Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/218

 BRODIE ]

and one in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, he took his M. D from the latter in 1S50, at once begin- ning practice in Detroit, Michigan. In 1857 he was secretary of the American Medical Association and its president in 1886. He was one of the editors of the "Peninsular Medical Journal," 1855 -56-57; editor of "New Preparations," 1879-80; editor of the "Therapeutic Gazette" from 1880 to 1S85; president of the Michigan State Medical Society, 1876; from 1850 to 1863 he was surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital; president of the Wayne County Medical Society (Detroit) from 1876 to 1890 excepting two years; a founder of the Detroit Med- ical Society (1S52-59), and its president in 1855; professor of clinical medicine in the Michigan College of Medicine and for many years he was the motive power of the Wayne County Medical Society, maintaining a club feature of refreshments and social dis- cussion at all meetings, so compacting the members. Dr. Brodie was the first surgeon to volunteer from Detroit dur- ing the Civil War and was commissioned surgeon of the First Regiment, Michigan Volunteers, and took charge of the wound- ed during the first battle of Bull Run. Later he was appointed brigade sur- geon with Gen. Fremont. His friends, before antiseptic surgery was introduced, used to wonder that Dr. Brodie's surg- ical cases rarely suppurated. The fact was, from his natural neatness of per- son, clothes and surroundings, includ- ing instruments, he was aseptic all the time. In his prime Dr. Brodie was about five feet ten inches tall, with reddish- gray hair, closely cut whiskers, of me- dium weight, nervous manner, energetic movement, always pushing for some person or thing; quite ready to fight obstacles opposing his plans.

In November, 1851, he married Jane Whitfield, daughter of James Whitfield, England, by whom he had two sons and one daughter. One son, Benjamin P., became a doctor.

Dr. William Brodie died at his home

2 BROOKS

in Detroit, July 30, 1890, from the re- sults of vascular degeneration..

Partial list of writings by Dr. William Brodie:

"Drainage." ("Transactions of the American Medical Association," vol. xv.)

"Typhus." ("Transactions of the American Medical Association," vol. v.)

"Sulphur in Skin Diseases." ("Trans- actions of the American Medical Associa- tion," vol. xxxi.)

"Traumatic Tetanus." (Detroit Re- view of Medicine and Pharmacy," vol. ii.)

"Strangulated Hernia from Imperfect Descent of the Testicles in the Right Side." ("Peninsular Medical Journal, vol. i.)

"Observations on Dropsy." ("Penin- sular Medical Journal," vol. i.)

"Medullary Cancer of the Knee." ("Peninsular Medical Journal," vol. i.)

"Michigan Itch." ("Peninsular Med- ical Journal," vol. i.

"Melanotic Deposits." ("Peninsular Medical Journal," vol. iii.)

"Strangulated Hernia of Right Side, Complicated with Descent of the Ovary — Operation — Cure." ("Peninsular Med- ical Journal," vol. iv.)

"Strangulated Scrotal Hernia Com- plicated with Hydrocele." ("Peninsular Medical Journal," vol. iv.)

"Operations Preceded -by Railway Injuries." ("Peninsular Medical Jour- nal," vol. iv.)

" Simple Abscess of Bone with Enlarge- ment." ("The Peninsular and Inde- pendent Medical Journal," vol. i.)

"Dissolution of the Vitreous Humor." ("Peninsular Medical Journal," vol. v.)

"Sanguineous Tumor of the Scalp." ("Transactions of the Michigan State Medical Society," 1S83.) L. C.

Biographical Sketches of Early Pioneers of Detroit, Mich. Fred. Carlisle. O. S. Gully & Bornman, 1890. Farmer's History of Detroit, 1884. Representative Men in Mich.

Brooks, John (1752-1825).

John Brooks, colonel in the Continental Army, governor of Massachusetts, presi-