Biographical Sketch of Charles Karsner MILLS, M.D.; Philadelphia Co., PA Contributed to the PAGenWeb Archives by Diana Smith [christillavalley@comcast.net] Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* "Philadelphia, A History of the City and its People; A Record of 225 Years" Publisher: S. H. Clark; Philadelphia; 1912. Vol. 4, Page 328 Author, Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer CHARLES KARSNER MILLS, M.D. Dr. Charles Karsner Mills, a medical practitioner of Philadelphia since 1869 and for many years a specialist in the treatment of nervous and mental diseases in which connection he has gained distinguished honors, was born at the Falls of Schuylkill, a Philadelphia suburb, on the 4th of December, 1845, his parents being James and Lavina Anne (Fitzgerald) Mills. He completed his more specifically literary education by a course in the Central high school and then in preparation for a professional career entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, winning his professional degree upon the completion of his course in 1869, while in 1871 the University of Pennsylvania also conferred upon him the Doctor of Philosophy degree. He immediately began practice and has concentrated his energies exclusively upon his chosen life work. As the years advanced his attention was more and more largely given to nervous diseases. His studies and researches were along that line, and he at length left the field of general practice to become a specialist in neurology and psychiatry in 1874. The same year he was made chief of clinic for nervous diseases in the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and in 1877 received his first appointment as a teacher in the medical department of the university, becoming lecturer on electro-therapeutics. Gradually he won recognition as an able and now a distinguished neurologist, and his pronounced ability and learning in that direction has led to his selection for a number of important hospital appointments. He has become equally well known as an educator, identified at different times with various institutions. He has also appeared as expert in numerous medico-legal cases, his writings, which are valuable contributions to medical literature, having appeared in the leading professional journals and magazines of the country. A more detailed account of his life work shows that he was professor of the diseases of the mind and nervous system in the Philadelphia Polyclinic of which he was one of the founders, from 1883 until 1898; clinical professor of nervous diseases in the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania from 1891 until 1902; while in the University of Pennsylvania he was professor of mental diseases and medical jurisprudence from 1893 until 1901; was clinical professor of nervous diseases from 1901 until 1903; and since the latter year has been professor of neurology. Aside from the close attention he has given to the clinical aspects of his specialty he has pursued many investigations into the anatomy, morphology and pathology of the brain and nervous system. He has held many appointments in the hospitals of Philadelphia, including St. Mary's, the Episcopal and the Philadelphia General Hospital. HE is one of the neurologists of the Philadelphia General Hospital and was the founder of the nervous wards of that institution in 1877. He is one of the consultants to the Orthopedic Hospital and Infirmary for Nervous Diseases of Philadelphia, to St. Joseph's Hospital and to the State Hospital for the Chronic Insane at Wernersville, Pennsylvania, and to other hospitals in Philadelphia and its vicinity. Dr. Mills is a most valued member of a number of scientific societies. He became one of the founders of the Philadelphia Neurological Society and was afterward honored with its presidency. The distinguished position which he occupies as a specialist is indicated by the fact that he was called to the presidency of the American Neurological Association, also the Medical Jurisprudence Society of Philadelphia, the Northern Medical Association of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia County Medical Society. He is a fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, a member of the American Association, the American Medico-psychological Association, the Pennsylvania Historical Society, the City History Society of Philadelphia, and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. He has been elected a corresponding member of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Nervenarzte, foreign corresponding member of the Societe de Neurologic de Paris, and an honorary member of the New York Neurological Society and of the Pittsburg Academy of Medicine. His writings have awakened wide-spread interest among the profession and are largely accepted as authority on the questions of which he has treated. He has prepared various papers and monographs, chiefly upon neurological subjects, and is the author of a history of the Philadelphia Hospital, a history of Neurology in Philadelphia, historical sketches of Falls of Schuylkill and vicinity, a history of medical jurisprudence in Philadelphia and other special historical articles. He is likewise the author of a text-book on the nursing and care of the nervous and insane and has prepared a treatise on the disease of the brain and cranial nerves. His practice is of an extensive and most important character and there is no higher indication of his ability than the position of prominence accorded him by members of the profession. Anything relative to his chosen life work is of keenest interest to him and he has led the way in research that has brought to light many valuable points of scientific knowledge. His pronounced ability has long since placed him in a position of leadership among the neurologists of the country. Dr. Mills was married on the 6th of November, 1873, to Miss Clara Elizabeth Peale, of Philadelphia. Those who meet him socially find him a most genial and companionable gentleman, whose splendid work and successful attainment in his profession have not precluded his active interest in questions that are of wide general import. He is a man of well balanced capacities and powers and the simple weight of his character and ability has carried him into most important professional relations. His contributions to the world's work have been of real and permanent value.