A biographical memoir of Samuel George Morton, M.D : prepared by appointment of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and read before that body, November 3, 1852 / by George B. Wood.

  • Wood, George B. (George Bacon), 1797-1879.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A biographical memoir of Samuel George Morton, M.D : prepared by appointment of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and read before that body, November 3, 1852 / by George B. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    young men disposed to enter into the profession; and he usually had under his charge, towards the close of his life, a considerable number of private pupils, to whom he devoted much time, and his most conscientious endeavors to qualify them to be good physi- cians. Numerous learned and scientific associations in different parts of America and Europe had enrolled him among their members, and perhaps few men in this country had a more extensive corre- spondence with distinguished individuals abroad.* To be praised by the praised is certainly a great honor; and this Dr. Morton was happy enough to have won in no stinted measure. With these meritorious qualities, these well-earned distinctions, and these diversified sources of comfort and enjoyment, with the crowning pleasures, moreover, of domestic confidence and affection, and bright hopes for a rising family, our late friend and fellow- member may be considered, at this period of his life, as one of the most happy of men in all his exterior relations. The only draw- back was the uncertain state of his health. From early manhood he had been of delicate constitution. Two attacks of severe hsematemesis had on different occasions threat- ened his life; and for a long time he suffered much with exqruciat- ing attacks of sick headache, which most painfully interrupted his scientific and professional avocations, and not unfrequently con- fined him for a time to his bed. For many years of his earlier life, his pale complexion and spare form indicated habitually feeble health; but at a more advanced period he seemed to have greatly improved in this respect, exhibiting a more healthful color and more robustness of frame ; and, but for the terrible attack which prostrated him in the winter of 1848-49, there seemed to be no reason why he should not live to a good old age. But the fiat had gone forth; and, though a respite was granted, it was destined to be short. A painful incident which happened about this time may possibly have had some effect in aggravating the morbid tendencies already unhappily strong. I refer to the illness and speedy death, in May, 1850, of an affectionate, dearly loved, and highly promising son, * For a list of the societies of which he was a member, see the Appendix to Dr. Meigs's Memoir.