of which was to prohibit the drinking of rum sold on the premises. An amusing anecdote is told of his consulting with Dr. Nathaniel Coffin in a case of tetanus in which two clergymen protested personally at the bedside of the patient against the proposal of the doctors to give a mixture of rum and laudanum. The clergy said that it was sinful to the last degree that the dying man should meet his Creator drunk with rum and poisoned with laudanum. The physicians listened respectfully, but persisted and the patient recovered. The man never forgave Dr. Barker, and as if in perpetual protest was found drowned, ultimately, in a pond of fresh water. Dr. Barker was a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society, a constant student, an omnivorous reader of everything medical, he read French easily, and beginning his medical library at the age of seventeen, left nearly two thousand volumes at his death. Of his literary favorites, it is said that he always carried about with him a well-thumbed copy of "Rush on Fevers" and would lecture from it at the bedside. During one epidemic he did not enter his house for more than four weeks, traveling from patient to patient, eating and sleeping where he had the chance. Occupied with his books and his plans for future medical work, he kept on to the last, dying of old age, October 4, 1835.
Barnes, Edwin (1844–1904)
Edwin Barnes was born in Troy, New York, July 28, 1844, his parents moving to Dutchess County, New York, when he was a mere youth.
He began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Hall, of Burlington, Ohio, and matriculated at the Albany Medical College, attending lectures there when Drs. March, Armsby, McNaughton, T. Romeyne Beck and Quackenbush were at the zenith of their fame. While still a young student, yet having passed all examinations, he was appointed to military service in the United States Army, most of which service was rendered in the Ira Harris Hospital, taking his degree in the meantime.
Directly after the close of the war, he settled in Pleasant Plains, New York, and began civil practice, succeeding Dr. Jesse F. Merritt, a homeopathist.
In 1866 he married Matilda Armstrong and had three children.
He also kept thoroughly in touch with all the latest in medicine and surgery. Nevertheless, he was always slow to discard some well-tried and well-established procedure for one untried.
Among the many valued articles written by Dr. Barnes was one upon "A New Method of Treating Colies Fracture," printed in the Medical Record, January 21, 1899. This was a gem, original in every respect and called forth favorable expressions from many leaders in surgery in this country.
Dr. Barnes was president of the Dutchess County Medical Society, 1884–1886, and a member of the New York Medical Association, of which he was a loyal supporter to the end.
He died January 22, 1904.
Barnes, Joseph K[1] (1817–1883)
Joseph K Barnes, surgeon-general of the United States Army, was born in Philadelphia July 21, 1817, and educated at Round Hill School, Northampton, Massachusetts, and at Harvard University, but was forced to leave college before graduation on account of his health. He studied medicine under Dr. Thomas Harris and later attended lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, whence he obtained his M. D. in 1838 and in 1840 entered the army as assistant surgeon rendering notable service during the Mexican War and was present at the battles of Cerro Gordo, Contreras, Churubusco and Molino del Rey. After the war he was on duty at various military posts of the West and South. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was made medical director of Hunter's army. Later he served in the same capacity in the Western Department and with Halleck's army. In 1862 he was called to Washington, where he gained the friendship of secretary Staunton. When Surgeon-general Hammond was deposed it devolved upon Barnes to perform the duties of surgeon-general and in 1864 he was appointed successor to Gen. Hammond with the rank of brigadier general. As surgeon he worked zealously to advance the medical department of the army, and under his administration the Army Medical Museum and the Surgeon-General's Office Library were established. Under him, too, the "Medical and Surgical History of the War" was compiled. It was his sad lot to attend Lincoln and Garfield, the two martyr presidents, in their last hours. Gen. Barnes retired June 30, 1882, and died in Washington, April 5 of the following year.
- ↑ Barnes was a man who had no middle name and inserted the letter K as a substitute, being known as the man who put K in Barnes.
