The life of Nathan Smith Davis, A.M., M.D., LL.D., 1817-1904 ... / by I.N. Danforth.

  • Danforth, I. N. (Isaac Newton), 1835-1911.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Nathan Smith Davis, A.M., M.D., LL.D., 1817-1904 ... / by I.N. Danforth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    PREFACE. I began writing the life of Dr. Davis with great reluctance; I close my task with greater reluctance. For several months past he has been my constant companion, I might almost say, day and night. As I have studied his austere personality, arid his rugged character, so transparent and genuine, my respect for the man has grown day by day. I do not, however, for a moment imagine that T have written a life of Dr. Davis that will be satisfactory to the medical profession or the public. A character so colossal needs the perspective of time and distance, before an adequate estimate of its merits or demerits can be formed. Fifty years hence, Nathan Smith Davis will measure up to the altitude of Benjamin Rush and Joseph Warren; then some one will write his life in a worthier manner than is possible at the present time, or by the present biographer. I have tried to be accurate; I have tried to be impartial; I have tried to be just; how far I have succeeded, my readers must judge. I have been much handicapped by the absence of original documents, such as letters, and the various man- uscript sources of information usually left by public men; but all these in- valuable treasures were unfortunately destroyed a few years ago. Just at this point, the mail brings me the following letter from the' present Dr. N. S. Davis, worthy successor of a noble father, which it gives me great pleasure to receive and to print: My dear Doctor Danforth : You have striven most conscientiously to present correctly the facts in my father's life and I believe that you have succeeded. Unfortunately there have been few manuscript aids for the construction of your work, and my father's cotemporaries are almost all dead. How- ever, in spite of these difficulties you have successfully described the im- portant incidents of his life. It has been a pleasure to aid you as far as possible. Very sincerely yours, N. S. Davis. I cannot close without expressing my profound gratitude to Madam Davis, widow of Dr. N. S. Davis, who still survives him, for her patient assistance and counsel as my work has progressed, and to her son, the pres-