Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/1049

NAME SCUDDER 1027 SCUDDER a lad of eight and as soon as old enough he went to work in a button factory in Read- ing, Ohio, receiving fifty cents a week for his labor; but he saved a little money besides helping his mother who had two other chil- dren, and at the age of twelve years he entered Miami University and when he left there learned cabinet-making, at which he worked in winter, and painting, which was his work in summer. He then started a general store in his native place. He married Jane Hannah in 1849 and of their five children, three died in infancy, Scudder thought through improper medical treatment. This idea so disturbed him that he determined to study medicine and chose Dr. M. L. Thomas, an eclectic, for his preceptor. In 1856 Scudder graduated at the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, and was vale- dictorian of his class. His work as teacher began the next year when appointed professor of anatomy in the Institute; he was professor of obstetrics and diseases of women (1858- 1860) ; professor of pathology and practice of medicine (1860-1867), In 1867, because of fail- ing health, his chair was divided with R. L. Thomas, son of his old preceptor; Dr. Scud- der lectured on hygiene, physical diagnosis and specific diagnosis until his death. He was a thorough and interesting teacher, an able executive, coming to the rescue in what was known as the "dark days" of the Eclectic Medical Institute, giving up a large practice, becoming dean, and getting the Insti- tute on a sound financial basis. He intro- duced the "doctrines and practice of specific medication," and was energetic in his efforts to secure honest medicines. Scudder wrote a "Practical Treatise on the Diseases of Women" (1858); "Materia Medica and Therapeutics" (1860); "The Eclectic Practice of Medicine" (1864); "Spe- cific Medication" (1871); "Specific Diagnosis" (1874). He edited the Eclectic Medical Jour- nal from 1862. Of his first marriage one daughter sur- vived; she became the wife of John II. Twachtman, artist. Dr. Scudder's wife died, and in 1861 he married her sister, Mary Hannah; there were five boys of this mar- riage ; of these are : Dr. John K. Scudder, Dr. Paul Scudder, Dr. H. Ford Scudder, and Dr. W. Byrd Scudder. Dr. Scudder died of paralysis of the heart, February 17, 1894, at Daytona, Florida. Howard A. Kelly. History Eclectic Medical Institute, H. W. I Pclter, M. D., Cincinnati, 1902. Scudder, Nathaniel (1733-1781) Nathaniel Scudder, physician and patriot, a notable figure in the early medical and his- torical annals of America, was born near Huntington, Long Island, New York, May 10, 1733, the son of Colonel Jacob Scudder. He graduated at Princeton University in 1751, then studied medicine and practised at Mana- lapan, Monmouth County, New Jersey, and later at Freehold. He was one of the found- ers of the Medical Society of New Jersey (1766), the first "Provincial or State Medical Society" in America. His quiet life as a physician was broken up by the excitement of pre-Revolutionary times, as Monmouth County early resented the acts of the British. Scudder, fired with patriotism, became a lead- ing spirit in the cause of the Colonies. He was active in the meeting at Freehold, June 6, 1774, where it was resolved that the cause of the "suffering inhabitants of Boston was the common cause of the whole continent of North America . . . and until their odious port bill and other oppressive acts be repealed, they recommended entire stoppage of trade between the Provinces and Great Britain and the West Indies"; he was one of a committee formed to co-operate with other towns for "the weal and safety of North America and her loyal sons." On July 19, 1774, the committees from the several townships met at Freehold and passed resolutions for permanent record. Scudder was one of those who drafted the resolu- tions which closed with the wish that "some faithful record of their notification be handed down to the yet unborn descendants of Amer- icans that nothing but the most fatal neces- sity could have wrested the present inesti- mable enjoyments from their ancestors. Let them universally inculcate upon their beloved offspring an investigation of those truths con- cerning both civil and religious liberty which have been so clearly and fully stated in this, generation. May they be carefully taught in their schools, and may they never rest until, through the Divine Blessing upon their efforts, true freedom and liberty shall reign trium- phantly over the whole globe" (resolutions published in full in the Monmouth Democrat,. June 12, 1873). Scudder was a member of the Committee of Observation and Inspection (1774) ; he was a delegate to the first Provincial Congress held in New Jersey (1774 at New Brunswick). When the War began he was made Lieuten- ant-Colonel of the First Regiment of Mon- mouth. He was a delegate to the Continental^