Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/132

 ASHHURST

ASHHURST

Journal of the Medical Sciences" from 1867 to 1S77 were from his pen. In 1S67 he published a monograph "Injuries of the Spine," which, treating of its subject in the then novel statistical manner, at once drew attention to his ability as a writer. Having edited an American edition of Erichsen's " Science and Art of Surgery" in 1S69, he published the first edition of his own " Principles and Practice of Surgery" in 1S71 — seven years before the first volume of Agnew's work ap- peared, and while Erichsen and Gross were still popular text-books. Dr. Ashhurst's own surgery very soon obtained an au- thoritative place, and for years was the most widely studied and quoted work in America. The last (sixth) edition ap- peared in 1893. As editor of the " In- ternational Encyclopaedia of Surgery" (six volumes, 1S81-1SS6), his name be- came as familiar in all parts of Europe as it previously was in this country.

With such a reputation as author, teacher, and hospital surgeon, it is not surprising that the trustees of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania elected him Barton professor of surgery, on the resig- nation of Dr. Agnew in 18S8. This posi- tion he continued to hold until his death in 1900.

Besides his purely professional in- terests, Dr. Ashhurst was widely known in religious, charitable, and philan- thropic work.

Dr. Ashhurst married, December 8, 1864, Sarah Stokes Wayne. They had seven children: John, William Wayne, Mary, Anna Wayne, Sally Wayne, Astley Paston Cooper and Emma Matilda. Of these, William and Astley became doc- tors.

Dr. Ashhurst worked with untiring industry. He never took holidays. Al- though spending the summers at his country home, the Grange, in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, he went every day to the city and continued his usual routine of hospital and literary work the year through. During the night of August 2, 1898, having recently concluded a par- ticularly laborious term of service at the

Pennsylvania Hospital, he had, while asleep, a profuse cerebral hemorrhage, completely paralyzing his left side. From this he never recovered. With his intellect unimpaired, but his body help- less, he lingered nearly two years, in unexampled patience and fortitude. His death occurred, in the sixty-first year of his age, at his late residence, 2000 West DeLancey Place, Philadelphia, July 7, 1900. His surgical library, con- taining numerous exceedingly rare medi- aeval and classical works, was largely given to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

He was a member of the Pathological Society of Philadelphia and its president in 1S70-1871; fellow of the College of Phyicians of Philadelphia, its president in 1898-1900; member of the Obstetrical Society of Philadelphia; fellow of the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, its vice-president, 1S97-1900; fellow of the American Surgical Association, and its vice-president, 1896.

Among the duties he fulfilled was that of:

Resident physician, Pennsylvania Hos- pital, 1861-1S62. Acting assistant sur- geon, United States Army, 1S62-1S65. Surgeon to the Hospital of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, 1S63- 1880; to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 1870-1900; to the Hos- pital of the University of Pennsylvania, 1877-1900, and the Pennsylvania Hos- pital, 1887-1900. Professor of clinical surgery in the University of Pennsylvania, 1877-1900. John Rhea Barton professor of surgery in the University of Penn- sylvania, 18S8-1900.

Besides the reviews and bibliographical notices appearing in the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences," prac- tically all his publications up to 1876 will be found in the pages of that journal, and in the "Proceedings of the Patho- logical Society of Philadelphia." After that date several series of clinical lectures may be found in the files of the "Philadelphia Medical Times," the "Philadelphia Medical News," the "New