Rodney Glisan
Encyclopedia
Rodney Glisan was a U.S.
medical doctor who served on the frontier in the United States Army
and was well known as a medical authority in the 19th century.
He was born in Linganore in Frederick County
, Maryland
, the son of Samuel and Eliza Glisan. He graduated from the University of Maryland
medical school in 1849. He practiced medicine for a year in Baltimore and then in 1850 he was appointed assistant surgeon
in the United States Army
. He served as medical officer in the army for eleven years including five years on the Great Plains
followed by six years (1855–1861) in Oregon
during the Indian wars. He resigned his commission in 1861 and practiced medicine in San Francisco
before moving to Portland, Oregon
. In 1863 he married Elizabeth Couch, the youngest daughter of John H. Couch
, one of the founders of Portland. From 1872–1876 he was president of the Multnomah County
Medical Society, and was president of Oregon state medical society from 1875–1876. He was a member for many years of the American Medical Association
. He later became a professor of obstetrics
and diseases of women at Willamette University School of Medicine.
Glisan achieved a measure of fame as a medical doctor in his day. He was widely published and known as an authority in his field. In 1874 he published Journal of Army Life about his years as a surgeon in the Army. He traveled extensively throughout Europe
and Central America
delivering lectures on medical subjects. He is noted for performing the first amputation
of the shoulder and thigh, and the second operation for strangulated inguinal hernia
in the Pacific Northwest
. In 1881 he published a text on midwifery
that was widely used in the United States and Great Britain
. In 1893 the donation of his library became the basis for the library of the Oregon Health and Sciences University.
Glisan is honored by the naming of a street in Northwest and Northeast Portland, Oregon.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
medical doctor who served on the frontier in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was well known as a medical authority in the 19th century.
He was born in Linganore in Frederick County
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, the son of Samuel and Eliza Glisan. He graduated from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
medical school in 1849. He practiced medicine for a year in Baltimore and then in 1850 he was appointed assistant surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He served as medical officer in the army for eleven years including five years on the Great Plains
Great Plains
The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...
followed by six years (1855–1861) in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
during the Indian wars. He resigned his commission in 1861 and practiced medicine in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
before moving to Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. In 1863 he married Elizabeth Couch, the youngest daughter of John H. Couch
John H. Couch
John Heard Couch was an American sea captain and pioneer in the Oregon Country in the 19th century. Often referred to as Captain Couch, he became famous for his singular skill at navigation of the mouth of the Columbia River. He is one of the early residents and founders of Portland,...
, one of the founders of Portland. From 1872–1876 he was president of the Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
Medical Society, and was president of Oregon state medical society from 1875–1876. He was a member for many years of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
. He later became a professor of obstetrics
Obstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and diseases of women at Willamette University School of Medicine.
Glisan achieved a measure of fame as a medical doctor in his day. He was widely published and known as an authority in his field. In 1874 he published Journal of Army Life about his years as a surgeon in the Army. He traveled extensively throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
delivering lectures on medical subjects. He is noted for performing the first amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
of the shoulder and thigh, and the second operation for strangulated inguinal hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. In 1881 he published a text on midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
that was widely used in the United States and Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In 1893 the donation of his library became the basis for the library of the Oregon Health and Sciences University.
Glisan is honored by the naming of a street in Northwest and Northeast Portland, Oregon.