JOHN KING, M. D.

On New Year's morning, eighteen hundred and thirteen, about 9 o'clock, just as an American man-o'-war came into the harbor of New York towing a British prize, John King opened his eyes upon a world he was destined to adorn. Well descended he bore the qualities of the high born throughout a long and fruitful life. Reaching the full ripening of eighty well-spent years, he died on June 19, 1893, at North Bend, Ohio. John King's lineage was of noble and aristocratic pedigree. Both English and French blood flowed in his veins. His father, of British extraction, was an officer in the New York Customs House, and took no small part in the politics of the metropolis. His mother, of French birth, was a daughter of the Marquis La Porte, who came from France with Lafayette to battle for a principle and the freedom of the American colonies. Being in comfortable circumstances the parents were well able to accord their son a liberal education, with the ultimate intention of having him engage in mercantile life. Young King, however, proved to be fonder of the quiet pursuits of the scholar, and books and research appealed to him far more strongly than the active and noisy bustle of a business career. He was wisely given his choice. As a student he was apt and diligent, and took little for granted until he had thoroughly investigated for himself. This trait made him conspicuous in later years for great care and accuracy in his writings and teaching. The natural sciences especially attracted him, and in mathematics and languages he became exceptionally proficient. Even at a youthful age was he the master of five tongues, being particularly gifted in German and French, and enjoyed to the day of his death the literature in those lan

guages. To this proficiency in the latter dialect the pages of the Eclectic Medical Journal attest in the thousands of translated notes and articles. Exceedingly methodical, all of Dr. King's publications display the well-trained mind, and are marked by system. A literary college training having been acquired, he became an engraver of bank notes. At the age of twenty-two we find him in the lecture arena giving special attention to the then, as now, attractive subject of electricity. In 1835, he lectured before the Mechanics' Institute of New York City on the ponderous subject of "Magnetism and Its Relation to the Earth, to Geology, to Astronomy, and to Physiology." These discourses being well received, he repeated them in later years at New Bedford, Mass. The bent for natural sciences naturally led him to adopt the profession of medicine. Wooster Beach was then teaching the principles of the American Reform Practice in New York City, which ultimately culminated in American Medical Eclecticism. King cast his fortunes with the school, graduating in 1838. His talent as a lecturer and instructor soon secured for him the position of teacher therein, and from that time he was ever actively and successively engaged in the Reform school, and in the Eclectic movement. It took courage to do this, "for this was in the days when medical heresy was dangerous."

Dr. King first located for practice in New Bedford, Mass. Fresh from the large city of New York, with its advantages for culture, he did not like his location because of the sordid purposes and lack of interest in cultural movements by the people. In a letter to Dr. Beach (June 28, 1842), he complains that "here everything is money and means money; and societies for mutual improvement, or even one small society can not be raised. Yet I shall . . . do my best to raise the standard of reform, not only in New Bedford, but if I live throughout the State and country." How well he kept the faith is now a matter of eternal history. Again he enthusiastically declares: "My whole internal man is bent to this purpose. With the help of Heaven, my voice shall yet be heard in tones of thunder against the Mercurialists . . . and Thomsonianism and Regularism must fall before the superior worth of the American Practice." These utterances were characteristic of John King, who threw his whole being into the cause, and upon whom in later years fell the mantle of Wooster Beach, his teacher and co-laborer.

The transference of the Reform forces to Worthington, Ohio,

led many of the Reform physicians into the young and growing West. In 1845 we find John King located as a country doctor at Sharpsburg, Ky., where he braved the trials of the apostle of a new faith, and wrote articles concerning his experiences for the Western Medical Reformer. According to a statement of his in that publication he had now been in practice twelve years. He then moved to Owingsville, Ky., where he practiced for several years and terminated his career as a country doctor. We next find his name appended to the call for the first National Convention of Reform Medical Practitioners. The latter met in Cincinnati in 1848, and John King was made secretary. Of the forty-two names which were signed to the call, all save one1 have joined the silent majority. At this convention the National Association was formed and the name Eclectic adopted, though the college at Cincinnati had borne that designation for three years. Dr. King now located in Cincinnati, being introduced by a written indorsement from Professor Morrow. In 1849 he went to Memphis, Tenn., where he was made professor of Materia Medica, Therapeutics, and Medical Jurisprudence in the Memphis Medical Institute. Two years later he was called to occupy the chair of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children in the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, a position which he filled with great honor and efficiency (with the exception of three years when similarly engaged in another college), until stricken with paralysis in 1890. In 1856 Dr. King became involved in the controversy which resulted in a portion of the Faculty withdrawing from the Institute to found and maintain the Cincinnati College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery. Peace having been established in 1859, the latter then merged with the Institute. Then John King returned as Professor of Obstetrics. Though listed as Professor of Obstetrics in Worcester Medical Institute at Worcester, Mass., Professor King never served in that institution. In 1872 the National Eclectic Medical Association was organized and he became a member. At the annual meeting at Detroit in 1878 he was chosen president of that body. The convention meeting in Cincinnati in 1884, he was invited to make the address of welcome. This he did in word and manner which "showed that the old fire of forty years ago still glowed at white heat, and the gold was neither dimmed nor changed." On the second day of the meeting he was the orator of the day. In burning

1 Dr. Orin Davis, now of Los Angeles, California.

words he depicted the perils of class legislation, and his address on that occasion, titled "Special Medical Legislation" (from which we have quoted liberally in this issue) must ever remain a classic. It was a masterly argument for community of interests, and may be read with profit to-day by those who would defend the rights of all as against the privileges of the few.

Dr. King was the first president of the present Ohio State Eclectic Medical Association.

Dr. King was twice married, first to Charlotte D. Armington, daughter of Russell and Sarah Armington, of Lansingburgh, N. Y., a relative of the British Admiral Armington. She died in 1847, leaving six children, two of whom became physicians. His second wife, who survived him some years, was the widow of Stephen Henderson Platt, of New York City, and daughter of John and Mary Rudman, of Penn Yan, N. Y.

In 1890 Dr. King, who had so long and so conspicuously served Eclecticism as a teacher, author, and champion, suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he but partially recovered. Though his mind and memory remained unimpaired except for the failings of senescence, he enjoyed fairly well the remaining years of his life, and looked forward cheerfully and serenely to the hour of dissolution, which he knew was but a little way off. "My work is done; now it is time to go," was oft repeated, and in the last year of his life he sent to the students of the college he loved so well the beautifully pathetic letter which we have reproduced in this issue.

AUTHOR AND COMPILER.-As a writer of books John King was untiringly industrious, and gave to Eclecticism her first great treatises. All his books are written in clear and choice diction, making them easy and enjoyable reading. The bulk of his contributions to the medical journals were translations of medical papers and notes from the French, a few addresses, an occasional article on some drug, and a collection of papers which were ultimately published as a part of his great work on chronic diseases. His books form a library that would be difficult to duplicate, and show an endless amount of research and application. In 1853 appeared the "American Dispensatory," which passed through eighteen editions during the author's lifetime. It was his great work, and has been entirely rewritten and published in two volumes. since Dr. King's death. In 1855 his "American Obstetrics" came out and went through several editions. Just previous to the au

thor's death it was revised by Dr. R. C. Wintermute. "Women: Their Diseases and Their Treatment," was issued in 1858; "The Microscopist's Companion," in 1859; "The American Family Physician," in 1860, and in 1866 he brought out his celebrated and unique work on "Chronic Diseases." "The Urological Dictionary" was published in 1878. His last work, issued in 1886, was a study in sociology titled, "The Coming Freeman," written in behalf of the laboring classes. On the title page was this significant quotation, "I never could believe that Providence had sent a few men into the world, ready booted and spurred to ride, and millions ready saddled and bridled to be ridden.-R. Rumbold, 1685."

He

THE MAN.-Dr. King was a typical man and gentleman. There was a geniality about him that was infectious, and in all his dealings he never lost that dignity which is a part of all great men. His colleague, Dr. Howe, has so truthfully pictured him that we reproduce his words verbatim: "In a general resume of Professor King's characteristics his personnel should not pass unnoticed. was large in head and trunk, but small in hand and foot. His average weight was 225 pounds. His eyes were blue, and his skin. soft and white. There was a peculiar sweetness of expression in his face that few men possess. His manners were those of a well-bred gentleman, and never could be coarse or morose. He walked with a stately tread, yet with graceful elasticity. His smile, which was easy to elicit, was winning and mirth-provoking. It has been said that he never had an enemy, and never was in a quarrel of his own provoking. In a thirty-five years' accquaintance I never saw him in an angry mood. An expression of his was, that if you would be happy your conscience must be clear. Dr. King was naturally or instinctively religious, though not bigoted nor intolerant. He would not wrench a shingle from any church edifice, yet contributed to the support of the gospel in general. He occasionally conducted religious services in the church of his village when the clergyman was absent. His annual sermon to the class of medical students was calculated to do much good to a set of young men who do not properly estimate the influence they are to exert in the world."

Add to this description the words of his close friend and colleague, Professor Lloyd, and the picture is complete:

"There can be no higher encomium passed upon an American citizen than that he is a gentleman. Men may be professional and yet boors, scientific yet brutes, profound and yet not gentlemen.