Charles E.
Isaacs, M. D., died in
Brooklyn, N. Y., June 16, 1860.
Dr. Isaacs was born at Bedford,
Westchester Co., June 24, 1811. At twelve, we are told that he read
the Greek Testament with facility, and at an early age he delighted
in collecting specimens from the animal, vegetable, and mineral
kingdoms. These tastes were fortunately indulged. Selecting medicine
as a profession, he studied with Dr. Belcher, of New York, graduated
at the University of Maryland in 1832 ; was subsequently appointed
surgeon, during General Jackson's administration, to accompany the
Cherokee Indians in their removal beyond the Mississippi, and
travelled quite extensively among the Indian tribes, and through the
Southern States. He entered the army in 1841, being first among the
six who passed, out of fifty candidates. After acting with credit on
various stations, he obtained leave of absence in 1846, about that
time resigned, and in connection with a friend, established a
medical class in Greene St., N. Y. At the end of a year he left,
went to Niagara Co., there again embarked in private practice,
apparently without success, as in another year we find him again in
New York, and becoming attached to the hospitals on Staten Island.
Subsequently he was made Demonstrator of Anatomy in the College of
Physicians and Surgeons of New York, which post he held for several
years, and still later became attached to the New York University
Medical College in the same capacity. During the warm seasons he was
employed on various European steamers, and visited the hospitals of
Paris and other foreign cities. In 1856, now in his forty-sixth
year, he went to Brooklyn, and at once obtained a wide and lucrative
medical practice, which he had enjoyed, however, for the short
period of three years only, when death removed him from the scene of
his usefulness.
Dr. Isaacs was an excellent
anatomist, and was fond of investigations in physiology and
pathology, as exhibited in his monograph on the structure and
functions of the kidney (See Trans. N. Y. Acad. of Med.). an
article highly commended both at home and abroad. His death was due
to an attack of pleuro-pneumonia, although he had previously been
affected with various disorders, of which the groundwork had been
laid by early exposure in malarious climates. Few men have died more
honored and beloved
by the profession, as well as by those with whom he came in contact.
(See Ami-r. Med. Times, vol. i.)
