Am.  Jour.  Pharin.l 
March,  1891.  j 
Editorials. 
157 
In  war  these  things  still  follow  them  ;  and,  in  addition,  they  must  go  into  any 
danger  that  may  present  itself,  as  gallant  as  any  soldier,  and  that,  too,  with- 
out the  sustaining  sense  of  the  compensation  of  glory  for  them  who  die  for 
home  and  country. 
Dr.  Brown's  services  and  qualities  raised  him  to  the  position  of  Physician- 
General  to  the  hospitals  of  the  United  States,  which  would  at  the  present  time 
be  equivalent  to  Surgeon-General  of  both  the  Army  and  Navy. 
The  public  services  of  Dr.  Brown  told  even  on  his  vigorous  constitution,  for 
he  died  at  the  comparatively  early  age  of  forty-three  years.  He  is  buried, 
together  with  his  wife,  previously  a  Miss  Alexander,  and  their  daughter  Helen, 
in  the  quiet  old  family  burying-ground  of  the  descendants  of  John  Alexander 
— a  younger  son  of  the  Karl  of  Sterling — for  whom  the  town  of  Alexandria 
was  named.  It  has  been  stated  that,  out  of  his  tender  love  for  his  little 
daughter,  who  had  preceded  him  in  death  by  some  seven  years,  he  requested 
that  her  body  should  be  disinterred  and  buried  by  his  side  in  his  own  grave. 
On  his  tombstone  is  the  following  inscription  : 
IN  MEMORY  OF 
WILLIAM  BROWN,  M.D., 
Formerly  Physician-General  to  the  Hospitals  of  the 
United  States,  who  died  on  the  nth  of  Jan- 
uary, 1792,  in  the  44th  year  of  his  age, 
This  tablet  is  inscribed 
by 
his  affectionate  and  afflicted  widow, 
^lis  zeal  and  fidelity  as  a  patriot ; 
his  patience,  diligence  and  skill  as  a  Physician  ; 
his  benevolence,  courtesy,  and  integrity  as  a  man 
secured  him 
the  applause  of  his  country, 
the  honor  and -endowment  of  his  profession, 
the  respect  of  the  wealthy, 
and 
the  veneration  of  the  poor. 
Let 
the  grateful  witness  of  his  virtues  in  domestic  life 
and 
that  as  a  husband,  father  and  master, 
he  was  tender,  instructive,  and  humane  ; 
that  he  lived  without  guile,  and 
died  without  reproach. 
This  is  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  William  Brown,  who  lies  by  his  side, 
HELEN  BROWN, 
Died  27th  April,  1785,  aged  5  years  and  15  days. 
