Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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APPRECIATIONS OE ID IP.. W„ WAYNE DaVOCCCD DR. V. WAYNE BABCOCK has the divine gift of an inquiring mind. Most of us are content to follow established precedents, viewing life from the pragmatic point of view, the idea being that if it works, it is right. But now and then a man is born who in his keen search for the truth is willing to hazard his personal comfort, to take time from his hours of ease and rest, for the sake of research and investigation, and to meet with tolerance the intolerance of others who, disturbed by the new, uncon' sciously tend to defy the old. Nearly thirty years ago, Jonnesco, the great Roumanian surgeon, visited the United States. At that time he had just begun the use of spinal anesthesia with cocaine. This work aroused general interest, but unfortunate results prevented its becoming established. I remember well walking with the late Dr. John B. Murphy along the streets of Philadelphia some time after Jonnesco's visit, and saying to him, “Wayne Babcock is operating tomorrow. He is doing something with spinal anes-thesia and is increasing the use of local anesthesia. I am interested; let's go over to see him. Dr. Murphy said, “I have heard something of Dr. Babcock. There seems to be a good deal of criticism. He then made a remark of which I have thought many times: “I have noticed that when a man arouses much criticism, it is for one of two reasons: either that he is so good, or so bad.” After we had seen Dr. Babcock in his clinic we both expressed the opinion that whatever the criticism Dr. Babcock might have aroused, it was because he was so good. It is a pleasure to see a man who maintains the youthful viewpoint, who instead of becoming crystallized as he grows in years, still possesses the inquiring mind, and adds wisdom to his intellectual stature. I am glad to join with you in your appreciation of Dr. Babcock, and to have the privilege of congratulating him on his many years of service to the medical profession, and particularly on his continued interest in and many contributions to the advance of surgery. irO dedicate the Year Book of the Medical Schcxd of Temple University to Dr. W. II Wayne Bal cock is a gracious tribute from the Class of 1929 to a beloved teacher. I know of no one to whom such a tribute could more fittingly be extended. It has been my privilege to know Dr. Babcock for many years. His gracious personality and genial friendliness have made it always a pleasure to meet him whenever medical meetings or other occasions have made such meetings possible. Dr. Babcock is known to most of his colleagues as an especially skillful surgeon but on large numbers of younger men he has made even a greater impression as a teacher. Among Dr. Balxock's contributions to the science of surgery one of the most outstanding has been his part in the establishment of spinal anesthesia as an anesthetic method of choice in certain operations. In the early stages of the develop' ment of this method, Dr. Babcock st x d practically alone. To the surgeon, to the teacher, to the friend, I esteem it a privilege to present my tribute. Ten

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IDIC„ W, WaVTNC IDaVDCCCD 1LLIAM WAYNE BABCOCK was horn in East Worcester, New York, June 10, 1872, both parents tracing their ancestors back to Connecticut in 1642. Graduating from the Birmingham High School at seventeen, for two years he studied medicine and Greek in the office of a preceptor, preparatory to attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Baltimore, Maryland. At this time an aversion to doing a post mortem was very great, dead cats and dogs had been one matter, but the human body was another. Not until he had accepted his own mental willingness to have his own body dissected, could he proceed with any degree of comfort in the laboratory. He completed the course with honors and studied at Harvard Summer School; beconv ing Resident Physician at St. Mark's Hospital, Salt Lake City, the following September. After a year's experience at St. Mark's, he returned east to enter the Class of '95 at the University of Pennsylvania. The next seven years were crowded with serious work. He became Resident Physician at the Philadelphia Polyclinic Hospital, assisting among others Doctors B. F. Baer, J. M. Baldy, and T. G. Morton; for two years he was House Surgeon at the Kensington Hospital for women under Dr. C. P. Noble. Following this period, he was Demonstrator and Lecturer in Pathology and Bacteriology at the Medico-Chirurgical College; Curator to the Pathological Society; Assistant Pathologist to the Philadelphia Hospital; and Pathologist to the Kensington Hospital for Women. He was assistant Editor to Bordman Reed of the International Medical Magazine; co-author with Dr. Joseph McFarland, Volume 5 of Cohen’s System of Physiologic Thera' peutics, and he incidentally wrote a prize essay on Preventive Medicine, winning a most acceptable $1,000. In short, from twenty to thirty, when the average medical student is waiting for opportunity and patients, no position was too small, no amount of work was too great for Dr. Babcock to accept. In 190. , Dr. Conwell opened the door of opportunity to a young doctor, who had been persistently preparing, by offering him the Chair of Surgery and Clinical Surgery of Temple College. A trip abroad in 1904, showed him the possibilities of spinal anesthesia and that year he introduced it at the Samaritan Hospital. The rest of the story most of you know; the results of his researches through the years are yours to adopt, and the fruits of his experience are shared with you in the Text Book recently published. In 1917, after a vain effort to have accepted a Samaritan Hospital Unit, Dr. Bab' cock asked for a leave of absence and entered the service at Camp Greenleat as Captain in the M. R. C. He became Regimental Surgeon of the 318th Field Artillery, Camp Jackson, then for two years was Chief of the Surgical Service of General Hospital No. 6, Fort McPherson, Georgia, being commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel in 1918. Dr. Babcock is married and has four children. He is interested in traveling, big game hunting, firearms and books. He is an inveterate reader, always seeking information. His book plate bears the last words of Goethe Light, More Light, which sums up perhaps as well as any three words could the driving force and character of this Beloved and Master Surgeon. j m c

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DR. BABCOCK enjoys an enviable reputation as a surgeon, teacher and author To attain and maintain this desirable status in a community demands not only the training and knowledge acquired in the classroom, at the bedside, in the operating room, and in the quiet seclusion of the study. It demands also untiring devotion to the claims of his calling, self-possession, calm and the magical influence of an alert and cheerful presence that inspire the confidence of his patients, unfailing contagious enthusiasm that attracts and holds the attention oi his students; exact knowledge gained by keen insight and observation, presented in a clear, concise style that gains the approval and admiration of his professional colleagues. All these Doctor Babcock has been fortunate in making his own. But more desirable and enviable are the qualities of heart the uprightness and kindliness that class him as a valued citizen and a rare and trusted friend. 1 deem it a privilege to have the opportunity of giving expression, inadequate though it may be, of the admiration and esteem in which I hold him, and to be able to subscribe mvcclf as Wayne Babcock's Iriend. ■ T gives me great pleasure to learn that you are dedicating this year’s Medical Year •i Book to Dr. W. Wayne Babcock, your Professor of Surgery. I am especially glad that you arc recognizing him and his work while he is still teaching, as appreciation of one's work is one of the greatest pleasures a true scientist can have. I have always esteemed Dr. Babcock and his excellent work in surgery. He has been a human dynamo of energy in developing innovations in anesthesia and surgery, and sometimes these innovations have been so far in advance of developments in surgery that he has been compelled to defend them. He has the pleasure of seeing most of them in general use today. Very truly yours. I AM pleased and greatly interested to hear that the forthcoming year book is to be dedicated to your Professor and devoted friend W. Wayne Babcock. Doctor Babcock, whom I have known for many years, is worthy of every tribute that can be paid to him as one who is easily a great leader in his specialty, known all over the world wherever first class surgery is done. I have noticed with particular pleasure how in recent years his reputation has been going up by leaps and bounds. In his work, he is a man of remarkable versatility, compassing with a perfect technique the whole wide range of general surgery and in numerous points expanding the field by invaluable, original additions of his own devising. My only regret is that I do not live nearer that I might profit oftencr by his “viva voce” teachings. May he be spared to us yet for many long and fruitful years! Faithfully, Eleven