Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/521

HAYS and worth reading in American medical literature. His editorship of the "American Journal of the Medical Sciences" (1827-1879) sustained his reputation both in America and abroad.

Born in Philadelphia, July 5, 1796, he was the son of Samuel and Richea Gratz Hays. His father, a wealthy merchant, gave his children a cultured and refined upbringing. Young Isaac was first under the Rev. Samuel B. Wylie, and afterwards graduated B. A. from the University of Pennsylvania, 1816. He wanted to be a doctor, but the father put him into his counting house, a year of which proved enough for the son who then began to study medicine under Dr. Nathaniel Chapman and his fondness for the natural sciences and mathematics determined him to study ophthalmology. In 1820 he took his M. D. at the University of Pennsylvania, his thesis being "Sympathy." When thirty-eight he married Miss Sarah Minis of Savannah, Georgia, and had four children one of whom, Dr. I. Minis Hays, was co-editor with his father of the "American Journal of Medical Sciences."

As a general practitioner Dr. Hays did not do much but gained celebrity in eye surgery, and he was connected with the Wills Hospital and the Pennsylvania Infirmary for Eye Disease. He edited and added to Lawrence's great work on "Diseases of the Eye," with the warm approbation of Sir William, which work reached several editions. The other works edited were Arnott's "Elements of Physics," Wilson's "American Ornithology." and Hoblyn's "Dictionary of Medical Terms." With Dr. Robert E. Griffith he translated two volumes by Broussais "The Principles of Physiological Medicine" and "Chronic Phlegmasia." He did project an "American Cyclopedia of Practical Medicine and Surgery," but the country was not ripe enough to bear the expense and "A" to "Azygos" stands all forlorn to mark where an ambitious doctor would have led.

"The Medical News" was next, in 1843, to give the profession matters of general interest and some of it was devoted to exposing quacks, with the usual hot results.

Of the human side of the man various writers give glimpses, and those pleasant ones. Handsome, tall, benevolent, a bland and dignified gentleman of the old school with courteous manners and a warm heart. Plenty of friends too; a frequent guest at the Wistar Parties; intimate relations with Prince Lucien Bonaparte and all scientists; as a doctor bringing the same patient minute attention to a little pauper with bad eyes as to the distinguishing dental characteristics of the Mastodon.

To the very end of his long life Dr. Hays took a keen interest in the editing of the journals with which his name was inseparably associated. To the very last his mind was unclouded. An attack of influenza from which he never rallied was the cause of death on the twelfth of April, 1879.

Among other distinctions he was president of the Academy of Natural Science, Philadelphia; corresponding member of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquarians, Copenhagen, and other foreign societies; fellow of the College of Physicians; first president of the Ophthalmological Society of Philadelphia; honorary member of the American Ophthalmological Society.

Am. J. M. Sci., Phila., 1879, n. s., vol. lxxviii

(port.). S. D. (Iross.

Proc. Am. Phil. Soc, Phila., 1879.

Med. Rec., N. v.. 1879. vol. xv.

Tr. Coll. Phys., Phila., 1881, 3 series vol. v. (A. Stillé.)

Hayward, George (1791-1863).

George Hayward, the first to do a major surgical operation with ether anesthesia, was born in Boston, March 9, 1791 and died in the same city October 5, 1863.

Hi received the degree of A. B. from Harvard College in 1809, and also from Yale in the same year, and the degree of M. D. from the University of Penn-