ROBINSON
327
ROBINSON
ternational Ophthalmological Society,
also of the American Otological Society;
the Medical Society of the State of New
York, and president of the Medical So-
ciety of the County of Albany. His lit-
erary taste was marked and his style
clear, vigorous and incisive. His method
of thought was simple and direct and
moved with independence. His medical
writings consist of reports of cases and
monographs:
"The Importance of Examining the Dioptric Media in Some Pathological Affections of the Eye," February, 1865.
"Glaucoma and its Cure by Iridect- omy," Translated from the French, November, 1866.
" Some Curious Reflex Phenomena after Injuries of the Eye," July, 1870.
" Violent Rupture of Superior Rectus OcuU." "Section and Advancement of Internal Rectus Oculi," 1873.
" Remarkable Perturbation of the Olfactory Nerve following Extraction of Cataract," 1873.
"Diagnosis of Diseases of the Eye," 1874.
"An Eye Case in the Courts," 1874.
" Old Eyes made New, or Injury from Eye Cups," 1874.
"Pigmentation of Retina," 1877.
He died April 1, 1880, of chronic pleur- isy, which had confined him to his house and bed for nearly a year. His death was not unexpected, although his remarkable vitality had so resisted disease that hope was not fully extinguished until near the last. His mind was unclouded and he gave his attention to all about him to the end. Dr. Robertson married Ellen A. Fuller, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1853. J. S. M.
Med. Rec, N. Y., 1880, vol. xvii.
Tr. M. Soc. County Albany (1870-80), 1883,
vol. iii (port.) (J. S. Mosher).
Tr. M. Soc, N. Y., Syracuse, 1881.
Robinson, William Chaffee (1822-1872). William Chaffee Robinson was born in Charlton, Connecticut, November 27, 1822. Working hard as a boy, and as the result of the training of poverty, he de-
veloped great self-reliance, perseverance,
and was powerfully ambitious to succeed.
When almost a youth he was a teacher to
others nearly all older than himself. At
the age of twenty-three he studied medi-
cine with Dr. John Ford, of Norwich,
Connecticut, and graduated at the New
York University Medical School in 1849.
Being then at the age of twenty-seven,
Robinson made the acquaintance of a
musician in Portland, of the same family
name, came to that city, established him-
self in a very promising locality, taking
his chances with the other doctors.
He was then one of the seven phy- sicians there but in the conservative East gaining a practice was slow, and Robin- son had to wait long before he made enough for a living.
He obtained the position of City physician, which gave him an oppor- tunity to ensure a large circle of political and influential friends for clients. In that position he had great success, gained in popularity, patronage and renown, and finally became one of the best and most beloved medical men.
After seven years he was able to marry and soon obtained all the practice to which he could possibly attend. In 1866 he was chosen lecturer in materia medica at the Medical School of Maine, and pro- fessor in 1868. Two years later he was chosen professor of obstetrics and dis- eases of women, serving till his death in that position.
In all of these positions he gained great local fame, and his numerous students carried away cheerful and instructive remembrances of his lectures. He was tall and handsome, shaved his upper lip, but wore a long beard and was famous for his witty remarks. He was an active member of the Maine Medical Associa- tion, and among his various papers con- tributed to its meetings may be men- tioned "A Case of Lithotomy of a Child of Twelve," and another one on " Materia Medica."
Overwork in the year 1869 brought upon him an attack of paralysis, prostrat- ing him for many months, yet he was
