The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-11
FINE TRIBUTE IS PAID TO-
 LATE JOHN ALLAN WYETH

It is a noteworthy fact that death has so recently claimed the world s two most eminent medical men and that both Of them were Alabamians. Much has already been written about Dr. William c. Gergas.
 \ recent tribute in the New York Times to pr. William A wyeth will be read with interest not only by his neighbors and loved ones in the Tennessee river valley, but by every Alabamian who takes pride in the life and work of the states dis tinguished son. The Times article is as follows:
 Providence. F. [. June 1. 1922, To the Editor of The New York
 Tfmes
 The medical fraternity from coast to coast and an innumerable host Of friends bow their heads in loving and reyerent grief at the sad news of the death of their distinguished confrere and beloved friend. Dr. John Allan Wyeth.
 He was known and ido1ized as ccngenial and Christian gentleman and as, perhaps, the most remark able surgeon in history
 His experiences when as a boy he rode with Morgan's men because he was too young at that time to enlist in the Confederate army, and later as d cavalryman, constitute a chap sfer filled with deeds of herosm and devotion to duty. The story of his life from a graduate in medicine, at Va time when medical education equipped a man in a lamentably in- competent manner, to the unassail- able position a s one of the worlds most famous surgeons fills hnother chapter.
 Born in Alabama of a distinguish ed and honorable lineage. and brought up in the charming society of the aristocraey of the old South, before the downfall of the southern oliearchy and the consequent aboli- tion Of slavery, he early acquired the charm and grace of manner and the courteous chivalry which character ized the southern gentleman of, that time. The civilization ana ideals of that period-a civilization that pro duced such splendid characters as Robert 10. Lee, Dr. J. Marion Simms, and that long line of distinguished comrades, men who feared God, re- verenced womanhood, and loved their country to the extent of. laying down their lives if necessary at the call Of what they considered duty-had no doubt a potent effect on his ideas ana luealS.
 His many and versatile experien- ces, as a boy on Southern planta- tion, Confederate cavalryman, stu dent of medicine, manager of cot ton plantation, cattle buyer, mer- chant, building contractor, steamboat pilot, financier of railroads. student of medicine and surgery in New York, Paris and Vienna, founder Of the Polyclinic Hospital, author or books on surgery, literature, poetry, metaphysics and philosophy, surgeon and consultant. president and pro- lessor of surgery in the Polyclinic Hospital. president of New York Academy of Medicine, the American Medical Association and numerous other associations, would fill vol unes.
 ~ One act alone in this remarkable career, would have indelibly written his name high in medical annals ana won for him the admiration and love Of humanity--namely, the introduc- tion of post graduate teaching In e surgery in America and the subse- auent establishment of the Polyclinic Hospital in New York City.
 As early as 1878, Dr. Wyeth had conceived the idea that post gradu- ate teaching in medicine and Tn surgery was imperatlvely needed. The idea was discussed with his dis tinguished father-in-law, Dr. J. Marion Simms, who gave his en- couragement. and the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital soon be- came a reality
 1t is impossible to estimate the tremendous effect which the intro duction of systematized post gradu- ate teaching in America and the founding of the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital had on medical thought. It stimulated strongly prog ress in medicine and surgery. It dis couraged mediocrity and initiated conpetition. No one can calculate the tremendous amount of suffering that an institute like the Polyclinic and the ideas and ideals for which it stands have done away with. Nor can it be denied that the many thou sands of physicians who have trained themselves at this institution have gone from there with improved minds, morals and. manners. The many physicians and surgeons who today are eminent in their work can well attest the value of their asso- citation with this great master mind and to the fact that he was truly a. maker of men. To know him was an education; to reverence and love him was a privilege and pleasure. Of the effect on ones mind from asso- ciation with him one could say:
 Thaughts sublime that pierce the
 night like stars
 And with tfeir mild persistence
 urge mans search
 To vaster issues.
 Dr. wyeth served his country in way that is not usually fully reai- ized. After the downfall of the 13-sf:- | t~o oil hi fO energy into bringing north and south together and healing the wounds of