Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/1205

NAME WAGNER 1183 WAGNER St. James College (Hagerstown), and after attendance upon the regular courses at the School of Medicine, University of Maryland, graduated M. D. in 1858. Following a service as interne at the Uni- versity Hospital, he entered the Medical Corps, United States Army, his commission as lieu- tenant and assistant surgeon dating from October 11, 1860. His first assignment was in the Department of Texas, where he was on duty with the troops surrendered by Gen- eral David E. Twiggs ; he subsequently par- ticipated in the engagements at Chanccllors- ville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, and Brandy Station. Marked ability as surgeon and adminis- trator won him appointment as surgeon-in- chief and medical inspector of the second division, fifth corps, Army of the Potomac, with the rank of colonel. On March 13, 1865, he was made brevet major and lieutenant- colonel for faithful and meritorious ser- vice in the war, and was promoted to major and surgeon on July 28, 1866, and this com- mission he resigned on March 25, 1869. Two j'ears of special study in London, Paris, Berlin and Vienna followed, after which Doc- tor Wagner returned to engage in the practice of laryngolog},'. He settled in New York, wfiere in 1873, with G. M. Lefferts, F. H. Bosworth and others, he founded the New York Larj'ngological Society, which stimu- lated the organization of the American Laryn- gological Association (1878). These societies were the earliest devoted to this specialty, and were followed many years later by the British Larynogological Association (1888) and simi- lar societies in Belgium and France (1890), Italy (1892), and Holland (1893). Doctor Wagner was instrumental in the founding of seeral hospitals, including the first floating hospital on the Mississippi River, the Metro- politan Throat Hospital and Dispensary, and the New York Post Graduate Medical School and Hospital. He was the first professor of laryngology and rhinology at the last men- tioned institution, and by his teachings and writings contributed greatly to the advance- ment of his specialt}'. An early military training and extensive special study qualified him as a resourceful surgeon, capable of dealing with many dif- ficult operations upon the larynx and throat, and his method of thyrotomy was said to have been unsurpassed. The invention of numerous surgical instruments bear testimony to his mechanical skill. In addition to a pioneer treatise on "Habitual Mouth Breathing" (New York, 1881, 2d ed., Albany, 1884) Dr. Wagner wrote a manual on "Diseases ef the Nose" (New York, 1884), the chapter in Charles H. Burnett's "System" (Philadelphia, 1893) on "Local Therapeutics in Diseases of the Nares, Nasopharyu.x. and Larynx," and numerous ar- ticles in medical periodicals on general and special surgery. After retirement from practice. Dr. Wagner lived in western states, and later in Europe. His last isit to his native country was as guest of honor at the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the founding of the New York Laryngological Society on Novem- ber 25, 1913, making an address on that occasion. He died exactly one year later, at Geneva, Switzerland. In 1SS2 he married Elizabeth Vaughan, of London, England, who survived him. Fr. k J. Stockman. Jour. Amer. Med. Asso., 1914, vol. Ixiii. 2244. Med. Rec, 1914, vol. l.-i..v, 1-7; vol. lx,xxvi, 976. Who's Who in Amcr.. 1901-2. Wagner, John (1791-1841) John Wagner, professor of pathological and surgical anatomy in the Medical College of South Carolina, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, July 7, 1791, graduated A. B. at Yale in 1812 and then studied medicine unde- Dr. Wright Post (q.v.) of New York. When the latter went to Europe for his health, W'ag- ntr. di.->satisficd with his opportunities, resolved to visit the schools of London and Paris, and unexpectedly met his preceptor in Liverpool, who gave him a letter to Sir Astley Cooper. Three years as "dresser" in Guy's Hospital fol- lowed and attendance at Sir Astley's lectures; two large folio volumes in manuscript testify- ing to his interest. "America," wrote Sir Astley in his testimonial, "which is making rapid progress in professional science, will be proud to rank among its citizens a man so clear in his intellect, highly informed in his profes- sion, and so kind and gentle in his manners." He received a degree from the Royal College of Surgeons and also studied in Paris under Dupuytren. Wagner settled down and married a Miss Breact in New York, but after a few years went to Charleston, South Carolina. With his advent a new era in surgery began. Many of his confreres remember the exhibition of sur- gical ability in a case of osteosarcoma of the lower jaw in which nearly hall that bone was removed, the third operation of the kind in the L'nited States, two of them by Charleston surgeons. Other major operations were under- taken — the amputation of the arm at the shoulder joint, the tying of the artery in popliteal aneurysm with many others which