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Horatio Robinson Storer’s journey west

Horatio Robinson Storer’s journey west

Frederick N. Dyer

We noted that Horatio Robinson Storer first contacted the American Medical Association in 1857 and that his request for creation of an American Medical Association Committee on Criminal Abortion was granted at the Annual Meeting of the Association in Nashville in May of that year. He was made Chairman of the new Committee with power to appoint the other Committee members. We mentioned that it would be two years before the important American Medical Association Report on Criminal Abortion was presented at the May 1859 Annual meeting held in Louisville.

The delay was related to Horatio's concern about chest symptoms and a trip west which he took on the one hand for health reasons and on the other to collect Natural History specimens. He wrote Spencer Fullerton Baird of the Smithsonian Institution on Jan. 5, 1858, requesting collecting cases for his natural history efforts. The letter included "I shall undoubtedly have opportunities of getting hold of various interesting specimens in Texas, but have been at a loss as to how to transport them.  It has been suggested that you might have collecting cases on hand, better than anything I could get made here, even if there were time." He also indicated that he would leave Boston on January 12.

North Shore-raised journalist chronicles the newfound love of grandparenting
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North Shore-raised journalist chronicles the newfound love of grandparenting

Diane Kilgore

Lesley Stahl, born in Lynn and raised in the sea-scaped town of Swampscott, is best known to some as a chronicler of stories on CBS's "60 Minutes." Of the many vivid chapters Leslie has written in her world-traveling diary, the tale she now pens with curiosity, poignancy and societal resonance is that of becoming a grandmother.

In her new book, "Becoming Grandma: The Joys and Science of the New Grandparenting" Lesley shares her memory of transcendence as she cradled her daughter Taylor's newborn in her arms. Stahl says baby girl Jordan made her think she was growing a new chamber in her heart. The seasoned White House correspondent under Presidents Carter, Reagan, and G.H.W. Bush, remembers "I nearly swooned staring at her like a lover." She goes on to say, "I was at a time in my life when I assumed I had already had my best day, my tallest high. But now, I was overwhelmed with euphoria."

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