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Donald G. Russell, M.D.

By JOSEPH MARSHALL FLINT, M.D.

On October 17th, 1918, Dr. Donald G. Russell, a member of this Society, died in France in the service of his country. His name and memory will be treasured in our records not alone for the cause in which he died but even more for the way in which he lived.

He was the second generation of his family on the rolls of this Society as his father still holds with us an honored place. Dr. Russell was prepared for college at the Choate School and was graduated from the Sheffield Scientific School in 1909. In 1914, he received his doctorate in Medicine from Yale, cum laude, and was a winner of the Keese prize. As a medical student, his work was more than creditable. He stood among the highest of his class and published an unusual paper concerning "The Effect of Aniline Dyes on Protozoa." The subsequent year was spent as House Officer in the New Haven Hospital where he left a record of duty well performed. At the conclusion of his interneship in the first year of the Great War, he volunteered for service with the French. He was in France over eight months at Hôpital 32 bis Chateau de Passy. Here he took a particular interest in the newer methods of suspension and extension in the treatment of fractures and the irrigation of the infected war wounds with solutions of Gentian Violet. Aside from the purely professional aspects of his work, he was a devoted officer and rapidly established a unique relationship with the wounded under his care. Sympathetic, humorous, human-his patients soon developed a personal attachment which rapidly overcame the barrier of tongue and led to the development of a Franco-American patois-as amusing as it was effective. He returned to this country to be married and joined his father in practice in Wallingford, where he remained until America's entrance into the war.

In June, 1917, he passed his examinations for the regular

Medical Corps and was commissioned a First Lieutenant. After three months in the Army Medical School and a course in the Rockefeller Institute he sailed to join the Expeditionary Forces in October, 1917. His first assignment to duty was with the British orthopedic service at the Black Rock Military Hospital in Dublin. Here he was attached to a well established orthopedic hospital organized on a background of three years of combat experience. He was soon given a great deal of operative responsibility owing to his previous training in France. During this period, he also saw many interesting aspects of the Irish problem and at times, he told me, was forbidden to leave the hospital for weeks on account of the street fighting.

In March, 1918, he was detached from Dublin, and ordered to join the Americans in France as orthopedist to the First Division. This assignment was no sinecure-it involved living with the Division under Division conditions that meant trenches, casual billets, personal discomfort and danger. With a great deal of responsibility, his duties involved the oversight of the splinting of the wounded by the Divisional Medical Officers. Those who will recall the conditions in which the fractures were transported, will realize how well this aspect of the work of the Medical Department was accomplished. During the summer he suffered from an attack of appendicitis and was operated upon in a Field Hospital. The Hospital was bombed by an enemy aviator and Russell was blown out of bed during his convalescence, fortunately without being hit by any fragments or suffering any serious subsequent consequences. His work with the first Division carried him up to the early part of October when he received a promotion in the form of an assignment as Orthopedist to the Sixth Army Corps. While in Paris on his way to report for this duty, he was taken ill with influenza and died in Red Cross Hospital No. 1-the old American Ambulance at Neuilly. In the early summer he had taken and passed the examinations for his majority and was awaiting advancement to that grade when his untimely death occurred.

His was a life that revealed no extraordinary accomplishments, no acts of genius, nor anything that is intensely dramatic. It is

easy to meet the emergencies of life, but difficult to face with equanimity and humor the petty tyrannies of daily routine. From his boyhood, he had a record of consistent work well and conscientiously done. He was a loyal friend, a good companion, and faced cheerfully the obligations which duty and opportunity laid upon him. It is in this sense that the Society may feel it has lost one in whose record it may take unusual pride even had he not made the great sacrifice that assures him an honored place in the hearts and memories of any group as long as freedom is a thing for which men live and die.

Maurice Steinberger, M.D.

By H. A. NEUMANN, M.D.

Dr. Maurice Steinberger was born in Kalocsa, Hungary, in 1865. His father was for many years overseer of a large estate belonging to the Archbishop of Kalocsa and the Roman Catholic. Church. Dr. Steinberger received his education at the Jesuit College at Kalocsa where he spent eight years.

After the completion of his academic course, he entered the Medical College of the University of Budapest in 1883. He was graduated in 1888. Following his graduation, he became connected with the Kraft-Ebing Institute. Shortly after this his father died and left him a considerable fortune.

Dr. Steinberger then engaged in business and in ten years lost his money. He emigrated to America in 1903 and was engaged as American Correspondent for two Budapest newspapers. He wrote weekly letters on American events and impressions of American life and literature. These were signed "Tompkins" and were a regular feature for several years. He was made secretary of the Hungarian Relief Society in New York and soon became a conspicuous figure in Hungarian American circles. Largely through his efforts the Hungarian Government contributed ten thousand dollars annually to the Hungarian Relief Society. This Society maintained a home for sheltering indigent Hungarian immigrants and rendered useful aid to needy Hungarians in America.

In 1909, Dr. Steinberger moved to Bridgeport and began to practice medicine. In a few years he obtained a very large clientele especially among native Hungarians. He was affiliated with the American Medical Association and was a member of the Staff of St. Vincent's Hospital. Dr. Steinberger was an earnest student, and a careful and accurate diagnostician.

He died of lymphatic leukemia on December 23d, 1918, at St. Vincent's Hospital. His death was mourned by his many friends. in the medical profession and by his numerous grateful patients. Dr. Steinberger's will directed for his burial in the Jewish Cemetery of his native city Kalocsa.

CHARTER AND BY-LAWS.

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