Page:American Medical Biographies - Kelly, Burrage.djvu/785

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MARSHALL 763 MARSHALL Prevention of Typhoid Fever, 1878; Disloca- tion of the Fifth Cervical Vertebra, Report of Case, 1898. Dr. Marks reached the venerable age of 87 years and though suffering from the physi- cal infirmities of old age, he remained ever young at heart and active in mind, and retained a keen interest in medical affairs until the end. He was truly the grand old man of medicine of Wisconsin, and died with the love and affection, not only of his professional brothers, but of the entire community in which he had hved for more than fifty years. Gilbert E. Se.man. Med. Hist, of Milwaukee, Louis Frank, M.D. Marshall, Moses (1758-1813) The fame of this expert medical botanist has been somewhat eclipsed by that of his uncle Humphrey (not a doctor), of whom Darlington left studious and loving record in his "Memorials of Bartram and Marshall," but Moses made several long exploring jour- neys through the wilds of the West and ren- dered valuable assistance to his uncle in preparing the "Arbustum Americanum" (1785). He was the son of James and Sarah Mar- shall and the grandson of Abraham Marshall who came from Gratton, Derbyshire, Eng- land, to Delaware in 1697. He was born in West Bradford, Pennsylvania, in 1758 and studied medicine under Dr. Nicholas Way of Wilmington, but never took any medical degree, none being required at that time for practising in Pennsylvania, but, it being cus- tomary to attend a course of lectures, he went to those by William Shippen and Rush. His diary at this time shows medicine not wholly absorbing, for frequent mention is made of a certain Polly Howell and Sally Samson, the latter "behaving for three even- ings, especially the last, in a most engaging manner." Then followed a year or two employed in desultory medical work, including inocula- tion round about London Grove, Pennsyl- vania, and in keeping an apothecary's shop "which came to nothing and less." The truth was he had not found his true vocation — botanizing — but his uncle writes to Franklin in 1785, and Moses himself to Dr. Lettsom in London, suggesting a government supported exploration of the western states. In 1786 Sir Joseph Banks wrote Humphrey Marshall ask- ing for one hundredweight of fresh ginseng roots. Moses spent twenty days in the Alle- ghanies getting these and charged Lettsom $1.25 a pound. Lettsom and he seem to have carried on a brisk correspondence, especially concerning the Talinum Teretifolium hith- erto undescribed by botanists. He sends Lettsom three tortoises and some plants, one of which, a polygala, is thus mentioned in a letter : "Should this prove to be a new genus I had designed the appellation of Lettsomia, with this provision that it might not be un- pleasing to thee, and that, in the interim, I should not be able to discover a plant more exalted, conspicuous and worthy." He also asks for a "surgeon's pouch of instruments" to be sent him, and Lettsom hastens to acknowledge the compliment of a floral god- child and encloses ten pounds in case Moses should be out of pocket for seeds asked for. A plant was also named after Moses but many authorities claim the Marshaliia for his uncle. Two letters of 1792 have recently come to light which settle the question. Muhlenberg, the correspondent, was himself a leading Philadelphian botanist: "Dear Sir: "I beg leave to inform you that the new edition of the Genera Linnaei is safely arrived. I am happy to see that the editor, my friend Dr. Schreber, has done what I requested of him. He has given your name to a hitherto undescribed plant that belongs to the Syngenesia, which he names the Mar- shaliia. Give my best respects to your uncle, Mr. Humphrey Marshall, and believe me with great esteem, sir, Your humble servant, Henry Muhlenberg." In the collection of the Marshall papers in the possession of Gilbert Cope there is the following copy of the reply to this note in the handwriting of Dr. Marshall: "West Bradford, April 13, 1792. "Reverend Sir: I have just received yours of the ninth instant, and am much pleased to hear of the arrival of the Genera Plan- tarum. I am very sensible of the honor done me. through your request, by Dr. Schreber, and think myself but too undeserving. I shall be pleased in your calling on your in- tended journey, and hope you will consider my uncle's house as a welcome stage. I am, with all due respect. Your much obliged friend, Moses Marshall." Marshall's letters speak of many long trips which meant fatigue, danger and expense. His appointment as justice of the peace cur- tailed these excursions, but he continued ex- changing specimens and seeds with European