The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-11-08

were so badly shattered that they
were united into one organization.
In the summer of 1868, he was
invited to take the examination at
Cincinnati for the rank of surgeon of
volunteers. This correspondent iden-
tically with the regular army rank
OF brigade surgeon in examination,
pay, authority--in fact, everything
but permanency, for it was under
stood that the surgeons OF volunteers
would be mustered out at the end of
the war, while the regular army po-
sitions were for life.
DR.. Perkins accepted the invitation
to make application for the appoint
ment and as expected the order to re-
port for examination came. Then fol-
lowed the most thorough examina-
ton, undoubtedly, ever given during
the war, for the questions asked and
answered in examination for this i'm
portant post consumed ten days Of
hard work DR.. Perkins passed with
so high a rating that he received, to
get him on the rolls properly, first
his assistant surgeons commission
and the next day was promoted to
the full surgeonship. This commits
sion, signed by Abraham Lincoln, was
one of the doctors dearest posses
sions and is dated October 81, 1868,
one day after his 4Srd birthday. He
retained this rank until the close of
the war.
During the last months of the
struggle, he was surgeaon of cavalry
and at the windup when the troops
were sent home, was placed in
charge of hospital at Nashville,
When he finally asked to be allowed
to resign in the fall Of 1865, he was
on October 16, brevetted Lieutenant
Colonel for gallant and meritorius
service to his country.
The wa, time days were ones of
many responsibilities, hard work
and danger. He was in the saddle
constantly for days at time, search
locating hospitals, and obtaining
medicines and supplies. Escapes
narrow escapes-from capture were
not uncommon. After the battle Of
Chickamauga, as an example of the
work OF the medical department, it
took four days to make first dress
lrgs on the wounded.
His colleague during some Of these
campaigns was DR.. Samuel Gross,
since dead who located at Phila-
delphia after the war and made a
worldwide reputation as a surgeon.
There were few higher field surgeons
in learning, authority and ability,
than Drs. Perkins and Gross.
After the war, DR.. Perkins return
ed to New York md took another
course at the College of Physicians
and Surgeons before again taking up
his practice here. His fame as sur
geon had preceded him and in the
post bellum days and for years after,
he was regarded as an authority on
abdominal surgery, as well as on gen
eral lines. He was widely sought for
consultation.
But it was as home practitioner
that DR.. Perkins won the best kind
of fame-the love and respect of his
fellow-townsmen. In Owosso and
Shia wassee county he was the court
of last resort. Distance and weather
conditions never were weighed by
him when call from the suffering
came. And the lack of money made
no difference. To rich and poor
alike his best skill was freely given
Despite his kindness to those who
could not pay, he made large sums of
money, but with a regal generosity
he distributed it in charity. To a
tale of distress his heart was never
closed.
For years, Billy, doc Perkins
Old White Horse" was familiar
sight on the country roads and city
streets. The doctors services were
so much in demand that he could
only sleep at odd moments and so he
invariably took nap coming home
from country calls.
Billy seemed to feel the RESPONSE
bility which was his at such times.
He would strike steady gait, give
all teams their half of the road and
without accident land the doctor at
his gate. The death of Billy was sin
cerely mourned by many to whom
he had been a messenger of hope
when hope seemed fed.
CT A ri m nm 0V<