Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/419

 FENGER

FENGER

these indicate a man of strong charac- ter, actively devoted to the cause of his adopted country, learned and skill- ful in medicine with high ideals for the betterment of his profession. He took an active part in the stirring events of the Revolution, and on July 13, 1778, was appointed first lieutenant, South Carolina Regiment. He was tak- en prisoner at Charleston on May 12, 1780, and was sent to St. Augustine, Florida, where he endured his "captiv- ity with patience and exile with resigna- tion." In the following year, on May 15, he received the appointment of chief physician and surgeon of hos- pital, southern department, which posi- tion he held until the close of the war. His public service, however, did not end with the advent of peace, for in 1786 we find him a member of the Legislature, acting "with independence and firmness of character." He was also a member of the Privy Council.

Dr. Fayssoux seems to have been the initiator of the movement to organize the Medical Society of South Carolina, for it was at his house in December, 1789, that Dr. David Ramsay and Dr. Alexander Barron met with him to carry out this project. He was elect- ed the first president.

He married Mrs. Ann Johnson, nee Smith, on March 29, 1777, and had six children, none of whom studied medi- cine.

He died suddenly of apoplexy, Feb- ruary 2, 1795. R. W., Jr.

Private Family Record.

Minutes of the Medical Society of South

Carolina, March 20, 1777.

Minutes of the Medical Society of South

Carolina, Feb. 3, 1795.

Fenger, Christian (1840-1902).

Christian Fenger, Chicago's success- ful surgeon and first teacher of modern pathology, was the son of Kammerraad Fritz and Matilda Fjelstrup Fenger. From his birth, November 3, 1840, in Copenhagen, until his graduation from the medical department of the

University of Copenhagen in 1867, little is known of him. After gradua- tion he served Prof. Meyer as as- sistant for two years, and then gave another two years as interne of the Royal Frederick Hospital. His service in the City Hospital from 1871 to 1S74, was first as prosector then as privat-do- cent. From the beginning of his ca- reer Dr. Fenger wished to be a teacher but failed in being appointed to the chair of pathology for which he had passed the required examination. Per- haps it was owing to this failure that he went to Egypt where he became a member of the Sanitary Council and surgeon to the Khalifa in the District of Cairo. Here he made the most of his opportunities in studying tropical disease and mastering the Arabic lan- guage. The Danish-Schleswig-Holstein and Franco-Prussian wars further added to his knowledge by giving him training in military surgery. With all this ex- perience he quickly made his reputation as a teacher and surgeon when he came to the United States in 1877 and settled in Chicago. His medical confreres first recognized his worth by the work he did in the morgue of the Cook County Hos- pital. His profound knowledge of path- ology was appreciated by all who attend- ed his postmortems. Dr. Fenger was also well versed in bacteriology, keeping pace with all its new developements. The School of Modern Pathology of Chicago counts him as one of its found- ers. The County Hospital gave him the position of attending and consult- ing surgeon, which post he held for twenty years; and the internes profited by his ability as a teacher and his kindness as a host, for he cordially wel- comed them at his house every week, the evening being spent in discussion and study.

Dr. Fenger taught surgery for eight- een years in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Northwestern Univer- sity Medical School, and Rush Medical College.

An acknowledgment of his work