Obituary. SAMUEL HOLLINGSWORTH STOUT, A.M., MD., L.L.D. A telegram came to our office Sept. 17th announcing the sad intelligence that Dr. Stout "was lying in a critical condi tion" at his residence in Clarendon, Donley County, Texas. A letter from his grief-stricken daughter of Sept. 22nd has the following: "I have returned this day from Dallas, where we went to lay the remains of our darling father to rest. * * * He was sick nearly four weeks. * * * He was conscious to the last. He tried to read the proof-sheets (of his contribution in this number, Ed. S. P.) when they arrived, but found himself too weak, so told me to put them away." This brief statement we know will bring sadness and sincere regret to every survivor of the medical staff of the Confederate Army who ever came in contact, either socially or in the line of duty, with this earnest, conscientious and devoted member of the medical profession. Reaching his 82nd year, more than three score years of his useful and valuable life he wrought most earnestly in behalf of his fellow-man; and to no one man in all that devoted band who formed the medical staff of the Army of the Confederate States, was given such opportunities of relieving the sufferings and prolonging the lives of the rank and file who wore the gray, each and all of which he availed himself to the utmost, with a self-sacrificing zeal and almost superhuman energy that was most commendable. Systematic and methodical in everything, with a clearness of intellect and logical reasoning; never overlooking the rights of others, their sensibilities, peculiarities and en vironment, his services, whether as surgeon of Brown's (Third Tennessee) Regiment of Infantry during the first year of the war between the States, or in the more arduous and responsible position which he held during the three subsequent years of that memorable struggle as Medical Director of the Hospitals of the Army of Tennessee are deserving of far higher commendation than lies within our ability. The series of articles with which he has favored our pages during the last years of his life, which we regard as the most valuable contributions this journal has ever received, served to some extent to show his character. In the contribution to this number, in its latter part, he indulges in some personalities as to himself, for which we ask a careful reading Although in comparatively good health at the time for his advanced age, he evidently wrote with prophetic view as if he apprehended the end was near, however, the following occurs in his personal commu. nication accompanying the same, he having recently removed from Dallas to Clarendon: "I am more satisfactorily situated here in Clarendon than I have ever been anywhere in Texas. (I have been in Texas twenty-one years.) I decline to visit patients, and I now have nothing to do save to work upon my Records, write my "Narrative," and to take care of myself. My wife and I have greatly improved in strength and health since we have been here." In our April, 1902, number it was our good pleasure to place before the readers of this Journal a brief biographical sketch of our esteemed friend. Brief though it be, his family and friends can turn to this, and the successive pages of his "Narrative,” with a just feeling of pride in the grand, noble and heroic character of the man there delineated. In the hearts of his friends, and on the printed page, he has left a name that is more durable than massive bronze or sculptured stone. His unswerving honesty of act and purpose, his scrupulous discharge of every detail of duty, his successful organization and management of our military hospitals, as a citizen, as a soldier, in professional and private life, and as the head of his family, he has justly earned the award, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant!"' DR. Wм. H. AMISS, SPERRYVILLE, VA. Died at his home, in Rappahannock County, August 8, 1903, aged 75 years. He was in active practice about fifty years. In the Confederate States Army he was surgeon of the Sixtieth Georgia Regiment during the entire war. He is survived by a widow, two brothers, (Dr. T. B. Amiss, of Luray, Va., and Prof. W. Edward L. Amiss, of Gaithersburg, Md.) and two sisters (Mrs. Dr. Hollaway and Mrs. Farish, both of Port Royal), Va). He was not a member of the Medical Society of Virginia. -Virginia Medical Semi-Monthly, Sep. 11th, 1903. FRANCIS TURQUAND MILES, M.D., Died, July 30th, after a year's illness, from prostatic disease and multiple neuritis, aged 76. After studying in Paris he entered the faculty of his almer mater, filling successively various positions until 1860, when he became professor of physiologic anatomy. He served throughout the Civil War in the Confederate Army, being a surgeon the last year. At the close of the war he resumed his practice, and again visited Europe to study nervous diseases. He removed to Baltimore in 1868. He was appointed professor of anatomy in Washington University Medical School and later professor of anatomy and clinical diseases of the nervous system at the University of Maryland. In 1880 he was transferred to the chair of physiology, from which he resigned in 1903, on account of ill health. Dr. Miles was a member of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland, and had been vice-president. He was president of the American Neurological Association from 1880 to 1882; he was an honorary member of the Amercican Association of Physicians, and had been a consulting physician of the Johns Hopkins Hospital since its foundation in 1889.-Journal of American Medical Association. BENJ. R. DONELSON, M.D. A letter from Dr. G. A. Hogg of Atchison, Ark., informs us of the death of Dr. B. R. Donelson of Pine Bluff, Ark., which occurred, Friday, Sept. 4th, 1903. From the letter we gather: "He left a wife, one single and one married sister, to mourn his loss. Our country has lost one of her very best citizens. A strict member of the M. E. Church South. No one ever called his name except in terms of highest praise. For more than 30 years it was my good fortune to be with him very, very often, and well might we say: "None knew him but to love, none know him but to praise.' From the "Record Blank” in file we learn that he was born in Shelby Co., Tenn., May 1st, 1834. Graduated New Orleans Medical College 1861. Entered Confederate Army as private and Hospital Steward in 1st., Ark., (afterwards 15th Ark), Pat Cleburne's Reg., in 1861, promoted Assistant Surgeon in 1862, and surrendered at Graham, N. C., in May, 1865. Editorial. MEDICAL ORGANIZATION. We have been an earnest advocate for thorough organization of the medical profession for many years. The pages of this journal from its ffrst volume, issued in 1879,to the present has earnestly advocated thorough and complete organization, giving every possible aid to organization of local and state societies. From our March, 1879 number, we quote: "Every progressive member of the profession in the State should become a member of the State Society, and attend its meetings occasionally at least, if not annually. It will not only do him good, but it will be of benefit to others." And again from the succeeding month's issue, page 152, Vol. I, we quote: "As a profession we need a more hearty co-operation in such work as tends to advance medical science among other sciences. Higher medical education is imperatively needed, but it is too late for those who have passed into the busy field of practice to retrace their steps through college walls. They must be reached in some other way, and no way is so suggestive as the one open to all, thorough, well organized medical societies." From that day to this, the twenty-six consecutive volumes, will show by a casual reference an earnest advocacy of, and a hearty co-operation in all measures of organization. It is gratifying to see that the method advocated more than a half century ago in our own State Medical Society, of having county medical societies, in affiliation with, and a component part of the state society, has under the impetus given it by the active work of the National Association in the past four years been so beneficial and productive in furthering medical organization. Nearly all the states have adopted this plan, and by another year, we hope to see the medical profession of every State in the Union fully in line, a component part of the National Association, with the membership of each composed of well organized county medical societies. The longer this plan has been in effect in any state, the better organized and more effective do we find the medical profession in that state. States that have adopted it, in the last few years, have largely added to their membership, some doubled, trebled, or more than quadrupled. In our own state, with the reorganization that only went into effect last April, the membership had never exceeded 400 at one bound went beyond the 1000 mark, and by the time of the next annual meeting, we have every reason to believe that it will go beyond 1500. Out of the 96 counties in the state, we have now 53 county medical societies, regularly chartered by the state organization, a component part thereof and in affiliation therewith, which we know will be greatly increased before another annual meeting. In recent successive numbers of the Journal of the American Medical Association have appeared some most excellent articles on “Medical organization Methods and Benefits" from the pen of Dr. J. N. McCormack, of Bowling Green, Ky., that will be of material service in laying before the profession correct, practical and proper views. If these articles could be placed in the hands of every practicing physician in the land it would, in our opinion, result in great good. From the completion of the series of articles in the Journal of the A. M. A., Sept. 14th inst., we submit the following. CONCLUSION. "The Association plan is almost perfect in its conception, scope and purposes, and yet it is believed to be entirely practical. Changes in detail may be required as the work progresses in the various states to adapt it to changed conditions, but these can be easily made. How far its benefits are to be extended to any particnlar county or state must be determined by its own profession, assisted by every possible influence from the outside when needed. To say that much time and increasing effort will be required to perfect such an organization, that many obstacles will be encountered, and that individuals will fail to do their duty or obstruct the work, is only to say that the undertaking is a vast one, that the agencies relied on are finite and that it is subject to the vicissitudes attending all human endeavor. Our contention is that it is worth all the time, labor and money |