History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 8

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 8

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" Of the early physicians of Fairfield County, I have succeeded in ob- taining but scanty information. More, doubtless, might have been de- rived from the early records concerning individuals, were the modern titular appendage added to their names as a guide to the investigation. This omission, so general, is probably to be explained from the fact that its degradation by its indiscriminate application to all the pretenders of the period caused the name ' chirurgeon' to be considered an appellative more worthy tbe ambition of educated physicians.

" As stated, I have been able to derive but little, either from record or tradition, of the carly physicians of Fairfield County. It is probable that few of note who made the practice of medicine an exclusive vocation left the larger central towns to locate in the inconsiderable villages of a border county. As in the State generally, many or most of the early clergy of the county united medical prescription with their clerical duties, and it is probable that most of the more regular prescription was in their hands. Of professional prescribers of the period may be enumerated tlie successive grades of root and Indian doctors; those who, originating in thesc, rose through rational observation, and the aid of attention to existing medical literature, to the station of respect- able practitioners ; and those who by previous qualification entered the profession with more or less knowledge of the medical science of tlie period.

"The earliest physician of the latter description in the county, of whom I have obtained a knowledge, was Peter Bulkley, son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, of Concord, aud brother of Rev .- afterwards Dr .- Gershou

Bulkley, of Wethersfield. He resided and practiced in the town of Fairfield, but of his character as a physician I have been able to obtain no particular information. I infer from the probate of his will, con- tained on the probate records, dated March 25, 1691, that lie died in that year. His age at the time of making bis will, dated as above, he de- clares to be forty-uine years. After special devise of his principal estate, which appears to have been small, he adds, 'all tbe other estate I leave it wholly to my executor, whether physic or other household stuff, he knowing all ye concerns about it.' ' His ' medicines, simples and in com- position,' are inventoried at twenty-five pounds. He coustitutes his ' dearly beloved brotber, Gershom Bulkley,' his executor, but he declined the trust.

"Isaac Hall was also a physician of Fairfield, who died iu 1714, but re- garding his reputation nothing special is to be obtained. In his nun- cupative will on the probate record, he is styled Dr. Isaac Hall, but his inventory exhibits but a meagre amount of his professional remains, un- less 'Culpepper's Last Legacy,' included in the list of his scanty miscella- neous library, may have been a repository of astrological mysteries, and therefore afford evidence that he was skilled in the science promulgated by the celebrated author of that name. Sylvester Judd, Esq., of Nortli- ampton, who is most conversant with the early records of Fairfield County, states regarding him ' he was a physician and especially a chi- Turgeon. He was employed by the government in some warlike expedi- tion, and my impression is, that he was somewhat distinguished.'

"James Laborie, according to suchi iuformation as I have been able to obtain, was a French physician, a Huguenot, who emigrated to this country about thic commencement of the last century. I am indebted to Rev. N. E. Cornwall's bistorical discourse on Trinity church, Fairfield, for the following: 'Doctor James Laborie, a French physician of emi- nence, who left his native country towards the close of the seventeenth century, and has been ordained by Mr. Kinglet antistes of the Canton of Zurich in Switzerland, taught and held service according to the usage of the Church of England in his own house in Fairfield.' In a letter preserved in the archives of the above-named church, the doctor in- forms that be 'came to this country as a teacher under the patronage of the Bishop of London, and, being disturbed by the Indians in the vicin- ity of Bostou, came to the colony and county of Fairfield, and began by an introductory discourse to act as a missionary to the English and na- tive inbabitants, but was interrupted immediately by one of the magis- trates.' This announcement of his efforts in Connecticut was probably made at Stratford, where he seems to have resided from 1703 to 1717, but it appears from the records of Fairfield that he resided there as early as 1718. In forming an estimate of the doctor's character as a religious teacher, as shown above, in connection with the somewhat ludicrous notice which he has received as a physician, iu the address of my prede- cessor, concerning lis legal controversy with Mr. Lyron, of Milford, on the subject of lis medical charges, a degree of embarrassment may pos- sibly be encountered. For its removal, however, and in his justification in the latter capacity, it may perhaps be expedient to interpose the pre- sumption that lie liad in a degree been indoctrinated in the Jesuitical principles recognized by the truly Catholic of his native France. Tenets thus imbibed may perhaps have prompted the doctor, in his evangelizing zcal, to devote his medical prerogative, so signally exer- cised upon Lyron's purse, as a subordinate for the promotion of the object of his Protestaut mission among the heathen in the country of lis adoption.

" His medical diploma, dated London, 1697, written in Latin, describing lim as the son of a celebrated physician of France, was recorded by the clerk of Fairfield County Court iu 1703. By his will on the Fairfield probate records of the date 1731, he devises to his son James, 'all my instruments of chirurgirie and my French writings.' His death, accord- ing to the court proceedings, occurred about that period.

"Francis Forgue was also a French physician, who it is understood came to America as surgeon of the Frenchi forces engaged in the defense of Canada against the English, during the war which resulted in its con- quest by the latter. The period at which he left the army, or the cir- cumstances which led to such decision, are at present unknown. Instead, however, of returning to his native country, lie located in Fairfield be- tween the years 1755 and 1760, where he practiced as a physician of con- siderable distinction until bis death. Tradition uniformly assigns to Dr. Forgue the character of a well-educated physician, possessing superior talents; of gentlemanly deportment, and in his social qualities affable and interesting. A friend who is remotely connected with the descend- ants of the doctor writes me that it is his ' impression that be was a skill- ful surgeon, and that he was employed in Washington's army as such. That lie was polite, rather vague iu his religious sentimeutz, perfectly

MEDICAL HISTORY.

honest and liberal, despising any kind of fraud or equivocation, and careless of his pecuniary concerns so long as he and his wife had enough.' Numerous anecdotes current concerning him confirm tho above charac- ter. The following would appear to exhibit his religions sentiments ns coinciding with those of the French school of theologians. Being in company where nn animated discussion arose regarding tho merits and final prospects of the several religions sects, an appeal was at length made to the doctor (who had takon no part in tho dispute) for his opinion on the controverted subject, who jocosely responded : 'By and by Mon- sienr A. (one of the disputants) die; he appear before the judge, who say, Monsieur A., of what sect are you? Monsieur A. say, I be Presbyterian. Say the judge, Monsieur A., you take that apartmcut. By and by Mon- sieur B. (another of the party) die, and go to the tribunal. Say the judge, Monsieur B., of what sect be you? Monsicur B. say, I be Episcopalian. Well, say the judge, Mensieur B., you take that apartment.' Thus dis- posing of the Methodist, Baptist, otc, the doctor adds: ' By and by Dr. Forgue lie.die, and make his appearance. Says the judge, Hah ! doctor, you come, ch ? Of what sect are you ? I say, Oli, I be just nothing at all ! Ah, very well, say the judge, you go where you please, doetor.'

" Another anecdote well illustrates the doctor's frank and nonequivo- cating qualities. He, with one Job Slocum and others, being arraigned before a magistrate for card-playing, for which he was passionately fond, nnd being asked their plea, his companions, ns by legal parlance bound, plead not guilty ! 'Bah l' says the more honest Frenchimen, 'you lie, Job ! you be guilt, I be guilt, we all be guilt! you know yon guilt ! What the fine, Monsieur Justice?' On learning the amount, the doctor promptly proffered the magistrate donble the sam, good-humoredly remarking, ' Me play out tho balance next time, Monsieur Justice,' leaving the re- maining perplexed offenders of the law to heal its breach by reluctantly following the suit so frankly proffered by their more lionest Gallic partner. " Doctor Forgue's men' is an nppellation, at the present time, often applied to persons of free religious faith.

" It is said that he never acquired the fluent use of the English lan- guage, but ever kept his accounts and memorandums in his native dia- leet. His tombstono in Fairfield cemetery contains only the simple me- inorial of his name and time of his decease, with tho further inscription that ' he was a respectablo physician and useful citizen.' HIo diod in 1783, aged fifty-four years.

"It appears from Dr. Sumner's address that Jolin Copp, styled school- master, obtained the recommendation of the selectmen of Norwalk, and applied for a license to practico medicine in 1705. Rev. Dr. Ilall, who is familiar with the ancient records of that town, informs mne ' that Jolin Copp was a schoolmaster, surveyor, deacon, nnd town clerk, which last office he held from 1708 to 1740.' Dr. Hall adds, ' whether ho practice1 medicine I have no means of ascertaining.' Ilo died May 16, 1754, aged seventy-eight years.

" Dr. - Thomas practiced medicine in Newtown, and died probably seventy or eighty years ago. He is said to have been a self-educated physician, and possessed of considerable ability. His wi low married, I am told, Nehemiah Strong, formerly mathematical professor in Yale College.

"Dr. Uriah Rogers, according to information I have'obtained, was born at Braintree, Mass., in 1710, and was a near descendant of Nathaniel Rogers, also a physician, who emigrated to this country from Apington, England, in 1636, and succeeded President Oaks in tho presidency of Harvard College in 1683. Dr. Rogers studied with Dr. Jonathan Bull, of Hartford, and was licensed by the General Court in 1733. IIe soon after located in Norwalk, where he pursned the practice of medicine until his death. He was hospital surgeon in the British army in the French war, so called, in 1758. At the burning of Norwalk, iu 1779, by tho British, a period subsequent to liis death, hris late mansion was destroyed with its effects, including lis books and papers. The only articles preserved wero his silver-headed cane, a present from Governor Fitch, and his family coat-of-arms, which is said to be that of the descendants of Jolin Rogers, the martyr.

"Dr. Rogersis represented as boing a distinguishod physician, of strong and vigorous mind, and enjoying an oxtensive practice. He is also repre- seuted as being eminent for his piety, of a dignified deportment, and much respected in tho community where he resided. He died in 1773, aged sixty-three years. He left six sons, three of whom-Uriah, Heze- kiah, and David-were physicians. Urialı succeeded his father in the practice of medicino in Norwalk, but died carly in life, in 1776, aged thirty-eight years.

" Dr. David Rogers studied medicino with his futher, obtainod a license te practice medicine in New York, and located at Greenfield Hill, Fair- field, where he practiced medicino until age incapacitated him for tho

active dutles of his profession. He died at Norwich In 1523, age l eighty- eight years. Ile held a respectable rank in his profession, is sai I to have been gentlemanly and dignified in his manner, and way wetive and effi- cient in the organization of the county soclety. He heid a counniesion of surgeon in the army of the Revointion, and I am informed was by tho side of Gen. Wooster when he fell at the battle of Ridgefield. This flupily stock appears to have been prolific In supplying branches of the medical profession ; as of Dr. Rogers' five sons, three-viz., David, Charler, and Morris-studied and practiced medicine, and his only daughter war- ried the late Professor Dewees, of Philadelphia. The son Dr. David Rogers, late of New York, was the father of Dr. David L. Rogers, of that city, and also of Dr. James Rogers. Whether acquisiti aus to the profes- sion from the other branches have been as numerous, I am not informe I.

"I nin indebted to the politeness of William HI. Holly, Esq., of Stam- ford, for the following notice of the elder physicians of that town, ay well as of several of a more recent period, of whom my original design pre- eludes a mention in these papers.

"' Dr. Nathaniel Hubbard died in Stamford, in the year 1772, at au ad- vanced age. For forty or fifty years ho was the principal physician in the place, and particularly eminent in his profession.

"' Dr. John Wilson commenced practice about the year 1760, and con- tinned here until 1796, when he remove.I to the city of New York. Ile was n native of Stamford. He died nbout the year 1802, leaving four sons, all physicians,-viz., Jolin (the father of Hon. Jolin Q. Wilson, how of Albany, but for many years a resident of Westport, and judge of the County Court of Fairfield County), Stephen, James, and Heury. John and Stephen settled in the city of New York, James an'1 Henry in the county of Westchester.'

" Dr. Sammel Webb, born in Stamford, March 7, 1760, son of Col. Charles Webb, a distinguished officer of the Revolutionary war, was son- in-law of the abovo Dr. John Wilson. He graduated at Yale College about the year 1779, and immediately commence I the study and practice of medicine with Dr. Wilson, and continued in a successful practice up to the day of liis death, Dec. 20, 1826. Dr. Webb ever enjoyed the esteem and confidence of the community to a remarkable degree, not only in his profession, but in his civil relations. On several occasions he represented the town in the Legislature of the State, and for many years filled the office of a justico of the peace. He died very suddenly of culargement of tho heart, in his sixty-seventh year, having previously enjoyed during life uninterrupted good health. It is a remarkable fact, shewn from entries upon his day-book, that for fourteen years previous to his death not a day passed but he made professional visits.

"There were several physicians of the name of Tomlinson whe formerly resided and practiced medicine iu Stratford. Their respective names, as I learn, were Agur Tomlinson, William Agur Tomlinson, son of the above, Charles Tourlinson, nephew of Agur, and Hezekiah Tom- linson.

" I have been able to obtain but little of their biographies, other than that they were highly respectable ns citizens, and two or three of the number were of considerable eminence as physicians. The first gradu- ated at Yalo Collego in 1744, and died in 1776, aged fifty-three years. Hezekiah also graduated at the same institution in 1765, aud died in 1781, aged thirty-four years.

" Dr. William Agur Tomlinson is said to have been somewhat emi- nent in his profession. IIe, I am informed, espoused the cause of the king in the war of the Revolution, and retirol with most of the Ameries- English patriots to Nova Scotia at its close, where he resided for n peri xdl. He subsequently returned to Stratford and resumed professional duties. He is stated to have applied to the State Legislature for and obtained a special net granting a restoration of his sequestered estate, and also the privilege of collecting his medical bills, contracted previous to his expa- triation. He is reported to have exercised this indulgence oppressively on many of his debtors, He died in 1759.

" Two gentlemen of the name of Clark, who were brothers,-viz., Joseph aud James,-and also a physician by the uame of Russel, practiced modicino at an early period in Stratford. The Clarks are reported as physicians of eminence for the period; but I am unable to state anything regarding Dr. Russel. Joseph Clark is reported ns a physician of emi- nence, and much esteemed in his profession, a citizen of good principles, anl a kind, nffable, und gentlemanly man. He espoused the cause o the king during the Revolution, in consequence of which his family suffered mnch indignity from tho zealous populace. He fled with his family to the British provinces, where lie probably died.

" Before proceeding to a notice of the later physicians of Fairfield County, such as were connected with the organization of its medical society, I will briefly allude to the general conditi'm of medicine an.l

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

medical literature in the county previous to its society organization, as far as accessiblo faets furnish information on the subject.

"Doubtless the medical history of this is similar to that of most other counties in this State; but as association, as well in medical as in eivil relations, was more intimate between the population within the boun- daries of each of these geographical sections, it is reasonable to suppose that influences would originate from such intercourse which would establish peculiarities not only in their ordinary domestic relations, but also in the sentiments and babits of practice among the physicians of each eounty.

"In the early periods of the settlement of the State intercourse among her physicians was circumscribed, and access to medical literature diffi- cult. Medical morals therefore, as well as prescription, doubtless in a considerable degree, received modification from the character and quali- fication of individuals who were the administrators of the healing ait. Hence it is probable that each county presented a medieal character considerably deviating from that of its neighboring counties.

"Among the causes of sectional peculiarities in the State of the medi- cal profession, not the least was an unequal numerical possession, by its several counties, of physicians of a more refined and exalted education.

" It may readily be conceived that the medical character of each county would bo elevated or depressed in a ratio proportionate to the enjoyment or absence of the salutary influence which such must exert upon the sentiments of the community in which they resided. In counties num- bering but a limited portion of physicians of this description, it is to be presumed that the public sentiment regarding medicine would be moulded by and made conformable to the inculcations of the empirical pretenders, while in sections enjoying the teachings of a greater portion of the honorable and educated, a more acenrate and elevated estimate would be formed relative to the merits and claims of the varions medical administrators within its precincts.

"In fields preoccupied by the quaekish pretenders who had cautiously intrenched thomselves in the favor of a marvel-seeking public, by ex- hibiting the mysteries with which they ever envelop their art, the honor- able and scientifie physician could hardly be expected to seek his fortune. To such fields, therefore, would the varions species of pretender, who ever shrink from the light of science, retire with the object not only of reaping the pecuniary harvests which they presented, but with the view also of escaping the dangers of a detection of his devices. In common with other border counties of the State, Fairfield County originally enjoyed less the councils of the better educated physicians than counties more central and populous; consequently it experienced more and longer than those the evils of empiricism and quackery.

" Although its several larger aud populous villages early possessed their so-called regular physicians, yet these were mostly derivations from the root and Indian doctors, whose professional habits had been formed in the schools whence they originated. A portion of the more rational of these sought association and gradually became assimilated in practical views with their systematically educated brethren ; but while assuming such position they did not hesitate, from motives of enhancing their in- terests, to foster the popular notion shrewdly inculcated in their Alma Mater, that diseases of peenliar location were of special and indigenous character, and that their specific remedies existed principally in the forests and fields in which they originated. Many of these practitioners, however, who possessed greater honesty of character, connected with a native taste for the science which they professed, in the emergencies oc- curling in their practice resorted to some ' printed guide to health,' and perchance to tho works of Boerhave or Sydenham, which not unfre- quently became their standard counselors in practice, and also their in- structors in the leisure of their domestic retirement.

" By such discipline, aided by observation of tho character of disease as well as by occasional consultations with better instructed physicians, many of this self-educated class became elevated to a respectable rank as practitioners and useful in the community where they resided. By means of such improvement in the qualification of its professors, the healing art advanced in respectability ; the absurdities of the medical impostor were exposed to the judgment of the reflecting; and the popular senti- ment, which bad been trained in the belief of its marvelous results, was gradually led to contemplate medical science in the view of the ordinary sciences, whichi, like these, being based on sensible and rational princi- ples, was to be acquired but through a patient and careful investigation.

"It has been remarkel that tho moro considerable villages usually enjoyed the advantages of the services of regularly educated physicians. By reason, however, of the scanty ineans afforded for the acquirement of medical knowledge in the early periods of our State's history, the re- inark may not be deemed invidions, that far the larger portion of medical

practitioners, at the commencement of their practice, probably possessed less theoretical medical literature than that acquired by the diligent stu- dent of medicine at the present time after a pupilage of a few months in the office of the private practitioner, exclusive of the instruction which he receives from a course of lectures in a public medical institution.

"Oceasionally might be found in the more populons districts physicians who had received their education in European schools. Such were gen- erally versed in the medical science of the period, and of course were im- portant accessions, not only to the community which enjoyed tho benefit of their skill, but also to the medical profession by the influence which they exerted in the elevation of the standard of its character and general qualification.

" The early source of medieal knowledge in the New England colonies was only that of the private practitioner, and as most of these were versed only in the more immediate practical branches, such as materia medica, theory and practice, etc., a passable familiarity of the student with these was deemed adequate qualification for the exercise of his skill as a publie practitioner. Extensive attainments in midwifery and surgery were deemed of secondary importance to the medical practitioner, for the rea- son that, while cases of the former were commonly presided over by the professional 'gudewife' of the neighborhood, the important cases of the latter, as at the present time, were submitted to the skill of the profcs- sional operator in that department.

" As far as I bave been able to obtain information, calls upon the phy- sician to perforin obstetrical duties were rare prior to 1800, or perhaps, in some locations, a few years previous. In periods considerably earlier than tho date mentioned, it is believed that in no cases were their services re- quired except perhaps in a few rare instances which were attended with circumstances of a difficult or untoward character. Previous to the for- mation of the county society, it is believed that the time devoted to medi- cal qualification, even of the regular practitioner, was optional with the candidate for public favor. His reliance for a successful practice was more upon the popular decision regarding his skill than upon certificates of qualification which he might derive from his medical teacher. However short may have been the term devoted to the acquirement of medical science, those adopting the system of the then recognized regular prae- tice were readily acknowledged and received into the ranks of the pro- fessional fraternity, with the members of which mutual consultations were held over their respective patients.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 8

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572