The Washington herald., 1907-08-04

After an Illness OF only ten days. DR..
William Thomson, formerly Of Washing
ton, the ophthalmologist and pioneer in
the discovery Of autseptic treatment
died yesterday morning at his home
1895 Walnut street Philadelphia.
The funeral viii be held Tuesday morn
ing at Il o'clock. No further arrange
ments have been made.
Dr. Thomson was taken Ill on July %
with an affection Of the kidneys. which
developed into uraemia. The trouble
yielded to a weeks treatment, but was
suddenly succeeded by heart trouble.
which. owing to failing health and his
advanced years, he could not overcome.
He is survived by his widow, four sons.
and two married daughters.
His career was chiefly remarkable in
that he was the first man who grasped
the idea of giving immediate care to the
wounded on battlefield. After the battle
of Antietam, during the civil war. Gen.
Mcclellan gave DIT. Thomson complete
charge of the field and help 10 carry out
his projects. Farmhouses were utilized
and tents erected for the care OF the
wounded, instead of sending them 20
large central hospital, as had always been
the plan. The great saving Of life which
resulted caused this system TO be followed
out by all the armies of the world. Ii
was the initial plan Of first aid 10 the
injured"
DR.. Thompson was also the first to do
microscopic work on the battlefield, and
his researches resulted in his turning his
attention to ophthalmology.
Proposed Color Tests.
In 1SSS he proposed tests Of the eyes Of
locomotive engineers and seamen for color
blindness. which only affects the colors
red and green. Since these colors are
universally used on land and sea for sig
nal lights, it occurred 10 him that q strin-
gent eye test would result in the saving
of lives. The project was first tested on
the Pennsylvania Railroad, and is gen
orally followed the world over.
DIT. Thomson. although best known as
an ophthalmologist. had previously won
fame as a surgeon. soldier, and author.
He was horn January N. 1888. at Cham
bersburg. Pa, being a soTF Of Alexander
Thomson, Ii. D., Of that place. and is
descended from Scotch ancestors, who
came 10 this country more than CEN
tury ago. He was educated at the Cham
bersburg Academy. and began his medi-
cal studies in his native town, in the
office Of Or. John c. Richards.
He studied pharmacy for some months
in Philadelphia, and, after finishing his
pupilage with his brother. Alexander
Thomson, at Mount Savage, Nd. went to
Philadelphia, and in 1855 was graduated
from Jefferson Medical College. In 1861.
having passed an examination before the
medical board. he entered the regular
army and was placed on duty before the
battle Of Bull Run with the Army of the
Potomac. with which he served until the
close Of the war.
COmpIimented by Lincoln.
At the battle Of South Mountain. DR..
Thomson was left in sole charge Of the
field, and found food. shelter. transporta-
tion, and surgical aid for 2,500 wounded
men, burying both the Union and Con-
fedeTate dead. For this he was compli-
mented BY President Lincoln. After the
battle Of Antietam he was instrumental
in bringing about several important re-
forms in the medical field service. In 1855
he was given charge Of the Douglas Hos
pital in Washington. In 1864 he was
chosen medical inspector of the depart
ment at Washington, where he remained
till the close of the war.
In 1866 he organized and had charge OF
a hospital for children in Washington
After receiving two brevets for distin-
guished services he passed successfully
his second examination before the army
board, and in 1861 was promoted and sent
10 Louisiana The following year he re-
signed and returned TO civil life In 1851
De introduced the local use Of carboIiC
acid as a disinfectant in the treatment OF
wounds. Together with Dr. William F
Norris, he showed the Importance of pho
Biography in preserving valuable surgical
records.
In 1876 he was a delegate to the Inter
national Medical College. held in Phila-
delphia. Together with Or. S. Weir Mitch.
ell, he has published important papers in
the American Journal of Medical Science
He was a brother of Frank Thomson
once president OF the Pennsylvania Rail
road Company and through his influence
was made special examiner for the com
pany.
After he settled in Philadelphia DIT
Thomson wrote number of valuable ar
ticles for medical journals
He was a companion of the Loyal Le-
gion, and had the rank of captain and
brevet major, U. s. A.