Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/917

NAME PATTERSON 895 PATTERSON 1S54. His last work was the "Biography of Dr. Samuel G. Morton," written on slips of paper with a pencil, and without raising his head from the pillow. It was "the dying eulo- gizing the dead" ; his last sentence was : "I conclude this notice, the preparation of which has been to me a labor of love, and the solace for a season of a bed of suffering." Skilled in languages, Patterson was a gifted speaker, had a vigorous style, and knew well his medical history. The "Index Catalogue" credits him with seven valedictory addresses and introductory lectures. These are charming literary productions; the ne plus ultra of the old style flowery medical lecture, at the same time invaluable to the medical historian, throw- ing light on the aspirations and ideals and the medical theories of the time. How.'UiD A. Kelly. Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, now Deceased, H. Simpson, 1859. Patterson, Richard John (1817-1893) Richard John Patterson, alienist and medico- legal e.xpert, was born at Mount Washington, Massachusetts, September 14, 1817, and had his early education at the public schools. He re- ceived his M. D. from the Berkshire Medical Institution, at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1842, and that same year became medical as- sistant to the Ohio State Insane Asylum at Columbus, a position he held until 1847. He then became medical superintendent of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane at Indian- apolis, remaining in office six years. From 1866 to 1874, he was professor of medical jurisprudence in the Chicago Medical College. Most of his time was occupied in teaching and practising. He was clever at whittling and joining. To him was due almost entirely the clause in the Illinois law governing the com- mitment of the insane which provides for the appointment of a medical commission by a judge of court in lieu of a jury trial. He was a large man, five feet ten inches high and of heavy build. His hair brown; his eyes hazel ; in manner very quick. He was a good and ready talker, but seldom told stories. A little anecdote of his childhood, however, he was fond of narrating. One Sunday morning he ran away from church and caught a fine string of trout. Not daring to bring them home on that day, he hid them. Monday, the time still looked suspiciously close to Sunday, so he waited still longer. Tuesday he decided it would be all right to go and bring home the fish. Alas 1 the fish were spoiled. This very deplorable fact led to inquiry and detection. His parents dealt with him after the manner of the real New Englander of that time. As the doctor was himself wont to say, in all the affairs of his subsequent life, he was more in- clined to give particular attention to "prog- nosis." He was exceedingly fond of driving a fast horse. "I take my exercise," said he, "vicariously." He made friends quickly and was fond of children. He married Lucy Clark, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848. He died of pneumonia at Batavia, Illinois, April 27, 1893, after a few days illness. Thomas Hall Shastid. Private sources. Patterson, Robert Maskell (1787-1854) Robert Maskell Patterson was born in Phila- delphia March 23, 1787, son of Robert Patter- son, LL.D., who came to this country from Ireland in 1743, acted at brigade major in the Revolutionary War, and was vice-provost of the University of Pennsylvania 1810-1813, and the fifth president of the American Philo- sophical Society. His mother was Aime Hun- ter Ewing. Patterson received his A. B. from the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania in 1894, and his A. M., in course ; and in 1808 he received his medical degree, his graduating essay being on "Lunar Influence." After graduation he went to London and studied chemistry with Sir Humphry Davy; in 1809 he acted as consul general for the United States in Paris. He returned in 1812 and in 1814 succeeded his father as profes- sor of natural philosophy, chemistry and mathematics in the University of Pennsyl- vania, holding the position until 1828 ; he was vice-provost from 1813-1828. Dr. Patterson went to the University of Virginia in 1829 as professor of natural phil- osophy, where he remained until 1835, when he returned to Philadelphia as director of the United States Mint, an appointment his father had received in 1805. Because of ill health he resigned in 1853. In 1809, in his twenty-second year, the earliest age at which anyone had been ad- mitted, he had been elected to the American Philosophical Society, and was its president, 1845-1853. While he was vice-president of the Society he gave an address on its early history at its hundredth anniversar}^ May 25, 1843. Patterson was trustee of the University 1836-1854, was one of the founders of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, and one of its vice-presidents. He was one of the foun-