Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/169

BROOKS Medical Society (1852–59), and its president in 1855; professor of clinical medicine in the Michigan College of Medicine and for many years he was the motive power of the Wayne County Medical Society, maintaining a club feature of refreshments and social discussion at all meetings, thus attracting the members. Dr. Brodie was the first surgeon to volunteer from Detroit during the Civil War and was commissioned surgeon of the First Regiment, Michigan Volunteers, and took charge of the wounded during the first battle of Bull Run. Later he was appointed brigade surgeon with Gen. Fremont. His friends, before antiseptic surgery was introduced, used to wonder that Dr. Brodie's surgical cases rarely suppurated. The fact was, from his natural neatness of person, clothes and surroundings, including instruments, he was aseptic all the time. Dr. Brodie was about five feet ten inches tall, of medium weight with reddish-gray hair, closely cut whiskers, nervous manner, energetic movement, always pushing for some person or thing; quite ready to fight obstacles opposing his plans.

In November, 1851, he married Jane Whitfield, daughter of James Whitfield, of England, by whom he had two sons and one daughter. One son, Benjamin P., became a doctor.

Dr. William Brodie died at his home in Detroit, July 30, 1890, from the results of vascular degeneration. His writings are to be found in the Transactions of the American Medical Association, and in the Peninsular Medical Journal for the most part.



Brooks, John (1752–1825)

John Brooks, colonel in the Continental Army, governor of Massachusetts, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, was born in Medford, Massachusetts, May 31, 1752. The son of a farmer, he received his education at the town school and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to Dr. Simon Tufts, Jr., of Medford, for seven years, according to the custom of the day. At school he was the companion and friend of Count Rumford. Dr. Brooks at the termination of his apprenticeship began to practise in the neighboring town of Reading.

He interested himself in raising a company of minute men in his town, and was chosen commander. On the news of the Battle of Lexington he marched to the front at once with his company and assisted in harassing the British on their retreat. He was actively engaged in the military operations of the Revolution, with the rank of colonel, and was designated by Gen. Washington for the command of a brigade at its close.

Settling in Medford after the war was over he engaged in active practice, and was one of the early members of the Massachusetts Medical Society and its president from 1823 to the time of his death in 1825, preceding James Jackson in this office.

In 1816 he was elected Governor of the Commonwealth and served seven years in that capacity. Yale College conferred her honorary A. M. upon him in 1781, and Harvard the same in 1787, and and he received the Hon. M. D. from Harvard College in 1810, also LL. D. in 1817.

He was president of the Society of the Cincinnati, president of the Bible Society of Massachusetts and a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

He died March 1, 1825, in his seventy-third year. His wife, Lucy Smith, of Medford, died early in life, leaving two sons and a daughter. One son was a major of artillery in the United States Army and the other, a lieutenant in the navy, was killed in the battle of Lake Eric.

As a physician Dr. Brooks was a good diagnostician and conservative in treatment. His anniversary oration before the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1808 is preserved in its transactions, with the title, "Pneumonic Inflammation." He published also an oration delivered before the Society of the Cincinnati (1887), a discourse before the Humane Society (1795) and a eulogy of Washington (1800).



Brower, Daniel Roberts (1839–1909) Daniel Roberts Brower, Chicago alienist, was born in Philadelphia October 13, 1839, and graduated from the Philadelphia Polytechnic College in 1860 with the degree of M.S. and from the Medical Department of Georgetown University in 1864. His ancestors were of the early Dutch settlers in this country. He served as an assistant surgeon for two years during the Civil War, and afterwards as superintendent of the Freedman's Hospital, Richmond, Va., and later of the Eastern State Hospital for the Insane, Williamsburg, Va., for