Background
Morris Joseph Asch was born on July 4, 1833 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the second son of Joseph M. and Clara (Ulman) Asch.
Morris Joseph Asch was born on July 4, 1833 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He was the second son of Joseph M. and Clara (Ulman) Asch.
His early education was mainly under private tutors.
He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1848, graduated in 1852, and the same year entered the Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated as M. D. in 1855.
After he graduated from the university Asch was appointed clinical assistant to Dr. Samuel Gross. On the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointed assistant surgeon in the United States Army. He was on duty at the surgeon-general's office from August 1861 to August 1862; subsequently became surgeon-in-chief to the artillery reserve of the Army of the Potomac, medical inspector of the Army of the Potomac, medical director of the 24th army corps, medical inspector Army of the James and staff surgeon of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan from 1865 to 1873.
He participated in battles at Chancellorsville, Mine Run, Gettysburg, and Appomattox Court House. On March 13, 1865, he was brevetted major for faithful and meritorious services during the war. While on the staff of Gen. Sheridan, he was assistant to the medical director, Department of the Gulf, and medical director at department headquarters and was most prominent and active in two great epidemics in New Orleans, cholera in 1866, and yellow fever in 1867. The latter epidemic under control, Sheridan was relieved and ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Asch accompanying him, but at St. Louis Asch fell ill with yellow fever.
On his recovery he joined Sheridan at the new station. His success in caring for the wounded and sick during the unprecedented cold of the winter campaign of 1868-69 against the plains Indians was often remarked by the officers in command. When Sheridan was promoted to the grade of lieutenant-general, he took Asch with him to his new headquarters in Chicago, where the latter continued rendering invaluable services, until he resigned in 1873.
On his retirement, he practised medicine in New York City, devoting himself, though not exclusively, to laryngology. He was one of the founders of the American Laryngological Association, and was appointed surgeon to the throat department of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital. He soon had a large and lucrative practise and took an active part in the scientific advances in his chosen specialty, contributing largely to medical journals and often presenting special articles in text-books. Among these contributions was "A New Operation for Deviation of the Nasal Septum. "
This came to be known as the "Asch operation" and it was, up to that time, the most successful method employed, and was performed both in this country and abroad. Asch was tall, handsome, of commanding presence, genial and conscientious.
His career ended on October 5, 1902, when Dr. Asch died at the age of seventy at Irvington-on-Hudson. Although a sufferer for nearly three years the end came suddenly from an attack of cerebral embolism.
Asch was one of the founders of the American Laryngological Association. His contributions to the literature of his chosen specialty were many. He wrote the article of "Stenosis of the Larynx" in the "Reference Hand Book of the Medical Sciences, " Vol. IV. Of all his writings his name will ever be connected with the one descriptive of the operation for the cure of septal deviations, which for some time past has been known as the Asch operation.
Member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, member of the New York Yacht Club.
Whatever Dr. Asch undertook was always conscientiously and well done, and faithful attention to duty was the surest way to win his esteem and friendship. Of courteous bearing, with a commanding presence, with a wide knowledge of human nature, he was withal gentle, retiring and far too modest.
Always young in heart, he loved to have his juniors with him, feeling that he could correct his perspective through their fresher vision.
He was unmarried, and when attacked with cerebral embolism, he made his home with his sister, where he was surrounded with every comfort, until he died.
