Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-27

Well known Physician Passed Away
Last Evenina.

DIR Thomas l.. Axtelle died in his
parlors on Leavenworth street shortly
after IL o'clock last night. His health
was poor for some time past, but he
was in better spirits last night than
he had been for several weeks and
was playing q game of pinochle with
Harry Barton, his office man, when he
was stricken and passed away quick
ly. Mr. Barton assisted him into his
bedroom and summoned DIR Anderson.
The patient rallied and was able to lie
down without assistance. He ap-
peared to be feeling easier when he
was seized with vomiting and
later complained of a. violent pain in
the region of his heart. DR. Graves
was also summoned, but nothing could
be done to save him and after Sec
ond vomiting fit the end came. Med1-
cal Examiner Crane pronounced death
due to paralysis of the heart.
Thomas Lincoln Axtelle was born
in Allegheny, Pa, April %, 1853. He
graduated at the Tenth State Normal
school of Pennsylvania in 1872, vale-
dictorian Of his class, and some years
after entered the Bellevue hospital
medical college in New York city,
where he graduated, president of his
class, in 1880, and spent the
next four years at the Ran
dalps Island and other New
York hospitals. He came to Water
bury in 1884 and became a partner of
the late DIR Alfred North and has since
been a resident Of Waterbury. He
was one OF the best known physiciana
In New England and was held In the
highest esteem by members Of the
medical profession all over the state.
He was q member OF the State Medical
society and the Waterbury Medical as
ISOLATION, was surgeon of the Second
regiment, @. N. G., in 1895, and was
at times medical examiner for several
insurance companies, consulting sur.
geon on the staff of the Waterbury
hospital. medical examiner. for this
district. and coroner, and surgeon for
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford railroad several years, and up TO
his death member of the alumni OF
the Woman's hospital OF the state Of
New York. He was we'll posted on
current topics and could impart DO
those about him vast amount OF val
liable information In short time. In
critical cases his counsel was invarla>
bly, sought by other members of the
profession, and at one time he had q
large practice az consulting physician
He was a very charitable fellow and
did much during his practice In Wa
terbury to relieve suffering humanity
when he knew there was nothing in 1T
for him. He was kind to the younger
members Of the profession and never
failed to give them helping hand
whenever they called upon him, and
put many OF thenWOn the road to tnde-
pendence. affil 9dt
Speaking OF the death OF DR. Axtelle,
one of the younger members Of the
waterbury MedaHaY association said:
tsHe was an realistically brilliant man,
and as a diagn0stician was par excel
lenee. He always could give his rea-
sons in scientific manner for his
diagnosis and treatment of a case.
He was especially keen in realizing
the seriousness of surgical cases and
knew when to operate and when not
to operate. He was utterly opposed
to all operations where in his judg
ment a favorable result could not be
looked for. In this he was different
from many surgeons, who are ever
ready DO operate regardless of the
after effect DIR Axtelle felt that the
success OF surgical operation depAndv
ed more in many cases on the after
treatment than on the operation. He
was careful in the number of drugs
he prescribed In an individual case,
and did not prescribe for the sake OF
prescribing. Up to few years ago
he was an enthusiastic attendant at
medical meetings, and the younger
men always greatly enjoyed his dis.
cussions on medical subjects He was
very positive man and when he dag
nosed case he felt sure that he was
right, and 1t was on these occasions he
demonstrated his wonderful knowledge
of medicine and surgery. DR. Axtelle
will be missed from the local medical
profession and 1t may be many day
before we shall see his equal again.