Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

was made by the child and it is without
doubt the youngest case of its kind on
record. More than eight hundred and
fifty times Dr. Johnson performed opera-
tions where it was necessary to open the
abdominal cavity with a large percentage
of recoveries to his credit. The rapidity
with which he worked was remarkable,
the sureness and acuteness of his touch
giving one the impression of actually seeing.
In spite of the great demand upon
his time and the amount of work which
his calling necessitated, Dr. Johnson
found opportunity to prepare and read
before many of the medical societies many
valuable papers and treatises, among
them being: "Diphtheria, its History,
Etiology and Treatment ;" "The Technique
of Removing the Appendix Vermiformis;"
"Treatment of Pus Cases in Ap-
pendicitis Operations;" "History of the
First Twenty-three Cases of Gastronomy
;" "Report on the Progress of Surgery
;" "Etiology of Hernia of the
Ovary ;" "Gastrotomy ;" "Improved Technique
for Cure of Ventral Hernia;" "His-
tory and Treatment of an Unique Injury
of the Face." After the death of Dr.
Johnson, his widow donated to the Hartford
Medical Society over two hundred
volumes of great rareness on medical sub-
jects which were not included in the col-
lection possessed by the Medical Society,
and his entire outfit of surgical instruments
was donated by Mrs. Johnson to
the New Hospital of Malone, New York,
the birthplace of Dr. Johnson. In 1910
Dr. Johnson retired from the more active
part of his practice, but still retained an
office on Pratt street.
Dr. Johnson held membership in the
American, Hartford County, Connecticut
and City Medical societies ; was a Fellow
of the New York Academy of Medicine;
surgeon of the Governor's Foot Guard
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
266
for twenty-one years, from 1879 to 1900;
member the American Sanitation Society
of Boston. He was a founder of the Fed-
eration of Colleges and University Clubs
of the United States ; a founder and char-
ter member of the University Club of
Hartford ; was the founder of the surgi-
cal department of St. Francis' Hospital,
creating the plans by which that department
of the hospital was built, giving
much of his personal help and advice to
the Mother Superior of the Hospital. By
his untiring labors St. Francis' Hospital,
from small primitive accommodations,
has progressed to be one of the largest
and most successfully managed hospitals
in this part of our country. For many
years Dr. Johnson was the head of
the hospital staff, with large classes of
nurses under his instruction, who have
done great credit to their training.
As a man Dr. Johnson was bright, genial,
and full of hope and encouragement
to the most pathetic of his patients,
always indulging in stories of good cheer.
He was a great favorite in hospital and
private practice, making strong friend-
ships and doing much charity work with
modesty and generosity and his memory
stands for the highest ideals in medicine.
By virtue of his ancestry, Dr. Johnson
was a member of the Colonel Jeremiah
Wadsworth Branch, Connecticut Society,
Sons of the American Revolution. Fra-
ternally he was a member of Lafayette
Lodge, No. 100, Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons ; Washington Commandery,
Knights Templar ; and member of
the Asylum Avenue Baptist Church.
On February 14, 1884, Dr. Johnson was
married to Helen Lucinda Lyman, a
daughter of Sylvester Strong and Lu-
cinda Smith (Gaylord) Lyman, and they
are the parents of two daughters, Helen
Gaylord and Ethelyn Chapman Johnsotv