GEORGE DERBY. " 479 



boys died some months since. The other two boys with their mother 

 are still livinsr. 



The fame he had gained during these four years, passed in the service 

 of his country, prepared for him a cordial reception when he settled again 

 in Boston, as a civil practitioner of medicine and surgery. During the 

 war, the subject of hygiene, as applied to large bodies of men in the 

 field, had attracted his attention. Preventive medicine became very 

 attractive to him. Soon after his return to lioston he was appointed 

 one of the surgeons at the Boston City Hospital. 



In 1866 he was chosen by the Secretary of the State of Massachu- 

 setts as Editor of the State Registration of births, deaths, and mar- 

 riages. This position he held until his death. 



In 1868 he published a small but admirable treatise entitled "An- 

 thracite and Health." It was the first indication he had civeu of a 

 power to grapple practically with great hygienic problems most impof- 

 tant for the future welfare of our people. 



In April, 1869, the Massachusetts State Board of Health was estab- 

 lished by an act of the Legislature. By the community at large 

 Doctor Derby was " naturally selected " as its secretary and executive 

 officer. He had an immense influence upon the doings and publica- 

 tions of that board. Many of its most important papers were written 

 by him. All passed under his clear, critical eye. Bringing to the 

 task a ripe judgment, he announced his views in a most clear and 

 simple style. His judgment on matters of detail was excellent. 

 His war discipline was invaluable to the board during its earlier 

 strussfles. 



Especially to him is due the revolution made in our society in 

 reference to slau2fhter-houses. In the contest with the nuisances at 

 Brighton his calm but decided and gentlemanly deportment, his truth- 

 fulness, his appreciation of the iidierent ditliculties in which the 

 butchers themselves were placed, his indefatigable zeal in season and 

 out of season, were above all praise. Though originally his most 

 bitter opponents, none will now mourn his loss more than the occu- 

 pants of the splendid abattoir which has risen under his influence on 

 the margin of Charles River. His papers given to the Board of Health 

 brouffht him to the notice of sanitarians at home and abroad, and at 

 his death his opinion on sanitary matters was becoming daily more 

 valuable not only to America, but to Europe. 



In 1872 he was appointed to fill the ofllce of the new Professorship 

 of Hygiene at Harvard College. 



He died June 20, 1874, after a few weeks of sudden and most pain- 



