George Choat. In 1865 he went abroad.

After remaining

nearly two years in his native country, he returned, and made the city of Boston his future home. Dr. de Gersdorff occupied many positions of honor. He was attached to the staff of the Boston University School of Medicine, as professor of pathology and therapeutics, from its organization to his death.

He was an influential member of the Orpheus Society, and was possessed of unusual accomplishments in music and art. His death, which occurred on Thursday, June 28, 1883, at the residence of his brother-in-law Dr. G. S. Choat, in Pleasantville, N. Y., was caused by carcinoma of the lungs. The disease first developed itself about a year ago, after a severe professional exposure. It appeared on his tongue, but was successfully removed by surgical operations. Up to within a few weeks of his death, he attended to his professional and collegiate duties; but about two weeks ago he went to Pleasantville for a season of rest.

His wife and two sons remain here, to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father.

In his official and social relations with this society, he was ever gentlemanly, courteous, but decided in his opinions, which were always suggestive and practical.

His funeral was held on Monday afternoon, at two o'clock, at the Arlington-street Church, Boston; and he was buried at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem.

Before the funeral services, members of the faculty of Boston University School of Medicine, of the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society, and of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society, assembled in the vestry of the church.

Dr. I. T. Talbot, dean of the faculty, addressed them as follows:

"ASSOCIATES IN THE FACULTY OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, For the first time since our organization, now more than ten years ago, do we meet, deprived of the wise counsel, and unable to take the warm-hand, of our honored associate and esteemed friend, Professor de Gersdorff. Four weeks ago to-day, almost at this very hour, he was with us, and performed his last official act in the signing of the diplomas of the class of 1883. Though we all felt a saddened and de

pressed feeling as we looked at his pale face, and felt that disease, which in the last year has seized upon him, was soon to make greater havoc with his noble frame, yet none of us looked for its termination so soon. From that moment he declined rapidly, and quietly sank to rest last Thursday. It is impossible, at such a moment as this, for us to express our sense of loss at parting with one whose noble nature, cultivated by education and favorable surroundings, had not only greatly endeared him to us, but had made him so important a part of our faculty, as he was likewise of our community. In all his collegiate duties, — whether as professor in the important chair of pathology, which he so honorably and successfully filled; as counsellor and member of the executive committee, which has had the care and direction of the college affairs, and whose prudent management has largely contributed to its success; on the examining board, which guarded the door of admission against unworthy applicants; or on special committees, Professor de Gersdorff, with a mind single to the welfare of the school, forgetting self, devoted his best energies to the faithful performance of whatever was assigned him to do. In all his work, in all his relations with his associates and the world, he bore an honor unstained, an integrity ever abiding. His loss we shall long feel, his memory will be ever precious. Let his noble example incite us to greater effort, and the more faithful performance of all our duties. May these flowers, which we affectionately place upon his casket, be a speaking emblem of that beautiful life which continued fresh and vigorous even to its close!"

Professor Conrad Wesselhoeft presented the following sentiment and resolution, which were unanimously adopted by a 'rising vote:

"Death has removed our dear friend and colleague from us, creating in our midst a void, and in our hearts a grief, which time will not conquer. We shall miss his wise counsel and genial presence whenever we shall meet in days to come, to debate subjects he held sacred in common with The chair of the successful teacher is vacant; the sufferer from disease will wait in vain for his physician. A friend has gone; but the memory of his love, unclouded even by a shadow, shall survive to comfort us.

us.

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Resolved, By members of the faculty, of which the dear departed was a member, and by his colleagues here assembled, that these sentiments of love and sorrow be communicated to the family of the friend who has gone before us."

Dr. J. Heber Smith, in seconding the resolution, said,

"Words flow not at such a time as this; but thoughts come welling up of him who was with us but yesterday, and who was to us a tower of strength. Born of a noble family, whose motto was Noblesse oblige, his whole life bore evidence that true nobility carries with it obligations of honor, integrity, and usefulness."

Dr. John L. Coffin, president of the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society, was called to the chair, and, on taking it, said,

As one who was edu

"This occasion brings to us no ordinary loss. cated under the teachings of Dr. de Gersdorff, I have ever felt for him profound respect and gratitude. He impressed upon us all a sense of patient research and exact statement, which my later years of practice have fully verified. As president of the Boston society, I know I express the sentiment of each and all its members when I say that my heart is filled with the greatest respect for the noble man, as well as honor for the noble scholar, whose loss we mourn to-day. I feel that some one more intimate with, and more a contemporary and colleague of, Dr. de Gersdorff, could speak to you far better than myself."

Dr. Walter Wesselhoeft spoke of the brave and sterling qualities of Dr. de Gersdorff, of the courage and determination with which he met difficulties, and his broad and liberal views, which kept him free from party spirit and egotism. His devotion to his professional principles was the result of singularly clear and deliberate convictions, and proved true under the most adverse circumstances. The speaker recalled a characteristic incident. Once, when under extreme discouragement he had himself spoken of withdrawing from the societies and school, Dr. de Gersdorff said to him in an impressive tone never to be forgotten, "This is no time to withdraw duty forbids." His sincerity, even to bluntness, none of us who knew him well could doubt. His directness could never wound, as he never sought contention. An earnest seeker for medical truth, he was never afraid or ashamed to sustain it, however unpopular it might be.

Dr. Henry E. Spalding, president of the Massachusetts Homœopathic Medical Society, was invited to preside, and said,

"The sudden and unlooked-for death of Dr. de Gersdorff strikes in the hearts of each one of us responsive chords of sympathy and sorrow. As a member of our society, in whatsoever position he was placed, he performed his duties with credit and honor both to himself and to the profession. As a society, we shall miss him in our gatherings and deliberations; as physicians, we shall miss him as a judicious and skilled counsellor; and sick ones will look in vain for their faithful and trusted physician. As a man and a friend, he commanded our fullest respect. If he sometimes showed a natural disposition bordering on brusqueness, we knew that there was a warm heart back of it all, and that his acts were the impulse of honest convictions, the justness of which we ourselves could generally recognize. Taken for all in all, we can but feel that one has dropped from our front ranks whose place will not be easily filled. The mystery of this dispensation, all-wise though it be, we cannot fathom. Words are idle, and too weak to express the feelings of our hearts. This gathering of his associates speaks more than words can tell of our respect for him, and the silent hand-grasp tells our deep sorrow."

Dr. H. L. Chase said, that, though his relations with Dr. de Gersdorff had never been of an intimate character, yet he had always felt great respect alike for his learning and his integrity. The loss to the profession is great, and his place must long be vacant.

It was then unanimously

Resolved, That the Massachusetts Homœopathic Society and the Boston Homœopathic Medical Society heartily indorse the sentiments and resolution adopted by the faculty of Boston University School of Medicine, and unite with them in extending to the family and friends of Dr. de Gersdorff their most cordial sympathies.

"Ein Held aus der Fremde, gar kühn.”

"Ade, ade, ade!

Ja, Scheiden und Meiden thut Weh!"

LEMUEL BLISS NICHOLS, M.D.

One of the oldest physicians in Worcester, Lemuel Bliss Nichols, M.D., died on Friday, Sept. 28, 1883. He was the son of Dr. Ezra Nichols, and was born in Bradford, N.H, Oct.

6, 1816. He entered Brown University at the age of twentytwo years, and graduated with the class of 1842.

He taught in the Arnold-street Grammar-School, Providence, R.I, for several years. Subsequently he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. H. Okie at Providence, R.I., and received his medical degree at Philadelphia in the spring of 1850. He adopted the practice of our school, and settled in Worcester, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-seven years.

Dr. Nichols was for many years an active member of the Worcester-county Homœopathic Medical Society, formed in 1866, of which he was the first president, a position he held. for several years, and remained its vice-president at the time. of his death. He annually made the meetings of the Worcester society socially pleasant by entertaining its members with a dinner at his residence.

Dr. Nichols was also a member of the American Institute of Homœopathy.

He was of a retiring disposition, and devoted his best energies to his patients, almost without cessation, until February of 1883, when his health began to fail.

In the following May he suffered from an acute attack of tubular nephritis, which passed through the usual stages of anasarca and ascites, and finally a dysenteric complication in September relieved him of all his earthly cares.

He leaves a wife (daughter of the late James Anthony of Providence, R.I.), a son (Charles L. Nichols, M.D., his successor in practice), and four daughters.

ARVILLA BRITTON HAYNES, M.D.

Whoever is disposed to doubt the sympathetic influence of a truthful woman as a physician can never have read aright the faithful and courageous life of Arvilla Britton Haynes, from the time she started out on her medical pilgrimage to win an honorable name.