Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/196

 BOBBS

The latter part of Bobb's life was devoted mainly to surgery, and as an operator he was bold and original. Dr. Jameson, whom I quote, mentions an operation in which he assisted in which Bobbs removed the superior maxillary bone together with the eye of the affected side for extensive carcinoma. The opera- tion lasted several hours but the patient made a good recovery. The hemorrhage was so well controlled that little blood was lost. He also mentions a successful operation for extrauterine pregnancy and an unsuccessful one for umbilical hernia. He certainly performed all the usual major operations of the surgery of his day.

During the Civil War Bobbs was a brigade surgeon and medical director for the state of Indiana. He distinguish- ed himself when with Gen. Morris of Indi- anapolis by bringing a soldier off the field under fire.

He must be remembered also as a public-spirited man intensely interested in civic and state affairs, for one year serving as senator and organizing the Indiana Hosiptal for the Insane. He may truly be considered as one of the founders of scientific medicine and surgery in the middle west.

In person, we learn, he was slender, of medium height, with striking features, high forehead, dark gray eyes, large nose and prominent chin. He was generally dressed in black broadcloth. He married, in 1840, Catherine Cameron of Pennsyl- vania and at his death on May 1, 1S70, left $2,000 to establish the Bobbs Dispensary to be managed by the Medical College of the Indiana Faculty. He also founded the Bobbs Library which is under the same direction and contains a most valuable collection of medical works.

D. W.

The First Nephrectomy and the First Chole- cystotoniy. M. B. Tinker, Johns Hopkins Hosp. Bull., Aug., 1901, vol. xii. Jameson P. H. Memoir of the Professional Life of J. S. Bobbs. Tr. Indiana, M. Soc, Indianapolis, 1S94, xlv.

! BODLEY

Bodley, Rachel L. (1S31-18S8).

Pioneer in the professional education of women, Rachel Bodley, eldest daughter of Anthony R. Bradley and Rebecca W. Talbot Bodley, was born in Cincinnati December 7, 1831, of Scotch- Irish and Quaker English strain. Deep religious principles were her birthright. Her mother's private school and the Wesleyan Female College completed her early education and in 1S60 she entered the Polytechnic College of Philadelphia for a special course in chemistry and physics and in 1862 she returned to Cin- cinnati and accepted a professorship of natural sciences in the Cincinnati Female Seminary, and while there mounted and catalogued an extensive herbarium of native and foreign plants, the gift of Joseph Clark to the seminary, a work of considerable magnitude. In 1S65 the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia appointed her to the chair of chemistry and toxicology, and she was elected dean of the faculty in 1874 and held both positions to the time of her death. In 1879, as a further tribute, the honorary M. D. was conferred by the Woman's Medical College. With Ann Preston, Rachel Bodley shares the distinction of guiding to successful issues this medical college for women. Ann Preston waged the battle for its existence, Rachel Bodley steadily and comprehensively developed it.

In medical missionary work her reli- gious zeal found fullest expression, and help and sympathy were always readily given. Dean Bodley undertook the business affairs connected with the pub- lication of Pundita Ramabai's book, "The High Caste Hindoo Woman," also an introduction to it. Her corre- spondence was world-wide and brought her in touch with the illustrious minds of many lands.

In 1SS0 she delivered a series of lec- tures before the Franklin Institute, of which she was a member. Her topic being "Household Chemistry," but suddenly in the midst of her activities Dean Bodley died of heart failure.