George Frederick Shrady

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George Frederick Shrady

Born	January 13, 1830^[1]
Birth place	A farm located in the current Central Park, New York City^[1]
Died	November 30, 1907^[2]
in	Residence at 512 Fifth Avenue, New York City^[2]
Circumstances
Occupation	Author, Doctor
Spouse	1^st Mary Lewis, 2^nd Hester Ellen Cantine
Children	George F., Jr., Henry Merwyn, Charles Douglas, and a daughter, now Mrs. John F. Ambrose
Notable credit(s)

Dr. George Frederick Shrady died November 30, 1907, at his residence, 512 Fifth Avenue, New York City.

Born in New York, Dr. Shrady had rounded out his threescore and ten years. He was the son of John and Margaret (Beinhauer) Shrady, and was one of five children, all of whom were born at the old homestead at No. 138 Rivington Street. His paternal grandfather emigrated from Baden-Baden, Germany, and settled in New York City in 1735. Both of his grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and his father served in the War of 1812.^[2]

His early education was received in the public and private schools of New York City, and subsequently he pursued an academic course at the Free Academy, now the College of the City of New York. From this institution he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in this city, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1858. His proficiency in anatomy brought him the same year at Bellevue Hospital the Wood intercollegiate prize. During 1857 and 1858 he was resident surgeon in the New York Hospital, and was graduated from the surgical division of that institution in 1859. He then entered practice in this city.^[2]

In the capacity of assistant surgeon in the United States Army, Dr. Shrady was assigned to duty during the Civil War at the Central Park Hospital, New York, but later was detailed to field duty on the operating corps. At the close of the war he returned to private practice and quickly acquired a prominent place in the surgical profession. It was through his attendance on General Grant during the latter's last illness that Dr. Shrady first sprang into national fame. While Grant, the public idol, lay ill, an entire nation hung on the words of Dr. Shrady. His skill went far toward alleviating Grant's sufferings at the close of his illness. Afterward, when Emperor Frederick was seized with an ailment similar to that of which General Grant had died, Sir Morell Mackenzie, the famous English specialist in throat diseases, who was attending the Emperor, kept in communication by cable with Dr. Shrady for purposes of consultation, and imparted to the latter each change of symptom as it occurred.^[2]

After President Garfield had been shot, Dr. Shrady was called into consultation by Dr. Bliss as a surgical pathologist, and later made a report to the profession and the public, in behalf of the staff, touching the results of the autopsy. He took part in the autopsy on the body of the assassin Guiteau, and aided materially in settling several points that had been raised as to the sanity of Guiteau when he shot President Garfield. In 1890, when Kemmler was electrocuted, the first murderer to receive capital punishment by this method, Dr. Shrady was one of the medical experts appointed to witness the execution. His observations led him to condemn electrocution unqualifiedly.^[2]

Dr. Shrady's activities were great and varied. He was visiting surgeon to St. Francis Hospital for twenty years, and was consulting surgeon there for over six years past. He served in a similar consulting capacity at the New York Cancer Hospital, the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled, the Columbus Hospital, the Fordham (N. Y.) Home for Incurables, the General Memorial Hospital, the Red Cross Hospital, and the Vassar Hospital at Poughkeepsie, and as family surgeon to the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. Also he was physician-in-chief to the hospitals of the New York Health Department and one of the managers of the Hudson State Hospital for the Insane. From 1861 to 1879 Dr. Shrady was secretary of the New York Pathological Society, and president of that organization in 1883-84. He was president of the Practitioners' Society of New York and of the American Medican Editors' Association. Other positions held by him were the trusteeship of the Hudson State Hospital for the Insane at Poughkeepsie, fellow of the American and New York Academies of Medicine, member of the New York State Medical Society and various other scientific and professional organizations.^[2]

While enjoying high distinction as an authority on subject relating to general surgery, and having a large practice, Dr. Shrady took special pride in his editorial work. This work he began early in his professional career, editing the "American Medical Times" from 1860 to 1864. Two years later he founded the "Medical Record" and remained its editor-in-chief for thirty-nine years. He was the author of "Pine Ridge Papers," a series of satirical and witty treatises on charlatanism among medical practitioners. His contributions on surgery to magazines of both popular and medical character constitute a valuable addition to the literature of the profession. For many years he was a member of the editorial staff of the "New York Herald," directing his attention especially to the treatment of those subjects that fell within the sphere of his profession. He was the foremost advocate in his writings of the freedom of consultation between members of different legally recognized schools of medicine, and was largely instrumental in reconciling merely doctrinal differences in medical practice.^[2]

He was also an earnest advocate of the extension of clinical instruction, the establishment of state examinations for the license to practise medicine, the advancement of the standard of professional education by increase of curriculum, and many other measures, all of which had for object the elevation of the profession and the benefit of mankind. In recognition of his distinguished accomplishments and services the degree of master of arts was conferred on him by Yale University in 1869.^[2]

On December 19, 1860, Dr. Shrady married Mary Lewis of New York, who died in 1883. By this marriage there were four children--George F., Jr., Henry Merwyn, Charles Douglas, and a daughter, now Mrs. John F. Ambrose. December 19, 1888, Dr. Shrady married for his second wife, who survives him, Mrs. Hester Ellen Cantine of New York, a widow with one daughter, now Mrs. Edwin Gould.^[2]

Few men are so sincerely mourned or by such a wide circle of friends, personal and professional, as is Dr. Shrady.^[2]

For nearly half a century he was a conspicuous figure in his chosen profession, and during his whole career he was ever active to help the unfortunate, to advise and assist the young practitioner, and in all efforts to raise the standard of medical education and ethics.^[2]

Simple, unaffected, courteous, and with a heart brimming over with kindness, he won the warm affection of all with whom he came in contact. Among the sincerest mourners at his bier are the poor, to whom he gave his best services without hope of fee or reward.^[2]

This article incorporates text from the 1908 book General Grant's Last Days; with a Short Biographical Sketch of Dr. Shrady, a work now in the public domain. Feel free to alter the text but please maintain the proper citations to that work.