Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-06-16
DIR. JOHN A wYETH DECEASED

DR.. John A. Wyeth, who died on
Sunday at the age of n, was a sur
geon of the highest distinction a
teacher who was original in method
and supremely clear in demonstra-
ton, and a citizen from whose rich
store of experience an abundant
stream a wise counsel flowed for the
guidance of his fellows.
DR.. Wyeth had an extraordinary
career. He was born in Marshall
county, Alabama, the son of Judge
Louis Wyeth. Too young at the be-
ginning of the war to enlist in the
Confederate army, he rode in Quirk's
company of Morgan's men. Later ne
enlisted was captured az he was a
prisoner for fifteen months at Camp
Morton Indiana.
After the war young Wyeth came
to New York to continue the study OF
medicine. Here he found the envi'
ronment best suited to his rich, re-
~sponsive nature, and here he labored
with unrelaxing vigor for the ideals
he cherished.
Circumstances That Led Him to
Found the Polytechnic Hospital
To the New York Herald: May l
add a word to the tribute you pay to
nv old friend DR.. John Allan Wyeth!
Let me quote from his book with
Saber and Scalpel" his reason for be-
ginning the course which eliminated
in the founding of the New York
Polytechnic Hospital. He had been
graduated from the medical depart
ment of the University of Louisville
and begun to practice medicine at
Guntersville, Ala. Then:
Il cannot describe my feelings MOI
measure the depth of my depression
and despair as I watched this patient
die, was overwhelmed with the
conviction that | was unfit to take the
grave responsibility of the life ano
health and happiness of those Who
might be willing to place themselves
under my care. | needed a clinlca'
and laboratory training under teach,
ers of experience, and l determined
TO give up my practice until l coulo
secure tnlS LfdlItiHS'
He packed away his sign got a Joo'
as superintendent and contract sur
yeon for a railroad builder in Arkan'
sas at SIS a month, soon learned how
to take a steamboat and stone barg,eS
down the Little Red River and the
White River, obtained a pilots license
and fees-and advanced so far as t6
90 into the business for himself. The
curious still may read "Wyeth-lo'z
over the door of the Jail ne built a.
Augusta. Ark. His employer wanted
him to come in as partner; was sure
that together they could make a for
tune. But young Wyeth had othel
aims. With the $4,000 he had savef
bv three years of hard work and marc
.scrimping he went to New Yorf
Paris, London and other cities OF Eu
rope. where he studied clinical an(
therapeutic medicine under able doc
tors.
At last fortified with practical ex
p~erience in healing the sick he began
the career that has earned the CRATE
full praise of thousands. but tnl'
alone was not his aim; he could no
rest until he had established an insti
tuition in which doctors could acquire
similar experience under like guild
ance. Thus he founded the Nav Yorl
Polyclinic Hospital, developed it, ant
with the service of devoted associates
and the aid of friends made it tn
great center it now is for the healing
of the sick and the enlightenment O
doctors-New York, May 81. W. 0.
In the New York Herald's tribute
to the distinguished DR.. Wyeth, recog
milton was paid him as n famed
with his pen as. we'll as in his pro
fession. Among the works of his lit
erary career was his life Of For
rest, which will be remembered by al
readers, as the most attractive Of al
the geographic sketches of that grea
person. Moreover the young DR.
Wyeth enjoyed the broade ming infau
ence of association with one Of. Amer
ica's greatest, most daring and mos
devoted surgeons, j. Msrion Sims
whose daughter he married.