Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/490

 GRINNELL

GRISSOM

he practised at Ogdensburg, New York. In 1S70, however, he removed to Bur- lington, Vermont. He was professor of physiology and of the theory and practice of medicine at the Medical Department of the University of Vermont, situated at Burlington. Of the same institution he was dean from 1S74 to 1877, and again from 18S4 to 1898, and professor of prac- tice in the Long Island College Hospital from 1885 till 1887.

In November, 1904, he removed from Burlington to New York City. There he engaged in medico-legal practice until his death, and was remarkably successful.

He was of medium height, of rather heavy build. His hair red, his eyes large and deep blue. His face was always kindly, yet ever changing its expression. A quick and active man, full of nervous force and magnetism; a hard student and exceedingly fond of his profession. He loved all chil- dren and, though extremely busy, he somehow managed to spare the time in which to talk with and to play much with his own. He was also ex- tremely friendly and helpful to his students. The present writer, one day, after a lecture by Dr. Grinnell, spoke to him in the hall concerning some matter which he had not sufficiently understood. " Come down to my house at 7:30 to-night," said the doctor. " I happen to be quite busy at the present moment." Of course I went, expecting to receive a very few mo- ments. But Dr. Grinnell put me in a rocking chair and then, himself in another, he discoursed on small-pox for more than two full hours. Seldom have I listened to a more enjoyable lecture.

He married, in 1873, Miss Elizabeth D. Guest, of Ogdensburg, New York and had one son, Albert R., and two daughters.

Dr. Grinnell died in New York City, April 8, 1907, of malignant endocarditis, following a long attack of grippe.

T. H. S.

Atkinson's Physicians and Surgeons, Phila., 1878.

Grissom, Eugene A. (1831-1902).

Eugene Grissom, alienist and medico- jurisprudentist, a descendant of Oliver Wolcott, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was born in Granville County May 8, 1831. His mother, a person of great vitality, lived to a most extraordinary age and bore seventeen children, of whom Eu- gene was the sixteenth.

In his youth he studied law; later he taught in the public schools, and at the age of twenty-two was elected clerk of the superior court by a large majority. In spite, however, of his nattering prospects in the direction of law, he soon began to turn his attention to natural science and finally to medicine, taking his medical de- gree from the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1858, then settling in his na- tive county; he soon had an extensive practice.

Dr. Grissom took a fighting part in the war of the Rebellion. In 1861 he was elected captain of Company D, thirtieth North Carolina Troops. In the "Seven Days Fight" around Rich- mond he was terribly wounded in the right shoulder. Before he left the hospital, however, he was elected a member of the House of Commons of the State of North Carolina. In 1864 he was re-elected. During the time of his service in this capacity he was appointed by Gov. Vance assistant surgeon-general of North Carolina.

In 1868 he became superintendent of the Raleigh Insane Asylum — a po- sition held till 1SS9, and numerous medical and other learned societies were pleased to claim him as member. The vice-presidency of the Medico- Legal Society of New York was con- ferred upon him. The degree of LL. D. was given him by Rutherford College in 1877.

He wrote much and well on insanity and other lego-medical subjects; per- haps among the most important of his papers is "Mechanical Protection from the Violent Insane" and "True