Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/357

 DEXTER !

at the hospital a system of treatment which was free from the restraint, se- clusion and abuses even at that time still common, and he soon established for the Nova Scotia Hospital the reputation of being one of the most advanced insti- tutions in the world for treatment. He devoted himself to his calling with a rare degree of unselfishness, and conscientiously labored in season and out for what he considered would lead to better the condition of the insane. After many years of active work of this kind he retired to private life, but never lost interest in their cause. Up to the very last he continued to keep in touch with the literature of insanity and to follow closely the work of the hospital with whose history his name is so honorably associated. Dr. DeWolf's mission was undoubtedly the care of the insane, and the memory of his faithful labors will not perish. He died at Halifax in 1901.

He always took an active interest in the organization of the Medical Society of Nova Scotia, was its first secretary, and chosen president in 1S66.

Dr. DeWolf married Eleanor Reid San. lifer, of Cambridge, England, and had four children. His son, George H. H. DeWolf, studied medicine, and prac- tised in England and also for a short time in Nova Scotia. D. A. C.

Dexter, Aaron (1750-1829).

Aaron Dexter, first professor of chemis- try and materia medica in Harvard Col- lege and founder of the Harvard Medical School, was born in Chelsea, Massachu- setts November 11, 1750. His people came from Dedham, Massachusetts, but- lived in Maiden near Chelsea when he en- tered Harvard College in 1772. He grad- uated in 1776 and studied medicine with I'r. Samuel Danforth, a chemist in Boston.

Towards the close of the Revolutionary War he married Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Ainory, of Boston, and began to practise in that city. He is said to have made several voyages to Europe as a medical officer during the Revolution and

3 DICK

to have been captured by the British. His name does not appear among the medical men of the Revolution (Toner) and it is probable that he has been mixed up with William Dexter, who was sur- geon's mate from Massachusetts.

Aaron Dexter was an incorporator of the Massachusetts Medical Society and its first treasurer. On May 22, 1783, Dexter was chosen professor of chemistry and materia medica in the newly formed Har- vard Medical School, and he, with John Warren and Benjamin Waterhouse, form- ed the entire faculty. In 17S6 Harvard gave him her honorary M. D. and in 1805 Dartmouth did the same. In 1791 his professorship was endowed by Major William Erving (Harvard, 1703) as the Erving professorship of chemistry and materia medica. Dr. Dexter became emeritus professor in 1816 to be succeed- ed by John Gorham.

He was remarkable for his urbanity and kindness and gave long and valuable service to the school he helped found anil to many literary and charitable institu- tions as well.

He died of old age February 28, 1829, at his home in Cambridge. Dr. O. W. Holmes relates the following incident of one of Dr. Dexter's lectures in chemistry ;

"This experiment, gentlemen, is one of remarkable brilliancy. As I touch the powder you see before me with a drop of this fluid, it bursts into a sudden and brilliant flame," — which it most em- phatically does not do as he makes the contact. "Gentlemen," he says, with a serious smile, "the experiment has failed, but the principle, gentlemen, the prin- ciple remains firm astheeverlastinghills." W. L. B.

1 1 hi. Har. Mod. School, T. F. Harrington. O. W. Holmes' address at one hundredth anniversary of liar. Med. Sch., 1883.

Dick, Elisha Cullen (1762-1825).

Elisha Cullen Dick, the elder of two sons, only children of Archibald and Mary Barnard Dick, was born on his father's farm in Delaware County, Pennsylvania about 1762. His father was a farmer ol