Dr. Thomas Henderson, and had the effect of allaying popular excitement and placing us on a safe and firm basis. Those who had withdrawn returned, and those who had settled here under the call of the citizens petitioned for admission as members.

To show the earnestness by which our members were influenced, and their determination to sustain the Association and conform to its rules and regulations, every member who had yearly contracts abandoned them. The first who did this was the venerable, beloved, and respected Dr. Frederick May. It had been his custom from early professional life to make yearly contracts with his patients, but as soon as he had signed the rules and regulations he revoked these contracts, and placed himself in full communion and competition with the youngest member of the profession.

Independent, gentlemen, of the advantages which were derived from our association, in establishing a code of ethics, a standard fee bill, and forming a brotherhood, it served to guard the interest of the public as well as that of the physician, to establish the relations between patients and doctors, as well as of physicians among themselves.

It had another as laudable, if not as high an object, to arbitrate and settle all personal differences.

These were the motives which led to the formation of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia, and we are pleased to bear witness that our most sanguine anticipations have been realized, and at this day we look to this body to guard and protect us, and no one has ever appealed here who has not had a fair and impartial hearing, and received unbiased judgment. As an evidence of this permit me to allude to a case which occurred in the primitive days of the Association. One of our oldest and most celebrated physicians had been guilty of violation of one of our rules; he was reported to the Council by a junior of the profession, who had been his pupil, was his intimate friend, and was in daily intercourse with him. He was arraigned, acknowledged he had violated the rules, and made a handsome apology, concluding with the assurance that he would be more particular in the future, to which promise he most scrupulously adhered to the day of his death.

Other such incidents might be cited, and it is most gratifying to record that the friendly and personal relations of the parties were never for a moment interrupted, as it was considered a duty and honor to report infractions of the rules and regulations, that the object of the Association might be sustained.

It is needless for me in giving this brief synopsis of the history of the Association to speak of the admission of the Faculty of George

town. This and many other interesting facts and incidents have been correctly detailed in a most interesting and useful lecture published by my friend Dr. Toner, my object being merely to supply a few incidents unknown to Dr. Toner, and which may prove of interest to you.

Gentlemen, let me again thank you for the honor you have done me, and be assured it will give me pleasure to administer the duties you have imposed upon me with impartiality and to the best of my judgment, always invoking your aid and counsel,

Dr. Miller then remarked that

The number of original members in 1833 was 15; the whole number up to this date, 280. Died since the 4th of January, 1833, 71; dismissed, 1; removed from the city, 35. Total number of active members at this date, 160.

It is interesting in this connection to note the facts that Frederick May, one of the originators of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, and Joseph Lovell, the originator of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia, were natives of Boston, Massachusetts, and graduates of Harvard University. May was the first President of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia.

Dr. Miller was very proud of his influence and power, and took pleasure in asserting his authority. He was equally so of the honors of trust and position, and maintained always and everywhere that offices in the gift of the profession should be the reward of dignity and merit, and not merely the succession of a routine rotation.

He was very active in securing the establishment of the Government Insane Asylum, now known as St. Elizabeth's Asylum, and was very much hurt that due credit had not been conceded to his very efficient services. Notwithstanding the claims of others, it is more than probable that but for his efforts the establishment of the institution would have been long delayed.

In reviewing the lives of the three men specially named in this chapter one cannot fail to be impressed with the uncertainty of human character. They began life on parallel lines,

in the same city, with corresponding environments, were engaged in the same pursuit, and blessed alike with magnificent physical development. Miller was born in 1806, and died at sixty-seven; Davis in 1807, and died at sixty-five; and Magruder in 1809, and died at sixty. Davis soon sought a life of pleasure and amusement, without care or toil; Magruder led a desultory life, with medicine as the objective; Miller loved his profession, and followed it with that coherent and direct pertinacity which always assures success. One threw away his opportunities, another perverted them, and the third utilized his to the full measure of his capacity and energy. His life is the only one that will bear the close scrutiny of examination and escape the censure of impersonal criticism. Three examples are offered, widely different in the elements of human character, but only one deserves commendation and is worthy of following. His led to success, honor, and distinction; the others may serve as a warning to those who would emulate success and renown.

Nathaniel Pope Causin removed to this city in 1818, after thirteen years of very active and laborious practice in his native State. He continued the practice of his profession until 1838, when he was appointed by President Van Buren Judge of the Orphans' Court of the City and County of Washington, which office he held until his death in 1849. He discharged the duties of this office with the same fidelity that distinguished his professional life, and died respected by the community, beloved by friends and associates, and leaving a name without reproach. The faithful administration of the duties of probate jurisdiction requires the highest order of justice and discretion. Dr. Causin's long service in this position, and his reputation for integrity and impartiality, commend his memory to every lover of an upright and pure character.

LA E MEDICAL LIBRARY
CONOR DRIVE

TILO RETO, CALIF. 94304

CHAPTER XI.

Brief Biographical Sketches of Members Not Previously Classified, but Selected from the Numerous Dead Because of Distinction. John M. Snyder, William P. Johnston, Benedict Thompson, William B. Drinkard, William Marbury, Francis A. Ashford, Johnson Eliot, Charles M. Ford, A. Y. P. Garnett, James E. Morgan, E. Carroll Morgan, William Lee, William G. Palmer, Daniel R. Hagner.

IN the selection of those named in the caption of this chapter I have been greatly influenced by my personal friendships and long association with the deceased. There are many others among the numerous unclassified dead whose reputation and memory are equally deserving, whose honorable lives are entitled to the highest commendation and worthy of record among the élite of the profession, but I am not engaged in any such elaborate history of the membership of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia as would be necessary to complete such an undertaking. Personal reminiscences must necessarily fall far short of complete his

tories. So far as possible these memoirs have been confined to facts, incidents, and peculiarities known to myself.

John M. Snyder was accidentally killed by a fall, in the prime of life. I was with him a short time after the occurrence of the fatal accident. It was strangely incident to a conversation with him a few days previously. We were sitting together one bright, sunny summer afternoon on the porch at Belvoir, and he was telling me of the pleasure he derived from his afternoon recreations at Greenwood, the possession of which he had but recently acquired, in superintending the improvements and decorations of the park around and about the dwelling, and especially of his efforts in pruning the old oak trees of the dead wood and unsightly branches. I expressed my surprise that he would engage in such dangerous amusement, but his reply gave assurance of his care and attention to personal safety. I narrated to him my observation of a hired man whom I had employed to do like service for me at Belvoir, who sawed off the limb supporting him, and fell with it to the ground, fortunately without injury, but for a moment a shocking spectacle to me. He did not heed the warning, and a few days afterward I was hastily summoned by a messenger, who brought the story of his fall from a tree, and I reached him only in time to witness the last of life. The branch of the tree he was sawing off was hanging by a splintered sliver too weak to support its weight, and in swinging to the ground had knocked away the ladder upon which he was standing. My friend was dying. The picture of that sad scene is vivid yet. I have not been to Greenwood since the 3d of August, 1863, the date of the accident.

Dr. Snyder died at the age of thirty-six, in the enjoyment of the reputation he had earned by his scrupulous attention to his profession, his earnest Christian life, integrity, and gentlemanly demeanor. He was especially noted for his attention to details. Nothing escaped his observation in the sick-room, sometimes, in fact, pushing his inquiries and examinations