Frederic Tilden Brown

Background

Frederic Tilden Brown was born on October 7, 1853 and was the son of David Tilden Brown the alienist by his wife, Cornelia Wells Clapp, was born in New York City.

Education

Frederic was graduated from Harvard College in the class of 1877. During his early years he rowed on several victorious crews and was believed to have strained his heart in his efforts. He received his M. D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York in 1880 and became house surgeon in the same year at Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York.

Career

Frederic Brown became associated shortly afterward with the Bellevue Hospital (attending surgeon) and subsequently with the Presbyterian, Nassau, and Mineola Hospitals as consulting surgeon. He was later made professor of genito-urinary diseases at the University and Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and as teacher and lecturer enjoyed great popularity. Brown's most important professional contributions lay in the introduction of delicate instruments for use in genito-urinary surgery.

In addition to his numerous papers in his special field one finds that he reported two cases of amputation at the hip-joint by a new method; indeed he prided himself upon being a general surgeon as well as a specialist.

A nervous breakdown which was the direct result of over-work led him to go to Bethel, Maine, for his health in the spring of 1910. He died there by his own hand on May 7, 1910.

Achievements

• Frederic Tilden Brown's improvements in the lamp-bearing cystoscope made possible better visual definition than had any earlier instrument. He also made a special study of infections of the urinary tract in his written work "A Case of Cystitis, Pyelonephritis, and Pyonephrosis due to Colon-Bacillus Infection".

Personality

From his father Frederic inherited a bold and enterprising nature.

Quotes from others about the person

• Through his exceptional operative skill as well as through invention of instruments of precision, Brown "became one of the conspicuous landmarks in his specialty" (Kelly).

Interests

• Frederic Brown was a tremendous worker and throughout his active career was an exponent of vigorous exercise. His avocations were shooting, natural history, and art.

Connections

Frederic Tilden Brown married in 1884 Mrs. Mary Crosby (Renwick) Strong and there were two children, a boy and a girl.

Father:

David Tilden Brown

Mother:

Cornelia Wells Clapp

Wife:

Mary Crosby (Renwick) Strong

References

• Practical Cystoscopy: And the Diagnosis of Surgical Diseases of the Kidneys and Urinary Bladder (Classic Reprint)