422  Edward  Robinson  Squibb,  M.D.  {^pfembeM™' 
winter  season.  This  accident  greatly  influenced  the  doctor's  future 
life.  Having  a  sensitive  disposition,  he  shrank  from  publicity,  and 
when  he  was  compelled  to  meet  strangers,  he  knew  that  even  if 
they  were  polite  enough  not  to  ask  him  the  cause  of  his  disfigure- 
ment, that  they  would  feel  a  curiosity  to  know  the  details  of  the 
accident.  A  little  incident  which  occurred  when  the  writer  was 
crossing  in  the  ferryboat  in  company  with  the  Doctor  will  illus- 
trate some  of  the  daily  annoyances  to  which  he  was  subjected.  A 
badly  bred  young  girl,  noticing  his  eye  protectors,  rushed  up  in  front 
of  him,  and  barring  his  way  as  he  passed  through  the  cabin,  ex- 
claimed loudly,  "  Why  just  look. at  this  man;  he's  got  no  eyes  !  " 
The  doctor  simply  and  quietly  said,  "  No,  little  girl,  I  can  see  well 
enough ;  "  but  the  cheerful  tone  of  his  conversation  stopped 
instantly,  and  it  could  be  easily  seen  why  he  never  cared  to  be 
prominent  in  such  mixed  company.  He  never  spoke  of  these 
annoya'nces,  and  rarely  alluded  to  his  accident,  and  then  never  com- 
plainingly.  The  tears  ran  from  his  eyes  continually,  some  of  the 
ducts  being  partially  destroyed  or  injured  permanently.  And  when 
to  this  is  added  the  fact  that  for  forty-two  years  he  was  compelled 
every  night  to  strap  his  eyelids  together  with  strips  of  isinglass 
plaster  in  order  to  obtain  rest  for  them,  one  can  form  some  idea  of 
the  lasting  results  of  that  unfortunate  Christmas  Eve  fire. 
His  indomitable  spirit,  however,  was  not  quenched;  he  set  to 
work  with  more  determination  than  ever.  His  medical  friends 
never  deserted  him  ;  they  furnished  him  capital,  and  by  the  middle 
of  1859  the  laboratory  was  rebuilt  and  active  work  resumed.  Upon 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  in  1861,  the  needs  of  the  Army 
became  very  large,  and  additional  buildings  were  hired  and  equipped, 
and  for  the  time,  run  night  and  day,  but  under  such  ^disadvantages 
that  in  1862  another  site  was  purchased  and  a  large  and  commodi- 
ous laboratory  was  erected  on  Doughty  Street,  Brooklyn,  which  was 
occupied  January  1,  1863. 
These  laboratories  have  been  models  ever  since  their  erection. 
Their  massive  walls  and  foundations  and  solid  floors  bespoke  the 
character  of  the  man.  Nothing  for  show  or  ornament,  but  every- 
thing for  simplicity,  stability  and  strength. 
Dr.  Squibb  had  an  especial  aptitude  for  devising  apparatus,  and 
he  not  only  exercised  his  talents  in  this  direction  constantly,  but  he 
was  willing  to  give  freely  the  result  of  his  labors  to  any  who  called 
