Letter Signed

This pioneering New York physician joined Bellevue Hospital in 1847 and worked his way up to chief surgeon, along the way helping to found Bellevue Medical College in 1861 and creating the first ambulance service and the first training school for nurses; he championed the "Dissecting Bill," a statute that helped provide cadavers for medical dissection and research for medical students, thus eliminating the practice of body snatching and paving the way for instruction using actual bodies as well as textbooks. LS, 1p, (lettersheet), 5" X 8", New York, NY, 1862 April 20. Addressed to Thomas C. Acton (1823-98, New York City police commissioner, politician, reformer). Very good. Bit of sporadic age toning; original folds (none weakened). Wood tells the new (appointed 1860) police commissioner that "The bearer Thomas Flynn is anxious of procuring some employment -- I have known him along while and believe him to be an honest worthy and industrious young man -- If you can aid him in any way I shall feel much obliged...." Boldly signed in thick brown ink. Wood's plea may just have worked, for only a few years later one Thomas Flynn appears in reports issued by the city comptroller's office. An interesting and early piece from the year after the Medical College's founding.