American Medical Biographies/Hand, Daniel Whilldin
Hand, Daniel Whilldin (1834–1889).
Of English extraction, he was born August 8, 1834, at Cape May Court House, New Jersey, and educated at Lenmont Academy, Norristown, Pennsylvania; the University of Lewisburgh, and studied medicine under Dr. John Wiley, at Cape May Court House, graduating at Pennsylvania University in 1856, one year later settling in St. Paul.
In 1861 the fortunes of war had deprived the First Minnesota of its surgeons; Dr. Hand volunteered promptly as the assistant, and speedily won the confidence and esteem of his associates. He was promoted to be surgeon United States Volunteers the same year. After notable service with the Army of the Potomac in the Peninsular campaign, he filled several appointments as medical director in the department of Virginia in 1863, and in that of North Carolina in 1864–65.
It was while medical director of Newbern, North Carolina, that his ability for organization and administration was put to a crucial test. Yellow fever appeared early in September, 1864. As soon as it was recognized Surg. Hand urged and insisted upon the depopulation of the place, and at the same time instituted a thorough sanitary overhauling of what proved to be a hot-bed of pestilence. Among the white population there were, in less than two months, 705 cases and 288 deaths. Out of the medical staff numbering sixteen eight died of the fever. Just before the close of the epidemic Surg. Hand had a slight attack, but easily recovered. He exhibited a masterly efficiency in great emergency, and a manly courage in the presence of danger and difficulty which won for him as for his fellows there the highest praise. He received official reward by being brevetted lieutenant-colonel of the United States Volunteers.
He was wounded at Fair Oaks in 1862, and in 1863 was captured in a skirmish and sent to Libby Prison. After his release he was on active duty till a few months after the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in December, 1865, when he returned to St. Paul and again began the work he left in 1861.
Though he did no systematic literary work, there was ample evidence that he could have done so in the occasional contributions which he made to the transactions of his state and county medical societies and to medical journals.
Dr. Hand died June 1, 1889.