Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/139

BODLEY to accept the office of president. In 1881 he was prevailed upon and accepted the presidency, succeeding Dr. Samuel D. Gross. This association was the first organized effort on the part of the American medical colleges to improve the character of their work and thus raise the standard of medical education. In 1892 he was elected president of the Southern Medical College Association and in 1896, when all the Colleges again took up the effort to further raise the requirements for graduation, he was again chosen president of the re-organized Association of American Medical Colleges.

In 1910 on his retirement from active work as a teacher he was tendered a complimentary dinner by his former pupils, colleagues, professional and personal friends, that was a remarkable testimonial not only to his high character as a man but also to his popularity as a teacher of anatomy. Dr. Bodine was not a frequent contributor to medical literature yet there have been published a number of his addresses delivered at medical college commencements and as president of the Medical College Association.

He died January 25, 1915.



Bodley, Rachel L. (1831–1888)

Pioneer in the professional education of women, Rachel Bodley, eldest daughter of Anthony R. Bodley and Rebecca W. Talbot Bodley, was born in Cincinnati December 7, 1831, of Scotch-Irish and Quaker English strain. Deep religious principles were her birthright. Her mother's private school and the Wesleyan Female College completed her early education and in 1860 she entered the Polytechnic College of Philadelphia for a special course in chemistry and physics; in 1862 she returned to Cincinnati and accepted a professorship of natural sciences in the Cincinnati Female Seminary. While there she mounted and catalogued an extensive herbarium of native and foreign plants, the gift of Joseph Clark to the seminary, a work of considerable magnitude. In 1865 the Woman's Medical College of Philadelphia appointed her to the chair of chemistry and toxicology, and she was elected dean of the faculty in 1874 and held both positions to the time of her death. In 1879, as a further tribute, the honorary M. D. was conferred by the Woman's Medical College. With Ann Preston, Rachel Bodley shares the distinction of guiding to successful issues this medical college for women. Ann Preston waged the battle for its existence, Rachel Bodley steadily and comprehensively developed it.

In medical missionary work her religious zeal found fullest expression, and help and sympathy were always readily given. Dean Bodley undertook the business affairs connected with the publication of Pundita Ramabai's book, "The High Caste Hindoo Woman," also an introduction to it. Her correspondence was world-wide and brought her in touch with the illustrious minds of many lands.

In 1880 she delivered a series of lectures before the Franklin Institute, of which she was a member, her topic being "Household Chemistry," but suddenly in the midst of her activities Dean Bodley died of heart failure.

The following list of memberships and dignities speak eloquently of her attainments.

1864, Corresponding member, State Historical Society of Wisconsin; 1871, member, Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences; 1871, Degree of Artium Magister conferred by her Cincinnati alma mater; 1876, corresponding member, New York Academy of Sciences; 1876, a member, American Chemical Society of New York City.



Boerstler, George W. (1792–1871)

George W. Boerstler was born at Funkstown, Maryland, in 1792 and died at Lancaster, Ohio, October 10, 1871. He was of German descent, his father a Lutheran clergyman. Very little is known of his mother; nor is it known whether there were other children. After three years of preliminary instruction, he received in 1820 his B. M. from the University of Maryland, and, with his diploma, a flattering certificate from (q. v.) of the University. He began to practise at Hagerstown, Maryland, in 1833, but in that year changed his residence to Lancaster, Ohio, where he remained in practice until his death.

He had no specialty, but practised both medicine and surgery, according to the custom of the time, and attained a fine reputation in both departments.

He became a skillful diagnostician, and made few mistakes. His opinion was valued by the laity and equally by the profession, with whom he was very popular; his practice was consequently very large.

He married, in 1833, Elizabeth Sinks at Hagerstown, Maryland. She died in 1838, and in 1843 he married Elizabeth Schur, of