Dr Charles Norris

CHARLES NORRIS, M.D. 1867-1935

A distinguished and colorful figure was removed from the ranks of New York medicine by the death of Dr.Charles Norris, which occurred on September 11th, 1935, at the age of 67years.

A man of fortunate birth, of scientific training, and intellectual tastes, he added to these advantages a broad acquaintance with human nature, a fine sense of humor and proportion, and democratic habits, which equipped him for success in any field, and were particularly fortunate in his work as Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York. The abuses and absurdities of the old Coroner's system he replaced with a modern organization covering all the necessary branches of legal medicine, extended the service in a systematic manner over the entire metropolitan area, introduced high standards of scientific investigation, and placed the department on a par with the best existing in any large city in the World. He accomplished all this in an unfamiliar political atmosphere which was merely tolerant, and by dealing wisely and firmly with agents who could have little knowledge of the real significance of his work. His strong personality, backed by great technical knowledge and deep sincerity, enabled him to carry to complete success a project which in less competent hands might have ended in embarrassing failure. The initiation of the office of Chief Medical Examiner by a man of this character demonstrated to the people of this City the responsible and dignified nature of this position, and revealed the rare and peculiar qualities required for its proper conduct.

That Dr. Norris' success was based upon long preparation and training in many fields of medicine, scientific and practical, is shown by the story of his early years. He was born in Hoboken, December 4th, 1867, the son of Joseph and Frances Stevens Norris. His family had long been established at Norristown, Pa.

He attended Cutler's school in New York, was graduated from Yale Scientific School in 1888, and from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1892. In1892-1894 he was an interne in the Roosevelt Hospital, serving under Delafield, Draper, and Thomson. Here he contracted small-pox, which he cheerfully accepted, and weathered the disease on North Brother Island.

After a short period in Germany, he entered the labora- tory of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and under Dr. T. Mitchell Prudden he began a series of original studies in bacteriology and pathology. His first experi- mental study, in 1897, concerned the bactericidal action of lymph from the thoracic duct of the dog. He developed new methods for the isolation and study of anaerobic micro-organisms, which at that time were found difficult to cultivate. Among important toxicological studies were several relating to poisoning by wood alcohol and tetra-ethyl lead.

A University career thus seemed to open, and Dr. Norris pursued it for a time by accepting a position as Professor of Pathological Anatomy in the new Cornell school, but soon he decided that a University environment was not to his liking, and in 1904 he accepted the opportunity to become head of the Department of Pathology in Bellevue Hospital. Here he made his first important contribution to medical organization, by designing and equip- ping the large new laboratory of Bellevue and the new City Morgue. This was the joint product of Dr. Norris and Dr. Prudden. In it they combined the City Morgue with the department of pathology of the hospital, to the great ad- vantage of both institutions, and they provided abundant quarters for pathological service and research, as well as facilities for medico-legal autopsies and toxicology. During the following twelve years Bellevue Hospital enjoyed, for the first time in its history, a thoroughly adequate pathological service, and the morgue service was conducted with increased efficiency. In 1917 Dr. Norris was chosen as the first incumbent of the new office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, which after a long campaign of agitation, replaced the old coroners system. This signal honor and responsibility came to him after a notably severe, competitive, technical examination, and very thorough consideration by competent authorities of the needs of the situation. This difficult choice proved to be most fortunate, for Dr. Norris immediately began to exhibit those remarkable qualities of professional competency and personal magnetism which carried him through many difficulties and won the confidence of all the varied interests which centre in the Medical Examiner's office. The various political figures whom he met soon seemed to recognize in him a nan of absolute integrity and scientific authority. He met mayors and commissioners, doctors and patients, bereaved friends and criminals, with the same frankness and facility.

He accepted the salary of a District Court magistrate, but he delivered the services of an educated physician, a broadly trained general pathologist, an artistic technician, atresourceful scientific investigator, and an industrious business executive.

He urged the needs of his department with energy and then when failing, quietly supplied the deficiencies from his own purse. The story of his many discerning interpretations of complicated medico-legal cases has often been told in the daily Press, but the record of innumerable difficult investigations and studies of less notable cases is buried in the annals of his Office, but is fully appreciated by his colleagues. He was most skillful, artistic, and thorough in the performance of autopsies, and his capacity to interpret the signs of disease was developed to a standard fully equal to that of the famous medico-legal experts of the old Vienna school. Such a centre of influence did not fail to affect the standard of medical diagnosis throughout the entire community. New York medicine may have developed in earlier days some notable figures in legal medicine, but never before had the City enjoyed a thoroughly modern medico- legal organization.

In 1928, after ten years of service, the Academy of Medicine recognized his accomplishments by holding a complimentary dinner at which a large company of officials and friends gave warm testimony of their appreciation and esteem. Again, in 1935,the Academy of Medicine honored him with the Gold Medal of the Academy for scientific achievement and outstanding public service. On July 23rd, 1927, he was made a Chevalier de l'Ordre de Couronne by the King of Belgium. In 1933, he was appointed Professor of Forensic Medicine in New York University.

Dr. Norris was a vigorous personality. His large frame, shaggy eyebrows, piercing dark eyes, and short Vandyke beard, made him an impressive figure. His chief power lay in his broad human understanding, and clear mental processes. His mind was entirely free from obliquities and obscurities. He had a strong sense of humor which he used with devastating effect on all forms of sham and pretense, and the popular foibles of the day. Yet those who knew him best realized that he was entirely free from personal ambition, that he over-indulged in self criticism, and culti- vated an almost childlike simplicity of thought. A large circle of friends deeply deplore his passing, the medical profession of New York is deprived of a unique figure, and the City administration suffers an irreparable loss. His career forms a notable chapter in the history of legal medi- cine in America, and his influence will survive.

JAMES EWING.

Source: BULLETIN of THE NEW YORK ACADEMY of MEDICINE, page 633-636

• **************************************** Charles Norris was New York's first appointed chief medical examiner (1918–1935) and pioneer of forensic toxicology in America.

Norris was born on December 4, 1867. He was first educated at Cutler's Private School in Manhattan, later entering Yale University and earning a bachelor of philosophy with emphasis on science. He then went to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, earning a doctorate in medicine in 1892. After studying for four years in Europe, he returned to New York, and in 1904 became the laboratory director at Bellevue and Allied Hospitals.

In the spring of 1935, Norris began to feel ill. He began staying away from public events. That summer, he took a vacation to South America, hoping to improve his health. Unfortunately, however, once he returned in late August, his health steadily deteriorated. He died at 8:30 p.m. on September 11, 1935, of heart failure.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Norris_(medical_examiner)

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The first department of forensic medicine in the United States was established at NYU in 1932. Dr. Charles Norris, the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, served as the department's first professor. The department's curriculum included undergraduate lectures and elective courses, and postgraduate courses in forensic medicine, pathology, toxicology and serology, with full time graduate courses leading to the degrees of Master and Doctor of Science in Forensic Medicine.

Source: http://www.nyu.edu/library/bobst/research/arch/175/pages/foren.htm