^ptemberS*)      Edward  Robinson  Squibb,  M.D.  421 
In  1858,  the  naval  laboratory,  having  proved  its  value  to  the 
government,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  War  Department,  but 
opposition  to  the  establishment  of  an  army  laboratory  was  devel- 
oped, and  Dr.  Squibb  was  induced  by  Dr.  R.  S.  Satterlee,  Chief 
Medical  Purveyor  of  the  Army,  to  establish  a  laboratory  of  Irs 
own,  and  sell  to  the  Army  such  of  the  products  as  might  be 
required. 
Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1858  the  four-story  brick  building, 
No.  149  Furman  Street,  Brooklyn,  was  secured,  and  Dr.  Squibb  at 
last  found  himself  in  the  position  towards  which  he  had  been  looking 
forward  for  many  years,  that  of  owning  and  directing  a  laboratory 
where  he  would  be  untrammeled  by  traditions  of  any  kind,  and 
have  the  opportunity  of  establishing  his  own  standards.  This 
laboratory  had  for  its  nucleus  the  furnishing  of  such  supplies  to  the 
Army  as  were  needed,  but  it  could  readily  be  seen  that  the  medical 
wants  of  an  army  of  25,000  men  would  not  support  even  a  labora- 
tory of  this  size.  The  medical  profession  of  Brooklyn  at  once  took 
a  great  interest  in  this  movement,  and  success  was  fairly  in  sight, 
when,  on  the  evening  of  December  24,  1858,  the  building  was 
entirely  destroyed  by  fire,  and  the  owner  so  badly  burned  that  his 
life  was  despaired  of  for  many  months;  but  his  strong  constitution, 
the  enthusiastic  attentions  of  his  medical  friends  in  Brooklyn, 
coupled  with  the  devoted  services  of  his  wife,  saved  him.  But  his 
face  and  hands  were  badly  disfigured  for  life  through  the  burning 
ether  which  was  thrown  on  his  face. 
The  accident  occurred  through  the  carelessness  of  one  of  the 
employees  overturning  a  bottle  of  ether  on  the  counter,  the  liquid 
quickly  taking  fire  from  an  alcohol  lamp  which  was  burning  some 
distance  away.  Dr.  Squibb's  face  and  hands  were  very  badly 
burned  in  attempting  to  save  his  books,  and  when  he  emerged  from 
the  building  he  could  scarcely  be  recognized.  Kind  friends  took 
him  home,  and  his  wife  was  summoned,  she  happening  to  be  with 
her  sister  at  the  time.  A  sad  shock  awaited  her  when  she  found 
the  doctor  lying  quietly  on  his  bed,  but  suffering  terribly.  It  was 
undoubtedly  the  saddest  Christmas  Eve  that  they  ever  experienced. 
For  months  his  life  hung  in  the  balance,  and  when  he  emerged 
from  his  room,  no  trace  of  his  once  handsome  features  remained. 
His  eyelids  were  everted  permanently,  and  lor  many  years  he  was 
compelled  to  wear  protectors  when  out  in  the  open  air,  during  the 
