Thomas Wood

Background

Thomas Wood was born on August 22, 1813, in Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, the son of Nathan and Margaret Wood, members of Quaker families long resident in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Education

Since his father, a poor farmer, could give him few advantages, he was largely self-educated. He began the study of medicine with Dr. W. S. Bates of Smithfield, entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1838, and received his medical degree the following year, with a graduation thesis entitled "Hydrated Peroxide of Iron. "

Career

Following graduation he received an appointment to the Friends' Asylum for the Insane near Philadelphia. In 1842, he returned to Smithfield and established himself for practice. After a year of study abroad (1844) he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he spent the rest of his life in highly successful practice. The year following his arrival he was appointed professor of anatomy and physiology in the Ohio College of Dental Surgery, a position that he held for a number of years. In 1853 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy at the Medical College of Ohio, later becoming in turn professor of anatomy and professor of surgical anatomy. Though a thorough master of his subjects, he had but mediocre success as an instructor.

As an aid in his school work he wrote A Compendium of Anatomy, Designed to Accompany the Anatomical Chart (n. d. ). This and a few case reports in journal articles constituted his entire literary output. He was owner and co-editor of the Western Lancet of Cincinnati from 1853 to 1857. Though he practised general medicine and was an accomplished internist, it is for his surgical abilities that he deserves remembrance.

For years he headed the surgical staff of the Commercial (later the Cincinnati) Hospital. After the battle of Shiloh he rendered surgical service to the wounded upon the field and in the Cincinnati hospitals to which they were transferred.

Wood was an able microscopist, though it is not recorded that he made any use of the microscope in his medical work. Of an inventive turn of mind, he devised several instruments to aid in geometrical calculations. He is also credited with the authorship of much unpublished poetry.

In recent years he was chief surgeon for the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railroad. Thomas Wood died on November 21, 1880, in Cincinnati, from blood-poisoning acquired while treating some of the injured in a railroad collision.

Achievements

• Thomas Wood was a highly successful and daring operator, particularly skilful in diseases of women, with a record of having performed all the major operations of the surgery of his day.

Membership

Thomas Wood was a member of the American Medical Association and of the Cincinnati Academy of Medicine.

Personality

Thomas Wood was an exceedingly modest and unassuming man, with a mild, gentle manner and soft low voice which further impaired his usefulness as a teacher.

Interests

• In addition to his strictly professional interests, Thomas Wood was well informed in the natural sciences, taking a special interest in the study of geology and entomology, in both of which he made extensive collections.

Connections

On March 14, 1843, Thomas Wood married Emily A. Miller, they had two sons, Edwin and Samuel. In 1855 he again married, this time Elizabeth J. Reiff, and had six children. Following her death in 1871 he married, on July 27, 1876, Carrie C. Fels, but had no children.

Father:

Nathan Wood

Mother:

Margaret Wood

Wife:

Elizabeth J. Wood (Reiff)

Wife:

Carrie C. Wood (Fels)

Wife:

Emily A. Wood (Miller)

Son:

Charles Reiff Wood

Charles Reiff Wood was an American doctor.

Son:

Edwin Miller

Edwin Miller was an American doctor.

Son:

Samuel S. Wood

Samuel S. Wood died in infancy.