Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/134

 ALEXANDER

ASKEW

Medical Congress." Philadelphia, 1876- 77.

"Transactions of the College of Physi- cians of Philadelphia," third series, vols. i-v. Philadelphia, 1875-81.

"International Encyclopaedia of Sur- gery," six volumes, Wood, New York, 18S1-S6, with its French Edition, seven volumes, Paris, lSS3-S8,and Supplement, vol. vii, New York, 1895.

' 'Lippincott's New Medical Dictionary " (in collaboration), Philadelphia, 1897. "International Medical Magazine" (Su- pervising Editor), Philadelphia, 1S93-99. "International Clinics," (Supervising Editor), Philadelphia, 1899-1900.

A. P. C. A. "John Ashhurst, Jr. — a Memoir," by Richard H. Harte, M. D., Trans. Coll. Phys. Phila., 1902, xxiv. Portraits:

College of Physicians of Phila., by John Lambert.

University of Pennsylvania, Medical Labo- ratories, by Jas. L. Wood.

Alexander, Ashton (1772-1S55).

Founder and first secretary of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, provost of the University of Maryland. Alexander was born about 1772, near Arlington, Alexandria County, Virginia. The town of Alexandria was named after his ancestors, who owned large tracts of land in its vicinity. His father commanded a company of horse in the Continental Army at the com- mencement of the Revolution. His youth was spent in Jefferson County, Virginia, wMere he was educated at a private institution and studied medicine under Dr. Philip Thomas, finishing at the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his medical degree May 22, 1795.

The positions Dr. Alexander held were the following: Commissioner of Health, Baltimore, 1804-05 and again 1812; attending physician, Baltimore General Dispensary, 1S01-03; consulting physician, Baltimore Hospital, 1812; president, District Medical and Chirur- gical Society, 1S19-20; provost, Univer- sity of Maryland, 1S37-50.

Dr. Alexander is described as being a self-possessed and courteous man, and neat in his dress which included knee and shoe buckles, stockings and gold- headed cane. He died of pneumonia in Baltimore in February, 1S55, in his eighty-third year.

He married in December, 1799, a daughter of his preceptor, Dr. Thomas, and had eight children, only three of whom arrived at maturity and all of whom died before he himself did. His first wife dying, he married very late in life Miss Merryman, but had no children. E. F. C.

Askew, Henry F. (1S05-1876).

For many years the extent of his practice was such that he fulfilled its demands only by the aid of a remark- ably vigorous constitution. His marked energy, decision and coolness made him an especially successful surgeon. His singular ability in that department was generally acknowledged so that he was more frequently called upon than any of the other physicians in his vicinity. He had large political interests in and out of his state, and was concerned in wide benevolences.

Dr. Askew was born in the vicinity of Wilmington June 24, 1S05, in a house which later became a part of St. Mary's College. His family was one of the oldest Quaker families in the state; his father, Sergeant John Askew, being of those who took part in the surrender of New Amsterdam in 1664.

Dr. Askew's first medical study was in Wilmington, with Dr. William Gibbons. He completed his preparation at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1S26.

He was president of the American Medical Association, in 1846, and of the Delaware State Medical Society.

His practice was not only the largest in the city, but the largest in his state. In the prime of his work, he was out at least half the night, and beside the immense amount of work he did, was remarkable for his great charm and