Brinton.] *®® [May 16, 



To his activity much of the success of that prosperous institution can justly 

 be ascribed. 



As a physician, Dr. Hays studied and practiced his profession in a spirit 

 of liberal culture and honorable feeling. The special branch which he cul- 

 tivated was ophthalmology, and for a long time he stood first in that de- 

 partment in this city. He was one of the earliest to detect the pathological 

 condition known as astigmatism, and the case which led to his discovery of 

 it was reported to this Society. 



His professional life was not confined to the care of his large practice, but 

 extended to the relations of medical men to each other and to the public. 

 Thus he was a member of the Convention which organized the American 

 Medical Association, and of that which led to the formation of the State 

 Medical Society of Pennsylvania. As Chairman of the Committee of the 

 former body to draw up a Code of Ethics, he was mainly instrumental in 

 collating and reporting the code which has since been universally adopted 

 throughout this country, and in some parts of Europe. He was also Chair- 

 man of the Board of Publication, and Treasurer of the Association for sev- 

 eral years. 



In September, 1835, he was elected a member of the College of Physicians 

 and for a number of years was its Senior Censor. He was also Chairman 

 of its Building Committee, and it was largely through his endeavors that 

 the commodious structure at the corner of Thirteenth and Locust street, 

 was erected for the College. 



Dr. Hays literary labors include an edition of Wilson's Ornithology, 

 1828 ; Arnott's Elements of Physics, 1848; Hoblyn's Dictionary. 1846 ; 

 Laurence on Diseases of the Eye, 1847, and some other medical works ; but 

 he is best known in this connection as the editor of the American Journal 

 of the Medical Sciences, with which he was actively connected from 

 February 1827, until his death. The ability and judgment he displayed in 

 this task met with full recognition from the profession, botli in this coun- 

 try and Europe, and the Journal has for half a century been recognized the 

 world over as unsurpassed by any other medical periodical of its class in 

 this country. 



Advancing age led to his retirement from active practice in 1864-5, but 

 he continued his literary and scientific labors, with unimpaired faculties 

 and undiminished interest in the progress of knowledge to the last. 



In conclusion, I may add that Dr. Hays married in 183:}, and at his 

 death left four children, one of whom is a prominent member of the same 

 profession, and has succeeded to his father's position as editor of the Amer- 

 ican Journal of the .Medical Sciences. 



