University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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WILLIAM JAMES HERDMAN Late Professor of Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, and of Electrotherapeutics, in the Department of Medicine and Surgery Died at Baltimore, Md., December 14, 1906 Dr. Herdman came to the University of Michigan as a student in the year 1868 and was graduated in 1872. As an undergraduate he pursued his studies intelligently and stood high in his class room. In student affairs he had the confidence and respect of his fellows and soon became prominent in college organizations. His inclination towards the sciences was shown at that time by his elections, and be- fore graduation he became a member of the staff of an important geological survey. Immediately after completing his literary course he entered the Medical Department where he was made an assistant demonstrator of anatomy before graduation. His appointments in the Univer- sity since graduation have been as follows: Demonstrator of Anatomy, 1875-00; Lecturer on Patho- logical Anatomy, 1879-80; Assistant Professor of Pathological Anatomy, 1880-82; Professor of Prac- tical and Pathological Anatomy, 1882-88; Professor of Practical Anatomy and Diseases of the Nervous WILLIAM JAMES HERDMAN System, 1888-90; Professor of Nervous Diseases and Electrotherapeutics, 1890-98; Professor of the Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System and Electrotherapeutics since 1898. While demonstrator of anatomy, Dr. Herdman with Dr. Frothingham, formerly demonstrator, and the Hon. A. J. Sawyer, at that time member of the Legislature from this district, after an edu- cational campaign, succeeded in inducing the legislature to pass the Anatomical Bill which, without material change remains in force today. Before that time the State gave medical instruction, of which practical anatomy was a specified and required braiich; and at the same time the law made it a penal offense for the demonstrator of anatomy to secure the material necessary to give this instruction. About the year 1881 Drs. Langley and Herdman established the Electrotherapeutical Labora- toryone of the first, if not the first, laboratory of this kind ever organized. With the resignation of Dr. Langley from the Faculty in 1888, the directorship of this laboratory devolved wholly upon Dr. Herdman, and under his supervision it has grown, until now it is daily utilized not only in teach- ing to students the application of electricity, but also in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Dr. Herdman was among the pioneers in the application of electricity to the treatment of disease and in devoting himself so largely to this therapeutic agent he avoided over statement concerning its nature. Dr. Herdman was the founder of the Department of Nervous Diseases in this University. This important branch received but scant recognition, being included in lecturers on the practice of medi- cine, before he took charge of it. From its very foundation the department of Nervous Diseases is

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3ln ISRAEL COOK RUSSELL, C.E., LL.D., Professor of Geology Died at Ann Arbor, May I, 1906 WILLIAM JAMES HKRDMAN, PH.B., M.I)., LL.D. Professor of Diseases of the Mind and Nervous System, and of Electrotherapeutics, in the Department of Medicine and Surgery Died at Baltimore, Md., December 14, 1906 EARI.E WRIGHT GARDNER, ' 08 Law . . . Harbor Springs, Michigan Killed by Railway Train at Ypsilanti on May 2, 1906 CHARLES VIVIAN MCKADDEN STUCKY, ' 08 Law . . Mechanicsburg, Ohio Died at Ann Arbor, April 16, 1906 ESTEI.LE CHARLOTTE BRIGC.S, ' 08 Lit ... Ann Arbor, Michigan Died at Ann Arbor, June 29, 1906 RICHARD CLARE O ' BRIEN, ' 07 Lit Detroit, Michigan Drowned at Scranton, Pa., July 20, 1906 LAWRENCE KNIC.HT TRUE, ' ex; Lit Chicago, Illinois Drowned in Saginaw Bay, August 5, 1906 HARVEY EUGENE STARR, ' 08 Dental .... Moscow, New York Died at Ann Arbor, October 29, 1906 JOHN Ross FRAZER, ' 09 Engineer .... Geneseo, New York Died at Ann Arbor, November 25, 1906 ERNEST AMASA RUSH, ' 08 Engineer Owosso, Michigan Died at Ann Arbor, November 16, 1906 JOSEPH HARRY STONHOUSB, ' 08 Hbraeop . . . Escanaba, Michigan Died at Chicago, 111., November 17, 1906 Ai. v IN HOLTHE NELSON, ' 08 Engineer .... Muskegon, Michigan Drowned at Holland, Michigan, November 21, 1906 SINGLETON PORTER COLE, ' 07 Pharmic .... Detroit, Michigan Died at Ann Arbor, January 9, 1907

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the result of his labor and the Psychopathic Ward, which has added so greatly to the clinical facilities of this school, is his monument, and with it his name should be forever associated. The conception of t his institution originated in his brain, and illustrates the bigness and goodness of his heart. He realized that medical students were being graduated and licensed to practice without adequate clinical instruction in this form of disease now unfortunately so common; that these physicians without adequate knowledge must assist the courts in passing legal judgments in cases of suspected insanity; and that the insane would often he placed under the professional care of these practitioners who had no suffi- cient acquaintance with the causes, manifestations, or treatment of mental diseases. Seeing these things and knowing them to be wrong, he set to work to make them right. Besides, he knew that the causes of insanity are varied and numerous, and that it would be beneficial to the insane could they come early, in the development of their abnormalities, under the observation of a corps of expert clinicians such as constitute our clinical Faculty. In short, he saw the desirability of hospitalizing our asylums and the establishment of the Psychopathic Ward is the first step in this direction taken in this state. I r. Herdman was not a prolific writer, but he wrote conservatively and wisely. He has contrib- uted in all about 60 articles to medical literature. Many of his contributions are professional and technical, but questions pertaining to the public welfare, such as methods of restriction of social evil, have been ablv discussed by him. Although his University and professional engagements were heavy and exacting, Dr. Herdman always found the time to take an active part in any work that had in view the moral and religious uplifting of the people. He was a deeply religious man and religion with him imposed a duty to work for the good of humanity. His life was very largely spent in earnest efforts in behalf of others. During his entire active career he was always identified with movements for the public good. From the time of his coming to the University as a student to the day of his death, his interest in the Students ' Christian Association never for a moment flagged. During a large part of this time he served upon its hoard of trustees, and was among the most influential of its members. He was never too busy to attend the meetings of the board or to engage actively in the work of furthering the interests of the cause. The soundness of his judgment and the wisdom of his counsel were recognized I iv his associates, and he contributed in no small degree to the shaping of the policy of the association. The same spirit and the same qualities that made him prominent in this field of work naturally led to his selection for a place of trust and leadership in the church of his choice. He was for thirty years a member of the Presbyterian Church of this city and for twenty-nine years a ruling Elder. He conceived the plan of the Tappan Presbyterian Association, and it was largely through his efforts that this guild, whose object is .to care for the religious welfare of the student body, was organized and its property secured. To this cause he gave freely of his lime and means. But Dr. Herdman ' s efforts in behalf of humanity were by no means confined to the religious field. He was always identified with movements for the suppression of vice and the moral better- ment of the people. He regarded it as a part of the physician ' s duty to instruct the public upon the consequences of wrong living and thus to prevent, as far as possible, the disease and suffering that come from intemperance and immorality. Dr. Herdman was a distinct personality. His qualities of mind and heart were out of the ordinary. He impressed himself upon those with whom he came in contact in no uncertain way. In meeting him one felt at once that he was face to face with a man, with a man who dealt with large things in a large way, with a man who would be equal to emergencies, with a man who could be a leader, if leadership were demanded, but with a man, whose rugged strength and positive qualities would always be tempered and whose action would always be guided bv a keen sense of justice and by an abounding charity. He was a man of poise and dignity, always a master of him- self and hence always prepared for the unexpected. In the death of Dr. Herdman the Department of Medicine and Surgery has lost a devoted teacher and a wise counsellor, the University, a strong man, the public, an earnest worker for humanity; and we, the members of the Senate, a respected and beloved associate. To his bereaved family we ex- tend our heartfelt sympathy, and we spread upon our records this memorial as a tribute to his memory. Y. ( ' . VAUGHAN. H. H. HncHiNs. A Tribute spread on the Records of the University Senate by his Colleagues.