the memory of one who had
eEdeared himself to the community by his
unselfish and intelligent devotion to his
concerned the community.
The speakers of the evening each touched
upon the different phases of DR.. JohnSton's
busy life, and had the advantage of first
hand knowledge with their subject They
told what they knew with all the simplci-
ty and directness of personal testimony.
With the exception of DR.. William Osler of
Baltimore, all those who took part were
members Of the medical society.
The Introductory Address.
The president Of the society, DR.. Samuel
S. Adams. presided, and in an Introductory
address of much felicity of expression, as
well sincerity Of sentiment he spoke of
DR.. Johnston's life and work, especially in
connection with the Medical Society He
referred to the fact that DIR. Johnston. as
was the case with his father, the late DR..
w. P. Johnston had served as president Of
the society, and in the discharge of the
many duties in connection with its work as
well as in the wider range of his relations
with the professions and the public, he was
recognized as having peer. He believed
that such life of generous devotion would
not be soon forgotten. and in this connec-
ton he made the announcement that steps
have already been taken to endow the Uni
versity Hospital as the Johnston Memorial
Hospital. At its dedication. the speaker
added, the Medical Society of the District of
Columbia should have inscribed upon a
mural tablet:
William Waring Johnston. NJ. D..
Physician, Scholar. Counselor Teacher and
Conservator of the Public Health"
Biographical Sketch.
The biographical sketch of DR.. Johnston
was presented by DR.. A. F. A. King and
was a beautifully worded and appreciative
| account of the early years of his eminent
career. With the tenderness Of expression
that suggests strong personal attachment,
DIR. King followed the career from the
school days through the medical school and
hospital practice in this country and in
Europe to DR.. Johnstons return to this
city, where the young man of grave coun-
tenance and quiet, dignif1ed demeanor. be-
gan his life work. He pointed out the quail
tiles of steady persistence. industry as we'll
as wide sympathy, combined with a cul-
tivated mind, which gave him place at
the head of his profession.
He referred to the son who was following
| in his fathers footsteps, and was just en-
tering upon his active career as a practic-
ing physician:
of an admirable address by Dr. Henry D.
Fry, who, in his portraiture Of DIR. Johnston,
while mentioning only the characteristics
which were known to him well as to
many others, drew picture that might al
most be termed one of the ideal doctor. He
| spoke Of his quiet modesty and gentleness,
| and said that in an acquaintance Of great
! intimacy, which extended over a period of
| twenty-five years, he had never heard DR..
| Johnston make an ill-natured remark about
| any one He was a hard worker, and be-
| fore the days of the trained nurse he fire.
| quently closed a day of hard and exaeting
| toll by spending the night at the bedside
| of some particularly ill patient. He never
spared himself, but gave his time and
| strength to his profession. Only in late
| years did he spare even month in sum-
| mer for vacation, and when away he con-
tinued his work of correspondence with his
patients, or by preparing papers on medi-
cal topics. The bow was never unbent,
only loosened little.
As a Physician.
DR.. Johnston as a physician, was the
theme of a thoughtful and discriminating
tribute by DR.. William Osler of Baltimore.
He spoke of the threefold relations of q
physician-hs relation to his patients. to the
profession and to the worid-and showed
how fully DR.. Johnston made complete
these important demands upon his time and
his energy. In referring to his writings in
intestinal diseases he said that DR.. John
ston was recognized authority in that
department. His death, he said, was to be
deplored because it had deprived the world
OF ripeness of experience that was of the
utmost value. In some way, he added the
knowledge of such men as DR.. Johnston
should be preserved. He expressed regret
that the older men wrote SO little and the
younger man so much. There is too much
green fruit gathered, was his comment
A careful and jrdcious review of some
of the principal writings of DR.. Johnston
Was gwen Dy the next speaker, Dr. W alter
Reed. Special emphasis was laid on the
original work done by DR.. Johnston in his
investigation of typhoid fever and diseases
of the intestines. His qualities as clear
concise writer were pointed out and the
value of his conclusions was generally rec
ognized by the profession.
Work in the Glass Room.
'Dr Johnston in the Glass Room" was
the subject of a paper by DR.. Sterling Ruff
fin written with the degree of personal af-
feetion and devotion that Is only manifested
toward a well-beloved teacher 1t was
pointed out how DR.. Johnston who for
thirty-one years, occupied the chair of the
theory and practice of medicine In the CO.
lumbian Medical School, emphasized the
importance of exactness. and how he en-
deayored to teach the students the meth
DDS of diagnosis for which he was famous
More and more said DR.. Ruffin, DIR. John
ston inclined to increase the time given to
clinics. replacing that devoted to lectures.
His attitude toward young men, his spirit
of helpfulness and sympathy was spoken of
and the devotion of the juniors to one who
had achieved much and yet was able to
l1rl oolr 10