Physicians of Philadelphia, the most ancient, renowned, and widelyknown organization of the kind in this country; and at the date of his decease he was, with the exception of Drs. George B. Wood and Benjamin H. Coates, the oldest surviving fellow of that body.

In the year 1853 he became a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society. His attendance at the meetings was frequent until within the few past years. He held various offices in the Society, and was repeatedly chosen as a delegate to the American Medical Association, and Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania. In 1864 he was elected President of the Society, presiding at its meetings, as many of you know, with characteristic modesty and urbanity. The retiring address given by Dr. Gebhard at the end of his term of service as President, in connection with the extensive, important, and interesting addenda, in the shape of reminiscences, is greatly worthy of commendation. Few physicians of this city could, from personal knowledge, have embodied such an amount of fact and incident, medical and general, as can be found upon the pages of the addenda; for it is to be remembered that Dr. Gebhard lived and practised here long enough to see the population of Philadelphia advance from 100,000 in 1815 to 700,000 in 1873. Dr. Gebhard was also elected some years since a member of the Northern Medical Association, before which body he read several useful, practical papers.

But it is time briefly to glance at the character and life of our deceased member in another and less professional aspect. Endowed with strong moral perception, and gentle, sympathizing heart, he could not contemplate with indifference the moral degradation or suffering of his fellow-mortal, though he were himself the author of it. That one of the most prolific sources of poverty, misery, and crime, is the fruit of unlimited indulgence in intoxicating beverages was as evident, half a century ago, as at the present moment. Fully convinced of this fact, Dr. Gebhard threw himself resolutely, as a pioneer, into the arena where a very few others had manfully unfurled, in the face of every discouragement, the banner of temperance. Excitement and hostility to the contemplated reform were manifested everywhere, yet this did not intimidate the gentle, but undaunted Gebhard from opening his parlor, in July, 1827, to the first formal temperance meeting held in Philadelphia, leading, as it did, to the formation of the State Temperance Society, the earliest organized in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia County Temperance Society was subsequently formed, mainly through the instrumentality of Drs. Gebhard, Bell, Condie, and Jewell, aided, as they were, by Matthew Carey, Matthew Newkirk, and Mr. Bradford, a distinguished advocate of this city. Neither by precept nor example did our faithful yet judicious friend of reform ever prove recreant to the banner he had pledged himself to support. Actuated by similar benevolent impulse, he early became a member of the Colonization Society, formed, as is well known, with the view of ameliorating the condition of the colored race in the United States; and, with like tender, compassionate regard for the sufferings of the brute creation, he joined, soon after its establishment, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

In his intercourse with patients Dr. Gebhard treated their foibles with indulgence, yet always insisted upon his directions being rigidly obeyed; if negligence or omissions in this respect were noticed, his kindness of heart suggested gentle expostulation, rather than sharp rebuke, as the proper corrective. The hopefulness of his own nature imparted hope to the desponding patient. In the various business relations of life, with their attendant irritation, he manifested the same forbearing spirit. If, perchance, casually, his elastic temperament suffered a depression, as when under the influence of his old complaint, he would endeavor when in the bosom of his own family to manifest as little of this as possible; for, devoted as he was to the comfort and pleasures of those most dear to him, he would not, willingly, do or say aught to mar their happiness.

The religious sentiments impressed upon Dr. Gebhard early in life were not fruitless. He became, soon after returning to Philadelphia, a member of the Third Dutch Reformed Church, and remained in its communion until his death; the congregation having a short time before his decease united with the Presbyterians, under the title of Emanuel Presbyterian Church. Occupied in the duties of an extensive practice, he yet endeavored so to arrange his visits for the Sabbath as to enable him to attend, if possible, the services of that day-consecrated as it is to prayer and devotion-at least once or perhaps twice. In these devout exercises of the sanctuary he found comfort and support; and in the performance of his duties as a church-member he exhibited the same zealous, active, and cheerful spirit, that characterized him elsewhere in the discharge of other duties. That the benign disposition of Dr. Gebhard was in great measure inherited, cannot be doubted; that the religious element had much to do in fostering and strengthening this estimable frame of mind is also certain. His faith in God, as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, and in His love and mercy to fallen man was unreserved, immovable, and gave to him "the peace which passeth all understanding;" thus rendering the long, weary, and ofttimes dark path he trod, resplendent with the "Sun of righteousness." In and by this faith he continued to walk in the path he should go, and in this faith he found daily strength and support, and in the end consolation and peace.

The illness terminating the life of our aged and greatly esteemed member was of short duration, and not accompanied with much suffering. On Thursday, the 24th December last, he complained slightly; on Friday he experienced rather severe pain in the abdomen, but soon obtained relief from a small portion of morphia. On Saturday he was quite easy, and, though weak, apparently improved, and thus continued until 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 30th December; when suddenly, whilst seated in his chair, he appeared to be sinking, and, in an hour after, visibly without suffering, gently sunk to his rest. The funeral services took place in the church to which he was attached, and an impressive discourse was delivered by the eloquent pastor, Dr. Wadsworth.

GEORGE HAMILTON.

SAMUEL WORCESTER BUTLER, M.D., 1823-1873.

Dr. S. W. BUTLER was the son of Dr. Elizur Butler, a native of New Marlborough, Massachusetts, and a descendant of one of the original settlers of Hartford, Connecticut. His mother, Miss Esther Post, came from Litchfield, Connecticut. Dr. Elizur Butler received a diploma from the Berkshire Medical College, and studied the profession not for the sake of gain, but in order to qualify himself the better to fulfil the duties of a missionary among the Indians. He was located with the Cherokees in northern Georgia, and it was there, at the mission station of Brainard, that his son Samuel W. was born, May 1, 1823.

Dr. Elizur Butler spent the remainder of his life with the Cherokees, moving west when they did, and even undergoing an imprisonment of eighteen months in defence of their rights; but desirous of giving his children every educational advantage, he sent his son, at the age of thirteen, to a classical academy at Wilton, Connecticut. There the latter remained several years, and then, through the kindness of Mrs. Whittlesey, editor of the "Mother's Magazine" and sister of the famous "Peter Parley," he obtained a situation in a drug store in Quebec, Canada. This was quite in accordance with his wishes, as he had determined to pursue his father's profession, and felt the importance of pharmacy as a preliminary study. In 1841 he returned to the Cherokee nation, then on the reservation west of the Mississippi, and passed six years among them. During this period he pursued his studies under his father, and also did his first editorial work on the Cherokee Phenix, a weekly newspaper, published in both languages.

In 1847 he returned east, and pursued his medical studies at Pittsfield, Massachusetts; whence, in 1848, he removed to Philadelphia, and matriculated in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. From this institution he received a diploma April 5th, 1850. Known as a devoted student and a hard worker, he stood well in the class, and made many friends. The year of graduation he located in Burlington, New Jersey, associating himself with Dr. Joseph Parrish. The latter was editor of the New Jersey Medical Reporter, a quarterly journal which had been launched in 1847. Dr. Butler soon became its sole editor and proprietor, his natural qualifications for the post being early conceded, and immediately transformed it into a monthly

In spite of a growing practice he determined to remove to Philadelphia, in order to prosecute his editorial labors more successfully. The move was made in 1858, and the journal commenced as a weekly under the title The Medical and Surgical Reporter. At various periods Dr. Wm. B. Atkinson, Dr. Richard J. Levis, and Dr. C. F. J. Lehlbach, were associated with him in the arduous enterprise he had undertaken, and contributed to its success.

Through the influence of the second mentioned of these gentlemen and of Dr. D. H. Agnew, Dr. Butler was appointed in 1859 Superintendent Physician of the Department for the Insane of the Philadelphia Almshouse. This devolved upon him an incredible

amount of work. The insane paupers placed under his charge were from 400 to 500 in number, he had no medical or even trained assistants, and the Committee of the Guardians of the Poor were obstructive and dilatory to the last degree. His ambition was to render this institution a hospital in the proper sense of the term, not merely an asylum. To effect this, he spared himself no fatigue, and the results he gained, though far from commensurate with his wishes, were most beneficent and lasting. I cannot illustrate this period of his professional life more properly than by quoting from a letter from the eminent alienist, Dr. Thomas S. Kirkbride:

"Dr. Butler occupied a post that was surrounded with difficulties, and in which he had little aid or encouragement from the public authorities. Fully aware of the deficiencies which existed, he labored most earnestly to effect changes, without which such an establishment could not take rank with modern hospitals for the insane. His work on this account was not satisfactory to himself, but he manifested an unfaltering industry, and great fidelity in urging the claims of those who could not ask for themselves."

That these humane efforts should be distasteful to authorities who preferred their ease, and who did not wish reforms, was natural enough; and the result was that in 1866 he was defeated in the election of officers, and left the institution.

From this date to the close of his life, he devoted himself to medical literature, continuing the Medical and Surgical Reporter, commencing in 1867 the Half Yearly Compendium of Medical Science, in 1866 the Physician's Daily Pocket Record, and in 1872 projecting the U. S. Medical Directory.

The arduous toil which he devoted to these various enterprises finished by undermining his naturally not very vigorous constitution. An early tendency to pulmonary troubles reappeared in 1871, after an attack of latent pneumonia, which implicated the left lung. A consolidation of the lower lobe remained, which gradually passed into tubercular degeneration, with the usual symptoms of chronic phthisis of the inflammatory variety, to which he succumbed January 6th, 1874.

As a contributor to medical science, Dr. Butler's name is connected with the introduction into the materia medica of the Hydrangea Arborescens, a remedy used by the Cherokees in sabulous complaints, and the value of which has been, since his introduction of it to professional notice, fully attested by many practitioners.

From youth up Dr. Butler was a member of the Presbyterian church, an ardent advocate of the temperance movement, a devoted husband and father, and as a citizen one whose actions were always guided by principle.

D. G. BRINTON.

REPORT OF THE SCHUYLKILL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.

DR. D. W. BLAND reports: A case of attempted suicide came under my charge. The patient, a boy of fifteen years, inflicted a dangerous wound in his throat with a pocket-knife. He made three distinct lacerated cuts through the integuments and into the trachea at the lower edge of the larynx. The opening in the trachea was one and a half inches long and a half inch wide-respiration was free through this opening. The hemorrhage had been profuse. I introduced five sutures and applied adhesive strips. Immediately after the dressing was completed there followed a fearful gush of blood tearing out the sutures. In fifteen minutes he reacted, and under the free use of anodynes, cold applications to the wound, and careful nursing, the patient completely recovered.

I also treated a case of complete eversion of the bladder in a female child aged fourteen months. The eversion was produced by an attack of acute dysentery. The child was placed under the influence of chloroform, and after anointing the parts with raw lard, the organ was inserted and returned through the urethra to its proper position, and retained with a compress and T bandage. The latter was carefully removed every four hours to allow the effort of voiding the urine. The cure was complete. The dysentery yielded promptly to treatment, and the child made a rapid recovery.

In the treatment of scarlatina anginosa, I must again renew my indorsement of the internal administration of the hyposulphites and carbolic acid. The results obtained in this disease with the above remedies are unprecedented, and give every evidence to warrant their continued use. I recently treated seven cases in one family, four of whom had severe throat ulcerations. The topical application of carbolic acid and glycerin to the inside of the throat, the hyposulph. of sodæ internally with good nutritious diet and febrifuge mixture as required, was the treatment employed, and in eight days the patients were all well.

A number of my colleagues have tried the foregoing remedies, and give them their unqualified indorsement.

During the past winter our people have been visited with a severe