Dr. Henry B. Sands, the acknowledged leading
surgeon of New York, died suddenly of heart failure, on November 19th,
in the fifty-eighth year of his age.
Dr. Sands was born in New York, September 30, 1830. His preparatory
education was obtained at a high school in this city. He graduated from
the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1854, and subsequently became
interne at Bellevue Hospital, and then went abroad to pursue his
studies. On his return, in 1857, he was made Demonstrator of Anatomy at
the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and, subsequently, Professor of
Anatomy, and then of Surgery. From 1860 to 1870 he was business partner
of the late Dr. Willard Parker. In 1861 he was made attending surgeon to
the New York Eye Infirmary and St. Luke's Hospital. These he retained
until 1863, when he became surgeon to the Bellevue and New York
Hospitals. His last position was visiting surgeon at Roosevelt Hospital,
from which he resigned only last spring. He was married in 1859 to Miss
Curtiss, of Brooklyn. Two of his children by this marriage—Dr. Robert A.
Sands and Miss Josephine Sands—survive him. His second marriage, in
1875, was to a daughter of Peter Hayden. One son by this marriage is
living.
Dr. Sands was a member of the New York Academy of Medicine, the County
Medical Society, the Pathological Society, the Physicians' Mutual Aid
Association, the Society for the Relief of Widows and Orphans of Medical
Men, and of the Medical and Surgical Society. He was also connected with
the New York Philharmonic -Society. At the time of his death, Dr. Sands
enjoyed the largest consulting surgical practice in the city. This was
due, not only to his high reputation with his professional brethren as a
surgical adviser and operator, but largely, also, to the estimate which
the general public placed upon the value of his professional services.
By an extensive hospital experience of over a quarter of a century, he
won for himself a standing, as an authority on all branches of surgery,
which was not approached by any of his associates. Although not an old
man, he was naturally looked to as the fatherly adviser of everyone who
aimed to make his mark in surgery. As an operator, he was cool, precise,
determined, and judicious in his methods ; and as a teacher, was
interesting, impressive, practical, and instructive. Affable in manner,
and firm in his own convictions, he always encouraged free discussion of
the points in debate, and was always courteously respectful of the
opinions of others. Consequently, at society meetings, when surgical
matters were brought up, and he was present, the discussion was never
considered complete until Sands had also given his opinion. His
contributions to surgical literature, although not voluminous, were of
great value as detailing the results of a remarkably extensive
experience, backed by ripe and sound judgment.
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Dr. Henry Berton Sands was born in
New York, 1830. Died in
New York, 1888. A. M., honoris causa,
Yale, 1883. M. D Coll. of Phys. & Surg., 1854, Demonstrator, 1857 to
1866. Prof., 1867 to 1879, and Prof. of Practice of Surgery at Coll. of
Phys. & Surg., 1879 to 1888. Visiting Surg. Bellevue Hosp., 1862 to
1877. Charity Hosp., 1865 to 1866. Mt. Sinai Hosp., St, Luke's Hosp.,
1862 to 1870. Consult. Surg., 1870 to 1884. Visiting Surg. N. Y. Hosp.,
1864 to 1881. Consulting Surgeon, 1881 to 1884. Visiting Surgeon,
Roosevelt Hosp., 1872 to 1888. Author of many important papers.
