Eli Geddings, M.D.

Eli Geddings, M.D.

University of Maryland, 1833

GEDDINGS, Eli, physician, born in the district of Newberry, South Carolina, in 1799 ; died in Charleston, South Carolina, 9 October, 1878. His first education was received in Abbeville academy, and he was graduated in medicine by the examining board of the Medical society of South Carolina in 1820. He began practice in St. George's parish, Colleton district, but soon returned to Abbeville, where he formed a connection with Dr. E. S. Davis. During the winter of 1821-'2 he attended lectures in the University of Pennsylvania. He went to Calhoun settlement, Abbeville district, where he continued until 1824, when he removed to Charleston, and was one of the first to receive a degree from the Medical College in 1825. He voluntarily discharged the duties of demonstrator of anatomy, and after a year spent in the hospitals of Paris and London held this office until 1828, when he resigned it to open a private school of practical anatomy and surgery, in which he was successful.

In 1831 he accepted the chair of anatomy and physiology in the University of Maryland, and removed to Baltimore, where he edited the "Baltimore Medical Journal" in 1833, which in 1835 was changed to the "North American Archives of Medical and Surgical Science," to which he contributed essays and editorials. He returned to Charleston in 1837 to take the chair of pathological anatomy and medical jurisprudence in the Medical College. He practiced in all branches of medicine and surgery. In 1849 he held the chair of surgery, which he resigned in 1858 so that Professor Dickson might be reinstated.

He was a surgeon in the Confederate army during the civil war. When the fall of Charleston was imminent, his rare medical library was sent to Columbia, where it perished in the fire that destroyed a large part of the City. This library embraced valuable works collected in Europe, and illustrated all branches of medical literature and scientific subjects. His collection of surgical instruments and apparatus was stolen while he was absent from his home during the bombardment of the City.

Several years before he had organized in connection with the College a medical and surgical polyclinic, which he revived after the war. In 1871 he resigned his chair, and was elected professor emeritus of the institutes and practices of medicine. In that year a new chair of clinical medicine was created, to which he was elected, and he gave clinical lectures for two years. His early papers, published in the" American Journal of Medical Science" (Philadelphia), include reviews and sketches in various languages.

Information supplied by Dr. Terry Hambrecht regarding Eli Geddings:

Appointed Surgeon, 02/05/1862 to rank from 10/26/1861.

Confirmed as Surgeon by the C.S. Senate on 02/05/1862.

Served as a Surgeon, Tallahassee General Hospital, 05/01/1863.

Served on various Army Medical Boards, mainly examining the qualifications of other C.S. physicians.

He died in Charleston, 10/09/1878. He may be buried in Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston

(The personal edited research notes of Michael Echols, the source of which may or may not be completely documented)

American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

Eli Geddings, M.D.

American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques