History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

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 9

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"In a condition of medical literature like that of the period under consideration, it might be expected that a preponderating ratio of em- piricism would necessarily become blended with its elements as well as in the practice of its professors. Indeed, sneh is the view of the practice of the period, as contemplated by the modern observer, that its character is necessarily represented as partaking more of a systematie empiricism or charlatanry than of an elevated scientific profession. In extenuation, however, of such professional state, it ought to be taken into considera- tion that the sources for the acquisition of medical knowledge in the American colonies were few and scanty, and the means for its attainment abroad were accessible to but few. The emergencies of disease ever ex- isting wherever there was population, the public, therefore, were neces- sarily impelled to the employment of such professors of the art of heal- ing as were attainable in the vicinity of its occurrence, and that often without the option of a selection between the better qualified physician and the dispensers of nostrums or Indian specifics.

" With alternatives thins urgent to influence a public possessing few of the present facilities for scientific acquirement adequate to direet its decisions, or, indeed, in most instances, of even judging by comparisou of the qualification of medical claimants on their favor, it may readily be conceived that a limited discrimination would be exercised in the selection of a medical adviser. Nor did it present a new problem in the science of human nature for solution, whon it was discovered that abnn- dant unscrupulous candidates for popular favor should be found as ad- venturers upon their fortune in the profession, with but a modicum of knowledge of the intricate sources of disease, or of the nature of the active agents of the Materia Medica adapted to their removal.

"As ignorance is the parent of quackery and empiricism, little else could be expected of the earlier professional character of the State than its history actually presents, But the fact that a considerable portion of society at the present period, enjoying the advantages of a general dif- fusion of education and scientifie refinement, with thio educated physi- eian accessible to,all, should with an eagerness and ready faith, worthy of former times, embraee such baseless and ephemeral novelties as the botanic, homeopathic, and hydropathic vagaries, as well as the flood of popular nostrums which delnge community (aud that not meroly by its more ignorant members, but also embraeing many of the better educated

MEDICAL HISTORY.

elass), presents a psychologieal enigma of more difficult explanation. With such abounding credulity, thus manifested, relative to the healing art, we may eease to be surprised that in darker eras of our early history, embracing a marvel-loving public, and a medical profession whose mem- bers were irresponsible to codes, sanctioned by a majority of its con- stituents, the toils and pecuniary sacrifices incident to a competent medical education should be evaded for tho more enticing embrace of the emoluments proffered by the immediate assumption of the office of physician.

" It certainly affords evidence that as conscientious rectitnde and phi- lanthropy are marked characteristics of the medical profession, since, with the faet so strikingly presented to the student of medicine that the qnack will share with him his portion of public patronage, he, notwith- standing, submits to the sacrifiee attendant upon the acquirement of such education as alone can qualify him for the office of a competent physician. With a medical profession imperfectly educated, like that of former times, and a public sentiment schoolod and disciplined in the be- lief of its mysterious resources, it might reasonably be anticipated that knavish pretenders, as well as the dishonest of the profession, would seek the promotion of their interests through annonneements of various spe- cifics, assumed as marvelous revelations of indigenous agencies, which were particularly adapted to the prevalent diseases of the same location ; or that the mysterious manifestations of the Indian charactor, associated with his marvelous traditions, would be made available for the purpose of exciting the imagination of the credulous, and thereby beguihug them te devete both their health and interests at the shiino of their un- hallowed ambition.

"It is manifest that dishonorable arts and devices of this descrip- tion, solely designed to innre to the profits of their inventors, especially when resorted to by members of the profession, could not fail to be pro- lific of discords among neighboring physicians, such as are too well known to have characterized and disgraced the medical society in Con- necticut.

" In Fairfield, and probably in othor counties, a melancholy disregard of professional etiquette characterized most of her physicians previous to the organization of her medical society ; and I am compelled to add, that the confirmed habits of many practitioners protracted the evil for a con- siderable period subsequently, notwithstanding its salutary provisions of codes and by-laws, with the object of suppressing the evil. Friendly pro- fessional intereourse was rare among neighboring physicians. Many habitually visited and prescribed for patients in the absence of or with- out the knowledge of the regular attendant; and facts too clearly prove that often petty and dishonest devices were resorted to, with the object of supplantiug an absent rival in the confidence of the patient or his friends. It was not uncommon, in such circumstances, for the recent attendant to denounce the treatment of his predecessor, and after a sum- mary consignment of his medicines either to the fire or through the window, to substitute from his own steres those, most likely, of the same or of a similar character.

" It is deplorable to contemplate sueh utter prostration of honorable deportment by men professing to be members of an ostensibly learned and honorable profession ; by those too who, there is reason to believe, were sufficiently observant of a gentlemanly demeanor in their inter- conrse with other members of the community.

"Such being the view of medical society presented by a retrospect into its past history, it would be interesting to investigate and portray the causes which have effected its present comparatively elevated and im- proved condition. It would be equally interesting to note the different phases of melioration through which the medical society in Connecticut has passed in its progress to the superior moral and scientific position which it holds at the present time. But the discussion would be incom- patiblo with the present design, even did the circumscribed limits of an address on this occasion afford adequate space. It cannot, however, bo matter of doubt that the improvement has been effected by the unre- mitted labors of a few of the master spirits of the profession who havo lived in the different eras of our professional history. These, experien- cing and deploring the existing evils and impressed with the conviction of the inadequacy of detached individual efforts for their correction, ulti- mately devised the remedy of society association, by means of which a eoneerted influence of the moro respectable physicians of the State might more effectually be directed to the promotion and advancement of the interests as well as the respectability of the profession.

"No doubt much had been effected by individual assidnity previous to the establishment of medical associations. But such detached and limited efforts had been proved manifestly inadequate to effect a reform of an entire system, defective not only in its general scientific qualifications

Init also depressed in Its moral character by the long established unworis] and unprofessional habits and practices of a large portion of its members. It is manifest that to remedy the former an elevated and uniform stan- dard of elocation was required by which the quallfleations of aspirants to membership were to be tested, and their clalins derided by a competent tribunal delegated with adequate authority to deny admission to the in- competent ; while to effect the latter, such codes and regulations, pro- mulgated by a no less potent authority, were demanded as might prove restraints on tho propensities of such of its members as were then, as at the present time, unfortunately endowed with a prelominancy of the selfish impulses over their honorable sentiments.

" With the landable object of effecting a profesional reform and im- provement, the physicians of several towns and counties embraced the plan of society association as the most effective means for its accomplish- ment. Experience soon manifested the happy effects of the system, and that its greatest possible good might be attained, the plan of a general State association was conceived and ultimately adopted by the varions county societies. This received incorporation by act of Legislature in 1792.

" The design of organization was not simultaneously embraced by the various sections of the State, but each with zeal successively adopted a measure, the happy effects of which were plainly manifested mpon the medical society of the sections which had experienced its benefits. The eity of Norwich aud Litchfield County appear to have taken the initia- tive in medical organization; the first in 1762 or 1763, the last in 1765. Windham and New Haven Counties, a few years later, followed the ex- ample set by the first mentioned, and instituted their societies. Fairfield County appears to have been more tardy in the formation of her society, which was organized in 1792, being a few months subsequent to the in- corporation, by the Legislature, of the State Medical Society, which was granted in the spring of that year.

" Although Fairfield was later in the movement of organization than its sister counties, yet I am led to infer that a no less active sentiment for reform existed in the minds of her physicians than that already mani- fested in the other sections of the State. This is shown from the fact that the society records exhibit, appended to the original articles of the association, the names of foi ty of her most respectable contemporary physi- ciaus, being probably about the number of regular practitioners in the eounty at the period of its organization.

"In view of this ready concurrence and support obtained for her society from so large a portion of the physicians of the county, it is with regret that I am compelled to the admission, that subsequently, and even at the present time, a large number of respectable practitioners of the county question its utility and withhold their influence and the peenniary aid requisite to sustain its action for the attainment of the greatest goud for which it might be made susceptible. I am happy, however, in being able to state that most of its repudiators virtually admit the saltary influence which it has effected, by their practice of a professional deportment ae- eordant with its police established for the rogulatiou of professional in- tercourse between its members.

"I learn from its records that the Fairfield County Society united with a commendable zeal with those of the other counties in an application to the Legislature for the charter of the State Society. At its first meet- ing at Redding, March, 1792, the following vote appears,-' Voted, that Drs. James Potter, John Lester, and David Rogers, be delegates to meet delegates from other counties in the State, at llartford, in May next, in order to form a plan of general incorporation, to lay before the Hon. General Assembly at their next session.' The first delegates (so termed) of the society to meet at convention in Middletown were appointed in September, 1792. and consisted of Drs. James Potter, Thaddeus Betts, Hosca Hurlbut, James Clark, and Amos Mead. That the office of fel- low at that time was one remunerated by love and patriotism only, would appear from a vote of the society, preceding the appointment of the gen- tlemen above named, as follows :- 'Voted, that this meeting will make no compensation to the delegates to the Middletown Convention.'

" It also appears that the somewhat characteristic repugnance to taxa- tion, at present existing with a portion of the physicians of Fairfield County, instead of being an infection of recent origin, is but the devel- opment of a predisposition, derived from their professional progenitors: as appears from the following vote passed at the county meeting in May, 1793,-' Voted, that whereas tho IIon. General Convention of the Fel- lows of the Medical Society of Connecticut, at their session at Middle- town in October last, voted, that they have power to levy and collect taxes for their own support and expenses while in Convention ; it is the opinion of this meeting that said Convention of Fellows have not said powers, agreeablo to the act of incorporation of the Medical Society ;

HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and that the delegates of this county givo information of this vote to the adjourned convention to be holden at Hartford on the 16th day of May.'

" A reflective panacea, however, seems speedily to have suppressed the tendency to a development of the affection in the minds of those origi- nally affected, while that of inheritance has, in some cases, proved ob- durate and irremediable. It would appear from the following vote that the above was dictated rather by a constructive view of the act of in- corporation as regards taxation, than of hostility to the principle. At a meeting of the County Society in 1796, it was voted, 'That the President and Fellows of the Connecticut Medical Society in legal convention, shall have full power to levy taxes on themselves, not exceeding one dollar on each member per annum.' Also it was voted, ' That the Presi- dent and Fellows of said Society, in convention, shall have ample power. to impose such pecuniary penalties on the members of said society, for a transgression of their By-Laws, as may be deemed necessary for the well ordciing of said society, not exceeding the sum of $50.' It was also voted, ' That it is the wish of this meeting that the General Assembly be solicited by General Convention to absolve the members of the Medical Society of the State of Connecticut, from paying the moneys taxed for the support of the civil list ; provided the like snm be yearly taxed, and collected, and appropriated for the sole purpose of diffusing medical kuowledge,-voted, that the above vote be transmitted to the medical convention.' A vote similar to the above was repeated iu 1798; but what action resulted, if any, does not appear.

"The following Preamble and Resolution, passed in 1794, exhibit a zeal in Fairfield County Society, for the cultivation and diffusion of medical knowledge, among its members, worthy of imitation by the present members of all medieal societies,-viz., ' Whereas the material end, usc, and design of the Medical Society of Connecticut was to diffuse and cultivate medical knowledge among the faculty ; aud as this noble purpose caunot be answered in any way so well as by the members mutually disclosing anything that occurs to their minds that may be in any way useful, either in the theory or practice of medicine-Resolved, that it shall be the duty of every member of this Medical Society to ex- hibit, at least once in two years, to the society, a dissertation on some medical subject, or relate an account of some cases in the course of his practice that may be marked with most peculiarities, together with his remarks thereon. Resolved, That if any member shall refuse to comply with the foregoing resolution, he shall be considered as guilty of neglect of duty to this society and to mankind in general.' Though the require- ments of the above resolution were probably not realized to its full ex- tent, yet the records of the society and, present experience prove that, through written and oral communication, elicited by the association, much has been effected in the dissemination of individual experience and observation among its members.

"By means of adequate police regulations, originally adopted and occasionally modified to meet existing emergencies, a salutary reformation has been effected of the unsocial habits formerly characterizing profes- sional intercourse. Indeed, at the present time, such is the degree of professional comity generally observed by the physicians of Fairfield County, that eveu private complaints are rarely heard of its breach in the ordinary intercourse of neighboring physicians.

"It will probably be claimed hy repudiators of medical societies that the improved condition of medical science is a necessary sequence of the advanced state of general literature characterizing the period; and that the improved moral and social habits of the profession have been the natural result of the superior refinement of modern society compared with that of preceding eras. While it is conceded that the cultivation of science tends to refine the taste, and to strengthen the honorable feelings of the few who are its devotees, yet it mnay admit of question whether, as regards the 'utile in modo,' in the present age of activity of the selfish passions and propensities, society can justly hoast a marked superiority of the social and lionorable accomplishments over those of the past cen- tury.

" But to what cause, it may pertinently be asked, has medical science and the social improvements of the profession been indebted, more than to the efforts of its members which have originated and been promulgated by the authority of the various associations of the period ? It is futile to contend that the inuate selfishness of some individuals iu all profes- sions can adequately be restrained, except by the force of a general puh- lic as well as professional sentiment, expressed by means of codes ema- nating from majorities of individuals in recognized association.

" It requires but a reference to the known tendencies of human nature to predict that should the existing system of medical association be aban- doned, and the former comparatively secluded state of medical society be reintroduced, no existing refinements, whether social or scientific,

would prove adequate to sustain unharmed its present advanced position. There is reason to apprehend that our professional system, with its centric influences thus unhappily dissevered, and tho affinities of interest re- maining to assume their native sway over its detached and less responsi- ble constituents, as in former periods, still contains a sufficient amount of discordant elements, not only essentially to derange its existing fra- ternity, but also greatly to endanger its scientific progress.

" It is thereforo much to be desired that the repudiators of our medical organization, those who by their frequent interrogatory 'qui bono ?" man- ifestly depreciate its character and importance, both in view of the public and many of the junior members of tho profession, should institute a comparison between the present and past social and scientific history of the medical profession in the State, and then decide to what causes its present improved condition is to be attributed.

"It is presumed that such candid investigation will furnish sufficient evidcuce to convince the most skeptical that it is through the emulation, stimulated by the fraternal intercourse of its members in the various public associations, that we have been enahled to realize the present im- proved moral and educational superiority of the profession over its past condition ; and that it is through a continuance of the same ageucy that we may confidently hope for a progressive advancement of its respect- ability and importance in the estimation of the community far beyond its preseut position.

"It has been noticed that most of the respectable physicians of Fair- field County embraced with alacrity and zeal the plan of society organi- zation. Also, the records of its society have been noticed to prove that their attention was early directed to professional improvement, by their adoption of measures for the diffusion of medical knowledge and expe- rience among its members. A police system was also early established designed to remedy evils which had long interrupted the harmony and fraternity of the medical society in the county; an abnse indulged to such extent as not only to derogate the character and rank of the pro- fession in the view of the community, but doubtless in many cases in; stead of its officiating as an agent of mercy it became rather a demon of evil to many a luckless subject whom disease had chanced to prostrate on the areua of conflict of his medical attendants.

"Indeed, such was the existing emergency that had been induced by the indulgence of empirical habits by some of its physicians, that pro- fessioual contention was rendered proverbially illustrative of discords in society generally. Individual experience, whether rcal or assumed, was habitnally vaunted with the object of begniling the imagination of the credulous; and with many reputably respectable physicians the art of abstracting the legitimate patients of neighboring rivals was paramount to that of healing their respective diseases. Indeed, self-interest, sought to be promoted by such dishonorable means, appeared as the object that swayed many practitioners, rather than the honorable and liberal efforts adapted to the advancement of medical science and the public health for which they professed a special regard.

"To effect a reform of this depressed state of professional character, and to advance the scientific interests of the profession, was the object of those patriots who originatel aud by assiduity effected the medical organization of Fairfield County. They successfully encountered the herculean task, and by the continued efforts of their successors the hydra evils so detrimental to the medical character have nearly disap- peared from the field of their former influence. Those worthy pioneers now all rest from their labors, but their invaluable works remain, and it is tlicir due that their names be held in grateful remembrance by those who have succeeded them in the same field of professional toil.

"The names of the original subscribers of Fairfield County Society, who were contemporary practitioners iu the county, are the following,- viz., Asahel Fitch, Jonathan Knight, Preserve Wood, Gabriel Baldwin, Ezra Curtis, David Hull, James E. Beach, Stephen Rockwell, William Shelton, Joseph Trowbridge, James Clark, Thaddeus Betts, Thomas Davis, Elisha Belcher, James Potter, David Rogers, James Scofield, Hosea Hurlbut, Lewis Beers, Amos Mead, Jonathan Poor, Shadrach Mead, Gideon Shepard, Elijah Hawley, Oliver Bencroft, Amos Baker, Samuel Webb, John Lcster, Beunett Perry, Eli Perry, Orange Benton, Benjamin Curtis, Jolin Wood, Stephen Middlebrook, Augustin Merwin, Jolin R. Gregory, Anios Botsford, William Beard, Daniel Beard, William Edson, Minor Higby, Gideon Beardsley.

"It would afford gratification, did the occasion admit, to bestow a par- ticular notice of cach individual whose names are appended to the fore- going list; hut as this is denied, I shall select those only, who from thoir popular estimate as practitioners, or from thicir mental characteristics, enjoyed a more extensive reputation in the community in which they resided.

MEDICAL HISTORY.

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" As a tribute, however, due to those whom our limits forbid a moro partienlar mention, I may generally state, that they wero respectable and vnlned practitioners; many of their number possessing merit and qualification, as such, uot inferior to others who, endowed with those fortunate characteristic traits which ever arrest popular attention, en- joyed a more extended and prominent reputation.

" Dr. James Potter reside:l and practiced in Sherman, originally a part of New Fairfield, n town in the northwest part of Fairfield County. Ac- cording to the best information I have obtained, his native place was Southington in this State. I have not been able to learn where or how he was educated. Rev. M. Guelston, of Sherman, thinks that he most probably obtained his medical education under the instruction of his relative, Dr. Potter, formerly a physician of Wallingford. Dr. Potter appears early to have united and become a member of the New Haven County Society previous to the organization of that of his own county, and was the third president of the Connecticut Medical Society. He was probably the prime agent in the institution of that of his own county, as its records show that its first meeting was assembled by his notification. Its honors were more frequently bestowed on him than on any other in- dividual member. As a practitioner, however, I do not learn that ho possessed scientifie or practical qualification superior to many of his brethren of the county. Ilis zeal was ardent in the promotion of the in- terests of the profession, and to its exerciso is undoubtedly to be attrib- uted the ready acquiescence obtained from so large a portion of her phy- sicians for the proposed county organization. The notice which Dr. Potter has obtained from my predecessor supersedes the necessity of an extended mention of his public character. Rev. M. Guelstop writes re- garding him, 'As a physician he was highly esteemed here and in a wide circle around. No intruder could have encroached upon his business. In the political, civil, and religious community his agency and influence was great, and his memory has been cherished by all who knew him. He was a popular teacher, and instructed many students in the science of his profession.'

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 9

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