Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/217

 BROCK

So live, that when thy summons comes to

join The innumerable caravan, that moves To that mysterious realm, where each shall

take His chamber in the silent halls of death, Thou go not like the quarry-slave at night, Scourged to his dungeon, but sustain'd and

sooth'd By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave, Like one who draws the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams,

E. K. H.

Memoir of Dr. Brigham, American Journal of Insanity, Utica, October, 1849. By Dr. C. B. Coventry, Utica, X. Y.

Brock, Hugh Workham (1S30-1882).

The history of the medical profession of West Virginia would be incomplete with- out mention of Hugh W. Brock. The formal outline of such a man's life or even biographic detail, however suggestive, can ill represent the value of his rare and gift- ed personality and his scientific skill. Of American parentage, English-Scotch by descent, he was born January 5, 1830, at Blacksville, Virginia and educated at private schools and various academies. He began to study medicine with Dr. Charles McLane of Morgantown. In 1850 he entered Jefferson Medical Col- lege and two years later received his doctor's degree. Returning to Morgan- town, he became a partner of Dr. Mc- Lane, and from that time until his death, April 24, 1S98, he was a leading physician and surgeon in Morgantown, becoming more and more a recognized authority not only in West Virginia but in the neighbouring parts of Pennsylvania.

From his college days he was an enthu- siastic student of anatomy. With him the scientific spirit once aroused, could never slumber. Chemical analysis, mi- croscopic study of organic tissue, con- stant practice in dissections, busied even his lighter hours. If the material were not at hand, he ordered it from the great cities, and many a gruesome box lent skill and certainty to his surgical touch. Pro- foundly interested as he was in pathology and ready always to minister to the relief of the suffering, the more exact demands

L BRODIE

of scientific surgery still more strongly attracted him. As field surgeon with Sheridan at Winchester, he had gained valuable experience.

Active in the formation of the West Virginia Medical Society, he became its second president, for many years acted on its board of censors and constantly con- tributed to its transactions He was one of the early promoters of the State His- torical Society and succeeded in effecting an initial organization in connection with the university. From the establish- ment of the West Virginia University he was special lecturer to the classes in anat- omy, physiology and hygiene, for five years resident member of the Board of Regents and in 1878 accepted a profes- sorship in the university with the inten- tion of making this chair a nucleus for a future medical school. He was one of the early fellows of the American Surgical Association, and at the request of mem- bers his portrait was added to the collec- tion of physicians and surgeons known as the Mutter Museum.

In 1878,he married Isabella, daughter of the Rev. Andrew Stevenson, D. D., of New York City, but left no children. His death was due to pneumonia contracted from physical exposure on professional duty. Hitherto no serious illness had hampered his activity.

"A useful life ended but not the mem- ory of its beneficence." L. S. B.

Tr. Am. M. Assoc, Pbila., 1882, vol. xxxiii. Tr. Med. Soc, \V. Vir., 14-15 Sess., 1881-2.

Brodie, William (1823-1890).

William Brodie was born at Fawley Court, England, July 26, 1823, but in 1832 his father emigrated and settled on a farm twelve miles west of Roches- ter, New York. William had his general education at a district school and the Collegiate Institute at Brockport, New York. In 1847 he became a student with Dr. William Wilson of Pontiac, Michigan, and after one course of lec- tures in Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, one in Vermont Medical College at Woodstock, Vermont,