American Medical Biographies/Antisell, Thomas
Antisell, Thomas (1817–1893)
Born in Dublin, Ireland, January 16, 1817, Antisell was the son of Thomas Christopher Antisell of King's County, Ireland, a barrister and Queen's Counsellor, his ancestry going back to Sir Bertine Entwyssel, who accompanied Henry II to Ireland.
Dr. Antisell was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and studied at the Dublin School of Medicine, Peter Street, and the Irish Apothecary's Hall, being pupil of, and afterwards assistant to, Sir Robert Kane from 1839 to 1843. He graduated at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, in November, 1839, and spent a semester with J. B. Pelouze in his laboratory. In 1844 he pursued his chemical studies in Paris and Berlin under the most celebrated chemists of the time, Pelouze, Biot, Dumas and Berzelius. He practised medicine in Dublin from 1845 until 1848 and was lecturer on chemistry in the "Original School of Medicine."
As one of the "Young Ireland Party" he was sentenced to exile and imprisonment but a friend procuring for him a position as surgeon on an outgoing vessel, he sailed for America.
Landing at New York, November 22, 1848, he began to practise medicine in New York City and continued there until 1854, when he became geologist to the Pacific Railroad survey, on the thirty-second parellel, under Lieut. Parke, Topographical Engineer, U. S. A. He made a geological reconnoisance of Southern California and Arizona Territory, published in the seventh volume of the "United States Reports of Explorations and Surveys," 1856. In 1871, at the invitation of the Japanese government, he became technologist of a government commission to develop the resources of the northern islands of that empire. He returned to the United States in 1876. While in Japan he was offered the position of president of the College of Cairo, Egypt, which he declined. In appreciation of his valuable services to Japan he was decorated by the Emperor with the "Order of the Rising Sun of Meijii."
While on the ocean en route to Japan, an opportunity offered to become president of the college at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which Dr. Antisell appreciated and would have accepted but had already contracted with the Japanese Government for five years.
From 1856 to 1893, excepting the interval of army service and while in Japan, he lived in Washington. All his life he was a medical teacher, his specialty being analytical and technical chemistry.
Dr. Antisell was twice married; to Eliza Anne Nowlan of Dublin, in 1841, and Marion Stuart Forsyth, of Detroit, Michigan, in 1854. He died in the District of Columbia, June 14, 1893.
Busey in his "Reminiscenses," p. 140, says that Dr. Antisell was a popular teacher. He led a very unobtrusive home life, rarely appearing in public except where his duty called him. He was faithful to duty and conscientious in its performance, unostentatious in manner, and cordial in friendship.
The University of Georgetown, with the medical department of which he was connected for many years as professor of chemistry and toxicology, of military surgery, physiology and hygiene, and emeritus professor of chemistry and toxicology, conferred on him the degree of doctor of philosophy and he was interested in and intimately connected with sanitary matters in the District of Columbia.
Some of his numerous contributions to medical and Scientific literature were papers on "Soils of Ireland," Royal Dublin Society, 1840; "On Sanitary Improvement of the City of Dublin," 1847; "Manual of Elementary Geology," Dublin, 1846; "Outlines of Irish Geology," Dublin, 1847; "Manual of Agricultural Chemistry," Dublin, 1847; "Addresses on the Philosophy of Manufactures," delivered at Castle Garden, New York City, during the twenty-second annual fair of American institutes, October, 1849; "Home Cyclopedia of the Arts and Manufactures," New York, 1852; "Applications of Chemical Science to Agriculture," 1859; "Geological Reconnoissance of Southern California and Arizona," in "United States, Explorations and Surveys," vol. vii, Washington, District of Columbia, 1856. "Reports on the Sanitary Condition of Washington," Medical Society, District of Columbia, 1864; "Epizootic of Horned Cattle," "Transactions American Agricultural Association," 1861; "Report of Committee on Medical Education to the American Medical Association," 1865; "Cultivation of Cinchona," 1867; "On the Value of the Sewerage of the City of Washington," included in the "Report of United States Agricultural Department," 1869; Introductory and Valedictory Addresses in Medical Colleges at Washington, six in number, from 1854 to 1871; "The Currents of the Pacific Ocean," 1876.
Among other degrees and appointments were: A. B., Trinity College, Dublin; M. D., Royal College of Surgeons, London, 1839. He was extra professor to The Dublin Royal Society, 1845–48. In 1848 he was professor of chemistry in Berkshire (Massachusetts) Medical Institution; in 1854 professor of chemistry at the Medical College at Woodstock, Vermont; brigade surgeon, United States Volunteers, 1861–1865; medical director, Twelfth Army Corps; surgeon-in-charge, Harewood Hospital, and of sick and wounded officers in Washington, D. C.; brevetted colonel for faithful and meritorious services during the war. He was mustered out in October, 1865.
From 1866 to 1871 he was chief chemist of the United States Department of Agriculture, and in 1869–70 professor of chemistry to the Maryland Agricultural College. He was a member of the Medical Association of the District of Columbia.