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ISAAC PEARSON COLEMAN, M. D.
BY GEORGE GOODELL, M. D.
The duty of offering a memorial on the decease of our late member and companion, DR. ISAAC PEARSON COLEMAN, having
devolved on me, I enter on the task as if paying the last sad rites to a departed relative. The knowledge that
each and all must, sooner or later, reach that silent shore -which will become the terminus of human friendships,
fame, honor and wisdom, does not familiarize us to the stern reality that the most endearing ties of love and affection
must assuredly be sundered. Past associations crowd our thoughts, and many recollections are awakened while we
invoke the memory of our departed friend. I am conscious that each of us claim fellowship in this personal attachment,
and that my high appreciation of Dr. Coleman is but an echo of the sentiment of every member of this Society, of
the community where he resided, and of the wide circle of medical friends among whom he was highly esteemed and
honored.
Dr. ISAAC P. COLEMAN was born February 2d, 1804, on the place owned by his ancestors for several generations in
Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey. His father, James Coleman, died in 1816. He was a member of the society
of Friends, and judging from the scattered volumes of his library in the Doctor's possession, he was a man of more
than ordinary taste and culture.
The Doctor received his classical and English education principally at the old Trenton Academy, under the tutorship
of Mr. James Stack; his institution at that time was one of the standard schools of the State, where many of the
finest scholars of New Jersey received their education. He studied medicine with Dr. Francis A. Ewing, of Trenton,
a gentleman of learning, well read in his profession and unusually qualified for a teacher. After three full courses
of lectures, at Yale College, he graduated, and settled in Trenton, where he remained for more than a year. After
this he removed to Burlington County, and for some time assisted Dr. Patterson, of Plattsburg, in his practice,
and for a short time was associated with Dr. Daken, of Columbus. A good opportunity now offering for settling permanently,
he purchased Dr. Lott's property, in Pemberton, and established himself at that place, where he remained until
the close of his life, -Nov. 4th, 1869, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. His death occurred after an illness
of five weeks of continued fever, a relapse having occurred about the third week after he and his family supposed
the dangerous crisis had passed.
He was married, in 1843, to Miss Salter, of Philadelphia, a lady of refinement and education, whose cheerful household
is blighted by this sad bereavement. He left two daughters and a son, whom he lived to educate, and to whom he
bequeathed those genial qualities that so much endeared him to them and us. If words could dispel the gloomy shadows
of that family circle, they would be an expression of gratitude that so bright an example of Christian virtue and
unostentatious piety has been left for their and our imitation. The life of a medical man is not often blazoned
before the world by events calculated to arouse the highest admiration of the public. But his sterling integrity
and kindness of heart endeared him to all classes of society.
During the long period of Dr. Coleman's membership with this Society his luminous reasoning was listened to with
interest, whenever questions came before us requiring thorough pathological research. A close logical analysis
guided his conclusions. Though thoroughly posted in the institutes of medicine and with its current literature,
he rarely quoted authorities. He based his practical conclusions on what he conceived to be the correct pathology
of each case. Whenever his aid was sought in consultation, his long experience in the County Almshouse gave a luminous
accuracy to his opinions. As ready to receive as to give counsel, he never betrayed the confidence or attempted
to damage the standing of those with whom he consulted, but adhered with religious fidelity to the ethical requirements
of our profession. The demands for operative surgery always found him equal to the occasion. Few practitioners,
outside of our large cities, have been more successful in their varied and difficult operations. It is to be regretted
that he left no record of his operative cases, for they embrace almost every variety of surgical disease, and were
performed with skill and average success. His is believed to be the first case of lithotomy in our county, and
perhaps in New Jersey, successfully performed by one of our own surgeons. He repeatedly operated for strangulated
hernia, for the removal of deformities by plastic methods, and was ever ready to give his patient the benefit of
his surgical skill, when amputations or resections were required, always bringing to his aid thorough anatomical
knowledge with great coolness and self-command. His able reports from Burlington County always occupied a prominent
space in the transactions of our State Medical .Society. Though often obliged to draw largely on his own observations,
with characteristic modesty he rarely alluded to his own practice. In 1849 he was elected President of our State
Medical Society, and as its presiding officer he infused fresh life and vigor into that venerable organization.
His address at the expiration of his office was highly creditable as a literary effort. In conversation, and as
an extemporaneous speaker, his manner was slow and somewhat hesitating ; but his massive brain always elaborated
something which read well, and the profoundness and pertinency of his remarks made ample amends for lack of fluency
in diction.
Outside of our profession his influence was immense, and was always wielded on the side of virtue, morality and
religion.
[Source: Transactions of the Medical Society of New Jersey By Medical
Society of New Jersey; 1868. Newark, N.J.; Printed at the Evening Courier Office, 309 Broad St. 1868, pg. 93-96,
submitted by Michelle Byrd]
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