MEASE 775 MEIGLER compounding prescriptions. In 1816, under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania, he gave in the college building the introductory to a course of private lectures on pharmacy. This was the first attempt to improve pharmacy by private lectures. "Hydrophobia" was the title of his thesis at graduation, and his interest in this subject never waned, for in 1908 he wrote, in the Philadelphia Medical Museum, "On Snake Stones and other Remedies for the Cure of Diseases produced by the Bites of Snakes and Mad Dogs," a logical paper, exposing the quackery of persons using such stones, and reciting his efforts to prevent the purchase of a stone owned by a Mr. Micow, of Virginia, who offered it for $2,000. Mease's efforts were fruitless and the stone was purchased at ten dollars a share. It was deposited with a Dr. Brockenbrough, of Tappahannock, "as a central spot whence it might be readily ob- tained" when desired. Dr. Mease adds with sarcasm, "Mr. Micow, no doubt, feels very snug at the receipt of $2,000; and the worthy stockholders are quite secure from even the apprehension of danger from all the attacks of rattlesnakes or mad dogs in their counties !" Mease had been called the "first American antiquarian" because of his interest in pre- serving old landmarks and identifying his- torical points. He wrote to Thomas Jefferson regarding the house in which the Declaration of Independence had been written, and received a reply dated September 16, 1825, fixing the locality. His book "Picture of Philadelpliia in 1811" is a valued contribution to local history. His versatility may be seen from the follow- ing titles: "Medical Lectures and Essays"; "A Geological Account of the United States" ; "Observations on the Penitentiary System of the United States" ; "On William Penn's Treaty with the Indians" ; "Utility of Public Loan Offices"; "Description of Some of the Medals Struck in the National Academy"; "Letter on the Raising of Silk Worms." With all these interests Mease carried on his practice; he was the friend and one of the attending physicians to Benjamin Rush in his last illness, which he called "a pleurisy." Mease married Sarah, daughter of Pierce Butler, patriot of the Revolution and Senator from South Carolina. His two sons had their name changed to Butler by act of legislature. His son, Pierce Mease Butler, married Fanny Kemble, the actress, in 1834; a daughter married George Cadwalader. Mease died May 14, 1846. Howard A. Kelly. Phila. Med. Mus., 1808, vol. i. Lives of Eminent Philadelphians, now deceased, H. Simpson, 1859. Hist, of tlie Med. Dep. of the University o£ Pennsylvania, J. Carson, 1869. Annals of Pliiladelphia, J. F. Watson, 3 v., 187079. Hist, of Philadelphia, Scharf and Westcott, 3 v., 1884. Univ. of Penn., J. L. Chamberlain, ed., 1740- 1900, vol. ii, 1902. Nar. Hist, of Med. in America, J. G. Mumford, 1903. Founders' Week Mem'!., F. P. Henry, ed., vol. ii, 1909. Letter from Ewing Jordan, M. D., 1913. MeJgler, Marie J. (1851-1901) Marie Meigler, gynecologist, was born in Main Stockheim, Bavaria, May 18, 1851, and was descended from the old German family, von Rittenhausen. Her father was Francis R. Meigler, a graduate of the University of Wiirz- burg, who in 1853 came with his family to Illinois. Marie graduated from Cook County. Illinois, Normal School, and in 1871 from the classical course. State Normal School, Oswego, New York. She entered the Woman's Medical Col- lege, Chicago, in 1876, and obtained her de- gree in 1879, being valedictorian of the class. There were several of the faculty who although consenting to teach the women did everything to discourage them. When Marie was a senior her class found a notice on the bulletin board inviting them to take the examinations for interne at Cook County Hospital. Although sure of defeat, the ill-taught girls resolved to face contempt at the competitive examination in order to pre- serve the "open door" to public office for their successors. They were received by the stu- dents in the amphitheatre with shouts and hisses. The chairman of the staff looked in- quiringly at the secretary ; the secretary re- sponded, "You instructed me to notify the regular colleges, the Woman's College is a regular College." No appointment was re- ceived, but the members of the faculty, ashamed of their work, reformed their ways, and when again Marie competed for the posi- tion of interne in the Cook County Hospital, she was told that she had passed the examina- tion successfully but was not appointed be- cause a woman — however, a year later a woman did receive the appointment. After graduating, Marie Meigler became surgical assistant to Dr. William H. Byford (q. v.). The year 1880 was spent pursuing her medical studies in Ziirich. Upon her return she held various positions in her alma mater and after Dr. Byford's death in 1890 was appointed his successor to the chair of gynecology.
