Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/421

 FERNALD 303

FIELD

His chief contribution to medical literature was the editing of and writ- ing original articles in the "Trans- actions of the New York State Medical Association," writing them in good virile English. His alert intelligence and good oratory made him also a welcome addition at medical meetings.

J. P. M.

Fernald, Renald (1595-1656), Bristol, England.

The state of New Hampshire had its beginning at Strawberry Bank in 1623, and the little colony had the severest hardships of life on the fron- tier. It was without a physician for eight years, then in 1631 there was an arrival in the colony of some fifty men and half as many women on the ship "Warwick," which dropped anchor in the harbor on July 4, 1631. Among these was Dr. Renald Fernald, who was the first physician to settle in the province of New Hampshire, and the second in New England.

Dr. Fernald was born in Bristol, England, July 6, 1595. He is said to have resigned a position in the English Navy to come to America.

From the few records of his career that have been left to us, it is known that he was a man of more than ordi- nary ability, and served the colony to which he had joined himself with honor and fidelity.

Soon after his arrival he was elected captain of the military company in the little colony, was drawn as grand juror in 1643, elected town recorder in 1654-1655, was trial justice of the peace, recorder of deeds, surveyor and commis- sioner, and clerk of Portsmouth.

The name of Strawberry Bank was changed to Portsmouth through the efforts of Dr. Fernald in a petition which he and four others presented to the General Court in May 1653.

The first coroner's inquest held in New [lamp hiii < a in January. 1 6."i.'>, by a jury of twelve men, under the di- rection of Dr. Fernald, who certifies

that the said jury returned the follow- ing verdict.

"Wee whose names are subscribed doe testifie how wee found Thomas Tut- tell, the son of John Tuttell, by the stump of a tree which he had newly fallen upon another limb of the other tree, rebounding back and fell upon him, which was the cause of his death as wee consider. This was found the last day of the last March."

Dr. Fernald died at Portsmouth October 6, 1656. I. J. P.

Ferrer, Henry (1850-1890).

Henry Ferrer was born February 17, 1850 at Santiago de Cuba, but had his early education in France, studying med- icine in Heidelberg and graduating in 1870. He then devoted himself to the study of the eye and ear in Vienna, Paris, and London, becoming assistant to Soel- berg Wells. In 1870 he took up the prac- tice of these specialties in California, where he achieved a wide reputation.

" Dr. Ferrer . . . had by ability and application attained eminence in the profession. His information was vast, his judgment clear, his skill great, but unfortunately his career was cut short at the time his star was growing brightest." . ..

He died at Santa Barbara, October 22, 1890. H. F.

Trans. Med. Soc. of the state of Cal., vol. xxi.

I vi I

Field, Edward Mann (1823-1888).

Edward .Mann field was born July 27, 1823, at Belfast, Maine, the son of Bohan Prentice and Abigail Davis Field. He graduated at Bowdoin in the class of 1845 and studied medicine with Dr. Daniel McRuer, of Bangor, who was an excellent surgeon in the days before the discovery of asepsis. He attended medical lectures at the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he receivi d his degree in Is |',l, t lien went tn I lurope and WB foi two veals in the leading hos- pital in London and Pari Rel urning