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Clarence Loeb, 1876-1935
970
OBITUARIES
This book presents the subject of medical economics in a very satisfac tory and fair manner. After a brief his tory of medical practice from 1890 to 1930, various phases of the medical situ ation in the United States and other countries are given. The change in the nature of practice, the broadened field of specialization, and group medicine are considered. Health services and workmen's compensation acts are de scribed and some attempt at evaluation made. The income of the physician and the ability of the laity to pay for ade quate medical care are_ discussed. The last three chapters are devoted to con sidering the various possibilities. The author has had a broad experi ence and his opinion is entitled to seri ous consideration. Much of his material is derived from the Report of the Com mittee on Medical Education. He rather decries the attitude of the American Medical Association in its opposition to such changes as suggested in the ma jority report, and especially the brusque reception of the report of the Medical Service Board of the American College of Surgeons, in June, 1934. Undoubtedly there was much to be said on both sides of that controversy. The attitude of the American Medical Association has certainly been modi fied somewhat in the past year. The book is interestingly written and valuable for acquainting the physician with certain facts related to the prob lem. The author's suggestions are con servative and the book is more an attempt to indicate signposts than to urge new departures. Probably radical changes in the old system would be in advisable but there are gradually evolv ing more efficient methods of handling the health of our people in this rapidly changing world. Lawrence T. Post. OBITUARIES Clarence Loeb, 1876-1935 Dr. Clarence Loeb was born in Columbia, Mo., on March 21, 1876, of a family which has contributed its full share to the learned professions. His
older brother, Hanau W., was a famous otolaryngologist and at one time the dean of St. Louis University Medical School. Another brother, Isidor, is pro fessor and dean of the School of Com merce and Administration, of Wash-
Dr. Clarence Loeb
ington University, in St. Louis. A third brother, Virgil, is a well-known oral surgeon of that city. Upon the completion of his highschool studies Clarence entered the University of Missouri, from which he received his A.B. degree, cumUaude, in 1896, and A.M. in 1897. In 1899, he was graduated in medicine from the Marion Sims College, later the University of Missouri. After haying served his in ternship in the St. Louis City Hospital, he went abroad for the study of oph thalmology in Berlin and Vienna during 1901-2. Upon his return to this country, he associated himself with the St. Louis University, where he later became as sistant professor of ophthalmology. He also served as ophthalmologist to the St. Louis City Hospital, to Alexian Brothers Hospital, and to Mount St. Rose Sanitarium. During that period he was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Association for the Prevention of Blindness, of which he was one of the first officers. At the time of the World W a r he served as First Lieutenant, at the M.R.C. Mobilization Camp, in Nevada,
OBITUARIES Mo., and later on the Medical Advisory Board for Selective Service in Chicago. In 1918, one year after his removal to Chicago, he was appointed Associate Ophthalmologist and director of the Eye Dispensary of the Michael Reese Hospital, and in 1923, was promoted to the rank of attending ophthalmologist. From the earliest period of his med ical career, Dr. Loeb displayed great in terest in current ophthalmic periodi cals, to which he devoted a good deal of time and energy. His literary ability was soOn given recognition and he was appointed Associate Editor of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, which office he held until his illness, in 1928, forced him to retire. For a num ber of years he also served as Treasurer of the Ophthalmic Publishing Company and was Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago Ophthalmological Society. He was Editor of the Transactions of the American Academy of Ophthalmol ogy and Otolaryngology from 1919 to 1929, supervising the last editions from his bed, to which he had been confined by his last illness. His contributions to ophthalmic liter ature consist of twenty-six original ar ticles, a number of editorials, and case presentations before the various socie ties. His first article appeared in the "Archives of Ophthalmology" in 1903, and was entitled "The value of ophthalmoscopic examinations in the differen tial diagnosis between typhoid fever and acute miliary tuberculosis." He wrote a good deal on ophthalmic edu cation and contributed to text books. His most outstanding work was, prob ably, a series of four articles on "Hereditary blindness and its preven tion" published in the "Annals of Oph thalmology" in 1909, and later appear ing in the form of a monograph. His last important work was the translation of Ernst Franke's book "Ocular thera peutics," in 1925. Dr. Loeb was a man of sterling up rightness and unimpeachable character, strictly ethical in his relations with his fellow practitioners and straightfor ward in his dealings with his fellow men. As an executive he was strict and stern, demanding of his associates the
971
same accuracy in the performance of their duties that he himself was wont to accord them, but he was always fair and just. Interest in clinic work per sisted throughout the passing years and he very seldom absented himself from the dispensary, not even to take a vaca tion during the hot summer months. His attitude to his clinic patients was just as kindly, and as courteous, as to his private patients, and he treated them as conscientiously. His favorite hobbies were bridge, golf, and reading. One sel dom saw him without a book in his brief case or under his arm. H e died May 26, 1935, from a cardio vascular-renal disease lasting sevenand-one-half years, throughout which he maintained his courage, good humor, and dignity. His untimely death is a great loss to ophthalmic literature. M. L. Folk. W. T. Holmes Spicer William Thomas Holmes Spicer, who was in his-seventy-fifth year, died at his home in Wimbledon, August 8, 1935. He was born and grew up in Essex. He took the Natural Science course at Cambridge University, and graduated with honors in 1880. H e studied Med icine at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, where he was Ophthalmic House Sur geon. He received the degree of M.B. from Cambridge in 1884, and was made Fellow of the Royal College of Sur geons in 1888. After a few years in gen eral practice he turned to ophthalmol ogy, and became clinical assistant at Moorfields, and ophthalmic surgeon to the Metropolitan Hospital and Victoria Hospital for Children. In 1898 he was elected Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Roy al London Ophthalmic Hospital, suc ceeding Nettleship, with whom he had been closely associated. He became Dean of the Staff, and was active in or ganizing and extending the instruction al work of that institution. In 1901 he became junior, and later senior Oph thalmic Surgeon to Saint Bartholo mew's Hospital, and in 1920, when retired under the age rule, was ap pointed a governor of that institution. In 1889 he joined the Ophthalmolog ical Society of the United Kingdom.
OBITUARIES
This book presents the subject of medical economics in a very satisfac tory and fair manner. After a brief his tory of medical practice from 1890 to 1930, various phases of the medical situ ation in the United States and other countries are given. The change in the nature of practice, the broadened field of specialization, and group medicine are considered. Health services and workmen's compensation acts are de scribed and some attempt at evaluation made. The income of the physician and the ability of the laity to pay for ade quate medical care are_ discussed. The last three chapters are devoted to con sidering the various possibilities. The author has had a broad experi ence and his opinion is entitled to seri ous consideration. Much of his material is derived from the Report of the Com mittee on Medical Education. He rather decries the attitude of the American Medical Association in its opposition to such changes as suggested in the ma jority report, and especially the brusque reception of the report of the Medical Service Board of the American College of Surgeons, in June, 1934. Undoubtedly there was much to be said on both sides of that controversy. The attitude of the American Medical Association has certainly been modi fied somewhat in the past year. The book is interestingly written and valuable for acquainting the physician with certain facts related to the prob lem. The author's suggestions are con servative and the book is more an attempt to indicate signposts than to urge new departures. Probably radical changes in the old system would be in advisable but there are gradually evolv ing more efficient methods of handling the health of our people in this rapidly changing world. Lawrence T. Post. OBITUARIES Clarence Loeb, 1876-1935 Dr. Clarence Loeb was born in Columbia, Mo., on March 21, 1876, of a family which has contributed its full share to the learned professions. His
older brother, Hanau W., was a famous otolaryngologist and at one time the dean of St. Louis University Medical School. Another brother, Isidor, is pro fessor and dean of the School of Com merce and Administration, of Wash-
Dr. Clarence Loeb
ington University, in St. Louis. A third brother, Virgil, is a well-known oral surgeon of that city. Upon the completion of his highschool studies Clarence entered the University of Missouri, from which he received his A.B. degree, cumUaude, in 1896, and A.M. in 1897. In 1899, he was graduated in medicine from the Marion Sims College, later the University of Missouri. After haying served his in ternship in the St. Louis City Hospital, he went abroad for the study of oph thalmology in Berlin and Vienna during 1901-2. Upon his return to this country, he associated himself with the St. Louis University, where he later became as sistant professor of ophthalmology. He also served as ophthalmologist to the St. Louis City Hospital, to Alexian Brothers Hospital, and to Mount St. Rose Sanitarium. During that period he was instrumental in establishing the Missouri Association for the Prevention of Blindness, of which he was one of the first officers. At the time of the World W a r he served as First Lieutenant, at the M.R.C. Mobilization Camp, in Nevada,
OBITUARIES Mo., and later on the Medical Advisory Board for Selective Service in Chicago. In 1918, one year after his removal to Chicago, he was appointed Associate Ophthalmologist and director of the Eye Dispensary of the Michael Reese Hospital, and in 1923, was promoted to the rank of attending ophthalmologist. From the earliest period of his med ical career, Dr. Loeb displayed great in terest in current ophthalmic periodi cals, to which he devoted a good deal of time and energy. His literary ability was soOn given recognition and he was appointed Associate Editor of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, which office he held until his illness, in 1928, forced him to retire. For a num ber of years he also served as Treasurer of the Ophthalmic Publishing Company and was Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago Ophthalmological Society. He was Editor of the Transactions of the American Academy of Ophthalmol ogy and Otolaryngology from 1919 to 1929, supervising the last editions from his bed, to which he had been confined by his last illness. His contributions to ophthalmic liter ature consist of twenty-six original ar ticles, a number of editorials, and case presentations before the various socie ties. His first article appeared in the "Archives of Ophthalmology" in 1903, and was entitled "The value of ophthalmoscopic examinations in the differen tial diagnosis between typhoid fever and acute miliary tuberculosis." He wrote a good deal on ophthalmic edu cation and contributed to text books. His most outstanding work was, prob ably, a series of four articles on "Hereditary blindness and its preven tion" published in the "Annals of Oph thalmology" in 1909, and later appear ing in the form of a monograph. His last important work was the translation of Ernst Franke's book "Ocular thera peutics," in 1925. Dr. Loeb was a man of sterling up rightness and unimpeachable character, strictly ethical in his relations with his fellow practitioners and straightfor ward in his dealings with his fellow men. As an executive he was strict and stern, demanding of his associates the
971
same accuracy in the performance of their duties that he himself was wont to accord them, but he was always fair and just. Interest in clinic work per sisted throughout the passing years and he very seldom absented himself from the dispensary, not even to take a vaca tion during the hot summer months. His attitude to his clinic patients was just as kindly, and as courteous, as to his private patients, and he treated them as conscientiously. His favorite hobbies were bridge, golf, and reading. One sel dom saw him without a book in his brief case or under his arm. H e died May 26, 1935, from a cardio vascular-renal disease lasting sevenand-one-half years, throughout which he maintained his courage, good humor, and dignity. His untimely death is a great loss to ophthalmic literature. M. L. Folk. W. T. Holmes Spicer William Thomas Holmes Spicer, who was in his-seventy-fifth year, died at his home in Wimbledon, August 8, 1935. He was born and grew up in Essex. He took the Natural Science course at Cambridge University, and graduated with honors in 1880. H e studied Med icine at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital, where he was Ophthalmic House Sur geon. He received the degree of M.B. from Cambridge in 1884, and was made Fellow of the Royal College of Sur geons in 1888. After a few years in gen eral practice he turned to ophthalmol ogy, and became clinical assistant at Moorfields, and ophthalmic surgeon to the Metropolitan Hospital and Victoria Hospital for Children. In 1898 he was elected Ophthalmic Surgeon to the Roy al London Ophthalmic Hospital, suc ceeding Nettleship, with whom he had been closely associated. He became Dean of the Staff, and was active in or ganizing and extending the instruction al work of that institution. In 1901 he became junior, and later senior Oph thalmic Surgeon to Saint Bartholo mew's Hospital, and in 1920, when retired under the age rule, was ap pointed a governor of that institution. In 1889 he joined the Ophthalmolog ical Society of the United Kingdom.