The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-05
S. WEIR MITCHELL
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Noted Author and Physician Dies
in Eighty-Fifth Year at Phila-
delphia Home.
HIS FAME INTERNATIONAL
First Advocate of Rest Cure
in Treatment of Nervous
Diseases.
HIS FAME INTERNATIONAL

Philadelphia, January 4.-Dr. S. Weir
Mitchell. noted author and physician,
died at his home here early this morn
ing. Death was due to influenza. the
seriousness of which was accentuated
by his advanced ago. He was In his
eighty-hfth year. Funeral services will
be held on Tuesday.
l'r. Mitchell was stricken last Mol
Gay with what was at first thought to
be mild attack OF grip, and until
yesterday no apprehension for his re :
covery was felt His condition how
ever. became grave last night, and
the distinguished patient did not rally,
tho end coming n few hours later.
Members OF his im,n ediatc family were
at his bedside.
DR.. Mitchell's fame, both as ply
sician and author, was international
although he probably was moro wide
last book, "Westways," appeared only
few months ago. A year ago he
published John Sherwood Iron
master" and among his other works
OF fiction were Hugh Wynne, Free
Quaker" The Adventures of Francois, -
Francois Villon," Francis Drake" and
Dr. North and His Friends"
DR.. Mitchell was noted as n neurolo-
gist, and his medical works were
largely on the subject OF nervous dis
| eases, He was an advocate of the
Rest Cure" in the treatment of ner-
vouS diseases.
Succeeds In Two Fields.
DR.. Silas Weir Mitchell. who. like
DR.. oliver Wendell Holmes. enjoyed
the unusual distinction OF having won
renown and success In two fields of
human activity so substantially diff
ferent as medicine and literature, was
born in Philadelphia on February Is,
1929. His father, John K. Mitchell,
was prominent physician OF Phila-
delphia, and for many years profess
sor in jefferson Medical College. AS
a boy Silas Weir Mitchell went for
several years to the grammar school
of the University OF Pennsylvania, but
Illness prevented him from graduating.
| He entered the medical department
ofTthe University of Pennsylvania, but
on account of Illness was obliged to
| leave In the middle OF his senior year
He later was given his degree by JEFF
ferson Medical College. in this city.
Although his own inclination tended
| toward literature, Dr. Silas Weir
Mitchell. after no had once entered
upon medical career. devoted him
self with great energy to his work
and studies. He gained an extensive
hospital practice, made careful and i'm i.
portant studies into the nature OF va
!
and published n large number OF ar
ticles and essays on medical and
scientific subjects.
| His love for a literary activity never
wavered while he was working hard in
his profession. winning recognition as
a thorough and conscientious student.
He never neglected his profession for
the sake of indulging in literary pur-
suits. but devoted himself to the latter
only in his leisure moments. AT the
age of twenty-seven DIR. Mitchell Of
fered his first book. a small volume OF
poems, to a publisher, who submitted II
to Dr. Holmes for consideration. DIR.
Holmes advised the young poet not to
publish the book but to continue in his
profession. and not to considor the
poems until he had reached the age Of
forty.
True to Profession.
Mitchell took the advice OF Dr.
Holmes. and remained true to his pro-
fession. In 1862 he entered upon three
years work as an army surgeon. hav-
! Ing special charge of soldiers suffering
| from nervous disorders and from
wounds Of the nerves His experiences
brought forth two .solumes covering
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