The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-19
TIE HIGHEST
OF H0NOR'S $;
Recent Election Of Dr.. Johnston,
Most Esteemed Among
American Surgeons.
LEADER AMONG PHYSICIANS
Has Long Been Recognized
Force in the Medical
World.

The greatest honor that can DO be-
slowed upon an American surgeon was
awarded to Virginian, when Or. George
Ben Johnston, of this city. was on Fri
day elected president Of the American
Surgical Association at Its twenty-fourth
annual meeting, held In st. Louis.
This association was founded In 1850,
with S, D. Gross, NJ d. LID, Of Phil
adelphid, as It's first president 1tt was
organized for the purpose OF bringing
into intimate relationship the leading sur
igeons OF the country. merit being tho
only title to membership The number
OF fellows was originally limited to ono
hundred, but with the growth OF the
country has since been Increased to one
hundred and twenty-five. At recent
tons for two vacancies. From this II
can be seen that the citizens OF Virginia,
and OF Richmond In particular. have rea.
son to feel proud Of the honor conferred
on one OF her surgeons.
The membership In this organization
has been composed entirely OF men OF
national and international reputation. DR..
Johnston Is a Virglnlan by birth and
descent, belonging to one Of the oldest
families in the State, a son Of tho 1ato
ronored and respected United states Sen
ator John w. Johnston, and a grandson
OF Governor Floyd.
Notwithstanding fatterlng offers from
New York and other prominent
medical centers received shortly az
ter his graduation. he determined
to cast his fortunes with his
native State, and located In Richmond In
1878, where he soon built up q large prac-
tice Ho always rad a decided feaning to-
wards surgery, and performed many
brilliant surgical operations. He was the
first surgeon in Virginia to perform all
operation under strict listclsm, which was
the beginning OF modern sceptc surgery.
Ills remarkable success In this field led
him to devote himself more and more to
this department of the healing art. until
In recent years he Is recognized as one
of the leading surgeons Of his city, of his
State and of his country. He has been
the recipient of every honor that could
be bestowed by his professional brethren
having been president of the Richmond
Academy of Medicine and Surgery, of the
Medical Society OF Virginia, OF the South
ern Surgical and genealogical Associa.
ton, and first yice-presdent of the
American Association Of Obstetricians and.
Gynecologlsts.
INTERNATIONAL HONORs.
ne In 1888 and 1896 lie was appointed an
official delegate on tho part OF the United
States to the Periodical genealogical
Congress-. In 1903 he was a delegate from
the United States to the Interna tlunal
Medical Congress in Madrid. and he has
recently been elected a member of the
international sHss1cal Society. which ls
composed of a limited number Of surgeol.>
or the world. In 1897 St. Francis Xavier
College, Of New York. conferred on him
the honorary degree Of LII, D. M
In 1893 he was elected professor of sur
gerry in the Medical College of Virginia.
to succeed the Iamented DR.. ]. S. dorsey
Cullen. and in future years he will be
most prominently remembered on nc
count or his connection with the advance
ment of medical education In his native
State.
DR.. Johnston's knowledge of his calling
showed hlmfve plainly that in order to
bring surgery to what 1t should be that
a thoroughly scientific and up-to-date
hospital was necessarily accomplish the
Mr. John L.! Williams and several other
gentlemen of the city and State led them
to build and equip the magnificent Memo
rial Hospital. which will stand for years
n monument to their generosity and pub
lie spirit, a haven OF rest TO the suffer-
ing and afflicted. a stimulus to the stu
dent or medicine and surgery. and a tri-
butte to the mind that conceived It,