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TRIBUTE 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 ALDEN MARCH, ED., LLD. 
 
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 ALBANY: 
 
 PRINTING HOUSE OF CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN & SONS. 
 
 I 870. 
 

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 " AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO ME, WRITE, 
 BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD FROM HENCE- 
 FORTH: YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM 
 
 I 
 THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM:' 
 
 Rev. xiv. 13. 
 
Funeral Address. 
 
 By WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, D.D. 
 
 We are accustomed to speak of the silence of Death; 
 and yet Death is one of the most eloquent of all 
 God's ministers. His deliverances have respect to 
 the past, the present and the future. He puts us 
 into communion with scenes gone by, and gathers 
 from them an argument for humility and gratitude 
 and fresh consecration to our appointed work. He 
 admonishes us of the brevity of life, of the importance 
 of each passing hour, of the rapidity with which 
 we are moving onward. And, standing forth in the 
 light of God's revealed truth, he assures us that his 
 victories in respect to the Christian are all nothing 
 but the precursor of an exceeding and eternal weight 
 of glory. Death's utterances, then, are to be reve- 
 rently listened to and heeded always ; and when they 
 come hand in hand with our ever blessed Christianity, 
 well may they be accepted with gratitude and praise. 
 There is a diversity in the lives and characters 
 and deaths of good men, which we must not overlook 
 if we will learn all the lessons which the}'- teach from 
 
6 
 
 their coffins. The Providence of God orders their 
 lot respectively with reference to the accomplishment 
 of different ends. The Grace of God performs its 
 sanctifying work in unequal degrees and through 
 various instrumentalities. And Death, in moving 
 about as God's agent, approaches sometimes by one 
 path, and sometimes by another; and though he 
 always accomplishes substantially the same object in 
 respect to both body and soul, yet the particular 
 lessons he teaches are modified by the circumstances 
 in which he performs his office. But, instead of fol- 
 lowing out these several thoughts in their application 
 to our lamented friend, I design to show what he was 
 in the days of his vigorous and mature usefulness, and 
 what we believe he now is as a minister around the 
 throne, and to trace the process by which his high 
 ' character and destiny have been attained. 
 
 As I must pass rapidly over this ground, much, of 
 course, must be left unsaid, which the tender associa- 
 tions of the hour, as well as our own appreciation of 
 the admirable qualities of the departed, would natu- 
 rally suggest. 
 
 In speaking of our friend as we have known him 
 in the past, it is natural that we should view him first 
 in his domestic relations, — as the life and joy of a 
 happy home. Within that sacred enclosure his heart 
 always seemed full of blessing ; the result of which 
 was that he drew all the members of his household 
 around him by a cord of unwonted reverence and 
 
tenderness. I understand, that he was a model both 
 in the conjugal and parental relations; that his 
 presence in his own endeared circle Avas always 
 welcomed as a benediction; that his discipline, dic- 
 tated by kindness, and guided by calm discretion, 
 seemed only as the legitimate working of the law of 
 love. His perfect regularity in all his domestic habits 
 generated an atmosphere around him eminently favour- 
 able to the growth of intelligence and virtue. And, 
 to crown all, he had in his house an altar consecrated 
 to family worship; and nothing of a mere worldly 
 nature could ever prevent him from engaging in that 
 service at the appointed time ; and his prayers, as I 
 am assured by a most competent witness, while they 
 were distinguished for an impressive fervour, were 
 marked also by a singular adaptation to surrounding 
 circumstances. I believe it is the opinion of those 
 who were most familiar with the routine of his daily 
 life, that his character shone nowhere more brightly 
 than amidst the quiet, devout and loving demonstra- 
 tions of his own fireside. 
 
 And if we follow him from his own dwelling into 
 the wider circle of friends and acquaintances, we find the 
 same qualities that adorned his character at home 
 still conspicuous. He was genial, affable, courteous 
 in his intercourse, a model of propriety and dignity 
 always; and wherever he moved or wherever he 
 paused, he was recognized as an attraction. He never 
 lost any one's respect by what seemed a sacrifice of 
 
8 
 
 principle in accommodation to circumstances — on 
 the contrary, he adhered with great firmness to his 
 own well-matured convictions, no matter what might 
 be the measure of inconvenience or self-denial it 
 involved. All who knew him revered him; while 
 those who knew him best, loved and honoured him 
 most. 
 
 In his professional character and relations it may safely 
 be said that Dr. March attained very high distinction. 
 From the time of his settlement in this city, in 1820, 
 he devoted himself with singular zeal to the duties 
 of his profession, and very soon acquired a distin- 
 guished reputation in the department of Surgery; 
 and here he achieved, through life, his greatest pro- 
 fessional triumphs. The witnesses to his surgical 
 skill are scattered all over the land; and the fame 
 of it has found its way across the ocean. His 
 attentions to his medical patients were always most 
 exemplary, and his large heart never declined a call 
 because it came from the abode of poverty. Of the 
 Albany Medical College and the Albany City Hospi- 
 tal he was the projector, and one of the most vigorous 
 early supporters; and his zeal for sustaining and 
 advancing the interests of both these institutions 
 never faltered to the last. With his brethren of the 
 medical profession he was on terms of unreserved inti- 
 macy, — ever ready to communicate his own thoughts 
 or discoveries, and equally ready to heed and profit 
 by their suggestions. The testimony which they 
 
9 
 
 have already rendered and which is confirmed by 
 their large and reverent attendance here to-day, 
 shows how deeply they feel the inroad which Death 
 has niade upon their number. And I may add that 
 various other societies to which he sustained a more 
 or less intimate relation, and one meeting in which 
 there was a representation of our citizens at large, 
 have recorded their estimate of his character in 
 language that could be applied to but few of his 
 cotemporaries. 
 
 I must say a word in regard to the place which 
 our departed friend held in the Church, and as the . 
 sustainer of all Christian institutions. He came into 
 the Church, as one of its communicants, more than 
 twenty-five years ago, under the ministry of the 
 late Dr. Campbell; and, as might be expected from 
 his naturally quiet and thoughtful spirit, he came 
 without any extraordinary demonstrations. But he 
 evidently brought with him, and has manifested 
 through his whole subsequent course, a resolute pur- 
 pose to do his duty in humble dependence on God's 
 gracious Spirit ; and herein consists the very essence 
 of practical Christianity. It was an occasion of re- 
 gret to his brethren and sisters of the Church, and, 
 no doubt, to himself also, that they were not per- 
 mitted to hear his voice in connection with their 
 social week-day services, but this was probably 
 attributable to a diffidence induced partly, at least, 
 by his being somewhat advanced in life when he 
 
 2 
 
10 
 
 made a Christian profession. His deep interest in all 
 that pertained to spiritual religion was manifested by 
 his devout attendance on these exercises, as well as his 
 more private communications with Christian friends, 
 and I may add, the general tenor of his life. Into all 
 good enterprises, whether designed to act upon the 
 interests of religion at home or abroad, he entered 
 with his whole heart, and never seemed to grow 
 weary in well-doing. His influence, I understand, 
 was earnestly and effectively put forth, in the erec- 
 tion of this commodious and beautiful edifice ; and he 
 has long exercised a watchful care over the financial 
 interests of the congregation as President of its Board 
 of Trustees. His ear has always been open to the 
 calls of suffering humanity, and his hand open to ad- 
 minister the needed relief or supply. The far off 
 Pagans, bowing before idols, he has not forgotten, 
 either in his prayers or in his alms ; and it is by no 
 means improbable that there are spots in those desert 
 lands that have brightened into spiritual verdure 
 through his instrumentality. 
 
 It were impossible to do full justice to the Chris- 
 tian character of Dr. March, without some allusion 
 to the manner in which he endured his last sufferings 
 and met the last enemy. Until within a few weeks 
 his prospects of continued life were, I suppose, as 
 good as those of any person of equal age before me. 
 He was suddenly taken off from his professional 
 labours, but, from his natural vigour of constitution, it 
 
11 
 
 was hoped that he might soon be able to resume 
 them. Each successive day, however, seemed to 
 render his case increasingly doubtful, and his own 
 skill, exercised upon himself, soon revealed to him 
 symptoms of approaching death. But this did not 
 alarm him. He was - willing to leave himself in his 
 Redeemer's hands, and felt the utmost confidence 
 that, whether the issue were life or death, it would 
 be well with him. He not only joined thankfully 
 and earnestly in the prayers that were offered at his 
 bedside, and poured forth fervent supplications from 
 his own lips, but even requested that a song should 
 be sung in honour of the Conqueror of Death ; and his 
 own trembling, faltering voice helped to perform the 
 affecting service. The agony of his death-bed was 
 intense, but it was well-nigh neutralized by his glori- 
 ous visions of the future. The friends who gathered 
 around him to receive his last farewell, could not 
 resist the impression that he was moving fearlessly and 
 triumphantly through the dark valle} r . And when 
 they saw that the last struggle was over, they felt 
 assured that the glories of an immortal life were 
 bursting upon him. 
 
 I have spoken of what he has been in his various 
 relations — and now shall I say a word of what we 
 believe he has become since these relations have ceased 
 to exist ? We believe that he has been advanced 
 into a glorified saint ; that he is at home among the 
 angels ; that he is dressed in white robes ; that he 
 
12 
 
 bears the palm of victoiy ; that he is lost in the 
 admiration of the wonders of redeeming mercy; and 
 that he joins with all the ransomed in that new and 
 noble song, — " Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to 
 receive power and riches and wisdom and strength 
 and honour and glory and blessing." We believe 
 that, in becoming an inhabitant of the third heavens, 
 he has entered on a career of happiness and glory as 
 boundless as God's own existence. 
 
 You will not, I hope, think that, in the representa- 
 tion I have now made of the friend whose death Ave 
 lament, I have intended, even by implication, to 
 ignore the fact that he was a sharer in the weak- 
 nesses and sins of the common humanity. That he 
 had faults I know, because he was human ; but what 
 they were I know not. Suffice it to say that, while 
 they were not palpable enough to interfere with his 
 usefulness, his virtues and graces were sufficiently 
 prominent to become deservedly enshrined in our 
 grateful remembrances. 
 
 Having thus attempted to show, in the briefest 
 manner, what our departed friend was while he was 
 in the midst of us, and what he is since he has passed 
 on to mingle in higher scenes, let me now hint at the 
 process by which this result has been reached. 
 
 And you will anticipate me when I say that it had 
 its beginning in the original •qualities with which his 
 Creator endowed him. His physical constitution was 
 one of great vigour, and of much more than ordinary 
 
power of endurance. His mind was naturally active, 
 well-balanced, practical ; and its capability of acquir- 
 ing, retaining and digesting knowledge, remarkable. 
 He had a kindly and generous spirit, united with 
 great thoughtfulness and strength of purpose. So 
 much as this may be reckoned as included in his 
 original constitution, as he came from his Creator's 
 hands. 
 
 Consider, next, the favourable circumstances under 
 which the development of his faculties, the forma- 
 tion of his character, took place. Born of parents 
 who were not so opulent as to relieve him from the 
 necessity of personal effort, and in a part of the 
 country where it was both fashionable and honoura- 
 ble to work, he had neither the temptation nor the 
 opportunity to form a habit of indolent inaction — on 
 the contrary, the strongest motives were pressing 
 upon him to make the best use of his time. The 
 public schools in which he received his early training 
 fitted him to enter upon his professional studies; and 
 in the j)rosecution of these he was not only aided by 
 his own brother, who was a Surgeon in the army of 
 the United States, but ultimately became a member 
 of a medical institution connected with Brown Uni- 
 versity. Meanwhile, especially as long as he remain- 
 ed at home, his lot was cast amidst eminently Chris- 
 tian influences ; so that all his early impressions were 
 favourable to religion. When he began his profes- 
 sional life, and became a resident of this city, he 
 
 ___ 
 
14 
 
 soon found himself in circumstances fitted at once to 
 encourage and strengthen him — with an ample field 
 for labour, and in a circle of kindred spirits ready to 
 meet him in goodly co-operation. He graclually 
 gained access to jtlaces of the highest influence ; and 
 in due time was instrumental in establishing noble 
 institutions which re-acted most benignly and effec- 
 tively upon his own character. I hardly need add 
 that, amid all the worldly influences that have pressed 
 upon him here, he has always been within the range 
 of Christian institutions and Christian examples, and 
 has been a constant hearer of the faithful preaching 
 of the Gospel. 
 
 But that which constituted the crowning glory of 
 the character of our friend was a living, all-pervacling 
 piety ; and for that he was indebted to God's yiacious, 
 sanctifying Spirit. He might indeed have been the 
 skilful physician, the active member of society, the 
 generous sympathizing friend, without this new-crea- 
 ting agency ; but the clean heart, and the right spirit, 
 and the final companionship with angels, he never 
 could have attained without it. And not only did 
 the Spirit first implant in his soul the principle of the 
 •new life, but it has preserved and quickened and 
 finally matured it. It is the Spirit that has guided 
 him in his most ordinary pursuits ; that has sanctified 
 him by the severest discipline ; that has caused the 
 sun of righteousness to shine down into his soul 
 through the night-clouds of death ; and that has fixed 
 
15 
 
 him at last, inside the gates of the Heavenly city, a 
 monument of redeeming love. 
 
 Thus it appears that the God of Nature, the God 
 of Providence, the God of Grace, is to be reverently 
 acknowledged in the life and character and destiny 
 of him who has now passed away — the God of 
 Nature, in bestowing the original material that has 
 been thus moulded and formed ; the God of Provi- 
 dence, in ordering events with reference to the result 
 that has been produced; and the God of Grace, in 
 giving a new heart and opening the gates of Heaven. 
 While we admire and venerate the character of our 
 friend, let us give all the glory to Him whose wisdom 
 and goodness and grace have fashioned it. 
 
 It is fitting that we should mourn when our dear 
 friends are taken away ; and if, in one point of view, 
 the measure of our grief may well be determined by 
 the degree of excellence of which we are deprived, in 
 another, this very consideration may be regarded 
 as opening the channel for a greater or less amount 
 of comfort. In the present case, need I say that, 
 whatever view we take of the character or the life, of 
 the past, of the present or the future, there is conso- 
 lation flowing from every direction. Your dear father 
 and friend was eminently favoured both in respect to 
 his original endowments and the whole ordering of his 
 earthly lot, and he has passed through a long life, not 
 only with a stainless character but in the full enjoy- 
 ment of a widely extended and most honourable 
 
1G 
 
 reputation. And what is more, infinitely more, he 
 has long been an earnest and consistent Christian ; has 
 showed himself at home amidst the most humble and 
 self-denying labours; and has rendered a decisive 
 and grateful testimony to the truth and the power of 
 his religion in the closing hours of life ; and, finally, 
 has passed on, as you confidently believe, to mingle 
 with the General Assembly and Church of the first- 
 born. Mourn you may — mourn indeed you must; 
 but surely your mourning must be qualified with 
 thankfulness and praise. Well may you bless God 
 for having given you such a father and friend ; and for 
 having continued him to you so long ; and for giving 
 you such evidence that he has now become a king 
 and a priest unto God. What remains but that you 
 treasure his words of Christian counsel; that you 
 ponder his holy example ; that you walk in the foot- 
 steps of his faith ; and thus keep yourselves ready, at 
 the bidding of the great Master, to ascend in his 
 upward track and join him in the services of the 
 eternal temple. 
 
 Next to his own beloved family and near relatives, 
 those who were immediately associated with him in 
 his professional life, and those of whose medical 
 education he has had the partial or the entire super- 
 intendence, may be supposed to share most deeply 
 the sorrows of this bereavement. Let the truly 
 Christian spirit that he breathed in the lecture-room, 
 at the sick bed, and in, all his intercourse with his 
 
17 
 
 brethren, be reproduced and cherished and matured 
 in all of you, until you are safely and triumphantly 
 gathered in that world where the inhabitants shall no 
 more say, I am sick. 
 
 To the members of this ancient and venerable con- 
 gregation, the death of one of their number, so useful 
 and honoured and devoted, comes charged with 
 impressive meaning. There are a few here whose 
 memories go back to the period when he first became 
 one of you, and, though he was never within my 
 pastoral charge, it was my privilege to recognize him 
 as a friend from the beginning of my residence here, 
 which was only a few years later than the beginning 
 of his own ; and I am sure that my recollection and 
 estimate of his whole course are in harmony with 
 yours, and that we remember nothing concerning him 
 that we are not willing to embalm. May God grant 
 that his good influence here may last through many 
 coming years ; that the Church to whose interests he 
 was so conscientiously and faithfully devoted may 
 still keep on in its Divinely appointed work, sharing 
 more and more richly in the grace from above ; and 
 that, as its members successively pass away, each one 
 may form a fresh addition to the ranks of the ran- 
 somed and glorified. 
 
DEATH OF DR. ALDEN MARCH. 
 
 ALBANY EVENING JOURNAL. 
 
 Thursday June 17, 1869. 
 
 Dr. Alden March has gone to his rest. He died 
 this morning at fifteen minutes past seven o'clock at 
 the residence of his son-in-law, David I. Boyd, No. 2 
 Park Place, where he was removed, when taken ill, 
 to be spared the annoyance of business importunities. 
 No one among us was more beloved, or possessed, in a 
 higher degree, all the noble qualities of the good 
 physician and Christian gentleman. 
 
 Dr. Alden March was born in Sutton, Worcester 
 County, Mass., in 1795. His early life was passed 
 on a farm, and the rudiments of his education acquired 
 in public schools, in which, for a short time, he was 
 was a teacher. 
 
 He studied medicine with an elder brother, who 
 was Surgeon in the United States army, and attended 
 medical lectures in Boston. He graduated at the 
 
20 
 
 Brown University, Providence, R. I., which, at that 
 time, had a Department of Medicine. Williams Col- 
 lege conferred the degree of LL. D. on Dr. March, 
 and he was Honorary member of most of the leading- 
 societies of this country. While a student of medi- 
 cine, he was distinguished for his zeal and industry in 
 the study of Anatomy, and this laid a firm foundation 
 for his future surgical renown. In the pursuit of his 
 studies, no difficulty seemed too great, no obstacle too 
 formidable, for him to overcome. And the same 
 indomitable will, perseverance and enthusiasm, have 
 characterized his whole professional life. He came 
 to Albany in 1820, and immediately commenced the 
 practice of his profession, which he pursued with 
 untiring devotion and success until his death. 
 
 His often repeated wish, that he might " die with 
 his armor on," has been amply fulfilled; for, until 
 within the last few weeks, he has been most actively 
 engaged in the laborious duties of his profession. 
 
 Immediately previous to his sickness, he made the 
 journey to New Orleans, to attend a meeting of the 
 National Medical Association, of which he had been 
 an honorfed member and President. On his return, 
 he was in usual health, engaged actively in surgical 
 practice, and only found time occasionally to look 
 after the affairs of his farm, a few miles out of town. 
 He was passionately fond of agricultural pursuits, 
 and in this way exposed himself to cold, which 
 kindled into activity a chronic disease, from which 
 
21 
 
 he had long and uncomplainingly suffered. He was 
 attended by his beloved colleagues and friends, Dr. 
 James McNaughton, Dr. James P. Boyd, and his 
 brother-in-law, Dr. Armsby, and during his last illness 
 was visited by most of the medical gentlemen of the 
 city. 
 
 His death, in the full vigor of mental and physical 
 activity and usefulness, will leave a void in our city 
 and in the profession, that will be most deeply felt 
 and deplored. Dr. March was one of the most 
 remarkable and gifted men of his time. No medical 
 man in this country was more widely known, or more 
 highly respected and esteemed. It was the common 
 remark and testimony of medical men, that Dr. 
 March was the highest and best surgical authority in 
 this country. Among the prominent medical men of 
 Europe, whose acquaintance he had made during his 
 frequent visits abroad, he was everywhere received 
 with distinguished notice and honor. No improve- 
 ment in his profession escaped his attention and 
 investigation. His bold and independent habits of 
 thought and action were always conspicuous, and he 
 originated many new and important improvements in 
 surgical science. As a bold, dexterous and skilful 
 operator, Dr. March had no superior in this or any 
 country. This is the universal testimony of the pro- 
 fession, and especially of those who have enjoyed the 
 most extensive opportunities of foreign travel and 
 observation. Few persons ever combined so many 
 
22 
 
 of the elements of a great and successful surgeon. 
 He had a frame of wonderful power and endurance, 
 a mind of electric quickness and ceaseless activity, 
 with skill in discrimination, and tact, and dexterity in 
 execution, which carried him successfully through 
 the most difficult and trying ordeal of surgical prac- 
 tice. He was a most thorough student of Anatomy, 
 having taught this branch ten years, before he occu- 
 pied the chair of Surgery in our Medical College. 
 Thus armed with accurate knowledge and skill, he 
 was never dismayed by the magnitude or danger of a 
 Surgical operation, upon which, perhaps, the safety 
 or life of his patient depended. Having prepared 
 himself for every emergency, he would commence an 
 operation with calmness and self-possession, which 
 inspired hope and confidence in his patients, and 
 excited admiration and astonishment among his 
 assistants and associates. He never seemed to con- 
 sider that his own reputation was at stake, when the 
 most hazardous operation gave but a slight hope of 
 saving the life of a patient. 
 
 At all hours of the day or night, his best services 
 were cheerfully and promptly rendered, without par- 
 tiality, to the poor and the rich alike ; and while he 
 required just compensation from one class, he ren- 
 dered as faithful and willing service to the other. 
 
 But the great beauty of his character was in his 
 domestic and Christian life. No man was more 
 loving, or more beloved in his house, than Dr. March, 
 
23 
 
 and no one in the Church, of which he was a main 
 pillar, was looked up to with more respect and confi- 
 dence. His whole life was characterized by sim- 
 plicity, honesty and integrity, as evinced in the faith- 
 ful fulfilment of every trust confided to his care 
 during a long life of public service and honor. 
 
 He was the father and one of the founders of the 
 Albany Medical College, and its offspring, the Albany 
 City Hospital. More than forty years ago he deliv- 
 ered a public lecture " On the Propriety of Establish- 
 ing a Medical College and Hospital in the city of 
 Albany." Among the last acts of his eventful life, 
 he donated to these institutions, each $1,000. To 
 the College he bequeathed his pathological museum, 
 the most extensive and valuable in this country, with 
 $1,000, the interest of which is to be perpetually 
 employed for its care and preservation. To the Hos- 
 pital he had given the same amount, the interest to 
 be expended for the purchase of surgical instruments 
 for use in the Hospital. 
 
 The name of Dr. March has long been a household 
 word throughout the land. His students are num- 
 bered by thousands, in whose hearts his memory is 
 embalmed forever. Every one has some kind and 
 cherished remembrance of his honored and beloved 
 preceptor. Wherever a student or graduate of the 
 Albany Medical College is found, (and they are 
 scattered throughout the length and breadth of the 
 land,) it is claimed, as his highest honor and merit, 
 
24 
 
 that " he has been a student of Dr. March, of 
 Albany." 
 
 When the deceased came to this city, it had a 
 population of less than fifteen thousand. With the 
 enterprise and activity which have characterized his 
 whole life, he at once conceived the idea of establish- 
 ing a Medical College and Hospital here. At that 
 time there was but one hospital and two colleges 
 in the State. He began a course of lectures on 
 Anatomy in 1821, in the attic of an old building in 
 Montgomery street, above Columbia. His first class 
 of students numbered fourteen, most of whom were 
 young physicians. His material for demonstration 
 was brought overland from Boston, at great expense 
 and personal risk. These lectures were continued, 
 and petitions were circulated among our citizens, year 
 after year, for a charter for a medical college. At 
 length, with the aid of his associate, Dr. Armsby, and 
 the support of prominent citizens of Albany, a charter 
 was' obtained from the Legislature, and our Medical 
 College was organized, and commenced operations 
 January 3d, 1839. Dr. March has been at the head 
 of this institution thirty years, after having labored 
 eighteen years to prepare the way for its establish- 
 ment. This institution, the fruit of his labors and 
 enterprise, the church which he has contributed so 
 largely to build up, and the hospital with which he 
 has been so prominently identified since its founda- 
 tion, and the various other public enterprises with 
 
25 
 
 which he has been connected, will associate his name 
 with the history and progress of Albany, as endur- 
 ingly as that of any other citizen. 
 
 The whole city and country will mourn the death 
 of Dr. March, and pay fitting tribute to his memory. 
 
 ALBANY MORNING EXPRESS. 
 
 With pain none the less poignant and sorrow none 
 the less profound because it has been expected for 
 some days, does this community receive the mournful 
 intelligence of the death of Dr. Alden March. To 
 many it conies with the oppressive force of a perso- 
 nal stroke, while to a still wider circle it conveys the 
 deep sense of an irreparable public loss. And such, 
 indeed, it is. If the ranks of citizenship may afford 
 another as worthy, his exalted place in science will 
 still be vacant. If others may continue his generous 
 public benefactions, there is none to bear the mantle 
 of the incomparable instructor. His title to esteem 
 and honor was large and varied. To friends he was 
 endeared as the man of gentle and kindly sympathy. 
 To thousands of students his memory was fresh as 
 that of a matchless teacher. To the world he was 
 known as the consummate chief of his profession. 
 
2G 
 
 And to all the extinguishment of his light is the 
 departure of a glory which cannot be replaced. 
 
 Dr. Maech was born in Sutton, Worcester County, 
 Massachusetts, in September, 1795, and was conse- 
 quently, at his death, in the seventy-fourth year of 
 his age. Spending his early years on a farm and in 
 the public schools, he acquired such education as 
 they furnished, and for a short time served as a 
 teacher. An elder brother was an army surgeon, 
 and with him Dr. March began his medical studies. 
 Subsequently he attended lectures in Boston, and 
 graduated in the Medical Department of Brown Uni- 
 versity. While yet a student he manifested a pecu- 
 liar zeal for Anatomy, and thus indicated the bent 
 of his remarkable genius. The same indefatigable 
 industry and eager enthusiasm which have distin- 
 guished his whole professional life, characterized his 
 student days, and foretokened his subsequent emi- 
 nence. In 1820 he took up his residence in this 
 city, and began that successful career which has 
 extended through half a century and made his name 
 known throughout the world. 
 
 Albany was then a city of only fifteen thousand 
 inhabitants. It had none of the institutions which 
 have since made it an educational centre. But the 
 reputation of Dr. March rapidly rose and attracted 
 students from all parts of the country. Even when 
 he was himself a student he was preparing the way 
 for the Albany Medical College. Of his early labors 
 
27 
 
 in this direction an interesting account was given by 
 his own lips at the Festival of the County Medical 
 Society in 1867 — strange comment upon the vicissi- 
 tudes of life that both the presiding officer, Dr. Pom- 
 fret, and the most distinguished guest, Dr. March, 
 should have passed away before either of the three 
 venerable physicians, Drs. James McNaughton, B. P. 
 Staats and James Wade, in whose honor the festival 
 was given ! On this occasion Dr. March related how, 
 while a student at Boston, he collected materials, 
 forming the nucleus of a museum and laying the 
 foundation of the Medical College. As early as 1821, 
 he began a course of lectures on Anatomy in an 
 ancient garret on Montgomery street. His first class 
 numbered fourteen. In those days it was unsafe to 
 procure anatomical material in this city. The young 
 lecturer was thus compelled to make the overland 
 journey to Boston with horse and wagon, but there 
 was no obstacle which his unflagging zeal and per- 
 severance could not overcome, and his lectures regu- 
 larly continued. In 1825, he was appointed Professor 
 of Anatomy and Physiology in the Academy of 
 Medicine at Castle ton, Vermont. That position he 
 held for ten years, delivering his lectures in the 
 autumn, and still continuing his practice and private 
 lectures in this city. 
 
 In 1831, Dr. Armsby became a student of Dr. 
 March, and ever since they have held the most inti- 
 mate relations. The project of a Medical College 
 
28 
 
 was prosecuted with renewed vigor, the enthusiastic 
 earnestness and untiring efforts of the younger of the 
 professional brothers ably seconding the labors of the 
 elder. At length the College was chartered, under 
 the Presidency of Dr. March, and the inaugural lec- 
 ture was given on the 3d of January, 1839. But a 
 Hospital was also to be called into being. As early 
 as 1829, Dr. March had delivered a public lecture on 
 the importance of such an institution. In this idea, 
 also, he had the zealous and effective co-operation of 
 Dr. Armsby, and, in 1849, the Hospital was incorpo- 
 rated. The regard which Dr. March cherished for 
 these institutions was shown not only by his long and 
 faithful services to both, but by the liberal donation 
 of a thousand dollars to each. Over the College he 
 has presided for thirty years, and more than three 
 thousand students have sat under his instructions. 
 
 As a Surgeon, Dr. March stood in the front rank. 
 His fame not only filled his own land, but extended 
 to medical circles throughout Europe. Indeed, com- 
 petent authorities assert that he Avas unquestionably 
 the foremost surgeon of the world. When Dr. Brain- 
 ard, himself an eminent lecturer, returned from 
 Europe, he expressed the general judgment in his 
 exclamation, " Dr. March is ahead of them all." He 
 had rare qualifications for the work. His extraordi- 
 nary nerve fitted him to meet the most appalling 
 difficulties, and carried him undaunted through the 
 most trying ordeals. His grace, too, was as marvel- 
 
29 
 
 ous as his power. Dr. Howard Townsend, whose fine 
 and delicate sense of artistic beauty was unexcelled, 
 often expressed his great admiration of the unrivalled 
 style, so to speak, in which Dr. March operated. 
 Every movement was the embodiment of grace, and 
 revealed the hand of the master. To these natural 
 endowments of inflexible firmness, of intuitive per- 
 ceptions, of swift decision and fine symmetry of 
 motion, he united the rarest acquisitions of science. 
 With a native taste for anatomy, he knew its most 
 recondite secrets. His alert and penetrating mind 
 grasped everything within its wide realm. He origi- 
 nated the valuable system of cliniques, which has 
 since been adopted in all our medical institutions, 
 and his name is honorably identified with other 
 improvements in the science and in the art of instruc- 
 tion. As a lecturer and demonstrator he was unsur- 
 passed, while, as a sure, dexterous and consummate 
 operator, he stood, by common consent, at the head. 
 In private life, Dr. March was greatly and justly 
 esteemed. By his family and friends he was deeply 
 beloved. By the community he was profoundly 
 respected. He was a citizen of public spirit, and, 
 above all, a Christian of exemplary life. His simple 
 virtues blended beautifully with his unostentatious 
 greatness, and cast a benign influence upon every 
 circle in which he moved. His death is a signal loss 
 not only to the friends whom he constantly cheered 
 by his example, not only to the city which he has 
 
30 
 
 adorned and assisted with such enduring institutions, 
 but to the entire country which recognized and was 
 proud of his fame. 
 
 There is, indeed, something which impresses itself 
 with peculiar force when the good physician dies. To 
 hundreds he has been the minister of life. They 
 come to regard him as the combatant of death, and 
 when the skilful arm which has shielded them is 
 itself struck with the mortal paralysis, they feel the 
 shock with a keener sensitiveness. And that was 
 a touching scene when those who had been the 
 co-laborers of Dr. March came to bid farewell to the 
 dying physician. Many of them were his pupils in 
 years gone by, and had drawn from the ample stores 
 of his knowledge useful and lasting lessons. Others, 
 forming his acquaintance later in life, had learned to 
 admire him for his superior skill, and to love him for 
 his kindly heart. On all rested the shadow of a deep 
 grief. He, whose well-trained eye was so quick to 
 detect the approach of danger, and whose hand was 
 so potent to save, lay himself within the portals of 
 death's door. Mournfully they bade him farewell, 
 speaking as to one starting on a long journey — while 
 his words to them were calm as became a thoughtful 
 man — hopeful as befitted a devout Christian. And 
 so in the repose of serene peace he laid aside his 
 armor ! 
 
31 
 
 MEETING OF THE CITIZENS OF ALBANY 
 
 A meeting of citizens was held this morning at 10 
 o'clock, in the rooms of the Board of Trade, to pay a 
 tribute of respect to the memory of the late Dr. 
 Alden March. Many of our prominent citizens were 
 present. 
 
 The meeting was called to order by Stewart 
 McKissock, Esq., on whose motion Hon. Thomas W. 
 Olcott was called to the Chair, and Mr. Chas. E. 
 Smith was made Secretary. On motion, the Chairman 
 appointed the following Committee on Resolutions : 
 Messrs. S. 0. Shepard, Hon. R. W. Peckham, Frank 
 Chamberlain, S. McKissock and George Dawson. 
 
 Judge Peckham, from the Committee on Resolu- 
 tions, reported the following : 
 
 In the full maturity of years, ripened by the experience of gene- 
 rations, but with his faculties still unimpaired and his armor 
 undimmed, Dr. Alden March has just gone to his rest. 
 
 Eminent in his profession, earnest in purpose, unsullied in repu- 
 tation, faithfully did he pursue, and grandly did he accomplish the 
 life-work to which he was called. 
 
 He has bequeathed to our city the memory of his professional 
 renown, of his industrious and useful life, of his social virtues, and 
 his Christian manhood. Therefore, it is 
 
 Resolved, That in the death of Dr. Alden March, this com- 
 munity has sustained the loss of one of its most distinguished 
 members; one whose character combined, in the rarest proportions, 
 those qualities which ensure distinction, which command the admira- 
 
32 
 
 tion of those who are competent to appreciate greatness, as well as 
 the esteem of those who can appreciate goodness. 
 
 Resolved, That from whatever stand-point we contemplate our 
 deceased fellow citizen, honest manhood, earnestness of purpose, 
 purity of life aod kindness of heart, all assume their positions in 
 the beautiful symmetry of his character, and lend their attractive- 
 ness to the grand proportions of his professional renown. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to his family our sympathy in their 
 affliction, and that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to 
 them. 
 
 When the resolutions were read, Judge Harms said : 
 
 Mr. Chairman — The business of the hour has been 
 arrested that we might turn aside and pay a tribute 
 of respect to the memory of one of our most highly 
 esteemed and distinguished citizens. The announce- 
 ment of the death of Dr. Alden March has awak- 
 ened throughout the entire city a profound sense of 
 bereavement. 
 
 Though he had attained the allotted age of man, 
 yet he has died in the midst of his activity and use- 
 fulness, and when human foresight would have 
 assigned to him more years of vigorous health. His 
 death repeats to us, in the most impressive form, the 
 melancholy lesson of our own mortality. 
 
 Death is, indeed, busy in our midst. How often 
 do we miss, in our daily walks, the familiar face of 
 one and another whom we had been accustomed to 
 meet ! At this very hour the grave is open to 
 receive another of our most estimable and worthy 
 citizens. Is there not in these sad events a solemn 
 lesson for us all ? When death comes so near to us 
 
33 
 
 and so frequently, shall we not listen to his voice, 
 imperious yet admonitory, " Be ye also ready ? " 
 
 How soon, Mr. Chairman, may some kind friend 
 invoke for you and me, the same tribute which we 
 now so justly pay to the memory of our departed 
 friend and fellow-citizen ? 
 
 Mr. Chairman, a great sorrow has indeed fallen 
 upon our city. Dr. March was a most remarkable 
 man. His character was of a marked and lofty tyj)e. 
 Without fortune, without influential friends, without 
 any superior advantages of education, he commenced 
 his career in this city nearly fifty years ago ; and, by 
 his energy and persevering industry, has raised him- 
 self to the very highest measure of professional emi- 
 nence. 
 
 Our community, in his death, has lost one of its 
 noblest men. There are few remaining among us 
 whose place can be less easily filled. No man was 
 more universally beloved. The death of none would 
 be more universally lamented. As a man who 
 adorned his profession, we honored him ; as a man of 
 noble character, we cherish his memory ; as a true 
 and faithful friend, he was beloved by us all; as a 
 consistent Christian, we admired him most of all. 
 What a glorious example, living and dying, he has 
 left for our imitation. 
 
 Dr. March has passed through the vicissitudes of a 
 long life. He has met and manfully fulfilled the 
 duties allotted to him. Death came to him in the 
 
> 
 
 34 
 
 ripeness of his years, his virtues and his fame. No 
 stain rests upon his honored name. There was a 
 moral beauty in his life, and we do well to com- 
 memorate his virtues. 
 
 Thus, Mr. Chairman, we pay our last tribute to 
 the memory of one whose life has been long and use- 
 ful and eminent. Rarely, indeed, have the portals 
 of the sepulchre opened to receive a better man. 
 There have been very few whose labors have been 
 more useful, or who have secured for themselves a 
 reputation more enviable or enduring. We respected 
 and admired him while living, and, now that he is 
 dead, we render our sincere homage to his memory. 
 
 Hon. Amasa J. Parker followed in an impressive 
 address, directed particularly to the professional emi- 
 nence of Dr. March. He said we had assembled to 
 pay a tribute to the memory of a truly great man ; of 
 one who was profoundly esteemed by the community 
 in which we live. Under such circumstances, no mar- 
 tial music, no waving of flags, no grand military or 
 civic parade, is necessary to gather the citizens 
 together. We come impelled by the deep sense of a 
 great public loss. He did not purpose to speak of the 
 admirable personal qualities which made Dr. March 
 so greatly beloved by all who knew him — that 
 had been fittingly done by the gentleman who had 
 just taken his seat, and, were he to go over the 
 ground again, it would be but a needless repetition. 
 
35 
 
 He desired to direct his few remarks especially to 
 the professional success and eminence of Dr. March. 
 In this city, distinguished for its honored and suc- 
 cessful physicians and surgeons, the lamented dead 
 was universally recognized while living, as standing 
 at the head. This, in itself, was a great honor, and 
 was worthy of special remembrance. But his fame 
 extended far beyond our limits. The speaker remem- 
 bered an incident which occurred while he was on 
 his return from Europe two or three years since. 
 Dr. Brainard, himself an eminent medical authority, 
 and the President of the Medical Institution at 
 Chicago, was on board the same vessel, returning to 
 deliver his fall lectures. In the course of conversa- 
 tion one day, Dr. Brainard referred to Dr. March, 
 and expressed his surprise that so many should go to 
 Paris for the instructions of her celebrated surgeons, 
 while such a man as Dr. March lived in their own 
 country. Dr. March, in his judgment, was as great 
 and even superior to any surgeon of Paris. This 
 was a voluntary tribute. It came from one who was 
 in some sense a rival, and the head of a rival insti- 
 tution. The speaker confessed that it made him 
 feel proud of being a citizen of Albany. We had, 
 indeed, sustained a great loss, and he felt that it 
 would be long before we met again on an occasion 
 of such sincere and unfeigned sorrow. 
 

 Judge Peckham said : 
 
 Mr. Chairman and Fellow-Citizens — A great and 
 a good man has fallen in our city. One known to all, 
 respected and beloved by all, has departed, never to 
 return to us again. It seems, as it were, but yester- 
 day that we greeted with peculiar satisfaction, the 
 genial face and manly form of our departed friend, 
 Dr. March, as he walked our streets in apparent 
 health and vigor. We shall greet him here no more 
 forever. How sad is the thought to us, who knew 
 and loved him so well. 
 
 I said he was a great man: Greatness belongs to 
 no peculiar department of life. It would seem 
 singular that we should call the warrior great, who 
 has been successful in destroying life, and yet with- 
 hold that dignity from one distinguished for his suc- 
 cess in preserving life. Few, if any names stand 
 higher as a surgeon in the civilized world than the 
 name of Dr. March, of Albany. 
 
 Though born elsewhere, his long residence here, 
 extending to nearly half a century, almost gave to 
 this city the right to claim him as her son; and 
 never did a city take greater pride in her offspring. 
 
 Nature designed him for a great man. She gave 
 him a strong physical frame, equal to any fatigue, 
 with great mental power, an earnest nature, and an 
 iron will ; and his persevering industry perfected 
 what nature designed. 
 
37 
 
 The peculiar characteristics of our friend were the 
 earnestness and simplicity of his nature. His whole 
 life was earnest — earnest and real in discharging 
 the high duties he had assumed. It is truly said 
 that he was in love with his profession. But the 
 ardor of his nature made him in love with any work 
 he assumed to discharge. Even his recreations were 
 labors. He had a great love for agriculture ; and 
 upon his small farm where he frequently retired for 
 recreation, no laborer, while he was there, ever 
 worked with more energy than himself. 
 
 In his professional lectures, continued for many 
 years to his medical classes, this earnestness gave a 
 peculiar interest to his originality and learning. 
 
 He was simple in his tastes and in all his habits 
 of life. He always had time for duties. He had 
 neither time nor taste for superfluous ornamentation. 
 There was nothing finical about him. Modesty and 
 manliness were a part of his nature. In such a man, 
 there was, as there could be, no moral obliquity. His 
 integrity was high-toned. He could not degrade his 
 manly nature by any mean or dishonest conduct. 
 There was no belittling cunning in him — nothing 
 that detracted from his mental or moral manhood. 
 
 The success that necessarily attended his eminence 
 in his profession gave him early pecuniary independ- 
 ence, and he gave, in his public and private charities, 
 with a munificent spirit. The world is wiser and 
 happier that he lived in it. 
 
;s 
 
 He fulfilled his mission on earth and has gone to 
 his rest. He, if any one, may look for the reception 
 above: "Well done, good and faithful servant; 
 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 S. 0. Shepard, Esq., said: 
 
 Mr. Chairman — Permit me to add a word of 
 unstudied tribute to those which have already so 
 justly and eloquently been uttered. It is eminently 
 becoming that our citizens should thus assemble to 
 commemorate the worth of one, over whom these 
 words of eulogy have just been uttered. This very 
 assemblage of citizens, of different professions, of 
 different occupations, spontaneous as it is, is an elo- 
 quent tribute in itself, springing, as it does, from the 
 hearts of the people, who were the friends, the neigh- 
 bors, the companions, of our departed friend. It illus- 
 trates the worth and the character of the man, and 
 the deep, strong hold which he maintained upon their 
 love and their confidence. 
 
 For nearly one-half of a century has the busy 
 brain of Dr. Alden March been pondering over the 
 subtle intricacies of those curiously constructed frames, 
 for the benefit of that common humanity with which 
 he was so closely and so warmly identified. For 
 nearly fifty years has that keen eye been peering 
 anxiously and closely in among the hidden mysteries 
 of our physical being, to discover, if possible, some 
 new method of alleviating its miseries. For fifty 
 
39 
 
 years has that fine ear, now dull in death, been 
 earnestly listening to catch the faintest notes struck 
 out by the hand of disease from some one of the 
 thousand strings of this harp which is constructed 
 with such wondrous cunning. For fifty years has 
 that steady hand and arm, in which no longer the 
 life pulse beats, guided with curious skill the relent- 
 less steel as it wound its tortuous way down, far 
 down among the springs of life, where the variation 
 of its edge by a hair's breadth would give death 
 another victim, unmoved by the shriek of agony, 
 unshaken by the doubtful questionings of those, 
 who, almost his compeers in science, yet shrunk at 
 the apparent audacity of the operation. Still and 
 steadily the steel moved on, controlled by that daring- 
 hand, until success crowned the effort and disease 
 was arrested. Well has he won, and worthily has he 
 worn, the laurels which a discriminating profession 
 has awarded. 
 
 Do we remember our friend as a citizen of this 
 great Republic 1 We find him in this relation still 
 exhibiting those elements and_ qualities which ever 
 dignify our humanity. Patriotic, loyal, true-hearted 
 and zealous, his services were ever ready, his hand 
 ever open at the call. 
 
 Do we remember him as a citizen dwelling in our 
 midst ? He is ever found identifying himself with all 
 of the best and truest interests of our citizens, aiding 
 in every work of philanthropy, his heart ever throb- 
 
 ■ 
 
40 
 
 bing in close sympathy with those among whom he 
 had cast his lot ; his name a household word in their 
 homes, his presence bringing light and hope and joy 
 into those households which disease had darkened. 
 
 Do we in later years remember him as a Christian 
 man ? Meekly did he take up and manfully did he 
 bear the crosses which were laid in his pathway, and 
 beautifully did he illustrate, in his pure and earnest 
 life, the power which that faith which he professed 
 exerted upon the inner man. 
 
 But he has gone to his rest, bequeathing, Mr. Chair- 
 man, to this city, the memory of his professional 
 renown, the example of an unsullied life, the history 
 of a life-work splendidly performed. 
 
 Upon the conclusion of Mr. Shepard's remarks, the 
 resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the meet- 
 ing adjourned. 
 
 ALBANY COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Albany County Medi- 
 cal Society, held in the City Hospital, Friday, June 
 18th, 1869, the President, Dr. James L. Babcock, 
 after calling the meeting to order, said : 
 
 Gentlemen — It devolves upon me to announce to 
 you the death of Dr. Alden March. He died in this 
 
41 
 
 city yesterday morning, at the residence of his son- 
 in-law, Mr. David I. Boyd. We are convened to-day 
 to express our sense of this bereavement; and it is 
 meet for us, as members of that honorable profession 
 which he loved and adorned, to mingle our tears with 
 those of his relatives, and our demonstrations of 
 respect and regard with the various associations to 
 which he belonged ; with the city of his residence, 
 and with the public at large. 
 
 This is not the time to speak in detail of the dis- 
 tinguished deceased. Having practised his profession 
 for almost half a century, he fell, full of years and 
 full of honors, conceded to be one of the eminent 
 physicians of the city, of the State, and of the 
 Nation. His life was a success. He acquired wealth, 
 attained professional eminence, high social position, 
 and maintained an unblemished public and private 
 character. As a surgeon he possessed a skill in 
 diagnosis that led him to correct conclusions, and a 
 firmness of will that made his hand the fit executive 
 of his almost unerring judgment. " The blessings of 
 those that were ready to perish " often fell upon him, 
 whose consummate skill and devoted professional 
 attention had given to them health and years of com- 
 fort and of usefulness. 
 
 In his domestic relations, those who knew him best 
 loved him most ; in his life as a citizen he won our 
 respect and regard, and above all a life so successful, 
 useful and honored is crowned with the promise of 
 
 6 
 
42 
 
 Him whose word cannot fail, " Blessed are the dead 
 which die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors 
 and their works do follow them." 
 
 Dr. James McNaughton then said : 
 
 Mr. President — I have been requested to make a 
 few remarks in connection with the mournful event 
 which has called us together. My heart is too full to 
 give utterance to what I feel on this solemn occasion. 
 The death of such a man as Dr. March, our late asso- 
 ciate and lamented friend, is no ordinary occurrence. 
 Few men in this community would be more missed, 
 and fewer still could be found, in the whole State, to 
 fill his place, in the estimation and confidence of the 
 citizens of Albany. I have known him long and 
 intimately. I preceded him two or three years as a 
 resident of Albany. He came here in 1820. We 
 became early acquainted. In 1821, I was appointed 
 Professor of Anatomy in the College of Physicians 
 and Surgeons of the Western District of this State, 
 and he began a private course of lectures on Anatomy 
 in this city the same year. A few years later he was 
 appointed Professor of Anatomy at Castleton, Ver- 
 mont. 
 
 We thus soon became, in some degree, competitors 
 for students, and, in some sense, rival teachers. I did 
 all I could for my school, he for his. We were both 
 successful. I saw my class increase from 53 to 214. 
 The Castleton School had a class of over 100. Both 
 
43 
 
 schools were considered promising. There was room 
 for both. But when it was proposed to establish a 
 Medical College at Albany, and another at Geneva, 
 the case became different. They could not all be 
 supported adequately. I wanted very naturally to 
 protect my own school, while my late colleague as 
 naturally wished to get up a school at Albany. This 
 made us for several years take opposite sides in medi- 
 cal politics. 
 
 But it affords me pleasure to state that this opposi- 
 tion of interests did not interrupt the personal rela- 
 tions between us. We were always on friendly 
 terms. In 1840, I was invited to take the Professor- 
 ship of the Practice of Physic in the Albany Medical 
 College. Since then our relations have been intimate 
 and cordial, and on occasions of sickness and severe 
 suffering in my own person, I have experienced at his 
 hands kindness and tenderness like that of a brother. 
 
 Many thought my lamented friend rough and 
 unfeeling, but I knew him to be tender and gentle, 
 and ever ready to relieve the distressed, without the 
 prospect of fee or reward, when others, who affected 
 greater sensibility, like the Levite " would pass on 
 the other side." This is not a fit time or place to 
 dwell on the merits of Dr. Makch as a surgeon or 
 professor. His merits in both capacities are too well 
 known to all present to need any eulogy from me. 
 In all the relations of life he was esteemed and 
 respected. 
 
44 
 
 Dr. James P. Boyd then remarked as follows : 
 
 Mr. President — I cannot let this opportunity pass 
 without adding my tribute to the memory of this 
 good and great man who has left us forever. After 
 what has already been said, and what the whole 
 country knows, of his professional abilities, it will be 
 wholly unnecessary for me to add a word. 
 
 I would merely hint at his private character, as an 
 example worthy of imitation. Dr. March was a sys- 
 tematic man — he had a place tor everything, and 
 everything in its place. He never postponed until 
 to-morrow what could be performed to-day. Often 
 after a late return from professional engagements in 
 the country, tired and weary, he would not retire to 
 rest until all letters and communications received in 
 his absence had been answered. He has often told 
 me that it was his rule to answer all letters immedi- 
 ately on their receipt. He was an economical man. 
 He never contracted a debt until he was prepared to 
 meet it. His rule was to " owe no man anything." 
 He was a benevolent man, not only in giving gratui- 
 tous services to the sick, but also in contributing lib- 
 erally to the great benevolent objects of the day, but 
 especially in giving support to the Gospel of his 
 Saviour, not only in his own Church, but in also 
 extending his charities to a perishing world. 
 
 If I may be allowed to lift the curtain which con- 
 cealed his domestic relations, I would reveal the most 
 beautiful, the most amiable traits of his character. 
 
45 
 
 It was here the man — the father — the counsellor ^- 
 the Christian — -were brought out in one beautiful 
 constellation. 
 
 No one who only saw Dr. March in the active 
 scenes of life, or in the operating room, could realize 
 the fine sensibilities of his nature, as developed in 
 the bosom of his family. 
 
 But, the crowning glory of Dr. March's character, 
 was his consistent Christianity. Always punctual 
 and in his place, performing all the external duties 
 pertaining to his Christian profession, both in the 
 Church and in his family. But he is gone. The pro- 
 fession has lost one of its brightest ornaments, the 
 Church a consistent Christian, the world a bene- 
 factor. 
 
 Dr. Barent P. Staats then addressed the meeting 
 as follows : 
 
 Mr. President — We have assembled here on a 
 mournful occasion. For the purpose of mourning the 
 loss of an eminent brother, and for the purpose of 
 paying respect to his memory. Did I say mourning ? 
 Yes it is true and proper that we should mourn on an 
 occasion like this. If our Saviour could comfort 
 Mary and her sister Martha, and weep at the grave 
 of Lazarus whom he loved, we may certainly be per- 
 mitted to weep for one we so dearly loved and 
 respected. It has been my good fortune to have 
 been intimate with our departed friend for more than 
 
46 
 
 forty years, during which time I have always received 
 from him the most friendly and kindest treatment. 
 
 Dr. March was truly the architect of his own 
 Temple of Fame, which temple is one that is not sur- 
 passed by any, and will prove a shining monument 
 to the young who seek eminence. He had lived 
 beyond the time allotted to man, yet like Moses at 
 his death, his " eye was not dim, neither was his 
 natural force abated." There are but a few of us 
 who commenced practice at the time when the Doctor 
 commenced, and most of them, if not all, have already 
 passed the time allotted to man ; and do we not in this 
 sudden and unexpected death, hear the injunction, 
 " Be ye also ready." 
 
 Dr. James McNaughton then offered the following 
 resolutions, which were adopted : 
 
 Whereas, it hath pleased G-od to remove by death, our venerable 
 and distinguished associate, Alden March, for nearly half a cen- 
 tury an ornament to our profession, and a blessing to the community 
 in which he resided : 
 
 Resolved, That in his death, while we humbly submit to the 
 decree of the Almighty, we are permitted to express our sorrow, 
 that one so dear to us as an associate, friend and adviser, has been 
 taken from us forever in this world. 
 
 Resolved, That in his life and character, as a skillful, devoted, 
 and conscientious physician, and as an active, consistent Christian, 
 he has left us an example worthy of our imitation. 
 
 Resolved, That as a mark of respect due to the memory of our 
 deceased brother, this society will attend the funeral in a body, and 
 invite other medical men to unite with us, using the customary 
 badge of mourning on the left arm on that solemn occasion. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings, together with an 
 assurance of our sympathy and condolence, be transmitted to the 
 
47 
 
 family of the deceased, entered on our minutes, and published in 
 such papers as our Secretary may direct. 
 
 Dr. S. 0. Vanderpool then offered the following 
 resolution, which was adopted : 
 
 Resolved, That the President appoint a committee of three mem- 
 bers to select a proper person to prepare an oration on the life and 
 services of Dr. Alden March to be delivered at a fitting time 
 before the Society and citizens of Albany. 
 
 The Society then adjourned. 
 
 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, held on the evening of Thurs- 
 day, June 17th, Mr. Andrew E. Brown was elected 
 President pro tern. Dr. James P. Boyd offered the 
 following preamble and resolutions : 
 
 As Trustees of the First Presbyterian Church, we are met under 
 sad circumstances. He who has been associated with us in this 
 Board so many years, and who has presided over its deliberations 
 for twenty-three years is no more. 
 
 Dr. March united with the First Presbyterian Church in this 
 city in June, 1840, under the Pastorate of Rev. Dr. Campbell. 
 In 1841, he was elected a Trustee, and, in 1846, President of the 
 Board of Trustees, which office he continued to hold for twenty- 
 three years, until death severed the union. 
 
48 
 
 Dr. March was a sincere Christian, devoting himself conscien- 
 tiously to the duties pertaining to his Christian profession. His 
 seat in the church on the Sabbath, and in the prayer meeting 
 during the week, was rarely vacant. In the financial affairs of the 
 church, which have properly belonged to his office as Trustee, he 
 took a deep interest, and managed the pecuniary affairs of the 
 church with the same care and economy as if they were his own 
 private property. When the edifice in which he lately worshipped 
 was built, he was one of the most liberal contributors; and, indeed, 
 the prosperity of this enterprise was very much advanced by his 
 deep interest and untiring zeal, as well as by his contributions in 
 money. 
 
 In the service of the sanctuary it was pleasing to see his deep 
 earnestness and devotion, and especially in uniting his heart and 
 voice with the church in the praise of his Heavenly Father. 
 
 But we shall hear his voice — we shall see his face no more. 
 But what is our loss, we believe, is his infinite gain. We humbly 
 believe that he has only left the service of the Church on Earth to 
 join in the eternal praises of the Church in Heaven. Therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That we deeply feel the loss of our brother, whose 
 place will be difficult to fill. We deeply sympathize with the 
 church, from whom is taken one of its most efficient officers ; and 
 we mingle our tears and our sorrows with the bereaved, loving- 
 family who. have lost their head — their affectionate father, their 
 faithful counsellor, their spiritual guide. 
 
 Resolved, That we attend the funeral, and that a copy of these 
 resolutions be transmitted to the bereaved family, and published in 
 the newspapers, signed by the President pro tern, and Clerk. 
 
 ANDREW E. BROWN, President pro tern. 
 
 Howard Boyd, Clerk. 
 
49 
 
 ALBANY MEDICAL COLLEGE. 
 
 A meeting of the Trustees of the Albany Medical 
 College was convened on the 18th hist., to take action 
 on the death of its venerable President, Alden 
 March, when the following resolutions were adopted : 
 
 Whereas, Cod in his infinite wisdom has removed by death, 
 from this institution, its beloved and honored father and founder, 
 Dr. Alden March; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That, in this mournful dispensation, we recognize the 
 wisdom and beneficence of the Almighty in permitting this great 
 and good man to fill up the measure of his days in the full vigor of 
 his mental and physical activity and usefulness. 
 
 Resolved, That this institution has suffered by his death an irre- 
 parable loss, and the cause of Medical Science one of its most able 
 and successful promoters. 
 
 Resolved, That while we remember his life-long services and 
 sacrifices, in preparing the way, building up and enriching this 
 cherished institution, we deem it a fitting tribute to his memory that 
 his place as Professor in the College shall remain vacant one year, 
 and his branch of Science be taught by a lecturer selected pro tern. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved 
 family and friends, to the members of that noble profession which 
 the purity of his Christian life and the brilliancy of his scientific 
 attainments have contributed so much to honor and adorn. 
 
 Resolved, That we attend the funeral in a body, and wear the 
 usual badge of mourning. 
 
 IRA HARRIS, President. 
 
 G-eorge Dexter, Secretary. 
 
 At a meeting of the Faculty of the Albany Medi- 
 cal College, held June 18th, 1869, the following 
 
 7 
 
50 
 
 resolutions on the death of Dr. Alden March were 
 presented by Dr. Quackenbush and adopted : 
 
 Whereas, it seemed good to an all-wise God, inscrutable in His 
 providence, but plenteous in His mercy, to remove by death, our 
 beloved President and friend, Alden March, from the sphere of 
 his usefulness; therefore 
 
 Rexolved, That we lose in our Senior Associate Professor — the 
 founder of the Albany Medical College — a man of great intelli- 
 gence and of practical sense, of intense and persevering interest for 
 the sick and needy, of eminent public enterprise and benevolence, 
 and of ardent Christian character. 
 
 Resolved, That as a body, we look back with feelings of earnest 
 love and respect on his long, honorable and distinguished career as 
 an able and skillful practitioner and teacher of medicine and surgery. 
 
 Resolved, That we extend our most cordial sympathy to his 
 bereaved family, and pray God to comfort them with His sustaining 
 grace. 
 
 Resolved, That we attend his funeral in a body, and wear the 
 usual badge of mourning. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented to the 
 family of the deceased, and be published in the daily papers of this 
 city. 
 
 JAS. McNAUGHTON, President pro tern. 
 
 J. V. Lansing, Secretary pro tern. 
 
 At a meeting of the resident Students and Gradu- 
 ates of the Albany Medical College (class of '68,) 
 held June 17th, 1869, the following tribute to the 
 memory of Dr. Alden March, the founder, chief 
 support and President of the institution, was unani- 
 mously adopted : 
 
51 
 
 Resolved, That we honor the memory of him who was so suddenly 
 stricken down in the midst of the well-earned rewards of his pro- 
 fession. With a deep sense of the loss we have sustained, we feel 
 that, in cherishing his memory and example, we shall best honor him, 
 and ennoble our lives and profession. 
 
 Resolved, That while we deeply feel this sad affliction, we are 
 rejoiced to bear witness to his noble character, his rigid discipline, 
 his untiring perseverance, his sincere devotion to the cause of medi- 
 cal education, and his zeal and truthfulness in imparting information. 
 
 Resolved, That we tender to his family our most heartfelt sym- 
 pathy. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the 
 family. 
 
 W. Gt. TUCKER, President. 
 
 Wm, Hailes, Jr., Secretary. 
 
 ALBANY HOSPITAL. 
 
 A meeting of the Governors of the Albany Hos- 
 pital was held on the 18th hist., to pay suitable 
 respect to the memory of Dr. March, the senior sur- 
 geon of the hospital. The following resolutions were 
 adopted : 
 
 Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God to remove by death the 
 venerable head of our Surgical Staff, Dr. Alden March; there- 
 fore 
 
 Resolved, That in his death this institution has lost one of the 
 oldest, ablest and most efficient members of its staff, who, from its 
 foundation, has labored, with untiring and self-sacrificing devotion, 
 for the good of the Hospital and its suffering inmates. 
 
 Resolved, That while the profession and the public have sustained 
 an irreparable loss by his death, the sick and helpless poor have 
 been deprived of their kindest and most faithful friend. 
 
/ 
 
 52 
 
 Resolved, That in extending our warmest sympathies to the rela- 
 tives of the deceased, we remember the afflicted who have so long- 
 looked to him for comfort and relief. 
 
 Resolved, That as a token of our great respect for his memory, 
 his place as surgeon shall remain vacant for one year; and that a 
 portrait of the deceased be placed in the lecture room of the Hos- 
 pital, with the usual mourning drapery. 
 
 Resolved, That we will attend his funeral in a body, and that a 
 copy of these resolutions be entered on the minutes of the Hospital, 
 and furnished to the family of the deceased, and to the daily news- 
 papers. 
 
 T. W. OLCOTT, President. 
 
 Stephen (xroesbeck, Secretary. 
 
 CITY TRACT AND MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Managers of the 
 Albany City Tract and Missionary Society, held on 
 the 18th hist., to take action on the death of Dr. 
 Almen March, a committee, consisting of William 
 Gould, R. H. Wells and George W. Carpenter, Jr., 
 was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the 
 feelings of the Board. They reported the following, 
 which were unanimously adopted: 
 
 Resolved, That we have heard with feelings of sorrow and regret 
 of the death of our esteemed friend, Dr. Alden March, for many 
 years President of this Society, and at his death one of its Vice- 
 presidents. 
 
 Resolved, That in the death of Dr. March this Society has lost 
 a faithful, zealous friend, and this city, so long his home, an upright 
 
53 
 
 citizen, who was not only eminent in his profession, hut whose life 
 was devoted to the advancement of every enterprise for the promo- 
 tion of religion and morality in our midst. 
 
 Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the minutes of 
 the Board, and a copy be transmitted to the family of the deceased. 
 
 R. H. WELLS, President. 
 Geo. W. Carpenter, Jr., Secretary. 
 
 DUDLEY OBSERVATORY. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees of the Dudley Obser- 
 vatory, held June 18th, 1869, the following resolu- 
 tions were adopted : 
 
 Whereas, the great Architect and Ruler of the Heavens has 
 seen fit in His wisdom to remove by death one of our number, 
 Dr. Alden March ; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That we feel deeply the loss of that wise counsel and 
 firm support which has been so constantly given to this institution 
 of science, from its inception through all its struggles, and which 
 has contributed so much to its success and usefulness. 
 
 Resolved, That the cause of science has lost by the death of Dr. 
 March one of its ablest promoters and most devoted and faithful 
 students. 
 
 Resolved, That while we tender our heartfelt sympathy to his 
 sorrowing family, we call to mind the virtues of his Christian 
 character, and his constant recognition of the wisdom, power and 
 goodness of Cod in all the works of His creation. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be published in the 
 papers of the city, and furnished to the family of the deceased. 
 
 T. W. OLCOTT, President. 
 J. H. Armsbt, Secretary. 
 
54 
 
 MECHANICS' AND FARMEES 1 BANK. 
 
 At a special meeting of the Directors of the 
 Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, held June 18th, the 
 following resolution was passed : 
 
 Resolved, In the death of the venerable Dr. March, the Direc- 
 tors of this Bank have lost an esteemed associate and valued 
 friend, and our Cashier is requested to convey to the family of the 
 deceased the assurance of our warmest sympathies in this afflictive 
 dispensation ; and that he cause these proceedings to be published 
 in the city papers, as a feeble tribute to exalted worth. 
 
 DUDLEY OLCOTT, Cashier. 
 
 RURAL CEMETERY. 
 
 At a meeting of the Trustees of the Albany Rural 
 Cemetery the following resolutions were adopted ■ 
 
 Whereas, an allwise Cod, in His over-ruling Providence, has 
 removed by death one of our number, Dr. Alden March, whose 
 efficiency and good taste have contributed so much to improve and 
 adorn the beautiful home of our dead ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved, That in his death the Albany Sural Cemetery has lost 
 one of its earliest and most persistent supporters. 
 
 Resolved, That while we sympathize with his bereaved relatives, 
 we rejoice that his honored remains are to repose in that beautiful 
 spot which his own hands have prepared and embellished. 
 
55 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished to the 
 family of the deceased, and published in the papers of the city. 
 THOMAS W. OLCOTT, President. 
 C. Van Benthuysen, Secretary. 
 
 YOUNG- MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the 
 Young Mens' Christian Association, held at their 
 rooms on Monday evening, June 21st, 1869, the fol- 
 lowing tribute of respect was ordered entered on 
 their minutes : 
 
 Whereas, we have heard with profound sorrow of the death of 
 the eminent physician and surgeon, the sincere Christian, the upright 
 and public spirited citizen, Dr. Alden March, a life member of 
 this Association, and its firm friend from its organization; therefore 
 
 Resolved, That we appreciate the great loss the community at 
 large has sustained in the death of this useful citizen and devoted 
 Christian, and also, as one of the friends of this Association; and 
 that we shall ever cherish with grateful remembrance, the kind 
 feelings and generous support he ever extendsd toward it, and find 
 therein an example worthy of our emulation. 
 
 Resolved, That to the family of the deceased we tender our sincere 
 sympathy, and pray that the " Great Physician " will heal the 
 wounds inflicted by the last enemy, death, and sanctify to all this 
 Providence. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the 
 family, and published in the daily papers of the city. 
 
 JAMES DUNCAN, 
 J. HAMPDEN WOOD, 
 D. G. STALEY, 
 
 Committee. 
 
 _^ - 
 
50 
 
 FUNEKAL OF DE. MAECH. 
 
 The funeral of the late Dr. Alden Maech occurred 
 at the First Presbyterian Church yesterday after- 
 noon, and was of the most impressive character. 
 Long before the hour named, half-past three o'clock, 
 a great number of citizens had assembled. It was 
 undoubtedly the largest funeral which ever took 
 place in this city. Twice or thrice the number that 
 could possibly be accommodated in the church gath- 
 ered about it. All classes of citizens were repre- 
 sented, and the presence of many of the poorer 
 orders was particularly noticeable — a signal testi- 
 mony to the kindness and humanity with which Dr. 
 March responded to all calls upon his professional 
 skill. 
 
 Many persons were in attendance from remote 
 parts of the State. We may mention one case that 
 has come to our knowledge. A lady living out of 
 town, upon whose husband Dr. March had performed 
 a delicate operation within the past year, presented 
 herself at the residence where his remains reposed, 
 saying she felt so grateful to him that she had come 
 to see his face before he was buried, and to attend his 
 funeral. And this was one of several instances. 
 
 The members of the medical profession attended 
 the funeral in a body, . and among them especially 
 
57 
 
 were many from other parts of the State. The Trus- 
 tees and officers of the First Presbyterian Church, 
 the Governors of the City Hospital, the Directors of 
 the Medical College, Rural Cemetery and Observa- 
 tory, and the Students of the Medical College also 
 attended in bodies. 
 
 At the residence of David I. Boyd, Esq., son-in- 
 law of Dr. March, where the remains reposed, a 
 prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Ludlow, and the 
 remains were then conveyed to the Church, accom- 
 panied by the relatives, by Drs. James McNaughton 
 and Boyd, the attending physicians, by the officiating 
 clergymen and the following pall-bearers: Hon. Ira 
 Harris, Thos. W. Olcott, Ezra P. Prentice, Wm. H. 
 De Witt, Henry Newman, Frederick J. Barnard, 
 Wm. Mitchell and Andrew E. Brown. The coffin 
 was an elegant rosewood casket trimmed inside and 
 outside in the richest style, solid and plain, with 
 heavy silver plate, the other trimmings being rich 
 ebony, with black handles. 
 
 The pulpit was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Blaney, at 
 present officiating in the First Presbyterian Church, 
 Rev. Dr. Sprague, Rev. Dr. Halley, and Rev. Dr. 
 Wines, of New York. The exercises were begun 
 with the reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Bla- 
 ney, after which Dr. Halley offered an impressive 
 and appropriate prayer. The hymn, " Rock of 
 Ages," was sung, and Dr. Sprague followed in an 
 admirable and appreciative discourse on the deceased 
 
 8 
 
58 
 
 He said that we were in the habit of speaking of the 
 silence of death, but that in reality nothing was more 
 eloquent in its instructions. He then spoke of Dr. 
 March as he had been, as the faithful husband and 
 the devoted father, as an earnest member of the 
 Church, and as the eminent surgeou; following this 
 with a reference to what he was now as a partaker in 
 the immortal joys of the higher realm. Next he 
 traced the causes, speaking of the physical consti- 
 tution, the mental activity and temperament, the 
 history and surroundings which had molded his life, 
 and finally of his crowning glory, that of being a 
 devout Christian. He closed by drawing the lessons 
 which the life and death of the departed conveyed, 
 especially to the relatives and the medical profession. 
 The whole discourse was a just tribute to the deceased, 
 and a fitting comment upon the suggestions of the 
 occasion. 
 
 Upon its conclusion Dr. Wines offered a prayer, 
 after which the hymn beginning " How Sweet the 
 Name of Jesus Sounds" Avas sung. This hymn, a 
 favorite of the wife of Dr. March, was sung at her 
 funeral, and by his own request was sung at his. It 
 was by his request, also, that the " Rock of Ages " 
 was sung. After the remains had been viewed by 
 the large number of citizens in attendance, they 
 were conveyed to the Cemetery, accompanied by 
 many friends. 
 
ROCK OF AGES. 
 
 Rock of Ages, cleft for me ! 
 
 Let me hide myself in Thee ; 
 
 Let the water and the blood, 
 
 From thy wounded side that flowed, 
 
 Be of sin the perfect cure ; 
 
 Save me Lord and make me pure. 
 
 Should my tears forever flow, 
 Should my zeal no langour know, 
 This for sin could not atone, 
 Thou must save, and Thou alone ; 
 In my hand no price I bring, 
 Simply to thy cross I cling. 
 
 While I draw this fleeting breath, 
 When my eyelids close in death, 
 When I soar to worlds unknown, 
 And behold Thee on thy throne, 
 Rock of Ages, cleft for me! 
 Let me hide myself in Thee. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 1XK0 
 
 EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM THE ANNUAL ADDRESS* DELIVERED BEFORE THE ALBANY 
 COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY, NOVEMBER 9th, 1889, BY ITS PRESIDENT, 
 
 ■JAMES. L. BABCOCK, M. D. 
 
 His Professional Life. 
 Dr. March had for many years an extensive prac- 
 tice as a physician, in all its departments, but his 
 success in surgery compelled him to make surgery 
 his specialty. Dr. March was singularly correct in 
 diagnosis. In his examination of patients, his eye, 
 his touch, his judgment, illustrated his accuracy and 
 consummate skill. He was quick to perceive, and to 
 meet any emergency or complication. He never 
 seemed to be undecided as to what was to be done, or 
 how to do it. His inventive genius was ever at his 
 command, and with promptness and efficiency he met 
 the various exigencies of his many, many cases. In 
 controlling his own feelings he commanded others; 
 the operation performed, the determined surgeon at 
 once became the kind and devoted physician. As an 
 
 * From the Trans, of the N. Y. State Medical Society. 
 
62 
 
 operator he was quick, dextrous, cautious, bold and 
 successful. His professional eminence among his 
 brethren, and the public at large, was due to him, and 
 was most cheerfully awarded. In his later years, 
 none in northern and Avestern New York, as a sur- 
 geon, equaled him; none in the southern, or the nation, 
 surpassed him. 
 
 We find no record of the surgical operations per- 
 formed by Dr. March during ten years of his profes- 
 sional life. Yet those of which we have a record 
 number seven thousand one hundred and twenty-four 
 (7,124). A partial synopsis of his operations is as 
 follows : 
 
 He amputated three hundred and thirteen times ; 
 of which sixty-five were through the thigh; thirty- 
 six through the leg ; seven through the tarsus ; twenty- 
 five through the arm ; eighteen through the fore-arm ; 
 /and two through the wrist. 
 
 He reduced three hundred and nine dislocations. 
 Many of them of an unusual character. Of which 
 seven were of the inferior maxillary or lower jaw; 
 one hundred and thirty-six of the shoulder; seventy- 
 five of the elbow; twenty of the wrist; seventeen of 
 the hip-joint; four of the knee; one of the patella; 
 ten of the ankle ; and twelve of the astragalus and 
 tarsus. 
 
 His cases of fractures number ten hundred and 
 fourteen. Many of which were uncommon; indeed, 
 to such he was constantly called. Of these, nineteen 
 were of the cranium ; six of the scapula ; one hundred 
 and eleven of the arm ; eighty-three of the fore-arm, 
 both bones; two hundred and nine of the radius; 
 twenty-two of the ulna; eleven of the olecranon 
 
63 
 
 process; nine of the ribs; one of the sternum; one 
 hundred and thirty -three of the femur ; sixteen of the 
 patella; one hundred and thirty-three, both bones, of 
 the leg ; twenty-nine of the tibia ; and nineteen of the 
 fibula. 
 
 He operated for non-union of bones twenty-six 
 times ; for resection fifteen times ; of which eleven 
 were of the lower jaw ; for anchylosis of joints five times. 
 He extirpated one thousand six hundred and sixty-two 
 tumors, of every diversity of character and situation. 
 Of this number, twenty-eight were osseous ; two cartila- 
 ginous ; one muscular ; twenty -one bursal ; four hun- 
 dred and ninety-one malignant; four hundred and 
 ninety-two encysted. He operated, for strangulated 
 hernia one hundred and four times. Of which, for 
 umbilial five times ; direct and oblique inguinal fifty- 
 three times ; femoral forty-six times. He performed the 
 operation of lithotomy forty-seven times ; ovariotomy 
 seven times ; neurotomy seventeen times ; hydrocele, 
 temporary relief, three hundred and forty-seven times ; 
 for radical cure, one hundred and eighteen times; 
 for paracentesis cranii, three times; thoracis, eleven 
 times ; abdominis, seventy-seven times ; hydrops arti- 
 culi, twelve times; fistulas, in various situations, one 
 hundred and seventy-nine times. Removed polypi, in 
 various localities, one hundred and forty-five times. 
 He operated for hare-lip one hundred and twenty-five 
 times. Of which, about fifty were double, with double 
 cleft in jaw ; staphyloraphy, nine times ; talicotian or 
 rhinoplastic operation, twelve times; autoplastic, six 
 times ; excision of the tonsils and. uvulae, five hundred 
 and. forty-nine times ; for goitre, once ; laryngotomy 
 and trachetomy, seven times. Removed foreign bodies 
 
64 
 
 from the air passages, fifty-three times ; extirpation of 
 the eye, ten times. Operated for cataract, one hun- 
 dred and twenty -nine times ; strabismus, two hundred 
 and forty-nine times; pterygium, eighteen times; 
 myotomy and tenotomy, two hundred and eighty-eight 
 times; ligated arteries, forty-three times; of which 
 the profunda, external iliac and common carotid were 
 included ; aneurism of the larger arteries, seven times ; 
 spina bifida, five times; spina ventosa, three times. 
 He performed anomalous operations for the cure of 
 deformities fifty times. While a full narration would 
 not, at this time, be appropriate, yet it is deemed 
 appropriate to speak of the following: 
 
 In 1820, he performed his first operation, which 
 was for hare-lip. In a communication on clinical 
 surgery, in 1854, he says : "In less than three weeks 
 after receiving my diploma I operated on the infant 
 of Mr. H., of White Creek, Washington county, N. 
 Y., then about three weeks old, for relief of a tole- 
 rably fair case of hare-lip. All the surgical instru- 
 ments I then possessed was a dissecting case, the 
 knives of which were pretty well worn by eight 
 months of almost constant dissection, while pursuing 
 my professional instruction in Boston. I procured 
 some common choppel sharp sewing needles, such as 
 I had seen used by my preceptor, a kind brother, and 
 who was surgeon's mate in the war of 1812, and with 
 the aid of an ordinary pocket knife, which it is the 
 custom of ' the Yankee to use on various occasions,' I 
 whittled, out of soft pine wood, a thin spatula, which 
 was used to support the lip, while the borders of the 
 fissure were excised upon it with the scalpel. With 
 preparation so simple and imperfect, I resolved to 
 
65 
 
 make my debut in operative surgery, greatly to the 
 fears, and almost under the protest, of my good old 
 sainted mother, who lived until 1848, long enough to 
 have all her doubts and fears, as to my success in this 
 and other important and difficult surgical operations, 
 fully settled." He further says, " I need not describe 
 the steps of the operation, nor say that the excite- 
 ment of the responsibility of what was then regarded 
 as a bold operation, caused huge drops of perspiration 
 to bedew my flushed face. Suffice it to say, that I 
 thought I had ' put it up ' about right. Every thing 
 went on pretty well until the third or fourth day, 
 about the time for the removal of the needles, when 
 the little patient was attacked with the infants' 
 apthas, or sore mouth, which resulted in destroying 
 the adhesions in less than one week, when the sides of 
 the fissure were as far asunder as before the opera- 
 tion. I satisfied the parents of the cause of failure, 
 and not doubting myself of ultimate success deter- 
 mined to try again; and that I might be better 
 prepared for a second endeavor, I visited Albany, 
 procured a work on surgery, a set of silver hare-lip 
 suture pins, and under my directions a common black- 
 smith manufactured the forceps. The second opera- 
 tion was performed when the child was between two 
 and three months old, and was completely success- 
 ful." In speaking of the cause of failure in the first 
 operation, he says : " Besides the sore mouth, I 
 think there must have been another or other reasons 
 of failure, such as are apt to prevail with most young 
 operators — a fear of cutting away too much of the 
 border of the fissure, and the neglect to insert the 
 sutures, whether pins or thread, at a proper distance 
 
66 
 
 from the border of the cut margins, and of failing to 
 make them penetrate nearly through the entire thick- 
 ness of the lip." 
 
 Mr. A., a farmer, aged about thirty years, had a 
 tumor occupying the left side of the neck, as large as 
 a pint bowl, egg-shaped, extending superiorly to the 
 lobe of the ear, and inferiorly nearly to the clavicle. 
 Speaking of this case, he says : " It is conceived 
 that a faithful account of the history, operation, and 
 result of this case will be rendering a public service, 
 although the operation proved unsuccessful, and 
 therefore in the minds of the illiberal, might reflect 
 on the character of the operators. In my opinion, 
 unsuccessful operations are often as highly important 
 on the score of experience, not only to the individu- 
 als concerned, but to the medical profession at large, 
 as are those, that are crowned with the most trium- 
 ' pliant success. Though unfortunately, for the im- 
 provement of surgery, the reports of such cases, are 
 too often kept from the public eye; either from 
 fear of censure, or loss of professional reputation. 
 But in this instance, if we suffer from either source, 
 we shall feel ourselves in part compensated, and more 
 than acquitted from unjust charges, at least, when we 
 shall have faithfully and honestly discharged this 
 duty, which the public, and more especially the 
 medical profession, seem to claim at our hands." 
 After describing the various steps of the operation, 
 he says : " While dissecting at the lower part of the 
 tumor, the knife came in contact with the external 
 jugular vein, very near the point where it unites with 
 the internal jugular. The moment this happened, a 
 phenomenon followed that seemed to startle all pres- 
 
67 
 
 ent. It was the noise of a strange rushing of air, as 
 though the trachea or cavity of the thorax had been 
 cut into, that seemed to foretell the result of the ope- 
 ration. The noise that followed the wounding of the 
 vein, was compared to that produced by turning 
 liquid from a junk bottle. The patient was instantly 
 seized with tremors and convulsions ; was pulseless ; 
 lips became livid, frothed at the mouth, and the 
 pupils of the eyes dilated to the greatest possible 
 extent. The moment the source of the difficulty was 
 discovered, the finger of an assistant was placed upon 
 the mouth of the wounded vein, and there held, while 
 the operation was suspended for a few moments, and 
 in the mean time the patient was partially aroused 
 by the use of diffusible stimuli. The operation was 
 resumed, and in the course of ten or twelve minutes 
 completed. And within five, or ten minutes, at 
 farthest, the patient breathed his last without a 
 struggle." He continues : " Soon after the occur- 
 rence of this disastrous case, we lost no time in 
 searching all the works on surgery, and such periodi- 
 cals as came within our reach, to find a parallel case, 
 or any circumstances that would lead a surgeon to be 
 cautious how he opened veins in the immediate 
 vicinity of the heart. And with all diligence we 
 discovered but one of a similar nature, and in which 
 the operation was followed by a similar result. It 
 was a case that occurred, and was reported by M. 
 Dupuytren. Had Dupuytren' s case, together with 
 some rules to be observed, in order to avoid the 
 occurrence of such accidents, in performing opera- 
 tions about the neck, been embodied in our standard 
 works on surgery, it is very probable we might have 
 
68 
 
 saved the life of our patient. At all events, I think 
 we should have been saved the sore mortification of 
 seeing him expire upon the operating table. In order 
 to give a satisfactory explanation of the phenomena 
 that followed the wounding of the vein, it required 
 considerable research in the science of physiology. 
 One thing, however, appears certain, that death was 
 the result of the introduction of air into the cavity 
 of the heart." He says : "I came to this conclu- 
 sion not only from the experience I had in the fatal 
 case here related, but from an experiment which I 
 tried on a cat. The jugular vein of a cat was 
 exposed and laid open, a blow pipe introduced, and 
 with one puff of the breath, the cat was thrown into 
 convulsions, and within three minutes Avas dead. On 
 dissection we found the right side of the heart, and 
 the large veins, filled with air, which was the cause of 
 ' death. This report was copied into Cooper's Surgi- 
 cal Dictionary of Practical Surgery of 1830, pages 
 509 and 510. Under the head of Tumors, the fol- 
 lowing is there added : "A highly interesting case 
 of tumor in the neck, in which the operation for its 
 removal was performed by Professor Alden March, 
 of Albany, N. Y. And although this operation was 
 unsuccessful, yet the cause of its failure was appa- 
 rent, and ought to be known to the profession, that it 
 may be avoided in future surgical wounds in which the 
 neck is to be involved. This operation was performed 
 in August, 1829, and the patient died upon the table 
 from the introduction of air into the cavity of the 
 heart through the external jugular vein." He says, 
 " Dr. March's experiments on this subject may be of 
 the highest practical importance, and the explanation 
 
69 
 
 of the remarkable phenomena, which followed the 
 wounding of a vein, in this and other cases, is a 
 physiological problem, the solution of which, if 
 accomplished, will be of the deepest interest to the 
 profession, and to humanity." This report was also 
 copied into Gibson's Surgery, vol. 2, pp. 441 and 442, 
 in connection with operations on varicose veins, 
 which says, " In performing operations upon veins, 
 the surgeon should be aware of the danger of air 
 entering their cavities. Several interesting cases 
 have been reported by Dupuytren, Sir Astley 
 Cooper, Roux, Warren, Mott and Stephens, of 
 death from this cause, or of the patient being saved 
 by pressure on the orifice in the vein, or by the 
 timely operation of encircling it with a ligature. 
 The most interesting case of all, however, is that 
 reported by Professor March, of Albany, the candid 
 relation of which does him great credit." I have 
 selected his first case of surgery, and successful ope- 
 ration, and his first case of unsuccessful, aware that 
 these two cases illustrate the man and the surgeon. 
 He was ever anxious to present the facts and the 
 truth, whether the result was favorable or unfavor- 
 able. He seemed to forget himself in his great 
 anxiety to advance the cause of science ; and in the 
 latter case, in the solemn consciousness that he had 
 done his duty, he stated the result of a professional 
 effort, relying upon the intelligence of his professional 
 brethren, who, with all the facts of the case before 
 them, would feel he deserved success, could it have 
 been attained. 
 
 In the Transactions of the American Medical Asso- 
 ciation of 1853, on pages 505 and 506, we find, in 
 
70 
 
 connection with his essay on morbus-coxarius, mention 
 of an invention designed by him, to fill a very impor- 
 tant indication in the treatment of this disease. In 
 speaking of this improvement, he remarks: "The 
 structure of the splint is designed to obviate all 
 pressure on the trochanter-major." " The treatment 
 of hip-disease by the use of the long splint, I believe, 
 was first suggested and employed by our late distin- 
 guished countryman, Dr. Physick, of Philadelphia. 
 The only object he had in view, was to secure rest and 
 perfect immobility of the joint." 
 
 In the Transactions of the New York State Medi- 
 cal Society of 1855, page 126, we find an essay by 
 Dr. March, on improved forceps for hare-lip operation. 
 He says : " To prevent the notch that is so apt to 
 follow the old method, of operating by straight 
 incisions, two plans have been adopted, one with a 
 semi-circular cut, from top to bottom, and the other 
 with straight lines, from the top, to the upper border 
 of the red part of the lip, and from thence toward 
 the fissure, at an angle of about forty-five degrees." 
 The instrument I have caused to be constructed, is 
 designed to combine the semi-circular line of the 
 Edinburgh surgeon and angular line of Malgaigne. 
 It says, " by the aid of this instrument, the lip can 
 be securely held, while its shape affords a sure guide 
 in making the line of incision in such a way as shall 
 secure all the advantages of both, a semi-circular and 
 angular border." 
 
 Dr. Bryan, Professor of Surgery in the Philadelphia 
 College of Medicine, in speaking of Prof. March's 
 essay on improved forceps for hair-lip operation, says : 
 " It embodied so much that is valuable, that we think 
 
71 
 
 this production of one of the most distinguished sur- 
 geons of New York, ought to be made to assume a 
 permanent form, and be embodied in the standard 
 works." 
 
 In 1860, Dr. March also invented instruments 
 for the removal of dead bone; and in 1867, employed 
 a new method for removing urinary calculi. This is 
 not the place to speak of the importance of these 
 inventions, or even describe them in detail; it is 
 enough for me to bring them to your notice at this 
 time, feeling that every distinguished surgeon in 
 this audience, as well as elsewhere, is aware of the 
 importance of these inventions to the profession. 
 
 As a lecturer, Dr. March was practical, clear and 
 forcible ; always commanding the respect and attention 
 of his Class ; and from his vast field of experience, he 
 was enabled to give such instruction as was well calcu- 
 lated to make practical physicians and surgeons. He 
 delivered ten courses of lectures on Anatomy and 
 Physiology, in the Vermont Academy of Medicine ; 
 thirty-six courses of lectures on Surgery, in the Albany 
 Medical College, and seventeen private courses of lec- 
 tures on Anatomy, Physiology and Operative Surgery, 
 in Albany. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP OF MEDICAL SOCIETIES AND SOME OF THE 
 OFFICES HELD BY HIM. 
 
 1832 and 1833. President of the Albany County Medical Society. 
 
 1857. President of the New York State Medical Society. 
 
 1864. President of the American Medical Association, and one 
 of its founders. 
 
 Honorary Member of the Massachusetts State Medical Society ; 
 Pennsylvania State Medical Society ; Connecticut State Medical 
 Society; Rhode Island State Medical Society. 
 
72 
 
 1861. He was Chairman of the commission appointed to examine 
 candidates for the Volunteer service of the State of New York. 
 There were two hundred and forty-three candidates, a large portion 
 being graduates of the Albany Medical College. 
 
 1862 and 1863. Member of the Auxiliary Corps of Volunteer 
 Surgeons of this State. 
 
 1841. Corresponding Member of the National Institution for the 
 Promotion of Science, at Washington, D. C. 
 
 Member of the Young Men's Association of this city; member 
 of the Young Men's Christian Association; President Board of 
 Trustees First Presbyterian Church ; President Albany City Tract 
 and Missionary Society ; trustee of the Albany Medical College ; 
 trustee of the Dudley Observatory ; trustee Albany Rural Cemetery ; 
 trustee Albany University. 
 
 The degree of LL. D. was conferred on him by William's College, 
 in 1868. 
 
 1869. Hon. Mem. of the "Institut des Archivistes de France." 
 
 In these societies he took deep interest, especially 
 those connected with his profession, of which he was 
 an active member and labored with earnest devotion 
 for the promotion and spread of medical science. 
 Their honors were freely awarded him without his 
 seeking to acquire distinction. 
 
 We are indebted to him for a series of most valuable 
 papers. The following are some of them : 
 
 1821. Essay upon Dissection of the human body. 
 
 1822. Essay upon establishing a Medical College and Hospital in 
 this City. 
 
 1823. Essay on the best Method to be pursued in the Study of 
 Medical Science. 
 
 1829. Essay on reporting Unsuccessful as well as Successful Cases. 
 1829. Report of a Complicated Obstetrical Case. 
 
 1829. Report of an Unsuccessful Operation, and Experiments on 
 animals. 
 
 1830. Essay or lecture on the Expediency of Establishing a Medi- 
 cal College and Hospital in this City. 
 
 1830. A Plea for Establishing a Medical Journal in this City. 
 
73 
 
 1831. Essay on the Establishment of an Asylum for the Insane in 
 this City. 
 
 1831. Report on some of the Defects in the Hospital Department 
 of the Albany County Alms-house. 
 
 1832. Report on the Sanitary Condition of this City in reference 
 to the Epidemic Cholera, and suggestions for the establishment of 
 Temporary Hospitals. 
 
 1833. Address before the Albany County Medical Society. Sub- 
 ject: The Epidemic Cholera. 
 
 1834. His second address before the Albany County Medical 
 Society. Subject: Surgical Cases, and reports of some of his more 
 important Surgical Operations. 
 
 1847. Essay on Prosecutions for Mal-practice. 
 
 1847. Essay on Frequent Meetings of Medical Societies. 
 
 1849. Report of a Successful Operation for Ovariotomy. 
 
 1849. Description of Malgaigne's instrument for maintaining 
 apposition in those oblique fractures of the Tibia, in which the 
 superior fragment obstinately tends to overlap the inferior, which 
 was published in the Transactions of the A. M. A. 
 
 1852. Reply to Dr. Samuel Jackson, of Northumberland, Penn., 
 on the proposed re-organization of the American Medical Association. 
 
 1852. Report of an ojjeration for Lithotomy. 
 
 1852. Paper on Strangulated Hernia and Reducible. Published 
 in the Western Lancet. 
 
 1853. An Essay on Morbus Coxarius, or Hip-disease, and report 
 of his investigations. Published in Trans. A. M. A. 
 
 1853. Report of a case of Backward Dislocation of the Astragalus. 
 
 1854. Paper on Penetrating Wounds of the Abdomen with 
 Punctured Wounds of the Intestines. Penetrating Wounds of the 
 Larynx, and their treatment, with cases for illustration, and their 
 Medico-legal aspect. 1854. Report of an Operation for Extirpation 
 of Tumor from the Neck. 
 
 1854. Essay on Clinical Surgery. 
 
 1855. Essay on Improved Forceps for Hare-lip operation. 
 
 1856. Essay on Four Months in Europe. 
 
 1856. Essay on Encysted Osseous Tumors. 
 
 1857. Semi-centennial address before N. Y. S. Medical Society. 
 
 1858. Essay on an interesting case of Urinary Calculi. 
 
 1858. Essay on Intra Capsular Fracture of the Cervix Femoris, 
 with bony union. 
 10 
 
 MB 
 
■I 
 
 1859. Essay on Ectopia A Cordis. 
 
 18S1. Report of a case of Compound Comminuted and Compli- 
 cated Fracture of the upper part of Tibia. 
 1861. Report on Medical Education. 
 1861. Biographical sketch of Prof. Lewis C. Beck, M. I). 
 
 1863. Essay on Prof. Nelaton's Probe for Gunshot Wounds in 
 Bones. 
 
 1864. Address before American Medical Association. 
 
 1867. Essay on an unusual place of lodgment and exit of Biliary 
 Calculus. 
 
 1867. Essay on the Relations of the Periosteum to Osteogenesis. 
 
 1867. Essay on New Method employed in removing Urinary Cal- 
 culi. 
 
 1868. Essay on Scirrhus, or Malignant Disease of the Rectum, 
 and report of the successful operation for its removal. 
 
 1869. Report of a Case of Spontaneous Lithotomy. 
 
 Nearly all these essays and reports were read by 
 him before the New York State Medical Society, and 
 published in the Transactions. Allow me to call 
 your attention briefly to two of these essays. First, 
 Intra Capsular Fracture of Cervix Femoris with Bony 
 Union. After submitting his views and exhibiting 
 his Pathological specimens and their history with 
 reference to this character of fracture, he says : "I 
 shall advocate the doctrine of complete fracture within 
 the capsular ligament ', and union by ossific deposit without 
 impaction. I wish the profession to examine the 
 specimens accurately and minutely in every respect. 
 I am content to submit the whole subject to the 
 decision of competent judges to decide whether the 
 facts are not sufficiently numerous, clear and con- 
 vincing to warrant the conclusion at which I have 
 
 In 1841, 1848 and 1856, Dr. March visited Europe, 
 not only to perfect himself in his profession, but also 
 
75 
 
 to investigate, critically, that grave malady, morbus 
 coxarius, or hip disease. He says, " for many years 
 I have looked upon the writings of Sir Astley 
 Cooper as the most reliable of any in the English 
 language. He was my oracle. Nevertheless, with 
 all this rare combination of a varietv of talents, it is 
 possible that even a great and good man may be 
 mistaken. The views which I am about to present 
 concerning the pathological condition of the hip-joint 
 when occupied by the affection commonly called 
 ' hip disease ' and its treatment, I am fully aware, 
 will differ widely from the commonly expressed 
 opinion of almost all surgical writers and teachers. 
 Nearly every surgical author assumes that spontaneous 
 dislocation of the hip is not unfrequently the result of 
 absorption, ulceration or destruction of the ligaments 
 of the joint and of the acetabulum, and of contrac- 
 tion of the muscles surrounding the joint. 
 
 " I shall take the position that spontaneous disloca- 
 into of the hip (as purely the result of morbid action, 
 unaided by superadded violence) seldom or never 
 takes place ; I also propose to point out a mode of 
 treatment by which progressive absorption of the aceta- 
 bulum and head of the bone may be arrested before 
 the life of the patient is endangered by the progress 
 of the disease. -If it should be asked upon what 
 ground I found the proof and argument to sustain my 
 doctrine, and why I dare oppose the weight of the 
 highest surgical authority on this subject, I will 
 answer that my convictions are based upon actual 
 observation and personal examination of about forty 
 pathological museums in this country and in Europe, 
 and of the examination of the bony specimens of the 
 
76 
 
 hip-joint of some of those who had evidently died 
 while laboring under a severe form of the disease." 
 He continues, " I made it my business to examine 
 critically every morbid specimen of the hip-joint, and 
 with paper and pencil in hand, made a record on the 
 spot of the number of the specimens and classified 
 them according to the nature of their respective 
 organic changes. I have had an opportunity of per- 
 sonally examining about two hundred specimens of 
 what I took to be hip-disease, and as I learned to be 
 such, and arrived at the following conclusion, that 
 ulcerative absorption produced the change in the articula- 
 tion of the joint which was too often called dislocation. 
 If my views are sustained by facts ; if the theory of 
 practice upon the plan of permanent extension becomes 
 an established principle in the treatment of hip disease 
 in an advanced stage, or even before any great 
 organic change has taken place in the joint, I shall 
 have accomplished my object ; and I trust have con- 
 tributed a trifle to the advancement of surgical 
 science." In these two essays the views entertained 
 by Dr. March, were at variance with the received 
 opinions of the profession, not only of this country 
 but of Europe. The ideas he advanced produced 
 much discussion ; but his clear and logical arguments, 
 with the facts presented and the pathological speci- 
 mens for his proof, his deductions could not be easily 
 overthrown. Some members of our profession for- 
 getting how much they are indebted to the experi- 
 ence of others, neglect to contribute their discoveries 
 in medical science. While not intending to be illibe- 
 ral, they fail to perform their duty in this respect. 
 Dr. March did not belong to this class. Three ideas 
 
77 
 
 seem to have always been prominent and inseparable 
 in his mind. The welfare of his patients, his own 
 scientific growth, and the elevation of his profession. 
 As the two former led him to profound thought and 
 thorough investigation, the latter induced him to 
 communicate to others the results of his experience 
 when novel or peculiar. The exhausting labor of an 
 extensive practice did not deter him from this duty. 
 He accomplished his mission by a systematic arrange- 
 ment of his duties, and the punctual performance of 
 them. Conspicuous rather as a practical surgeon than 
 as a writer, Dr. March did not receive the extensive 
 recognition of his eminent ability. Could a sufficient 
 portion of his time have been devoted to embodying, 
 in a surgical treatise, the ripe knowledge of his 
 thorough study and experience, that work would 
 have commanded the respect of scientific men even 
 beyond the limits of our own country. We can not 
 but regret he has not left us such a legacy. 
 
A PAPER 
 
 BEAD AT A MEETING OF THE ELMIRA ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, ON THE 
 EVENING OF AUGUST 3, 1869, 
 
 By WILLIAM C. WEY, M. J)., 
 
 In memory of my revered and honored teacher, 
 under whose guidance for more than three years I 
 pursued the study of my profession, I propose to 
 devote the time allotted me this evening,* in review- 
 ing his professional and individual character, which 
 for so great a number of years made him a marked 
 and conspicuous man in the councils of our art in the 
 State and Nation. 
 
 Alden March was born in Sutton, Worcester county, 
 Mass., in 1795. His father, an humble farmer, fol- 
 lowed his calling under the adverse and necessitous 
 circumstances which attend the care of a large family. 
 Agriculture, as practiced at that day, in an obscure 
 and rough portion of Massachusetts, was simply the 
 act of wresting from the soil, by the most vigorous 
 manual labor, unaided by the helps of inventive 
 genius, the scanty products which were required for 
 the immediate and pressing wants of the farmer's 
 family. To cultivate a small farm was merely to 
 subsist upon " the fruits thereof," and this, too, in the 
 primitive and economical manner common among 
 
 * At the previous meeting in July, Dr. Wet was appointed by 
 the President of the Academy, to read an essay. 
 
79 
 
 the New Englauders of the past century. Such had 
 been the boyhood of Webster, of Cass, and a host of 
 equally distinguished Americans ; and I may add that 
 a special charm attaches to a like origin, which is 
 subsequently ennobled by a life of exalted position and 
 usefulness. 
 
 From his earliest years accustomed to toil and 
 labor, Dr. March followed the plough, and performed 
 all the drudgery incident to the position in which he 
 was born. An early life more uneventful than his can 
 scarcely be imagined. The stock to which he belonged, 
 however, possessed no fellowship with ignorance, and 
 he was allowed the advantages of the school of the 
 neighborhood, especially during the winter months, 
 when he could be most easily spared from the labors 
 of the farm. The amount of knowledge thus acquired 
 was doubtless the chief inheritance which the Doctor 
 derived from his father, whose slender resources pre- 
 vented a more generous bestowal of fortune. The 
 result showed that it proved, in the hands of the son, 
 a possession of greater significance and worth, than 
 estates, honors and titles. Limited as his advantages 
 proved, they were doubtless eagerly appreciated and 
 zealously prosecuted, and it did not require a long 
 period to exhaust them. Education as then prescribed 
 in the common country schools, embraced reading, 
 writing, arithmetic, geography, and perhaps grammar. 
 Beyond this the pupil could not go, for the reason that 
 the teacher could not lead, even if the former had 
 been disposed to follow. Books were scarce, time was 
 limited, the necessities of the country did not demand 
 a high order of intellectual progress, and the circum- 
 stances of the people did not warrant it. 
 
80 
 
 An elder brother had many years before become 
 a physician, and practiced his profession in his native 
 State. 
 
 Thus the early years of the subject of this notice 
 were passed, in severe labor, in study and in such 
 general reading as chanced to fall in his way. As he 
 approached manhood he taught school in many country 
 towns. At the same time he began and continued his 
 medical studies under the direction of his brother. 
 The force and energy of his character proved of early 
 development ; and the many hindrances which inter- 
 posed to check his progress, only served to renew and 
 multiply his vigor and resources, as one after another 
 he overcame them all, and strode manfully on towards 
 the accomplishment of his earnest hopes and antici- 
 pations. He had set out with the determination to 
 master a profession, and never, for an instant, did the 
 consciousness of his inherent strength and ability to 
 succeed, desert him. He attended lectures in Boston, 
 and from a remark which fell from his lips in conver- 
 sation, during the session of the American Medical 
 Association in that city in 1865, he doubtless rendered 
 such service to the professor of Anatomy, in procuring 
 subjects for dissection, as in part, if not fully, to defray 
 the expenses of his lecture course. His success in 
 that dangerous field of service, indicated the fearless- 
 ness of his character, and the earnestness, amounting 
 to enthusiasm, with which he sought to accomplish the 
 objects of his ambition. And it must be acknow- 
 ledged, in surveying the life of Dr. March, that he was 
 guided and governed, from the very beginning of his 
 medical pupilage, by an honest and laudable ambi- 
 tion. Ambition furnished an incentive to study, to 
 
81 
 
 investigate, to explore, to originate, to strike out in 
 new and untrodden fields, and relying entirely upon 
 his conscious strength and knowledge, first as an inno- 
 vator, contemptuously considered, next as an instructor, 
 with scanty patronage and support, next as a general 
 surgeon, incurring the hostility of the profession, and 
 finally as a masterly teacher, a brilliant and successful 
 operator, a bold, independent and fearless man, he won 
 the confidence and patronage, not only of his col- 
 leagues, but of an immense representation of people, 
 which continued, with increased manifestation, to the 
 very day of his death. 
 
 Dr. March's final course of lectures, which resulted 
 in the degree of Doctor of Medicine, was attended at 
 Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, which 
 at this time embraced a Medical Department. 
 
 He commenced practice in Albany, in 1820. Here 
 we first notice him as an innovator. He brought the 
 zeal and industry of his student life to bear upon his 
 first years of practice, and immediately, upon opening 
 an office, began the study and teaching of anatomy, 
 with dissections and lectures upon the human subject. 
 A small number of patrons gave him encouragement, 
 composed of students of medicine, and a few bold as 
 well as curious men of his acquaintance. The pro- 
 fession, regarding him as an adventurer, refused even 
 to recognize, much less to encourage him. His utter 
 failure and discomfiture was predicted, and his removal 
 from the city was anticipated at an early day. So 
 fierce became the opposition to Dr. March, and so 
 successful, under the bond of combination, that the 
 prediction of his opponents seemed about to be realized, 
 and because of the threatened failure of his scheme 
 
 11 
 
82 
 
 to teach practical anatomy, and his equally signal 
 failure to secure patronage among the citizens, in a 
 moment of chagrin and disappointment, he intimated 
 to the gentleman from whom he leased his office, the 
 noble-minded Mr. Evarts, a highly successful mer- 
 chant of Albany, that it was his purpose to take up 
 his residence in the neighboring town of Schenectady. 
 With an insight respecting character which long expe- 
 rience in business had imparted, Mr. Evarts fully 
 appreciated the sterling worth of his tenant, and 
 strove to dissuade him from his intention. The Doctor 
 was in arrears for rent, and without present or pro- 
 spective means to discharge his obligations to his 
 landlord. The latter delicately suggested that the 
 Doctor should not, in a moment of dejDression, yield 
 to the adverse tide against which he was struggling, 
 but with renewed strength, contend with and over- 
 come the opposition which met him at every turn. If 
 Mr. Evarts did not release the Doctor from indebted- 
 ness for rent, he made the terms of payment so easy 
 that the obligation rested lightly upon the young sur- 
 geon, who concluded to abide the course of events in 
 giving him patronage, support and position in the su b- 
 stantial and conservative city of Albany. 
 
 This event, simple as it appears, was doubtless the 
 turning point in the history and career of Dr. March. 
 A few words of encouragement, sealed by a noble and 
 generous act, on the part of a citizen of character 
 and influence, whose sympathies were drawn out 
 towards a deserving young man, proved the me ans of 
 changing the destiny of his life. He gradually grew 
 in favor with the people, overcame the opposition of 
 the profession, and at last rose to be regarded as a 
 
83 
 
 surgeon of skill and character. This position was not 
 achieved through favor or compromise. Dr. March 
 won his reputation, first at home among his early 
 opponents, and afterwards more extensively through 
 the State and Nation, simply by his great merit as a 
 surgeon. The anatomical foundation upon which he 
 built during all his early pupilage and wearisome and 
 discouraging waiting in Albany, served as a fitting- 
 base to sustain the monument which rose to such 
 majestic proportions, as the full measure of his pro- 
 fessional fame was achieved. 
 
 At the time Dr. March began to teach anatomy 
 in Albany, that city numbered only 15,000 souls. 
 Anatomical study, with the human subject in process 
 of dissection before the pupil, was not regarded as 
 essential by the profession. Such knowledge was 
 obtained by means of books, plates, dried preparations 
 and didactic teaching. If the profession looked with 
 little favor upon practical anatomy, it could not be 
 expected that the people would view it with greater 
 charity. 
 
 The profession in Albany opposed the schemes and 
 plans of Dr. March, both as a teacher and practi- 
 tioner, because, in the first place, his manner of teach- 
 ing was greatly in advance of the age in which he 
 lived, and next, because in the field of surgery, which 
 he proceeded to cultivate, they witnessed the breaking 
 down of the old and time-honored barriers of con- 
 servatism, by which the practice of that branch of our 
 art had been surrounded. With disregard of opposi- 
 tion based upon such insufficient reasons, he steadily 
 pursued his course, conscientiously depending upon 
 the integrity of his purpose and the truth and justice 
 
84 
 
 of his claims of recognition, and confidently looking 
 for success. And success came, after a comparatively 
 brief period of " looking for the day." In 1825, Dr. 
 March was appointed Professor of Anatomy and Phy- 
 siology in the Vermont Academy of Medicine, at 
 Castleton. This position he held with great reputa- 
 tion, for ten years, during which time he maintained 
 a private lecture course in Albany, and engaged in 
 general practice. 
 
 But the purpose for which he entered the profession, 
 and for which he was continually striving, now began 
 to be manifested. In 1830, after a residence of ten 
 years in Albany, Dr. March delivered a public lecture 
 in that city on the " Propriety of Establishing a 
 Medical College and Hospital" there. The lecture 
 was given to the press, and produced a decided sen- 
 sation among all classes of people. This was the 
 beginning of an attempt to organize a Medical College 
 in Albany. 
 
 A residence of ten years among a people slow, pro- 
 verbially slow, to appreciate merit, but generous and 
 ready to acknowledge it, when impressed by convic- 
 tion, had resulted, as might be expected, in attaching 
 to Dr. March a number of earnest and devoted friends, 
 who warmly espoused the cause which lay nearest his 
 heart, and entered zealously upon the undertaking to 
 found a Medical College in that city. The Legisla- 
 ture was petitioned for an act of incorporation, but 
 fierce opposition sprang up, prompted by the profession 
 of the city of Albany, and the combined efforts of 
 the medical schools in the State. The Fairfield Medi- 
 cal College, then in the full tide of success, with a 
 distinguished faculty, entered with great power and 
 
85 
 
 effect in the contest to prevent the organization of a 
 rival school. 
 
 It would be uninteresting to this audience to narrate 
 the history of this exciting period of Dr. March's life. 
 For eight years he maintained a struggle with all the 
 Medical Colleges of the State of New York, which, 
 through rich and powerful agencies, sought to thwart 
 his plans. Almost single-handed, he fought the old 
 and favored corporations of the Medical Department 
 of the University of the State of New York, the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Medical Col- 
 lege at Fairfield and the Geneva Medical College. 
 The same spirit of invincible courage and determina- 
 tion which he exhibted in early battling with opposi- 
 tion, was shown in this later struggle. But he was no 
 longer an unknown man contending with men and 
 organizations of weight and influence in community. 
 
 And by reason of indomitable will and perseverance, 
 he finally achieved success, and on the 3d of January, 
 1839, after perfecting all necessary arrangements, the 
 first course of lectures in the Albany Medical College 
 was commenced, with a class of fifty-seven students. 
 Dr. March filled the chair of Surgery ; Dr. James H. 
 Armsby, of Anatomy and Physiology; Amos Dean, 
 Esq., of Medical Jurisprudence ; Dr. Ebenezer Emmons, 
 of Chemistry and Pharmacy; Dr. Henry Greene, of 
 Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children ; Dr. 
 David M. McLachlan, of Materia Medica; and Dr. 
 David Meredith Reese, of the Theory and Practice 
 of Medicine. 
 
 It was only after the first course of lectures com- 
 menced, that the charter of the College was procured 
 from the Legislature. When the citizens of Albany 
 
86 
 
 became fully aroused to the desirability and prospective 
 advantage of having such an institution in operation 
 among them, they applied with such heartiness and 
 effect to the Legislature, that the necessary powers 
 were quickly conferred, and the Albany Medical Col- 
 lege took its place upon a par with the old and favored 
 medical schools of the State and country. 
 
 I cannot refrain from speaking in this connection, 
 of the signal service rendered the Albany Medical 
 College in the Senate of the State, by the representa- 
 tive from this district, the Hon. John G. McDowell, 
 whose sympathies were all aroused for the intrepid 
 and invincible Maech, whose efforts to cope with such 
 rival powers as I have mentioned, won the admiration 
 of the large-hearted and magnanimous Senator, and 
 made Dr. March his friend for life. 
 
 Soon after I located in Elmira, I was presented to 
 Judge McDowell, who immediately inquired where I 
 had received my medical education. When I replied, 
 in the office of Dr. March and at the Albany Medical 
 College, the Judge warmly grasped me by the hand, 
 and heartily wished me success. An entertaining 
 conversation then followed, respecting the exciting 
 scenes which were enacted in the Senate Chamber 
 during the time when Dr. March was engaged in 
 urging upon that body the propriety of adopting the 
 measures which he so earnestly and persistently pre- 
 sented from session to session. 
 
 With the opening of the Medical College, Dr. March 
 inaugurated a novel proceeding in the history of such 
 institutions, which soon became popular and was 
 adopted very generally in the medical schools of the 
 country. It was his custom, every Saturday morning 
 
87 
 
 throughout the lecture term, to present to the pupils 
 in attendance, a large, varied and interesting group 
 of cases, chiefly surgical, upon which he would deliver 
 short addresses, and perform such operations as might 
 be indicated. In this way, in lieu of hospital prac- 
 tice, an immense amount of surgery was brought 
 before the students, comprising the minor as well as 
 the capital and rare and original operations, which 
 made his name so familiar in the history of surgery. 
 This custom was continued from the first Saturday in 
 January, 1839, to the last Saturday during the lecture 
 term of the present year. The amount of surgery 
 displayed to students by means of this uninterrupted 
 exhibition, was immense, numbering many thousands 
 of cases. Some of the most daring and successful of 
 Dr. March's operations were performed in this man- 
 ner. The removal of enormous tumors by tedious 
 dissection among congested tissues, requiring the fre- 
 quent ligation of vessels, the amputation of limbs, 
 lithotomy, staphyloraphy, plastic operations, the most 
 delicate ophthalmological manipulations, these were 
 among the wonders of his cunning hand, and the 
 results of his educated diagnostic experience. 
 
 It should be understood that the surgical service 
 performed by Dr. March at the Saturday college 
 clinics, by which so many men, women and children 
 were relieved of deformities, infirmities and multiform 
 varieties of suffering, was entirely gratuitous. The 
 summing up of this charitable record would reveal a 
 history of good deeds done to the afflicted, which I 
 am convinced has no parallel in the surgical history 
 of our country. 
 
88 
 
 The success of the Albany Medical College is well 
 known. Its standard of education has always been 
 high. The aim of its teachers has not been to mul- 
 tiply physicians, but to thoroughly qualify them. 
 And as it has never lacked for support and patronage, 
 it has been able to maintain a dignified position and 
 character among schools of distinguished reputation 
 in the country. 
 
 Soon after the alteration and occupation of the 
 building known as the Albany Medical College, which 
 had been used as a Lancaster school, and when its 
 prosperity became an assured success, the Medical 
 College at Fairfield was abandoned, and Drs. T. 
 Romeyn Beck, Lewis C. Beck and James McNaugh- 
 ton, of that institution, accepted chairs in the new 
 organization. The brothers Beck died while teaching 
 in their respective departments of Materia Medica 
 and Chemistry, and Professor James McNaughton, 
 the oldest medical teacher in uninterrupted devotion 
 to his duties in the United States, extending through 
 a period of fifty years, venerable with age and full of 
 honor, still lectures on the Theory and Practice of 
 Medicine. 
 
 Upon the opening of the Albany Medical College, 
 Dr. March had reached his forty-fourth year. He 
 was in the very perfection of mental and physical 
 vigor. He had long since overcome the opposition 
 which assailed him at the outset of his career, and 
 enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice, almost 
 exclusively in the field of surgery. His reputation 
 had spread over the land, and physicians in every 
 portion of it, as well as intelligent laymen, knew him 
 by his achievements. His labors were overwhelming, 
 
89 
 
 and, even from boyhood, he never seemed to think, 
 except when reminded by positive sickness, that a 
 limit could be placed upon his mental and physical 
 application. 
 
 The honor that was conferred upon Dr. March, by 
 electing him President of the Medical Society of the 
 State of New York, and subsequently of the Ameri- 
 can Medical Association, you. all know. Williams 
 College honored itself no less than the recipient of its 
 degree, by bestowing upon him the title of Doctor of 
 Laws. 
 
 The life of Dr. March, from the foundation of the 
 Albany Medical College, we are all familiar with. 
 He was so intimately identified with the profession, 
 that it seems almost impossible to separate him from 
 its interests. And yet in private life, when he laid 
 aside professional cares and anxieties, and sought to 
 restore his over-worked energies in social pleasures, in 
 the pursuits of agriculture, or in traveling, he was the 
 same animated, intelligent and delightful companion. 
 Amid all the absorbing responsibilities of a large 
 practice, it was his habit, frequently, to devote an 
 afternoon to the labors of his farm, a few miles from 
 the city. In this connection the word labor is pro- 
 perly applied. During the few hours on these occa- 
 sions, which he devoted to what he termed relaxation, 
 he accomplished with the pruning knife, the hoe, the 
 scythe, and other implements, as much manual labor 
 as would have satisfied a laboring man that he was 
 doing a full day's work. He would return to his home 
 from these frequent "forays," as they might have 
 been termed, stained, soiled and wet with perspira- 
 tion, and at the same time rested and refreshed. Dr. 
 
 12 
 
90 
 
 Maech possessed the quality in a remarkable degree, 
 of being able, in the work which he had in hand, to 
 banish all other considerations from his mind. A 
 surgical operation entirely engrossed his mental as 
 well as physical being. And all the time spent on 
 his farm, by a process of revolution of thought and 
 interest, which allowed a period of mental rest, equally 
 engrossed his attention. 
 
 But I must hasten on to allude to one of the chief 
 points of interest in the life of Dr. March. Aside 
 from his wonderful success as an oj3erative surgeon, 
 my first allusion will be to the results of his investi- 
 gation of hip-disease. From the earliest teaching of 
 surgery, down to within a period of twenty -five years, 
 authors and lecturers alike, regarded the final stage 
 of this affection as the result of dislocation of the 
 head of the femur. You will all bring to mind illus- 
 trations of this condition, in which marked indications 
 of dislocation exist, such as shortening of the leg, 
 inversion of the toe, trochanteric prominence, etc. 
 Numerous as were the wet and dry specimens of hip- 
 disease in the medical museums of the country, and 
 much as the subject had been investigated hy sur- 
 geons, no fact seemed better established than this, 
 that dislocation of the head of the femur Avas the 
 natural result of the disorganizing process known as 
 hip-disease, after reaching a certain stage. In other 
 words, hip-disease, allowed to proceed from one stage to 
 another, from inflammation of the articular extremity 
 of the head of the femur and socket, to final ulcera- 
 tion, always terminated, if recovery took place, in 
 luxation of the bone, either partial, on the margin of 
 the acetabulum, or complete, on the dorsum of the 
 
91 
 
 ilium. For years Dr. March believed this doctrine. 
 But as familiarity with the disease increased, and as 
 morbid specimens multiplied in his possession, and he 
 was led to scrutinize them closely, he began to have 
 misgivings of the correctness of this principle. His 
 attention was more particularly drawn to the subject 
 by the interesting nature of the investigation, and the 
 limited opportunities which our country afforded for 
 studying morbid specimens of hip-disease. He visited 
 many collections, public and private, of any conse- 
 quence, in the United States, and took copious notes 
 of all important features of the aifection, with due 
 regard to their classification and arrangement. Not 
 satisfied with this survey, he went abroad for the 
 second time, if not for the only purpose, at least for 
 the chief purpose of studying the disease in the 
 museums and cabinets of Great Britain and on the 
 continent. Before leaving this country, he had col- 
 lected, mostly from dissections, the largest number of 
 specimens known to belong to an individual or to an 
 institution in the United States. Indeed, he failed to 
 find in Europe, in a single collection, as many inter- 
 esting cases of the disease as he possessed. And his 
 going abroad proved the means of adding several 
 specimens to his own collection, which at this time 
 was the most complete, doubtless, in the world. 
 
 The result of all this study and investigation estab- 
 lished the fact, now universally acknowledged, that 
 dislocation of the femur in hip-disease, though pos- 
 sible under certain circumstances, is the rarest event 
 in the production of morbid changes. 
 
 It was satisfactorily shown that the phenomena of 
 the disease ascribed to dislocation, were merely results 
 
92 
 
 of a process of inflammation, terminating in wasting 
 and absorption, which closely resembled that accident. 
 
 This explanation, when once made and demon- 
 strated, appears simple enough, and we wonder it was 
 not offered a long time ago. The profession accepted 
 it cautiously, and after many doubts and misgivings, 
 expressed by teachers in the medical schools, by 
 authors, by writers in the journals, as well as by 
 individual practitioners, Dr. March's conclusions were 
 adopted as the true condition of hip-disease, in every 
 part of the enlightened world. The connection of 
 Dr. March with this subject, if he had achieved no 
 other distinction, is enough to stamp him as a bold, 
 original and accurate investigator of disease. 
 
 I will briefly allude to a few prominent traits in 
 the character of Dr. March, which stood forth in his 
 common, e very-day life. 
 
 He always sympathized with and cheerfully aided 
 young as well as older physicians, if they deserved 
 sympathy and aid. His office was a general gather- 
 ing place for physicians, accompanied by patients, 
 who desired his opinions and advice. And he always 
 gave such cases full and minute investigation. His 
 method of examining a case, while it may have 
 lacked the system which embraces one region of the 
 body after another, in a prescribed order, was neverthe- 
 less thorough, and rarely failed to elicit the prominent 
 features of the disease or affection under consideration. 
 Narrowing down the indications within certain limits, 
 by a process of exclusion, he arrived at the truth, and 
 seldom erred in surgical diagnosis. He was not infalli- 
 ble in judgment, as I might prove by several instances 
 of error and faulty opinion. It was marvelous to 
 
93 
 
 witness the almost intuitive perception of sense, which 
 seemed to dwell in the ends of his fingers, when they 
 were employed in searching for deep seated matter. 
 And he seldom failed to reveal the evidence of pus, 
 by a free incision, when he had thus committed him- 
 self to an opinion. 
 
 As a lecturer on surgery, Dr. March was eminently 
 plain and practical. His course during a lecture term 
 was carefully marked out and arranged under heads 
 and subjects. The skeleton or frame-work of this 
 plan was filled up from day to day by illustrations of 
 cases from his immense stores of experience, and by 
 morbid specimens from the shelves of the college 
 museum, where, during all the busy years of his life, 
 they had been rapidly accumulating. This method, 
 while it gave to the lectures the interest of extempo- 
 raneous delivery, took away from them the dryness 
 and wearisomeness of a formal presentation of hack- 
 neyed topics. That the Doctor's lectures were never 
 tedious, was shown by the large number of students 
 and physicians who always attended them. The latter 
 class, from a young alumnus of the college to an old 
 graduate under Dr. March as teacher of anatomy in 
 Vermont, as well as physicians drawn thither by his 
 reputation for surgical skill, paid him the most marked 
 respect and honor. 
 
 His convictions of surgical truth and practice were 
 so strong and abiding, and his desire of impressing 
 them upon students so sincere and conscientious, that 
 he thus acquired great power over his hearers. He 
 never was diverted into fields of speculation or 
 specious reasoning. His mind discarded the reasoning 
 element, as rigidly interpreted. I doubt if he compre- 
 
94 
 
 hended the reach and extent of this principle or 
 faculty of the mind, at least, he never attempted to 
 exercise it. This I do not mention in disparagement 
 of the great surgeon ; it never seemed to be a defici- 
 ency in his own estimation or in the opinion of his 
 friends and admirers. Perhaps his early training, by 
 partaking of the practical, in its fullest and plainest 
 sense, and proceeding on towards adult life in the 
 same toilsome direction, gave him a relish or desire 
 for the exhaustive or demonstrative study of anatomy, 
 upon which he based the whole field of operative 
 surgery. 
 
 This suggestion furnishes the key to Dr. Maech's 
 success as an operator, as well as his readiness as 
 a lecturer. No matter what portion of the wide 
 domain of surgery enlisted his attention, whether the 
 consideration of fractures, wounds of arteries, search- 
 ing the bladder for a stone, or determining the nature 
 of an obscure affection of the ear, the anatomical 
 construction and relation of parts seemed as familiar 
 in his mind as if he had just given the subject special 
 investigation and study. He rarely consulted works 
 on anatomy. The whole scheme or plan of the body, 
 even to its nicer and more delicate details, was faith- 
 fully mirrored in his mind. 
 
 In reciting anatomical peculiarities, his nomencla- 
 ture revealed the system of a former period, while at 
 the same time it embraced the whole subject. 
 
 It is not difficult to describe Dr. March's surgi- 
 cal operations. They were maturely considered, if 
 they were at all important, and carefully studied. 
 Authors, from the older recognized standards, includ- 
 ing the famous John and Sir Charles Bell, down to 
 
95 
 
 the latest writers of treatises and monograms, were 
 consulted. This ground was patiently gone over, 
 usually at night, after a clay of labor, and the entire 
 subject was elaborated in his mind, and a plan of pro- 
 ceeding instituted. This result reached, he lost no 
 time in moving on the operation. And here his 
 genius was fully shown. Every contingency was 
 provided for, every want of the case anticipated. 
 Assistants were duly assigned their duty, and the 
 work proceeded. A single feeling actuated the sur- 
 geon, and that was the completion of the operation in 
 as short a time as was compatible with safety. One 
 step followed another, the knife at this moment, a 
 finger at the next proving the guide, until the tumor 
 or diseased limb was removed, the strangulated bowel 
 replaced, or a nicely fitting plastic operation con- 
 cluded. 
 
 It was a favorite maxim with Dr. March, always 
 to use the finger instead of the knife, as long as it 
 could be made available to accomplish the purpose in 
 view. 
 
 Dr. March ever stood ready to defend the profession 
 against the corrupt machinations of unprincipled 
 lawyers, who through suits of malpractice, hope and 
 expect, while they obtain damages for their clients, 
 to abundantly reward themselves. Having passed 
 through the ordeal of a malpractice prosecution, which 
 resulted in his acquittal, and having on another occa- 
 sion successfully vindicated himself in a charge of 
 defamation of character, made by a notorious empiric, 
 whose paste or plaster the Doctor openly asserted had 
 caused the death of a woman to whose breast it had 
 been applied, he was warmly alive to the propriety as 
 
96 
 
 well as necessity of defending his professional brethren, 
 when similarly assailed. He was extensively sought 
 as a witness by physicians who were compelled to 
 answer the hateful charge of malpractice, and I should 
 be lacking in gratitude, if I did not revert to the 
 signal service which he rendered Dr. Squire, our late 
 President, and the writer, in vindication of the mode 
 and manner of an operation for extraction of a loose 
 cartilage from the knee-joint, which led to a suit for 
 damages in 1861. 
 
 Dr. March was a kind and humane man. Aside 
 from the river of charity, which regularly, Saturday 
 after Saturday, during the lecture term at the Medical 
 College, flowed through the operating theatre of that 
 institution, he gave, in the every-day discharge of 
 professional duties and in liberal gifts of money, to 
 the poor and afflicted. As God had prospered him in 
 bestowing fame and riches upon him, he regarded 
 himself as a steward in His hand, to dispense the 
 blessings of his art and science, as well as his wealth, 
 to the suffering and needy. 
 
 But the crowning merit of Dr. March's life and 
 character consisted in his humble, Christian walk and 
 conversation. Many years ago, in the height of pro- 
 fessional activity and achievements, under a deep 
 sense of conviction, he stepped forth upon the path of 
 Christian life, which, during all his subsequent career, 
 he trustingly and faithfully followed. 
 
 Thus from the humblest beginning, through poverty, 
 adversity, opposition and reproach, we see how con- 
 stant was the rise and prosperity of the subject of 
 this notice ; how reward came as the sure result of 
 incessant application and devotion to the chief purpose 
 
97 
 
 of life ; how fame, honor and wealth were heaped upon 
 him, and how with elevation in the esteem of the 
 world, he humbled himself as a Christian, and devoted 
 all his powers to the advancement of his profession, 
 and the bestowal of priceless gifts of charity to the 
 sick and afflicted, through a long and eventful life. 
 
 May his example ever abide with us, and incite us 
 to greater efforts for our fellow men. 
 
 EXTRACT 
 
 FROM A LETTER FROM DR. ZINA PITCHER, AN EX-PRESIDENT OF THE 
 AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 " I have myself, in a long professional life, enjoyed 
 the friendship of many distinguished medical men, 
 but there are none left now, between whom and 
 myself, there existed greater congeniality, or closer 
 ties of friendship, than between Dr. Makch and 
 myself. I loved him for his personal purity ; admired 
 him for those graces of character which mark the 
 upright and honorable man, and honored him for 
 those acquirements, and for the exercise of that skill, 
 which distinguished him in his profession. Please, 
 even at this late day, to convey to the surviving 
 relatives my assurances of sympathy for their bereave- 
 ment and of the reverence with which I cherish the 
 memory of their departed friend." 
 
 13 
 
EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS. 
 
 [From the Western Journal of Medicine, Indianapolis, Ind., July, 1889.] 
 
 Prof. Alden March, of Albany, N. Y., died on the 
 17th of last month, in his seventy-fourth year. 
 
 Those of us who met him at New Orleans last May, 
 could not anticipate, marking his vigorous step and 
 manly form, greeted with his generous smile and the 
 hearty grasp of his hand, that in six weeks he would 
 breathe his last. 
 
 It is now about ten years since we first had the 
 honor of making his acquaintance ; and our first 
 interview was in one of those cases in which his 
 opinion was worth that of any surgeon in the world, 
 viz : of hip-joint disease. 
 
 We feel that his death is to us a personal loss ; but 
 this is a minor matter — it is a loss to medicine, to 
 the country and to humanity. 
 
 He was indeed a noble man ; the crown of his pro- 
 fessi6nal greatness and of his noble manhood being 
 the simple faith and life of the Christian. 
 
 [From a Providence. R. I., Journal.'] 
 
 The Late Dr. Alden March. 
 
 Brown University has perhaps been the Alma Mater 
 of a greater number of distinguished men than any 
 other college in this country. She has sent out into 
 
99 
 
 the world a little army of lawyers, theologians and 
 doctors, as well as poets and artists, whose names are 
 as familiar as household words. But among them all, 
 none have achieved for themselves a more enviable 
 reputation in their respective callings, than the late 
 Dr. Alden March, whose death in Albany, at the ripe 
 age of seventy-four years, occurred last week. 
 
 Dr. March was born in Sutton, Worcester county, 
 Massachusetts. His father was a hard-working farmer, 
 and until Alden reached the age of twenty-one, he 
 worked upon his father's farm. During this time, the 
 young man had enjoyed the usual winter's schooling, 
 and had besides this spent one term at an academy. 
 This comprised his education. About this time an 
 elder brother established himself as a physician, and 
 the young man resolved to carve out for himself a name 
 in the same profession. Accordingly, he turned his 
 back upon the farm and commenced reading medicine 
 with his brother, who, in his leisure moments, taught 
 him Latin and Greek. 
 
 Professor Ingalls was then lecturing on anatomy and 
 surgery, under the patronage of Brown University, 
 and by dint of prudence our young student got together 
 money enough to enable him to attend the course, 
 which he did. At last graduating and receiving a 
 diploma from Brown University, with this and a stout 
 heart as his capital, he reached Albany, and at the 
 age of twenty-five commenced the practice of medicine 
 there. A stranger, with rivals who were skillful, and 
 at the same time already established, for several years 
 the struggle was a hard one ; but steadfast, undaunted, 
 an ardent lover of the pursuit he had chosen, he passed 
 on, determined to succeed at all hazard. At the end 
 
100 
 
 of ten years Dr. March had achieved so enviable a 
 reputation as a surgeon that students came to him 
 from Albany and the adjoining cities, and listened 
 with pleasure and profit to the lectures which he gave 
 to private classes. 
 
 In 1839, Dr. March, with his brother-in-law, Dr. 
 J. H. Armsby of Albany, and others, succeeded in 
 establishing the Albany College of Medicine and 
 Surgery, which now enjoys a first class reputation. 
 
 There is hardly an operation known to modern 
 surgery that Dr. March has not performed. He has 
 practiced lithotomy some thirty times upon patients 
 from three to seventy years of age, with general 
 success, and has probably made more successful 
 amputations than any surgeon in his section of the 
 country. 
 
 Dr. March, personally, was a man of strikingly 
 commanding appearance, full six feet high, and as 
 erect as an Indian, apparently not over fifty-five years 
 of age ; he bore in his own person a rare example of 
 the good effects of a life of temperance and sobriety, 
 which the young men of the present day would do 
 well to follow. His life was a long and useful one, 
 and he has left behind him in the memory of those 
 who knew him, a monument more lasting than a 
 monument of brass — a record of good deeds, for which 
 he is now reaping an eternal reward. L. 
 
101 
 
 [From an Omaha Journal.] 
 
 Death of Alden March, M. D., of Albany, N. Y. 
 
 On Thursday morning, the 19th inst., at the age of 
 73 years, Dr. Alden March, of Albany, passed from 
 this earth in the fullness of his professional fame. 
 The history of this great and good man is full of the 
 deepest interest. It is well calculated to fill the 
 young mind with high, noble and pure resolves. 
 Indeed his life, his efforts and achievements, his prin- 
 ciples and opinions, his glory and virtue, are precious 
 to the profession he loved and served so ably and suc- 
 cessfully, so indefatigably and unselfishly. 
 
 I may not, in this place, attempt the language of 
 eulogy upon the immortal March ; this is being done 
 by the master spirits of the profession, men worthy 
 of the task, worthy as was Pericles to pronounce the 
 honors of the Athenian dead. I crave, however, to 
 be permitted to throw a passing flower to his honored 
 memory. He was my excellent teacher, my honored 
 master, my generous friend. 
 
 I cannot here even pass in rapid review some of 
 the most salient points of his eventful life, cannot 
 even mention those able and exhaustive medical pro- 
 ductions which brought him so prominently and favor- 
 ably before the medical profession of his country. 
 This will be the sacred and grateful duty of the 
 biographer. 
 
 He has gone ; as a human being indeed he is no 
 more ; but yet he is not dead. He will live in com- 
 ing time, live as one of the greatest surgical lumina- 
 
102 
 
 ries of the 19th century, and his name will be a 
 " moose-track in the vast ocean of history." He 
 goes down to the grave ripe in years, but riper in 
 wisdom and virtue — a great surgeon, an honored citi- 
 zen, an exemplary Christian. The praises of those 
 who knew him best, and the benedictions of thous- 
 ands, blessed by his kindness and skill, follow him. 
 
 But the crowning glory of his exalted worth is 
 that he was loved and honored even more for the 
 purity of his private character, his sterling integrity, 
 his unsullied honor and his Christian example, than 
 for his extraordinary and masterly ability and skill. 
 
 " Ne'er to the chambers where the mighty rest, 
 Since their foundation came a nobler guest, 
 Nor e'er was to the bowers of bliss conveyed, 
 A fairer spirit or more welcome shade." 
 
 One who Knew Him. 
 
 [From the Albany Argus, June 18, 1869.] 
 
 The Death of Dk. Alden March. 
 
 The death of this distinguished surgeon, yesterday 
 morning, was heard of by our citizens generally, with 
 profound ' regret. To very many of them, to whom, 
 for periods extending back to nearly half a century, 
 he had been the trusted and beloved physician, it 
 was felt to be a personal calamity. 
 
 The feeling of affection 
 
 out of this 
 
 endeared relation extends, however, beyond our own 
 city. It will be felt by hundreds throughout the 
 
103 
 
 State, in every portion of which his fame had 
 extended, and his professional services been called 
 into requisition. 
 
 His death will be regarded by the medical profes- 
 sion, throughout the country, as a loss to the cause of 
 medical science. No surgeon in the United States, 
 perhaps none in Europe, was held in higher estima- 
 tion than Dr. March. Certainly no one in this 
 country, in private practice alone, has performed so 
 many bold and difficult and delicate surgical opera- 
 tions, and with such remarkable success. His reports 
 of cases occurring in his practice, though few in com- 
 parison with the magnitude of his operations, have 
 been received with the highest favor here, and widely 
 re-published in the medical magazines of Europe. 
 
 We do not propose to write an obituary of the 
 deceased. The record of his professional skill and 
 services, and his high personal character, may be 
 safely left to the care of his professional brethren of 
 Albany. 
 
 [From, the Daily Knickerboclcer, June 18, 1869.] 
 
 The Death of Dr. Alden March. 
 
 The medical profession, of our city, have lost 
 another good man. Dr. Alden March died at the 
 residence of his son-in-law, David I. Boyd, at an 
 early hour yesterday morning. 
 
 The deceased was born in Sutton, Worcester 
 County, Mass., 1795, and was therefore in his 74th 
 year. He studied medicine with an elder brother, 
 who was Surgeon in the United States Army, and 
 
104 
 
 attended medical lectures in Boston. He graduated 
 at the Brown University, Providence, B,. I., which, at 
 that time, had a Department of Medicine. Williams 
 College conferred the degree of LL. D. on Dr. March, 
 and he was an Honorary Member of most of the 
 leading societies of this country. He came to Albany 
 in 1820, and immediately commenced the practice of 
 his profession, which he pursued with untiring devo- 
 tion and success until his death. He was looked up 
 to as the father of the profession in this city, where 
 he has devoted nearly half a century to the practice 
 of medicine and surgery. His reputation was world- 
 wide, and his death will be deeply mourned, and his 
 memory long cherished, by a very extensive circle of 
 acquaintances. 
 
HOME LIFE OF DR. MARCH. 
 
 However much may be said of the public and pro- 
 fessional life of Dr. March, his domestic and home 
 life was marked with rare consistency and beauty. 
 
 Simple in all his tastes and habits, genial and loving 
 in his family, he engaged with especial interest in all 
 those little things which form so large a part of the 
 happiness of the family circle. 
 
 A rigid system marked all his daily life. Each 
 hour of the day had its fixed duties, and nothing 
 could deter him from their regular fulfillment. He 
 was prompt to the moment, whether it related to the 
 simple arrangements of his home, or to some important 
 surgical operation or public duty. His custom was to 
 rise at or before the hour of six o'clock, summer and 
 winter ; the first hour being devoted to reading the 
 daily papers ; at seven o'clock the family were gathered 
 for morning devotions, a duty never omitted or hurried 
 through. The chapter selected from the Bible was 
 carefully read, a hymn as carefully read and sung, 
 followed by earnest simple prayer. His petitions were 
 direct and concise, relating to all the wants and cir- 
 cumstances of the family circle, never omitting to ask 
 that God would direct him in the means best calculated 
 to relieve the sick and suffering who might apply to 
 him for relief, feeling deeply conscious that his own 
 skill would be wholly unavailing without God's bless- 
 
 14 
 
106 
 
 ing. While he shrank from publicity in religious 
 duties, feeling " unworthy to take a part," as he 
 expressed it, in the social prayer meeting — yet the 
 interests of his country, the Church of Cheist at 
 large, the poor and needy around him, were daily 
 fervently commended to God at the family altar. His 
 own church and pastor were remembered with an 
 eloquence that impressed all who listened. The hours 
 of the morning, until dinner, were devoted to his pro- 
 fessional labors, after which he allowed himself a short 
 season of rest. During the summer and autumn he 
 was accustomed daily to visit his farm, a short dis- 
 tance from the city, where he worked as earnestly 
 and diligently as he had the former part of the day 
 in his profession; enjoying with the keenest delight 
 the growth of his trees, fruits, vegetables, &c. He 
 had almost a passionate love for flowers, cultivating 
 and training them in his own garden, always deriving 
 great delight in picking the first rose, lily or choice 
 flower, and quietly placing it beside the plate of some 
 member of the family at the morning meal ; and rarely 
 took a drive into the country without stopping to 
 gather wild flowers. 
 
 He had also an enthusiastic love for music, especi- 
 ally the singing of the family and sanctuary, in which 
 he always joined, feeling disappointed if the tunes 
 were not familiar. He always began on Saturday 
 morning to prepare for the Sabbath, anticipating as 
 much as possible all professional calls, closing the 
 week with a complete record of all the cases in which 
 he had consulted or operated, every business obliga- 
 tion canceled, so that nothing would obtrude upon the 
 sacredness of the holy day. 
 
107 
 
 It had been a rule of his life that no letters received 
 during the day should remain unanswered before retir- 
 ing, consequently with a large correspondence, the mid- 
 night hour usually found him writing at his study table. 
 
 He never absented himself from the sanctuary on 
 the Sabbath, or from the weekly prayer meeting, 
 except in case of severe illness or imperative neces- 
 sity, and was equally anxious that his entire family 
 should be there. This feeling was strongly exhibited 
 in his last illness. The first Sabbath that he was 
 confined to the house, he said, as one came in from the 
 morning service, " Oh ! come and tell me all about 
 the sermon and the music too; did you have good 
 singing ?" and then exclaimed, " Oh ! I feel that I 
 must go this evening." The second Sabbath of his 
 illness, as the bells were ringing for church, when 
 dear ones stood at his bed-side, soothing and nursing, 
 he said — "Now leave me and get ready for church." 
 His daughter replied, " Why, dear father, you would 
 not have us leave you while so sick !" he said, " I am 
 very comfortable, and I don't wish you to lose so great 
 a blessing." 
 
 His generous aid in the building of the church and 
 in the support of its ordinances, and his contributions 
 to philanthropic and benevolent objects have been 
 alluded to elsewhere. But I may and must speak 
 of his private charities. Like his prayers they were 
 quiet and unobtrusive, often known only to himself 
 and the recipient. Many a widow's and orphan's 
 heart have been cheered by his timely aid. 
 
 In his family he was preeminently genial, social 
 but not loquacious, never talking unless he had some- 
 thing to say. 
 
108 
 
 He scorned all deceit and affectation, and possessed 
 that integrity of word and of act that nothing could 
 move or weaken. He courted favor of no one, only 
 asking to stand on his own merits. His habits of 
 order, neatness and system were so remarkable as to 
 excite the admiration of observers ; and if his private 
 students and domestics sometimes thought him too 
 exacting in these particulars, they soon learned to 
 regard him with respect and love. 
 
 Said a student in graduating from the Medical Col- 
 lege, " I shall ever be grateful that I was permitted, 
 not only to listen to the instructions of Dr. March, 
 but more than all that I enjoyed such an opportunity 
 of daily observing his character and habits, not 
 merely as a surgeon but as a man. It is my highest 
 ambition to imitate his noble qualities." Many 
 young men who have graduated from his office have 
 1 asserted that their success in their profession and life 
 they owe to Dr. March. 
 
 This and much more might be said of the private 
 character of him whose voice is now forever hushed 
 in that home made bright by his presence, but now 
 so desolate. 
 
 Should the accusation of partiality be brought 
 against this sketch, because drawn by a loving hand, 
 I will quote a remark of an occasional visitor in the 
 family : "It is impossible for you to exaggerate the 
 domestic character of Dr. March. His daily life was 
 the embodiment of all that was noble, just and true 
 in a Christian." 
 
109 
 
 Last Illness. 
 
 The past winter had been marked with his usual 
 devotion to business. In the early spring his 
 strength was severely taxed by professional duties 
 in the city and out, anticipating a trip to New 
 Orleans to attend the annual meeting of the Ameri- 
 can Medical Association. He sailed from New York 
 for Charleston April 24th, going from thence to New 
 Orleans by railroad. The meeting commenced on 
 Tuesday the 4th of May, and he participated in all 
 its deliberations with interest and zeal, meeting many 
 old friends and also making new acquaintances, all of 
 whom seemed happy to show him attention and 
 regard. In a letter to his family, he says, " I am 
 the oldest member of the Convention. There are 
 those present who say they attended my first course 
 of lectures forty -four years ago, which reminds me 
 that I am an old man." He made a rsupid. journey 
 homeward, arriving Wednesday, the 12th of May. 
 He returned full of health and happiness, with every 
 prospect of years of future usefulness and activity. 
 But not many days after he began to feel symp- 
 toms of approaching illness, and notwithstanding the 
 earnest solicitations of family and physicians, con- 
 tinued active in his profession until Thursday, May 
 27th, when he was persuaded to yield to medical 
 treatment. Thursday evening was spent with his 
 daughter and family, and feeling quite ill he was 
 induced to pass the night with them, expecting to 
 return to his own home in the morning. He was too 
 ill, however, to do so. Although his disease made 
 rapid progress, no alarming symptoms were manifest 
 
110 
 
 until the following Monday, when, for several hours, 
 his life seemed in great danger. Obtaining some 
 relief, the next day his physicians gave hope of his 
 rallying from this attack, though not of a permanent 
 cure. 
 
 After this his mind became so much affected that 
 he did not realize his danger until Tuesday of the 
 following week, when his mind became perfectly 
 clear, and he expressed the conviction that he had 
 not long to live. He summoned the family together 
 and requested that a clergyman might be sent for, 
 that " we might have," as he expressed it, " a little 
 prayer meeting." He said " I am not alarmed at 
 the prospect of death; I have long ago committed 
 my immortal interests to God ; I am perfectly 
 resigned to live or to die, and I want you should be." 
 With words of affectionate love and counsel he 
 addressed each member of the family, and after 
 being fervently commended to God in prayer by the 
 Rev. Mr. Blayney, he united with those around his 
 bed-side in singing, 
 
 " Shall we gather at the river, 
 The beautiful river that flows by the throne of God ?" 
 
 It was a season of deep and tender interest never 
 to be forgotten. In his own words it was truly " a 
 step towards heaven. During the night he rallied, 
 and the next day found him very comfortable. On 
 Thursday the same symptoms of depression returned, 
 and he felt that he was sinking. Again he longed 
 for those near and dear him to be summoned, and all 
 his children and grand-children, relatives, and even 
 servants, received from him an affectionate farewell, 
 
Ill 
 
 accompanied by words of loving advice. During this 
 time he gave renewed expressions of his trust in 
 Christ, and his perfect willingness to die, saying, " all 
 is peace !" Again a prayer was offered, in which he 
 fervently united, and then listened to the sweet songs, 
 — " Sweet Land of Rest for Thee I Sigh," " There is 
 Rest for the Weary," and " Beautiful River," in which 
 he feebly joined. Rallying somewhat, he asked for 
 his colleagues and a few intimate friends and students 
 who had known and loved him, to each of whom he 
 gave a parting word. His strength returned through 
 the night, so that he was not only hopeful himself, 
 but his physicians spoke strongly of the prospect of 
 recovery. Saturday his symptoms were more dis- 
 couraging, and continued thus through the day and 
 night, until Tuesday, with however a few intervals of 
 consciousness. During these lucid moments, he reite- 
 rated his hope in Christ, desired to go to his rest, 
 joined in his familiar hymns with the family, and 
 heartily responded to the many precious texts repeated 
 in his ear, and on one occasiou he even commenced 
 the hymn " Rock of Ages," and with feeble voice and 
 accent accompanied the family through each verse. 
 Early on the morning of Tuesday, when his daughter 
 went to his bed-side, he asked her to sing "How 
 Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds," a favorite hymn, 
 and one which he long ago had requested might be 
 sung at his funeral, and then with eyes closed, and 
 apjDarently unconscious, he uttered this brief prayer : 
 " Oh ! Thou who didst take upon Thyself the penalty 
 of our transgressions, and bore the curse of the law, 
 take us unto Thy arms, and receive us into rest and 
 glory." About 5 o'clock Tuesday p. m., it appeared 
 
112 
 
 that death, was inevitable, and it seemed as if in a 
 few hours he would be at rest ; but he lingered on, 
 suffering intensely until a few moments past 7 o'clock 
 Thursday morning (June 17th), when the spirit took 
 its flight. 
 
 Thus ended the painful illness of one whose memory 
 is so deeply cherished by his family, and those who 
 knew him intimately. 
 
 He died as he had often expressed his wish to die, 
 "with the harness on," and we feel assured he has 
 gone to his reward. 
 
 ■) 1870 
 
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