MEMORIAL OF THE LATE ROBLEY DUNGLISON, M. D. BY FRANKLIN PEALE, President. A MEMORIAL ROBLEY DUNGLISON, M.D., ONE OF THE VICE-PEESIDENTS Mutant. Institution for % Instruction of % giro*. Prepared in compliance with a Resolution of the Board of Managers, FRANKLIN PEALE, President. PHILADELPHIA: COLLINS, PRINTER, 105 JAYNE STREET, 1869. U/2- I OO n MtmBxiutu. In the progress that is so characteristic of the present century the education of the blind has occu- pied the attention of the ablest minds — the wise and benevolent Valentin Hauy, whose name remains as a beacon light from abroad, the rays from which guided Friedlander to our land, and to this city, and led to the foundation of this Institution. In the roll of the founders and officers are recorded many venerated names—names cherished not only by the class immediately benefited, but by all the commu- nity as benefactors to humanity. The last of these regretted ones is the late Vice-President, Robley Dunglison, M. D., in memory of whom we are to record, however imperfectly, such facts, feelings, and remarks as are necessary to express our estima- tion of his character and services, and our conscious- ness of the loss this Institution, other charities, and the public at large have sustained by his departure from among us. Keswick, in the shire of Cumberland, England, so celebrated for its rural beauty, was the birthplace of the deceased—being the residence of his parents, 4 William and Elizabeth Dunglison—on the 4th of January, 1798. Two other children shared this pa- rentage, William and Mary Dunglison, the former of whom survives his brother. His mother, who was remarkable for intellectual ability, subsequently married again and left several children. His educa- tion was carefully commenced in the school at Brisco Hill, near Wigton in Cumberland, and afterwards continued at Green Row Academy, on the Solway. That he was eminently successful in all his ele- mentary studies is evidenced by the certificates which now adorn a volume of documents and diplomas in possession of his family. From such a beginning it is not surprising that the volume referred to should contain a succession of testimonials, which show a not less successful career in the study of the profes- sion, in the pursuit of which he lived to be a guiding star of the first magnitude. He graduated in the College of Surgeons in Lon- don in the year 1818; and, as it is quaintly expressed in the diploma, of the Society of the "Art and Mys- tery of Apothecaries," or Apothecaries' Hall, about the same time; being then but twenty years of age; having previously studied in Keswick, subsequently in London, Edinburgh, Ecole de Medecine, and in private courses in Paris as well as at the University of Erlangen, where he graduated in December, 1823. He commenced the exercise of his profession in 1819, and occupied several posts of honor until the arrival in London of the agent of the University of 5 Virginia (Mr. F. W. Gilmer), to select Professors for that establishment, with whom a covenant was made in September, 1824, covering a wide field of instruction in that University. He sailed from Gravesend in October, 1824, for Norfolk, and arrived after a tedious voyage of nearly four months, and proceeded by stage to Charlottes- ville, where he soon after received the appointment of Professor of Anatomy and Medicine in the Uni- versity of Virginia, under the hand of Thomas Jef- ferson, by the authority of the Trustees. He filled this chair until he was called to that of Materia Medica and Therapeutics in the University of Mary- land, where he gave his introductory lecture in Oc- tober, 1833, and where he continued until that of the Institutes of Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence in the Jefferson Medical College in this city brought him to this superior field of usefulness and attractive associations in science and literature, to which he was devoted, and in which he was prepared to take the most elevated rank. Dr. Dunglison continued with distinguished suc- cess to occupy this chair, and other posts of honor and usefulness, including that of Dean of the Fac- ulty, until the year 1868, when impaired health com- pelled him to cease his labors, much to the regret of his associates in the Faculty, and the great sorrow of all his pupils and friends. Having thus sketched briefly his career from its commencement until the close of his professional 6 labors, we must return to notice the remarkable amount of work and profound research to which every interval of his life was devoted, and the re- sults of which made his name a familiar landmark in science and literature, and recognized as such throughout the civilized world. Space cannot be taken to give even a list of the works which have passed from his pen through the press; the number amounts to nearly one hundred! Some of these, such as the "Medical Dictionary," "Elements of Hygiene," "Human Physiology," &c. remain stand- ard works of inestimable value. Dr. Dunglison was elected a member of the Mu- sical Fund Society at an early period, and a manager of the Fund in May, 1840; Vice-President two years subsequently, and President May 17th, 1853: taking the office made vacant by the death of that most estimable man, Dr. Robert M. Patterson, one of the founders of the Society. He was always present at the meetings when health permitted, and was, as usual in all his associ- ations, eminently useful in reorganizing its By-laws, when, by the progress of art and increase of musical ability in the community, one of the objects of its foundation, the cultivation of musical taste, was no longer necessary or possible; but the other, that of beneficiary relief, was carefully cherished and exer- cised; in which consistent course he ever persevered, and only ceased when all other earthly occupations closed by the fiat that knows no denial. I Among the numerous societies in whose proceed- ings the Doctor bore a part, it is deemed indispen- sable to name the American Philosophical Society for the promotion of knowledge among men. He was one of the four Secretaries for a number of years, during which the records exhibit the tact and accu- racy that characterized all his doings; and was also one of the Vice-Presidents of that venerable insti- tution, now the oldest and most celebrated in the LTnited States, the President's chair having been occupied by Franklin, Rittenhouse, Jefferson, Wis- tar, and a host of the most celebrated names of the early and later great men of our country. In the Franklin Institute for the Promotion of the Mechanic Arts he was, as usual, a working member, filling several important posts in its organization, and leaving marks of his hand and intelligence in all its records. The most acceptable part of our melancholy task is to note the dates of Dr. Dunglison's association with this Institution; his labors while in the exer- cise of those duties which the position involved; and the voluntary assumption of others incident to them and his own philanthropic feelings—and they were many and important. He became a member of the Board of Managers at the election 'by contributors on the 4th of March, 1844, and was immediately placed on the Committee of Instruction, for whose duties his education and habits of thought and discipline had prepared him 8 for efficient action and control. Of his colleagues at the time of his association in these duties but two remain, Mr. Joshua Francis Fisher and Professor John C. Cresson. It is incumbent on us to remember always, that to the subject of printing for the blind he had given his most profound attention and research, and uni- formly advanced and maintained the opinion that all communication with and means of intercourse and instruction should be assimilated with, as far as pos- sible, those in use by seeing persons, and thus ren- dering intercourse as easy as circumstances and the darkened avenues to the mind of the blind would permit. For these reasons he was opposed to all systems of an arbitrary character as necessarily requirino- that the seeing as well as the blind should be equally taught in order to permit communication. He did not deny—neither do we—the value of many of these arbitrary systems; that they have advantages, and afford facilities for special purposes is not questioned; but until the public is equally instructed it is evident that none of them are free from the objection of in- sulating the blind practitioner, however skilful, from his fellows, and the community at large. Dr. Dunglison did not object to the instruction of the pupils in any or most of these systems; neither did he object to the use of varied forms of type; but he did object, as we believe all should deprecate, the 9 adoption of forms at variance with those accepted and established by the literary and educated world, and hence the opposition to those schemes of sup- posed improvement in types and characters so perti- naciously protruded by inventors in favor of their own schemes and speculations. And it may be added that he never ceased to deplore the apathy that seems to pervade the community in regard to the increase and dissemination of printed works in the raised forms for the use of the blind. He doubtless felt it in consequence of his own unrequited labor (save in the consciousness of having performed a glorious work) through many months bestowed upon the dic- tionary published by the Institution, the dissemina- tion of which has been so little in accordance with its necessity and usefulness. May we not make the inquiry, What would be the progress of our educa- tion without a dictionary? for that was the condition of the blind scholar previous to the publication of that important work. Dr. Dunglison's numerous letters on the various subjects of education and discipline, and his copious correspondence with the Principal, Mr. Chapin, are worthy of note, and illustrative of patient perse- verance in the welfare and safe conduct of the Insti- tution; and his final retirement from the post of honor, when he felt his inability to perform its duties, is most gracefully expressed in the following letter of resignation:— 10 "1116 Girard St., Jan. 16, 1869. "My Dear Sir: I have received from Mr. Chapin the 'rough minutes' of the last meeting of the Board of Managers of the 'Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind,' in which is contained a list of the Chairmen of the different Committees appointed by you. I feel more and more, however, that, for the sake of the Institution as well as myself, the responsibility of the Chairmanship of the Com- mittee of Instruction should not continue to devolve on me. "The Board, in accordance with complimentary resolutions proposed by Dr. Morris, has sanctioned a suggestion made by me to them, that Mr. J. S.« Biddle, an active, energetic Manager, should occupy my position until I was able to resume it. I have now to ask, dear sir, of you, and the Committee of Instruction and of the Board, that the office should be assumed altogether by Mr. Biddle, to whom I hope it will be agreeable; and to beg of you to per- mit me to cease to be Chairman of the Committee of Instruction. In thus withdrawing from an office which I have held so long, I do not design to sever myself from the Committee of Instruction, but to remain a member of the same until some one more eligible shall be appointed; and I beg of you to believe that my interest in our glorious charity will continue unabated, and that I shall ever be anxious to serve it. Take leave for me, dear Mr. Peale, of my colleagues of the Board in our hitherto 11 existing relations; and believe me, with sentiments of esteem and regard, faithfully yours, Robley Dunglison. F. Peale, Esq., President, &c. &c." If we were asked to point out the means by which Dr. Dunglison accomplished so much, the answer which would spontaneously rise would be, untiring industry—an industry that employed all the small intervals of time that may be found in the busiest of lives—and promptness in doing whatever was neces- sary the moment the obligation commenced; to which was added entire patience under interruption, a qual- ity not less amiable than rare. Another rare quality for which he was conspicuous was moral courage; he never hesitated to say no when principle demanded a negative reply; and he gave advice or censure when occasion demanded, without temper or personal feeling, that convinced while it reproved. Affectionate in his family rela- tions, and generous in his hospitalities, no household could exceed that in which he presided, in the social enjoyments of cultivated life; it was consequently a privilege to have the entree over his threshold, where sound science and profound knowledge were as fre- quently discussed as harmless wit and contagious hilarity—equally profitable and equally enjoyable. The social qualities of the Doctor were among his most attractive characteristics; few men have had equal ability to draw around him the learned in med- 12 ical science and the deeply read in literature; with them were welcomed the student and the musician, with all of whom he was able and ready to discuss, inform, or enjoy, as the hour or occasion served. Dr. Dunglison was married at the age of twenty- six years, on the 5th of October, 1824, to Miss Har- riette Leadam, at St. Olave's Church, London; a lady whose devotion to the duties of life are recalled in equal admiration and affectionate regard by all who had the happiness of her acquaintance; amiable in deportment and exemplary in all the relations of a wife and mother, she was the light of the house- hold during the series of years allotted to her, but was called away too soon, we may be permitted to say, from those who depended upon her for guidance and support. Her memory is cherished by her chil- dren, and held in affectionate remembrance by her numerous friends. A son, aged ten and a half months, died at the University of Virginia, and their eldest daughter, Harriette Elizabeth, was lost to them in this city, at the early age of sixteen years, when the dawn of all that loveliness that such a mother had foreshadowed was just breaking into day. There survive of the family four sons and one daughter; the third in age of the former is Dr. Richard J. Dunglison, at this time and for some years past one of the attending physicians of this Institution. The last letter received from Dr. Dunglison, and nearly the last from his pen, is an address intended 13 for the Board of Managers, and is one of the most characteristic that he ever wrote, showing; his devo- tion to what he called, in the previous letter, our glorious charity, and was written whilst prostrate on that couch from which he was never able to rise. Upon that letter was based the following action of the Board: A Special Committee, consisting of the President and the Chairmen of the Standing Com- mittees, was appointed, who prepared a Memorial to the Legislature in the names of all the Managers and Officers, and also a Bill, asking for a supplement to the Charter, and an appropriation, to enable the Institution to found an "Industrial Home for the Blind." The letter is as follows:— "To the President and Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind. "Gentlemen: The undersigned, as the Board of Managers may call to mind, has for a long time and repeatedly, both orally and in writing, drawn the attention of the Board to a more extensive establish- ment or offset, similar to the present 'Home,' which shall be endowed separately, although under the control and management of the same Board, and shall have a distinct fund, so as not to divert any of the appropriations made by the Legislature for in- struction purposes, which the Board of Managers can have no legal right to so divert. Such appro- 14 priations are, indeed, as the language of the Act clearly imports, for instruction, and not for the pur- poses of an asylum or retreat. "Some active movement seems, however, necessary in this direction, and with this view the undersigned proposes that energetic efforts shall be commenced to effect this great object, through public and private contributions, by issuing and actively disseminating a Memorial, stating the great purposes sought to be obtained. The undersigned will then be prepared to subscribe such a sum as his means will appear to him to justify; and there can be little doubt, he thinks, that the appeal would be never less favorably responded to by the philanthropists and many of the well to do in the land, especially in Pennsylvania. "The undersigned, in full confidence, leaves the preparation of such a Memorial and its mode of dis- semination to the Board of Managers. He will cheerfully add his own name to the list of subscribers if the matter is likely to succeed; that is, if a suffi- cient sum can be obtained in this or any other manner to form a fund for the purpose. "The undersigned begs of the Board of Managers to accept the assurances of his high consideration and regard, and that they would believe him, with the greatest esteem and respect, their obedient hum- ble servant. Robley Dunglison, 1116 Girard St., Feb. 3, 1869. Vice-President, &c" 15 The Committee of Chairmen, in furtherance of the important duty devolved upon them, directed that a deputation of pupils and officers should proceed to Harrisburg. This was done, and a combined exhi- bition and concert were given in the Hall of Repre- sentatives, by which, a very decided impression was produced, especially in consequence of the demon- stration of the intelligence and mental development of Eddie Dietrich, whose education has made such marked progress, mainly through the unselfish de- votion and Christian benevolence of Miss Jennie Wrigley, one of the teachers, under the apparently insuperable difficulties of sightless eyes and deaf ears—two of the senses usually considered essential avenues to the mind and soul. If the desirable object, the endowment for an "Industrial Home for the Blind," should be obtained, most of the credit will be due to Dr. Dunglison, and the blessings of the destitute and afflicted blind will rest upon his memory for generations to come. During the later years of Dr. Dunglison's life he suffered much from a disease that with less amiable and philosophic men is an apology for physical and moral relaxation. Not so with him; he never failed to be at his post in the lecture-room, let his suffering be what it might; and at last, when nature was yield- ing to the aggravated and most distressing symp- toms of a general disorganization, his mind seemed to rise above and beyond the frail and suffering body, and to dwell only on subjects of Love, Justice, or '16 Benevolence; failing gradually in strength, but ne- ver wandering, until the soul took its flight from the feeble tenement of clay, without apparent pain or sorrow. He sank quietly in death on the evening of the 1st of April, 1869, in the seventy-second year of his age. His remains repose in the Cemetery of Laurel Hill, by the side of his beloved wife and daughter. PROCEEDINGS, &c. Proceedings of the Board, as directed to be prepared by the President and Mr. Biddle, Chairman of the Committee of Instruc- tion, and copied in the Minutes. Special Meeting, April 3d, 1869. The President in the Chair. Members present: Messrs. Cope, Patterson, Cresson, Parsons, Lejee, Wiegancl, Biddle, Lex, Lytle, and Fisher. R. Patterson, Treasurer; J. Sergeant Price, Secretary. The following paper was presented and read:— To the President of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruc- tion of the Blind. Be pleased to call a meeting of the Board of Managers of the Institution, to take such measures as they may deem appropriate on the decease of the Vice-President, Robley Dunglison, M. D. C. Cope, John Wiegand, Edward S. Whelen, Wm. R. Lejee. The President communicated to the Board the painful intelli- gence of the decease of their esteemed associate, Dr. Robley Dunglison, who died after a painful and lingering illness of seve- ral months, on the evening of Thursday, the 1st instant. The President, and Mr. Fisher, the senior member of the Board, each offered a series of Resolutions, which were, on motion, re- ferred to the President and the Chairman of the Committee of Instruction, for the purpose of preparing suitable minutes and report in reference to the matter, to be entered upon the Minutes of the Board. The Resolutions are as follows:— 2 18 Whereas, an afflictive dispensation has removed from us and the Institution a gentleman whose association and counsels have for a series of years been of the most agreeable and serviceable character; a devoted friend of the blind, and an enlightened laborer in the advancement of education of this afflicted class, his loss is deemed an irreparable misfortune to them, and to his associates in the management of the Institution. The Board of Managers of the Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Blind, now specially convened on the occasion of the death of Dr. Robley Dunglison, who has been connected with the Institution since March 4th, 1844, one of its Vice-Presidents since December 18th, 1862, and for fifteen years the Chairman of the Committee of Instruction, would now express not only their personal sorrow, and the respect and friendship with which every member of the Board regarded the deceased, but testify in the most special manner their deep sen- sibilitj' to the loss which this Institution has sustained. We find it impossible to exaggerate the value of his services during the long period in which he has given to the cause of the education of the blind the benefit of his most active, zealous, and enlightened labors. His distinction in the varied departments of his professional career has met with a world-wide apprecia- tion, and will doubtless be fitly commemorated. Here we can never forget, and would now most sadly note the profound im- pression made upon us by the rare ability which he ever brought to bear upon every question which in his long career in the Board was the subject of our deliberations. Can we ever fail to remem- ber that quick perception, that subtle judgment, that far-seeing sagacity with which he enlightened every subject presented to us; how no aspect of it escaped his penetration; and how we all felt that in coming to a decision we could scarcely err in follow- ing his guidance? His master mind has long been most influen- tial in our labors and plans, and in our hopes for further results in efforts for the interesting objects of our care. As Chairman of the Committee of Instruction, his rare know- 19 ledge and various attainments enabled him to introduce, advance, or carry out the most valuable improvements. In the selection and preparation of class-books, and in all the mechanical con- trivances of teaching; in typography, in the practical parts of mechanical instruction, and in school discipline; in the hygienic and economical arrangements of the household, his scientific and practical knowledge was of the most essential advantage. He spared no pains, was indefatigable in all his labors, and accepted any duty, however onerous. We shall miss his friendly greetings at these our assemblies, and we shall miss the glorious use of those high talents which he freely exerted in this cause with so much courtesy to all his fellow-members, and with so much kindness to those of us who came later to the work than he did. His memory will long be with us, to animate us to greater devotion to the welfare of the Institution of which we count him to have been a benefactor. Be it, therefore, Resolved, That the decease of Dr. Dunglison is deeply mourned by the members of the Board, and that we are sensible of the loss sustained by his absence from our deliberations, especially in the department of instruction, in the chairmanship of which he has efficiently presided for many years, being appointed a member immediately after his election to the Board in 1844. Resolved, That the President be requested to prepare a Memo- rial of the late Vice-President, Dr. Dunglison, to be placed in the Minute Book of the Board, and printed in the raised letters used by the blind, and for their benefit. Resolved, That we tender to the family of Dr. Dunglison our sincere sympathy with them in the loss which they have sus- tained ; and that we will attend his funeral in a body, if our doing so is consistent with the arrangements of the family. Resolved, That the Principal be invited to attend the funeral of Dr. Dunglison, in company with the members of the Board. Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be engrossed, pro- perly signed by the President and Secretary, and given to the family of the late Vice-President. E R 11 ATA. Page 19, eleventh line from top, for glorious read generous. Page 19, sixteenth line from top,/o?' benefactor read great benefactor.