His medical studies were pursued at Cleveland, Ohio, and it was in this State that he began the practice of medicine. His success was considerable, especially in the department of surgery. In 1857 he became Professor of Surgery in the National Medical College in Washington. On the breaking out of the war Prof. Holston entered the army as surgeon of volunteers, but was soon promoted to the position of Medical Director on the staff of General Grant. His services here were highly appreciated.

At the conclusion of the war Dr. Holston returned to Zanesville, Ohio, and resumed practice, but at the solicitation of General Grant, on his assuming the Presidential chair, he took up his residence in Washington, engaged in private practice, and held a professorship in the Georgetown Medical College.

An attack of paralysis, two years before his death, unfitted him for further active labor, and after a long and painful illness he expired on May 1, 1874.

The position held by Dr. Holston among his brethren was one of prominence. He was considered a man of much learning and practical ability. As a linguist he possessed more than an ordinary knowledge of ancient and modern languages. He was an active member of the Masonic order, and held in high esteem by his pastor, who paid a glowing tribute to his memory at his grave. In private life his unusual benevolence, unselfish interest in others, and unvarying modesty of demeanor, while they gained for him no great worldly prosperity, secured for him an everlasting resting place in the hearts of many.

ILLINOIS.

GEORGE RICHARD BIBB was born June 28, 1842, and died at Jacksonville, Illinois, June 28, 1874, consequently on his 32d birthday.

Dr. Bibb was a medical student before the rebellion of 1861, and left the study for the battle field on the first call for troops, and remained with his command until their term of service expired. He was afterward promoted, and was attached to another command.

In 1864, he graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He was at an early day in his professional life associated in practice with the distinguished Doctor David Prince, of Jacksonville, and subsequently with Dr. O. A. Gilman, of the same place. In 1869,

he was appointed by Governor Palmer a trustee of the Illinois Insane Hospital. Declining health induced him the same year to emigrate to California, and after a residence of a year near San Diego, he considered his health sufficiently restored to return. After a year's residence in Illinois, he concluded to go to Denver, Colorado, where he spent six months. Finding his health unimproved, he again went to California. This time his residence was Oakland, from whence after a brief stay he returned to Colorado, and spent some months at Manitaw.

Finally despairing of success in a perpetual conflict with disease, he returned to his home and his friends in Jacksonville, and died June 28, 1874, on his 32d birthday.

Dr. Bibb had such natural facility for acquiring knowledge as to make the study of medicine easy; this, with his high appreciation of the science, and his genial manners, rendered the practice agreeable and successful.

His early death from protracted phthisis, which was inherited, deprived society of a valuable citizen, and the profession of a member who would have become conspicuous.

Dr. Bibb was one of about thirty doctors who went aboard the old steamer Commonwealth, at St. Louis, on their way to New Orleans, to the meeting of the American Medical Association, in 1869. The late lamented Prof. Mendenhall was also one of the party, and none who were aboard but will remember that both these gentlemen contributed their full share to the enjoyment of that most enjoyable trip.

JAMES VAN ZANDT BLANEY expired on the 11th of December, 1874, at one o'clock in the morning, being in his 55th year.

His death is a shock to the scientific world, and a deep affliction to a wide circle of intimates and friends. The pulpit, the press, and the public have united to do him honor, and have laid their tribute on his tomb. After a life of distinguished service to truth and humanity, he sleeps well.

Dr. Blaney was born May 1, 1820, at New Castle, Delaware. He sprang from a good stock. His parents were gentlefolks, and their home was the resort of the distinguished men of that day. John M. Clayton, Judge Baldwin, and Dr. McClellan were frequent guests. The then youthful subject of this sketch was a delighted listener to their animated and polished conversation His native

love of truth and keen insight were quickened by association, and he was moved to a noble ambition.

He excelled in boyish sports, and keenly enjoyed them, but his thirst for knowledge was insatiable. While others were idle, he listened, and thought, and studied. He learned everything readily, and laid up great stores; but he preferred natural science, and devoted himself to it. He graduated at Princeton when only 18 years old, but remained there some months as a resident graduate, pursuing his studies under the distinguished Prof. Joseph Henry. He had already become a learned and skilful chemist, and had taken a survey of the kindred sciences.

From Princeton he went to Philadelphia, and studied medicine. under the great masters there. He completed his course before he arrived at age, and perfected himself by practice in the hospitals. He also pursued his favorite science of chemistry in connection with Prof. Booth, afterwards director of the mint.

Early in the year 1843 he set out for the West, armed with letters to leading men in this region. He visited the Mammoth Cave, was a guest at Ashland, was stationed for a season at Jefferson Barracks, sailed up the Mississippi to St. Paul, and finally, in the fall of the year 1843, arrived at Chicago.

His work here was not done in a corner. He associated with the late Dr. Daniel Brainard in founding Rush Medical College. His first chair united Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Materia Medica, and the young man of 23 years proved an acceptable lecturer on all these topics. At the same time he engaged in the practice of medicine with ardor and success. His enterprises prospered, and his sphere of effort widened. He soon became a popular lecturer on scientific subjects, and delivered many courses of lectures before the Mechanics' Institute and other associations. He was an efficient member of the Board of Education, and was instrumental in building Dearborn school-house, the first permanent school building in the city.

In May, 1846, he organized an expedition to explore the southern shore of Lake Superior. He was accompanied by the late Dr. J. H. Bird, who acted as civil engineer. The result was the discovery of mineral deposits, which have since been mined to great profit.

Dr. Blaney was in active practice during all the cholera years, devoting his great skill to rich and poor alike. Night and day he pursued his errand of mercy, bringing healing to many.

He was the founder of the Chicago Medical Journal, and for VOL. XXVI.-30

many years its editor. His treasures of knowledge were poured out to enrich its pages, and his name and influence aided in giving it a wide circulation. His services as an analytical chemist were constantly in request. His aid and opinion were sought by an ́ army of inventors, miners, manufacturers, dealers. As a detector of poisons in criminal cases, he became "a terror to evil-doers, and a praise to them who did well.”

The reader will remember the celebrated case of George W. Green. He was tried in Chicago on the charge of poisoning his wife, and was convicted on the testimony of Dr. Blaney. By the use of novel tests, the doctor found strychnine in the stomach of the murdered woman, and testified to it. He was critically crossexamined, but sustained himself. His analysis was published on both sides of the Atlantic, and was at first the subject of some adverse criticism. But he defended himself successfully, and won the assent of the scientific world. The criminal himself said to him: "Dr. Blaney, God guided your investigations!" and the same night the wretched man hung himself in his cell.

In a less conspicuous case of the same sort, Dr. Blaney was the means of saving life. An expert testified to the presence of arsenic in the stomach. Dr. Blaney was called for the defence, and overwhelmed the prosecution. After denying the presence of arsenic, he turned to the presiding Judge and said: "Your Honor, if the test of the gentleman is to be relied on, I can prove the presence of arsenic in the water your Honor is drinking." And he made good his point by applying the test to the water on the spot.

In labors like these, Dr. Blaney employed himself until about the year 1857. By this time his reputation had become national, and his name was known beyond the seas. He had received and declined many invitations to other fields of honor and influence. But, being invited to the chair of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in the Northwestern University, at Evanston, he accepted, and removed with his family to that place. He was impelled to this step by the conviction that he could not with safety continue the general practice of medicine, and by his love of country life. He fitted up a beautiful home, and laid out on a sand ridge a garden marvellous for its floral display, and for the variety and excellence of its fruits and vegetables.

At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he was summoned to Washington and entered the army as Surgeon, with rank of Major of Cavalry. Here his high qualities secured him places

of trust. He was for a year Medical Director of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina with headquarters at Norfolk, and was with General Sheridan at the battle of Winchester, having charge of the hospitals. He remained in the army until the close of the war, serving with zeal and winning promotion. Under his administration, ample provision was made for the sick and wounded, and no emergency found him unprepared. Upon the return of peace he resumed the duties which had been partially interrupted. He was solicited to practise as a physician, and consented to do an office business, and was called in consultation in difficult cases. He never resigned his chair in Rush Medical College, and he now resumed his regular courses of lectures. He was again an analyti cal chemist, and an authority in science. Upon the death of Dr. Brainard in the fall of 1866, he succeeded to the presidency of Rush Medical College, and wearing the harness while he had strength to endure, he pursued his career to the end.

In forming Dr. Blaney, nature was bountiful. He was above the middle height, of a lithe and graceful figure, crowned by a noble, well-poised head, and a face full of thought and feeling—a sensitive and kindly face, full of dignity and courtesy.

In mind

he was gifted beyond the common lot. His powers were disciplined and always in the field. A new thought found its appropriate place and was never in the way. He loved science and pursued it, and made it his own. He found—

"tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything."

His vivacity was wonderful.

His graceful and appropriate gestures added an indescribable charm to his conversation and lectures.

He possessed a noble simplicity of character. He was truthful and just. He hated evil speaking, and guarded against it with jealous care. He was a model physician. His presence in the sick-room diffused sunshine and calm. He seemed to know by instinct, the disease and the remedy. Dr. Brainard once said, that when he could think of no remedy, he sent for Dr. Blaney, and added, "he always has something to suggest."

After

He never became insensible to the sufferings of others. watching for a lifetime the "tide of human woes," he was as tender as ever. His eyes would fill with tears at a story of suffering He had, not long ago, for a patient, a little girl who had broken the