Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-21
GEO. BEN JOHNSTON
CLAIMED BY DEATH
Renowned Surgeon Expires Sud-
denly While Shaving in
His Bathroom.
ENJOYED WIDE REPUTATION
WAS Leading Spirit in Founding
Memorial Hospital and Merg-
ing Medical Colleges.

While in the act Of shaving and dur
ing the temporary absence from the
room of his nurse. Miss Ewing DR.
George Ben Johnston dropped dead in
his home. 4e5 East Grace Street. yes
terday afternoon at 1890 o'clock.
Dr. Johnston had been suffering from
an affection Of the heart for six years
II was known that death might come
at any instant. and the family was not
entirely unpreparcd Miss Ewing
heard the sound OF his fall, and rushed
to the room. He had expired when she
reached him. Dr Douglas Wander
iioof. OF 603 East Grace Street. an
swered the call for medical aid He
stated that death had been immediate
Dr. Johnston was in his sixty fourth
year. Though his father. United States
Senator John War!icld Johnston had
desired him to apprentice himself to
the. study OF law. Dr. Johnston fol-
lowed his own inciinations. and. after
ms early schooling. studied medicine
at the University OF Virginia and AT
the University Of the City of New York
Following two years practice at ABB
ingdon. where he had gone to school
as boy. he came I" Richmond. and by
his energy, his aptitude and his skill
soon built up a practice that demanded
all his time and attention IIc WAS af-
hliatcd in various capacities with the
Medical College OF Virginia aud I'm the
last few years he was on. OF It's direc-
tors. He was tho pioneer in hospital
building in Richmond. and the Me-
mortal Hospital is a monument to his
devotion to an idea as wc!l as a rnonu-
mcnt TO the charity uf John l..
Williams
WON GREAT RENOWN
As SKII.LFtL SURGE, \
Eariy in life Dr. Johnston became
renowned as skliful surgeon. He
was the first in Virginia ~ perform
AN operation under the astptic method
OF tho English surgeon Lister. His
reputation became national. and honor
and distinction were showcred on him
by medical surgical and literary So
cicties. His work came under the no.
tice OF the United States government
and twice nc was appointed as a dele
gate TO. meetings of the lnternatio
Surgical Association in Europe As
his reputation grew his practice in
creased. but never at the fxpense Of
OF his patience and his skill TO charity
cases as he did TO those who were able
To pay him for his services. In this
work he was undemonstrativc and
none knew It's extent save the members
OF his family and few intimate
friends. lie gave as largely from his
purse Is he did OF his skill; noi,a. il
is said OF him. went to him in vain.
DR.. Johnston was as skilled
teacher as he was surgeon and an
appointment as an inferno in his hos
pital. the Johnston Willis Sanatorium
WAS a prize greatly sought after by
the students OF the Medical College Of
Virginia. His pupils are scattered
throughout the United States. In his
honor the flag on tho Capitol Building
was lowered TO half-mast yesterday
afternoon.
DR.. Johnston is survived by his wife.
four daughters. Misses Anne Roy.
Nicketti Floyd. Helen Rutherford and
Susan Roy Johnston: By three sisters.
Mrs. Henry Leo and Miss Coralic
Johnston. OF Richmond. and Mrs. l.. J.
MacMullen, OF Baltimore, and by one
brother. Colonel Joseph B. Johnston Of
this city. The funeral will take place
tomorrow morning at i0:30 o'clock
from ST. Peters Cathedral. Bishop
Dennis j. OConnell and Rev Father
j. j. Bowler Will oficiate.
In accordance with DR.. Johnston's
oft-eXprcsscd wish there will be no
honorary pallbcarers. The active pail
bearers Will be the members of the
Johnston Willis Hospital staff.
WAS GRANDNEPHEW
Of GENERAL JOHNSTON
DIR. Johnston was born In TazewcIl
County on July 25. 1853. tho son of
Senator John Warfeld Johnston and
Nicketti Buchanan Johnston. He was
Erandnephew of General Joseph T.
Johnston. of Confederate fame in the
War Between the States He received
his early education at the Abingdon
Male Academy. and later at ST Vim
cents College. Wheeling. w. Va. Af-
terwards he attended the University
of Virginia. two years in the academic
department and one year in the med-
cal department. He graduated in
medicine at the University of the City
Of New York in 1876 For two years
after his graduation he practiced in
Abingdon. where he was associated
with DR.. r. NJ. Campbell. man Of
wide reputation in that section OF the
state.
In 1879 DR. Johnston performed the
first operation in Virginia under Lis
tcrism. which was the beginning of
antiseptic surgery. He served several
years as adjunct professor OF materia
medica In the Medical College of Vir-
ginin. and in 1884 he was elected pro-
, fcssor OF anatomy. This position he
held until 1888. when he resigned be-
cause OF the press of a large and in
creasing general practice. For some
years he devoted himself to general
practice, his surgical work, due to
natural aptitude and to desire. de-
veloping out of this
In 1893 he was elected professor of
didactic and clinical surgery In the
Medical College of Virginia. succeeding
Professor ]. S. Dorsey Cullen. Three
years later. at his suggestion and TO
meet the requirements OF an advanced
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