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Brock, Hugh Workham (1830-1882)
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American Medical Biographies (1920)
by Howard A. Kelly and Walter L. Burrage

Page 146, Brock, Hugh Workham 

The history of the medical profession of West Virginia would be
incomplete without mention of Hugh W. Brock. The formal outline of
such a man's life or even biographic detail, however suggestive, can
ill represent the value of his rare and gifted personality and his
scientific skill. Of American parentage, English-Scotch by descent,
he was born January 5, 1830, at Blacksville, Virginia, and educated
at private schools and various academies. He began to study medicine
with Dr. Charles McLane of Morgantown. In 1850 he entered the
Jefferson Medical College and two years later received his doctor's
degree. Returning to Morgantown, he became a partner of Dr. McLane,
and from that time until his death, April 24, 1882, he was a leading
physician and surgeon in Morgantown, becoming more and more a
recognized authority not only in West Virginia but in the neighboring
parts of Pennsylvania.

From his college days he was an enthusiastic student of anatomy. With
him the scientific spirit once aroused, could never slumber. Chemical
analysis, microscopic study of organic tissue, constant practice in
dissections, busied even his lighter hours. If the material were not
at hand, he ordered it from the great cities, and many a gruesome box
lent skill and certainty to his surgical touch. Profoundly interested
as he was in pathology and ready always to minister to the relief of
the suffering, the more exact demands of scientific surgery still
more strongly attracted him. As field surgeon with Sheridan at
Winchester, he had gained valuable experience.

Active in the formation of the West Virginia Medical Society, he
became its second president, for many years acted on its board of
censors and constantly contributed to its transactions. He was one of
the early promoters of the State Historical Society and succeeded in
effecting an initial organization in connection with the university.
From the establishment of the West Virginia University he was a
special lecturer to the classes in anatomy, physiology and hygiene.
For five years he was resident member of the Board of Regents and in
1878 accepted a professorship in the university with the intention of
making this chair a nucleus for a future medical school. He was one
of the early fellows of the American Surgical Association, and at the
request of members his portrait was added to the collections of
physicians and surgeons known as the Mütter Museum.

In 1878 he married Isabella, daughter of the Rev. Andrew Stevenson,
D. D., of New York City, but left no children. His death was due to
pneumonia contracted from physical exposure on professional duty.
Hitherto no serious illness had hampered his activity.

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