Autobiography of Samuel D. Gross (Volume 2); With Sketches of His Contemporaries (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1887. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XII. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SHUMARD--WILLIAM GIBSON--ROBLEY DUNGLISON--ALDEX MARCH--CHARLES D. MEIOS--BENJAMIN WINSLOW DUDLEY. Benjamin Franklin Shumard. 1819-1867. In 1841, one morning as I was sitting in my office ruminating over the occurrences of the preceding day, I was timidly saluted by a youth who announced his name as Shumard, a student of medicine, adding that he had come to place himself under my instruction, if, as he hoped, I would receive him. Begging him to be seated, I took a keen survey of him. In stature he was about the medium height, with blue eyes, of light complexion, and of decidedly awkward manners. "My family," he said, "recently moved to Louisville from Cincinnati, and my father is now engaged in manufacturing blacking. We" are poor but honest people, and my desire is to prosecute in your school my medical studies begun in Philadelphia." The youth who thus addressed me was destined, contrary to my anticipations, to make a figure in the world, and to leave behind him an enviable, if not an enduring name. There was nothing in his appearance or conversation which denoted special talent. When he graduated the following spring he gave no evidence of exceeding' the ordinary standard; and I took for granted that little, if anything, would be heard of him after he left the halls of his Alma Mater--in a word, that he would soon be lost in the mass of general practitioners. In truth, I do not think 320 that he was ever fond of his profession. Shortly after he received his degree he opened an office in the country, at some distance from Louisville, and whenever he met me his answer to my question, ' How are you getting on ?' was, ' Practice is an up-hill business.' He had already turned his attention to the study of palaeontology. The ...