Society for Medical Improvement" hel^ a special memorial meeting 011 the 19th of November, at which a series of orations were delivered by eminent medical men?Hodges,
ton
Wendell and
Holmes,
Henry Lee,
Cheever
done to his
others, in which full justice was disposition, genius, and work. The resolution unanimously adopted by the meeting summa-
rised his character
following sentences : surgical perception, quick cal skill and dexterity, clearness "
Sthij Jmltiw Ulcdipl tefjtlq. FEBRUARY,
1891.
special debt of gratitude to Surgeon who died on the at the age of seventy-two.
India, is under a this great American 30th of October The introduction
of
"
litholitholapaxy or sitting with complete evacuation of "
trity at one debris, has revolutionised the treatment of stone in the bladder, and effected a great saving of human
suffering
and life. It is to Bigelow and
to him alone that we owe this
ficent
innovation,
and
India,
great and benein many parts of
which stone is so prevalent, promises to profit by it in a very special manner. Therefore it is that we consider a brief notice of the life and work of the distinguished inventor of litholapaxy
and proper. Bigelow studied mediunder cine very favourable circumstances. After completing his curriculum in America, he proceeded to Europe,'and studied in London, Paris,
becoming
and elsewhere for the purpose of adding to his knowledge and acquiring by observation and study what was best at the time in European mediTwo years were spent in cal science and art. this pursuit, and he returned to his native city of Boston, and applied himself with assiduity and success to the business of his life. He held office as Surgeon to the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1846 to 1886, a period of
forty occupied the chair of Surgery in the Harvard University from 1849 to 1882, a period of thirty-three years. Possessed of ample pri-
years, and
vate means he devoted himself to the work of
profession and chair with enthusiasm and vigour, and kept himself in touch with men and work in Europe by frequent visits to England
his
and the continent.
He
was
a
man
of fine
presence, grand physique, good intellect, strong " character, and varied attainments. The Bos-
and
direct-
teacher and writer, he added to these the qualities of leadership, an unusual intelliwhatgence, and an indomitable persistence in achieveHis ever investigations he undertook. ments have won for him a place among the
ness
HENRY JACOB BIGELOW.
attainments in the Possessed of unusual insight, great techni-
and
as
a
foremost surgeons of his time, and his works have benefited humanity." Among the numerous outcomes of his busy life,
occupied with art and natural history, as well as with pathology, there are three results of his ingenuity and industry which stand out to prominent and which constitute his main claim He was largely, a niche in the temple of fame. which
was
if not mainly, instrumental in introducing antesthesia in America. What Simpson did for chloroform in Edinburgh, Bigelow accomplished for ether in Boston. His researches
in dislocations of the hip-joint revolutionized the treatment of these serious injuries, and introduced into
practice the by manipulation, a system
method of reduction
which requires good knowledge of the anatomy of the parts and the pathology of the lesion, and has been made applicable to dislocations elsewhere. His third achievement was the discovery of litholapaxy, those who have read this journal for ten years need not be told how great last the and good an invention this was. The greatest men, whose lives have been full of
and
work, rarely succeed in leaving behind them more than a few permanent monuments of their industry and skill, and Bigelow is 110
thought
and
exception to this rule. But the usefulness of a life is to be measured not so much by the few which serve to perpetuate of their author as by the manner in which a man fulfils the duties of his place in life, and the measure in which by continual well directed effort lie aids in helping on the cause of
striking achievements the
name
humanity
and truth.
In this respect BigeloW
Feb. was
CLINICAL STUDIES OP DISEASE IN CHINA.
1891.] not
wanting,
and the
speeches
to which
we
have referred indicate a man of strong purpose and intelligent energy, who lived a life of labour and
ally
usefulness,
His one
and contributed
thereby
materi-
largely
due to
to human welfare and progress. success
in surgery
was
circumstance, which has always entered very
work of every successful surgeon, laid the foundations of his practihe that namely, cal developments upon a close study of anatomy
largely into the
pathology ; and this, we conceive, constitutes the chief merit and lesson of his professional and
career.
47
ton
Wendell and
Holmes,
Henry Lee,
Cheever
done to his
others, in which full justice was disposition, genius, and work. The resolution unanimously adopted by the meeting summa-
rised his character
following sentences : surgical perception, quick cal skill and dexterity, clearness "
Sthij Jmltiw Ulcdipl tefjtlq. FEBRUARY,
1891.
special debt of gratitude to Surgeon who died on the at the age of seventy-two.
India, is under a this great American 30th of October The introduction
of
"
litholitholapaxy or sitting with complete evacuation of "
trity at one debris, has revolutionised the treatment of stone in the bladder, and effected a great saving of human
suffering
and life. It is to Bigelow and
to him alone that we owe this
ficent
innovation,
and
India,
great and benein many parts of
which stone is so prevalent, promises to profit by it in a very special manner. Therefore it is that we consider a brief notice of the life and work of the distinguished inventor of litholapaxy
and proper. Bigelow studied mediunder cine very favourable circumstances. After completing his curriculum in America, he proceeded to Europe,'and studied in London, Paris,
becoming
and elsewhere for the purpose of adding to his knowledge and acquiring by observation and study what was best at the time in European mediTwo years were spent in cal science and art. this pursuit, and he returned to his native city of Boston, and applied himself with assiduity and success to the business of his life. He held office as Surgeon to the Massachusetts General Hospital from 1846 to 1886, a period of
forty occupied the chair of Surgery in the Harvard University from 1849 to 1882, a period of thirty-three years. Possessed of ample pri-
years, and
vate means he devoted himself to the work of
profession and chair with enthusiasm and vigour, and kept himself in touch with men and work in Europe by frequent visits to England
his
and the continent.
He
was
a
man
of fine
presence, grand physique, good intellect, strong " character, and varied attainments. The Bos-
and
direct-
teacher and writer, he added to these the qualities of leadership, an unusual intelliwhatgence, and an indomitable persistence in achieveHis ever investigations he undertook. ments have won for him a place among the
ness
HENRY JACOB BIGELOW.
attainments in the Possessed of unusual insight, great techni-
and
as
a
foremost surgeons of his time, and his works have benefited humanity." Among the numerous outcomes of his busy life,
occupied with art and natural history, as well as with pathology, there are three results of his ingenuity and industry which stand out to prominent and which constitute his main claim He was largely, a niche in the temple of fame. which
was
if not mainly, instrumental in introducing antesthesia in America. What Simpson did for chloroform in Edinburgh, Bigelow accomplished for ether in Boston. His researches
in dislocations of the hip-joint revolutionized the treatment of these serious injuries, and introduced into
practice the by manipulation, a system
method of reduction
which requires good knowledge of the anatomy of the parts and the pathology of the lesion, and has been made applicable to dislocations elsewhere. His third achievement was the discovery of litholapaxy, those who have read this journal for ten years need not be told how great last the and good an invention this was. The greatest men, whose lives have been full of
and
work, rarely succeed in leaving behind them more than a few permanent monuments of their industry and skill, and Bigelow is 110
thought
and
exception to this rule. But the usefulness of a life is to be measured not so much by the few which serve to perpetuate of their author as by the manner in which a man fulfils the duties of his place in life, and the measure in which by continual well directed effort lie aids in helping on the cause of
striking achievements the
name
humanity
and truth.
In this respect BigeloW
Feb. was
CLINICAL STUDIES OP DISEASE IN CHINA.
1891.] not
wanting,
and the
speeches
to which
we
have referred indicate a man of strong purpose and intelligent energy, who lived a life of labour and
ally
usefulness,
His one
and contributed
thereby
materi-
largely
due to
to human welfare and progress. success
in surgery
was
circumstance, which has always entered very
work of every successful surgeon, laid the foundations of his practihe that namely, cal developments upon a close study of anatomy
largely into the
pathology ; and this, we conceive, constitutes the chief merit and lesson of his professional and
career.
47
