Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/1003

NAME RICORD 981 RIDDELL eled and practised medicine until he returned to New York. He was an accomplished scholar, musician and painter, and a member of various learned societies in France and the United States. Many of his writings were signed "Madiana," the name of his homestead in France. In addition to contributions to scien- tific and other journals, Dr. Ricord published "An Improved French Grammar" (New York, 1812), and "Recherches et experiences sur les poisson d'Amerique," illustrated by his own pencil (Bordeaux, 1826). He left many manu- scripts that were not published. Alexander Ricord was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1798, and died in Paris, France, October 3, 1876. He was educated in his native city, removed to France in order to study under Cuvier, and received his diploma as doctor in medicine in Paris, in 1824. He was assistant surgeon in the French navy, and correspondent of the Academy of Medicine, but devoted his life chiefly to natural history, received the decoration of the Legion of Honor in 1845, and contributed largely to scientific journals. Philippe Ricord, noted urologist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 10, 1799. He was educated in Baltimore and Philadel- phia, taking a course of scientific studies under his brother, Jean Baptiste Ricord. and begin- ning the study of medicine in Philadelphia. In 1820 he went to Paris, carrying with him a collection of plants and animals as a present to the National Museum. In March, 1826, he received the degree of M. D. and began to practise at Olivet, near Orleans, afterwards removing to Croiiy-sur-Ourcq. In 1828 he returned to Paris and delivered courses of lectures on operative surgery, at La Pitie Hos- pital, supporting himself in this way. In 1831 he was appointed surgeon-in-chief to the Hos- pital de veneriens du Midi, a position he held until obliged to retire on account of age, in 1860. Here he made an international repu- tation as a genito-urinary surgeon ; his re- searches on syphilis established a rational plan for treating that scourge of humanity; he differentiated gonorrhea from syphilis ; he de- vised a new method of curing varicocele, and for performing urethroplasty he received the Monthyon prize in 1842. In 1852 Ricord became physician to Prince Napoleon, and was appointed consulting surgeon to the Em- peror in 1869, attending him for the disease of the bladder from which he died. During the siege of Paris he was president of the Lazar- etto, and gained fresh laurels, being raised to the rank of grand officer of the Legion of Honor, and receiving foreign decorations as well. Dr. Ricord wrote much, Fournier, his pupil and successor, editing many of his works, which were characterized by simplicity of style. His "Monographic du chancre," 1837, was a thorough and clear exposition of his doctrine. For many years he was known in Paris as "The great American- doctor," and he always clierished a warm affection for his. native land. He practised even into his eighty- eighth year, when at last his mind gave way, and he died in Paris, October 21, 1889. Appleton's Cyclop. Amer. Biog., New York, 1888, vol. V, p. 247. Bibliog of works of Philippe Ricord. Prog. Med. Paris, 1S89, 2s, vol. .. Ann. de dermat. et svph., Paris, 1889, 2s., vol. x. H. Feulard. Riddell, John Leonard ( 1 807- 1 867 ). John Leonard Riddell, physician, author and inventor, was born in Leyden, Massachusetts, February 20. 1807, of Scotch-Irish ancestry which could be traced back to the eighth cen- tury. He held his degrees of A. B. and A. M. from the Rensselaer Institute of Troy, New York, and began his career as a lecturer on scientific subjects. In 1835 he was made adjunct pro- fessor of chemistry and botany in the Cin- cinnati Medical College, from which he re- ceived his M. D. in 1836. He published a catalogue of plants, in 1836, entitled "A Syn- opsis of the Flora of the Western States," the pioneer botany of that section of the country, and in 1836 he became professor of chemistry in the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana, a distinction which he enjoyed until his death. His catalogue of Louisiana plants assures to him the discovery of several new, or un- observed, species, one genus being called for him, Riddellia (Riddellia tagetina, Nuttall). In 1838 the President of the United States appointed Dr. Riddell melter and refiner for New Orleans, as a recognition of the credit- able work just performed in a scientific explor- ation conducted in Texas; his incumbency in this office lasted until 1849. In 1844 he was one of a commission recommended by the governor and legislature to devise a means for protect- ing New Orleans from overflow from the Mississippi River. About this period he be- came devoted to microscopy and invented the binocular microscope, as noted on page 273, volume xvi, edition nine, of the "Encyclopjedia Britannica." According to Herringshaw's "Encyclopedia of American Biography" he was the discoverer of the microscopical char-