Smyrna times., 1909-09-29
DR.. JOHN j. BLACK DEAD.
Noted Delaware Physician Died at
His Home in New Castle, After
Short Illness Monday,

years old, and is survived by a widow
and two children. Mrs. George
Gray. wife of Federal Judge George
Gray, is DR.. Blacks sister. DR..
Black had been ailing for a long
time, but his condition did not
become serious until last week.
On Sunday he became unconscious
and remained so until the end. Death
was due to uraemia. DR.. Black had
not practiced much of late owing to
his illness, and had confined his visits
to few families. DR.. John Janvier
Black, son of DR.. Charles H. Black,
was born in Delaware City, Novem-
ber 6, 1887. After graduating from
PRINCETON College and in medicine
from the University of Pennsylvania,
he began his medical career in 1858
in San Francisco, some account of
which is given in his Forty Years
in the Medical Profession. DR..
Black served in the corps of the
United States from November,
1862, to September 2, 1864, and after
spending year at the Blockley and
Philadelphia Hospitals as resident
physician, began practicing in 1867
in New Castle. Besides being
contributor to medical. agricultural
and horticultural journals, he was
the author of a work on the "Culti-
walton of the Peach, Pear, Ounce
and Nut-Bearing Trees" and Eat
ing to Live" a work of $50 pages.
His Forty Years in the Medical
Profession, a work of 497 pages.
published in 1900 is a valuable con-
tribution to medical literature and
is charmingly written, being filled
with graphic accounts of the persons
of distinction in medicine, science
and craftsmanship whom DR.. Black
met at home and abroad in the course
of his extended travel in the, United
/ States and Europe. In addition it
gives an instructive survey of the
field of modern medicine including
the latest discoveries in bacteriology.
I aseptic surgery and preventive medi-
cine. 1t is work of unusual merit and
interest for the professional and laity.
Led White Plague War.
In 1902 DR.. Black published a
pamphlet on "Consumptives in Del
aware, wherein he set out with force
and clearness the gravity of the
"white plague, peril. and the i'm
perative duty of the State and people
at once to take appropriate measures
to combat it by the establishment of
a sanitarium in Delaware, patterned
after the highly successful one at
Rutland, Mass, whose methods and
results the doctor details in his
earnest appeals. Possibly no man in
Delaware took a keener interest in
affairs than did DR.. Black. His
interest was general and not confined
by any means to the medical profess
sion. He was student of fruit grow
ing and farming, and his observations
and researches found expression in
his book, which is regarded as in
valuable for scientific farmers. DR..
Black was president of the Peninsula
Horticultural Society at one time.
His works on diet are regarded as
standard works, the volume or
dietetics being accepted by many as
a text book. He was big and broad
minded and always looked upon the
cheerful side of life, although he
wrote from all viewpoints in his
works. His last treatise on con.
sumption had wide circulation. He
was particularly interested in the
crusade against tuberculosis and his
hobby, if it can be sal that he haC
hobby, was the care and treatment
of the insane. The Delaware State
Hospital at Farnhurst, stands as q
monument to him in this respect. II
was he who led the agitation for the
establishment and maintenance of the
State Houspital for the Insane.
Urged Insane Hospital.
When the Hospital was established
in 1899, DR.. Black was elected presi
dent of the board of trustees, and hC
has served as president ever since
The position was not merely nomina
to him. He gave as much of his
time to the hospital as he did to any
thing else. DR.. Black also was a
the fore in advocacy of sanatorio fol
! the treatment of consumptives. H,
| has appeared before many Legisla
lures in behalf of that project, ant
, ne had his fond wish realized whel
: the last Legislature created the Stat'
! tuberculosis commission and appro
priated s215, 900 for the crusad
Z against and treatment of consuml
! tion. DR.. Black was elected presi
3 dent of the commission. In politics