OBITUARIES.

DR. SAMUEL K. MARTIN.

The subject of the following obituary, DR. SAMUEL K. MARTIN, for more than thirty years an active and esteemed member of this Society, died at Martinville, the place of his nativity, July 24th, 1868, aged sixty years.

In early life Dr. Martin had but limited means of acquiring a classical education, but possessing a researching mind, together with his industry, he naturally supplied this deficiency. After a preliminary education, he commenced his medical studies in the office of Dr. Robert S. Smith, of Bound Brook.

In 1828-9-30 inclusive, he attended two full courses of lectures in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of the State of New York. June 16th, 1830, he received his medical license, and immediately commenced the practice of medicine (at the place of his birth) which he continued until within a few days of his death.

Unpretending in manners, simple and plain in appearance, his face bore evidence of kindness of heart and of quiet deep-thinking; and throughout the years of his practice he manifested an unselfishness, a high sense of the dignity, importance and responsibility of, and degree of devotion to his profession and the good of suffering humanity, seldom equalled. Always deeply opposed to empiricism in all its forms, solicitous for the welfare of his patients, eagerly embracing every opportunity or means attainable to promote their comfort and safety, compromising his own health often, which was generally feeble, for their good, he deservedly won the confidence and affection of a large circle of friends.

As a physician, though not brilliant in the usual acceptation of the term, he kept pace with the advancement of the science, was reliable, and possessed decided ability and sound judgment; and when tested proved himself an eminently capable adviser. In no place did our departed brother more clearly exhibit the true and essential qualities of a physician, than in his intercourse with his brethren; and we doubt, if in the whole course of his practice, he ever violated a principle of medical ethics.

In his consultations he was modest, unassuming and courteous, patiently and in an appreciative manner listening to the opinions of his medical friend, yet giving his own views impressively and freely, but never suffering anything by word look or action on his part, either within or without the walls of a consulting chamber, that would tend in the least to disparage the reputation or injure the credit of any of his brethren, a failure which we are too often called upon to deplore, but which happily, we believe, is becoming less frequent, and is being supplanted by a more honorable feeling among the fraternity, notwithstanding the clashing interest and the generally overstocked state of the profession.

In private and social life, Dr. Martin was amiable and congenial. Being well educated, and of fine literary tastes, his society was courted by the refined, intelligent and polite. For six years he served in our State Legislature; three years in the lower House, and three years in the Senate, where his abilities as a debater and eloquence as a speaker, were recognized by his appointment as chairman of several of the most important committees, and were witnessed by one of the writers of this obituary, who was a co-member in the 49th Legislature.

He was happily married to Miss Sutton of New York City, an estimable lady of a highly respectable family, and by whom he had two children who died in early life. But not only as a physician and public man was our departed friend useful; he was conspicuous as a supporter of the cause of Christ. In all works of Christian benevolence he took a deep interest, and in his native place he built or caused to be built a chapel which he liberally supported and where he worshipped. Finally, few have left a purer or more amiable record than our lamented brother; and though his body is now resting beneath the clods of the valley, "its untouched life" we doubt not, is "hid with Christ in God."

Respectfully submitted,

JOHN W. CRAIG, }

J. C. SUTPHEN.

Committee.

WM. S. BISHOP, M. D.

BY R. M. COOPER, M. D.

DR. WM. S. BISHOP, surgeon of United States Navy, an honorary member of the Camden County Medical Society, died December 28th, 1868. Dr. Bishop was connected with the Navy from an early period of his profess

ional life. He had seen service in most parts of the globe. He possessed a vast fund of information, and was always a welcome visitor among those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, being remarkable for his kindness of heart and gentlemanly manner. Several years ago, while on duty with the squadron, on the coast of Africa, he suffered from a severe attack of coast fever, from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. He was pronounced by a medical commission unfit for further sea service, but was employed on shore duty at the various naval stations. The breaking out of the rebellion found Dr. Bishop on duty at the navy yard at Pensacola, Florida, where, in common with the other naval officers, he was obliged to give his parole not to engage in service against the Confederacy, before he was permitted to return to the North. Shortly after his return to Camden, where he had resided with his family for several years, (when not employed in the service,) he was ordered to the Navy Yard at Mare Island in California, where he remained during the whole period of the war. He came home much impaired in health, but was employed again on Naval Medical Commissions of great responsibility; he was finally ordered to the United States Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, as chief surgeon, at which post he died on the 28th of December, 1868, of a complication of diseases, ending in general dropsy, much regretted both in the Navy and the profession, as well as in private life.

DR. HENRY H. VANDERVEER.

DR. HENRY H. VANDERVEER, of Somerville, N. J., who died Febuary 1st, 1869, was born near Somerville on the banks of the Raritan River, July 12th, 1808, and commenced the study of medicine in the spring of 1827. For less than a week he was in the office of Dr. Beach, who had been an attendant on a man who had gained a wide reputation as a healer of wounds and ulcers of every description, by the name of Tidd. The confidence the community had in the old man's skill, and the idea that all he knew was known by Dr. Beach, induced him to choose him for his instructor. For this purpose he went to the City of New York, from whence he returned in a few days, to seek another instructor. This is the first evidence the young man gave of his capability of making a correct diagnosis, which throughout the course of his practice he showed he possessed in an eminent degree. Shortly after his return from the city, he entered the office of Dr. William Van Deursen, in the city of New Brunswick, whom he confided in as an in

structor, and esteemed as a gentleman. While a student of Dr. Van Deursen, for two successive seasons he attended the lectures given by the faculty of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York. After the close of the last course, he was induced to enter the office of his brother, Dr. Peter Vanderveer, who had a large practice in Middletown, Butler Co., Ohio. He became associated with his brother in the practice, and soon gained the confidence of the families he visited. After two years, in the 1832, he returned to Somerset Co., N. J., and became the successor of Dr. Henry Vanderveer, in Roysfield, in which place he prosecuted his profession thirteen years, and then removed to Somerville.

In estimating Dr. Vanderveer's abilities as a physician, the writer sees the propriety of the remark made by an old physician, when long and successful practice was the evidence of his skill," that a man must be born a physician." Ability to acquire knowledge, will, when used, obtain a doctor's diploma; but to be a physician, there must be the faculty to use this knowlege in the various cases claiming his attention, as in obtaining a correct diagnosis, in the choice of remedies to be employed, and in their dextrous administration, for all which the man must be fitted by natural gift.

Dr. V. was so gifted in an eminent degree. His power to determinate between conflicting symptoms, and to detect the latent disease, and his judgment in treating the disease when thus detected, not only secured to him a large practice, but gained the confidence of his brother physicians when united with him in consultation.

Dr. V.'s efficiency was impaired by ill health. The disease which ended his life, afflicted him for more than twenty years. The interruption it made in his practice did not diminish the calls made upon him when able to attend to them; and often was he consulted, and often he prescribed, when confined to the house by extreme pain. In his nature he was kind and benevolent. In his attendance upon his patients all he could do he did do, regardless of his own convenience. As a physician, to whom others committed their health and lives in sickness, he felt his deep responsibility, and he remarked near the close of his life, that when he was called to a sick-bed, he had during his whole practice looked up to God for direction. His funeral was attended by many who felt that he had brought them under many obligations by his services and who felt their loss in his death.

J. HENRY CLARK, M. D.

DR. CLARK was born in Livingston, Essex County, N. J., June 23d, 1814. His father was the Rev. Daniel A. Clark, the author of the "Church Safe," and a relation of Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He pursued his academic studies at Bennington, Vermont, and subsequently at the Round Hill Classical School at Amherst, Mass. He commenced the study of medicine in the office of the late James C. Bliss, M. D., in the city of New York. During his studies for his profession he visited Europe, partly for the benefit of his health, which was feeble, and while there availed himself of the facilities for medical instruction afforded by the institutions of the continent.

Upon his return he received the degree of M. D., in 1841, from the New York University, and commenced the practice of his profession in New York. After a short period, he again visited Europe in company with an invalid friend. When he returned from this second visit, he married the daughter of the late John Ogden of Newark, and there established himself as a physican, where he continued in the pursuit of his profession for upward of twenty years, and until the time of his decease. He took an active part in the Medical Society for the Essex District, of which he was President in 1867; and as its historian in 1868, wrote the biographies of the medical men of the district from the years 1666 to 1867. He was the author of various other works, including a history of the cholera, as it appeared in Newark in 1849; edited the works and biography of his father in 1855; wrote a book on "Sight and Hearing" in 1856, and the Medical Topography of Newark and its vicinity in 1861. He was honored by the degree of A. M., by Amherst College, in 1859, as also by Princeton College, in 1867. He became a professor of religion in early life, and joined the Laight street Presbyterian Church, New York, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. S. H. Cox, in 1832.

About five years ago he purchased a farm at Montclair, to which he retired for the benefit of his feeble health, but retained his office in Newark, where his practice was chiefly directed to diseases of the eye and ear.

Dr. Clark was versatile as a writer-of fine conversational powers-well read in the literature of his profession-familiar with the current literature of the day-fond of association with medical men, and laudably ambitious of their esteem. He was lenient and considerate in judging of the faults of others, and ever ready freely to acknowledge his own. He died of dropsy, associated with heart disease, at his home in Montclair, March 6th, 1869.