USA > Maryland > Talbot County > History of Talbot county, Maryland, 1661-1861, Volume I > Part 47
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Copy of letter from Hon. Matthew Tilghman to Chas. Carroll ad- dressed :
To Charles Carroll, Esquire,
Baltimore County,
By the post. Maryland.
Dr. Charles:
Phila., June 20, 1775.
Yours of 16th received by the post. I am and long have been in the same state of uneasiness which you express. I will tell you some part of our doings which I am at Liberty to communicate and which tho' you may have probably heard of, it may be a satisfaction to have from me. By a grand Committee of the whole Congress two Resolutions have been formed: 1st, that 15,000 men be raised for the defence and preservation of American Liberty, 10,000 whereof to be stationed near Boston and 5,000 in the City and province of New York. 2nd, that two
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millions of Paper dollars be struck for their support to be sunk in the four last years of seven by each province according to their respective Quotas, which are not yet finally adjusted-and on Friday or Saturday last Coll. Washington was appointed General and Commander in Chief and will probably set off in four or five days for the Army. This is as far as I can go and it may lead you to conjecture what is become of Lee and Major Gates. R. G., L. and J. H. have found excuses to go home. They talked of returning, but we do not expect it; I have long flattered myself with the hope of pacific measures that might avail something but that hope has almost vanished; some without doors talk of sending somebody home; in my judgment 'tis the only step that affords the least glimmering of peace. It is thought Gen'l Gage when the troops all arrived will be 11 or 12,000 strong. The Provincials now about 18,000. It is supposed they will not attack but it is generally thought that Gage will, indeed from all circumstances, I think it probable and dreadful slaughter there will be. I wish I could have entertained you more agreeably, but I fear this is the subject on which we must speak and write for some time to come. May Heaven protect us; pray don't fail ment'g the rec't of my letters; you do not in your last-give my love to Peggy and be assured that I remain,
Most aff'ty yrs,
Mat Tilghman.
Robert Goldsborough John Hanson.
DR. TRISTRAM THOMAS
Sunt verba et veces, quibus hunc lenire delorem Possis, et magnam morbi deponere partem. -HORACE.
1769-1847
The services which the physician renders to his fellowmen are those of the first value, but they are not those that bring the first distinction. Thus in England where the social grades are definitely marked, the sovereign deems the most eminent surgeon or medical practitioner sufficiently rewarded by the bestowal of a Knighthood, while theologians, or mere preachers, are raised to Bishopricks, with seats in the house of lords, and successful lawyers, soldiers, and even authors are made peers of the realm. So in this country, where there are no such methods of recognizing merit, the popular estimate ranks the physician below the members of all the other professions. The reasons for this are not diffi- cult to discover. Omitting what might be said of the disrepute of the profession which came to it on account of its employment of mystical agencies, and its appeals to superstitious feelings, and which caused
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it to be confounded with magic, sorcery, witch-craft, thaumaturgy, astrology, alchemy, conjuration, and the like pseudo arts, agencies and appeals which some even yet do not hesitate to use, though in forms different from those of old, there are other reasons for the low estimate in which the physician's services are held, that are now and ever shall be operative. Some of these may be mentioned. These services cannot be measured by those sensible standards, nor can they be calculated by the computation of numbers such as the common mind employs. Nor do they astonish by any exhibition of great power, now that spir- itual agency is disowned. They are rendered to individuals and not to great societies as are the services of the statesman. They do not protect the recipient from wrongs, personal or pecuniary, threatened by others, as do the services of the lawyer; they do not console the mind under trouble with hopes, amuse it in the hours of calmness with a grace- ful ritual, nor raise it out of its trivialities by eloquent words, like those of the clergyman. Besides the performance of these services are not attended by that éclat that is won by the politician, the jurist, and the priest, by their great public efforts. The cure of a patient of some terrible malady is not heralded like a great speech made in Congress, like a great forensic effort, or even like a great sermon. The physician's acts, for which he deserves and should receive the highest applause, are not performed upon any wide conspicuous stage; not in the halls of legislation, not in the courts of justice, not in the thronged temples of worship, but in the quiet and solitude of the sick-chamber and in the presence of attendants or friends only, with minds preoccupied by the suffering of the patient, and not prepared, if able, to appreciate the value of the services rendered. The arts which the physician practices were aptly characterized by the ancient poet as "mute" and "inglorious" arts. Nay, more, the application of even the profoundest knowledge and the employment of the highest skill by the physician are often called in question by those who have received the benefits of them in their own persons, or in the persons of those bound to them by ties of affection and kindred; for that is attributed to the unaided efforts of nature as if nature were an entity and capable of effort- or to the result of a happy conjunction of circumstances, or to coinci- dence, or to accident, which has been the result of the deepest study of law and the wisest employment of means and methods. Indeed physi- cians themselves are guilty of a self-depreciation and are prone to at- tribute to other agencies than their own what they should claim as the result of their well directed efforts. Finally, the memory of the services
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of the physician is the soonest effaced from the mind of all those rendered by man to his fellow. As physical suffering, which he is called upon to relieve, of all the evils of life are the soonest forgotten-sooner than the loss of property, or than injustice and wrong, which the lawyer is called upon to prevent-sooner than the pangs of a violated conscience, or the agonies of bereavement, which the priest comes in to assuage; so the memory of the physician is the first to fade from the mind, at least such a memory as manifests its existence and permanency by the bestowal of honors. He is fortunate if his pay is not grudged; he is thrice fortunate if he obtain praise with his pay. But of the whole body of physicians, those whose lot is cast in the rural districts have the smallest share of the meagre honors and rewards that are doled out to the profession. Of one of these "country doctors" who rode his weary round for more than half a century within this county; of one upon whose ears there never broke any more inspiring tones than the weak plaudits of a small community, and upon whose eyes there never dawned a vision of the shadowy pinnacles of the temple of fame, it is now pro- posed to give a brief account. Brief it must be, for the life of the physi- cian, and particularly of the country physician, treads a monotonous path of duty, undiversified by incidents of interest such as mark the careers of men of prominence in other spheres of labor.
DOCTOR TRISTRAM THOMAS, 1769-1847
the subject of this memoir, was born at Roadley, the seat of the family for several generations in Bolingbroke Neck, Trappe district of Talbot county, on the 25th of December, 1769. His father bore the same name and was of a family long seated upon the Eastern Shore of Maryland. His mother was of the family of the Martins, a yet more ancient stock. His father dying previous to his birth, in July of the same year, the mother, by advice of her brother, Mr. Thomas Martin, was induced in 1775 to remove to Wilmington, Delaware, in order that her children might have those educational advantages in the schools of that town which were not afforded by her own retired neighborhood and county. In Wilmington she remained until 1777 when, alarmed by the approach of the British army under Gen'l Howe which had landed at the head of Elk in Maryland, and was marching northward for the capture of Philadelphia, she removed to that city. Here she remained until after the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and witnessed the marching in of the victorious general. Her brother dying soon after she was left without protection, and resolved to return to her former home in Talbot; which she did under the safe conduct of Thomas Parvin, a
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worthy Friend of that county then attending a yearly meeting of the people of his Society in Philadelphia. Here she employed a private tutor for her children there being no public school in her vicinity worthy of being patronized. But five years later she again returned to Wilming- ton that she might enter her son Tristram, whom she destined for one of the liberal professions, in the excellent academy established in that town. In this school he remained until he had arrived at the age of sixteen years, following the usual curriculum in the Latin and Greek languages and the Mathematics. Having determined that her son should be trained for the medical profession, he was at this early age placed in the office of Dr. Nicholas Way of Wilmington, where he not only acquired a knowledge of the elements of medical science but also of the beginning of the medical art and especially of practical pharmacy- so necessary to the physician of that day, when apothecaries were not as numerous as now and as accessible by the practitioner of medicine. After an apprenticeship of several years, in the autumn of 1788 he was sent to Philadelphia where he attended the lectures in the Medical College of Philadelphia, a school which founded in 1765 by Doctors Shippen and Morgan, and the first of its kind in America, subsequently became organized as the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. At this time and in this school Doctors Rush and Ship- pen were professors, at the very height of their great reputations. The limited means of Tristram Thomas would not allow his continued resi- dence in Philadelphia, so he returned during the summers of his course to Wilmington. He attended lectures during the winters of 1789 and 1790. During his attendance upon the lectures he had the honor of being elected a member of the Medical Society of Pennsylvania, after having read and defended a thesis agreeably to the rules. At the close of the term in 1791 Tristram Thomas had expected to receive his degree, but after his examination had been passed yet before his diploma had been bestowed he returned to his old home in Talbot on a visit to his friends. Here he was most unexpectedly called upon to inoculate for the smallpox a large number of persons-as many, as he himself has said, as one hundred-an epidemic of that loathsome disease having broken out in the vicinity of the village of Trappe.1 Attention to this
1 Before the introduction of vaccination into this county inoculation was resorted to very generally. For the accomplishment of this operation, it was customary for physicians to advertise that they would at a specified time and place give their attention to inoculating persons desiring to be impressed. The summer season was selected, and a building remote from any habitations, usually a large tobacco barn, was set apart for the purpose. The infected spent the season
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professional duty required that his graduation should be postponed until the following year which was done with the consent of the faculty of the medical school. In 1792 he appeared in Philadelphia, presented his thesis, which had for its subject Pneumonia Stethnica and writt n in the Latin language according to the usage of the day. This thesis he was called upon to defend or in other words he was required to pass an examination upon the subject of which it treated, which he according- ly did with such satisfaction to the faculty of the institution that the degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon him, an honor of which his subsequent course indicated that he was entirely deserving.
After his graduation Doctor Thomas returned to Trappe the scene of his first labors, where he commenced the regular practice of his pro- fession which was never interrupted for more than fifty years. But believing that the county town and its vicinity presented a wider sphere of labor than the smaller village and its restricted neighborhood, he removed in August of the same year, 1792, to Easton, and there he remained ably, faithfully and acceptably discharging the duties, pa- tiently, courageously and perseveringly undergoing the hardships of a country practitioner until removed by death.
But few incidents diversify the life of this estimable physician. In the year 1793 he was selected to be one of that Board of Health of the town of Easton which was formed for the examination of all persons coming from the city of Philadelphia, then infected with yellow fever. At that date the merchants of Talbot made the most of their purchases in that city so that the intercourse between Philadelphia and Easton was intimate and frequent. The other members of the Board of Health were Dr. John Coates, Dr. John Troup Dr. Ennalls Martin and Dr. Stephen Theodore Johnson.2 Dr. Thomas was one of the original cor-
of the incubation and maturity of the disease in these temporary hospitals; and so little apprehension of ill consequences was felt, that the time was passed in jollity and merriment, always subject however to the regimen established by the attending physician.
2 Of these gentlemen it may be well enough to say that Dr. Coates served in the Revolutionary army, having been one of Arnold's men in the expedition against Canada; he served as a soldier, not as a surgeon; he was register of the land office for the Eastern Shore for many years. Dr. John Troup was a member of the Committee of Observation in Talbot during the first years of the Revolution, and it is believed was a surgeon in the army. Dr. Ennalls Martin was a hospital surgeon at Bethlehem, Pa., for several years of the war of Independence, and for many years a successful practitioner at Easton. Dr. S. T. Johnson was son of Henry Johnson, Esq., of Talbot, and brother-in-law of Gen'l Perry Benson. He had no service in the army, but was for many years a most respectable practi- tioner of medicine in this county.
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porators under the act of 1798 of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of Maryland. In 1802 he was made one of the executive committee of the society for the Eastern Shore, and in 1803 he was chosen one of the board of examiners for the same section. Of this board he was for many years a member and for the greater part of the time, up to the date of his death, its president. In this year also he was instrumental in con- nection with other enlightened physicians of the county in dispelling the fears that many experienced as to the dangers, and overcoming the incredulity that possessed the minds of many as to the efficacy of vac- cination, which was introduced into the county in 1803. Publications in the newspaper over his signature with that of others were made, and he added his own opinions to those of distinguished physicians of Philadelphia as to the harmlessness and prophylactic virtue of cow- pox.
In or about the year 1816 a Medical District Society composed of the physicians of Talbot, Queen Anne's and Caroline counties, was formed, of which Dr. Thomas was made the President and Dr. Rob't Moore, of Easton, the Secretary.3 At a meeting of this society in Easton, May 18th, 1818, the rates of charges for medical services were established. In the year 1810 Dr. Thomas associated himself with Mr. Thomas H. Dawson in the drug and apothecary business, establishing a house which is still in existence, conducted by the sons of Dr. Dawson who in the year 1808 came from Philadelphia and settled in Easton. Although Dr. Thomas' name did not appear in the style of the firm, it was well known that he had an interest in the business. He soon learned what every physician who makes the adventure discovers, that a prac- titioner of medicine must have no connection with the dispenser of medicine; so the copartnership was dissolved. At one period in his professional career Dr. Thomas associated with himself his son Dr. William Thomas, a gentleman of amiable traits of character and most respectable abilities as a physician. Dr. William Thomas died on the 11th of Sep., 1851, when tributes of respect were passed to his memory by the members of the profession in Talbot, and a eulogium pro- nounced Nov. 11th by Dr. Ninian Pinkney, of the United States Navy, at the request of the Talbot County Medical Society.
In the year 1845 a most pleasing episode diversified the monotonous life of Dr. Tristram Thomas. As a faithful servant of the community
3 Dr. Robert Moore died in Philadelphia on the 29th of Dec., 1844, aged 81 years. He was for a long time a practitioner of medicine in Easton.
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in which he lived he had labored constantly and assiduously during many years, seldom leaving his home except on professional business and finding almost his sole pleasure in his devotion to beneficent duty. He had shown himself more than the servant. The care of his patients and the solicitude for their welfare which he so constantly exhibited, taken in connection with his most amiable disposition and gentle man- ners had endeared him to all within his sphere, and he was regarded as a personal friend by young and old. As growing years admonished these that he must soon pass away though he was enjoying a vigorous old age, it was suggested privately that some testimonial of the rever- ence and the affection in which he was held should be given to him; and that this testimonial should take a form that would serve to perpetuate the memory of this "beloved physician." Accordingly a number of the citizens of the county including some of the physicians, addressed a letter to Dr. Thomas containing a request that he would consent to stand for his portrait. With a modesty entirely natural to him he at first declined acceding to this request, but was finally prevailed upon to consent. It was determined to have a full length portrait painted, and a fund was collected for the payment of the artist. Mr. Thomas C. Ruckle of this State was invited to Easton to paint the portrait, which he accomplished to the entire satisfaction of everyone, producing a picture which was not only valuable as a likeness of the subject, but as a superior work of art. This portrait after completion was sus- pended for a while in the court house for the inspection and the gratifi- cation of the citizens of the county. At a meeting of the subscribers to the fund it was resolved that the most appropriate place for this portrait was the building of the Medical Department of the University of Maryland, in Baltimore. These gentlemen were authorized to present the picture to the faculty of that institution: Doctors C. C. Cox, A. M. White, W. Hemsley, with W. H. Groome, W. H. Tilghman and Matthew Tilghman Goldsborough, Esquires. It was accompanied by a brief biographical sketch of the subject and a list of subscribers to the fund, to be filed among the archives of the University. The pic- ture and the accompanying papers were acknowledged October 21st, 1845, by Dr. W. E. Aiken, Dean of the faculty of physic to have been received and the names of the honors to have been recorded upon the records of the Faculty. One of the conditions of the gift was that in the event of the dissolution of the medical school, the picture should revert to those contributing to the fund for its execution. It is proper to say that Dr. C. C. Cox who was the author of the memoir of Dr.
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Thomas was chiefly instrumental in securing the painting. The com- pliment thus paid to Dr. Thomas was very grateful to the aged physi- cian and, by universal consent, it was justly merited.
He continued to perform the duties of his profession up to a few days of his death. His health had been uniformly excellent, though physi- cally he was neither rugged nor robust. A regimen of temperateness and care had enabled him to perform labors which would have exhausted stronger men. His mind retained its habitual cheerfulness and buoy- ancy to the last. A slight indisposition from which he seemed entirely to recover preceded his dissolution, and upon the day of his demise he was receiving at his home the visits of his friends and neighbors who were calling upon him to pay their respects. He passed suddenly but peacefully away, apparently without a single pang, August 5th, 1847, at the ripe age of nearly 78 years. His venerable form was viewed after death by many, both young and old, with emotions of unaffected sorrow, and it was followed to the grave by a large concourse of citizens whose presence was more than a formal tribute of respect. By some friendly hand was penned the following as a part of a brief obituary published in the Easton Gazette immediately after his decease.
Thus has gone from our midst a most excellent citizen and a good man. A burning example to the profession of which he was a distinguished ornament, for more than half a century, his memory will be treasured as a rich legacy by those of his medical friends who survive him. By the community to whom his presence and his services have been familiar for so many years, the death of Dr. Thomas is regarded as no ordinary calamity, and more than one recipient of his gentle and paternal offices in the sick room will live to drop a tear upon the sod that covers his ven- erable form, and recall in sad though fond remembrance the many kindly words and deeds that graced his long and useful life.
These threnetic words had a response in the minds of every one who knew the person of whom they were spoken. The members of the medical profession in Talbot in compliance with a published request by some of the faculty residing in Easton, assembled in that town on the 14th of August for the purpose of laying some proper tribute to the memory of their late brother. A series of resolutions was presented and adopted, of which the one following will suffice to indicate the estimate in which Dr. Thomas was held by those best capable of judging of his worth :
Resolved that the rigid observance of medical etiquette; the polite and dignified carriage; the noble generosity of disposition; the amiable-
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ness and gentleness of character; the excellent attainments in science; and the acknowledged professional skill which have marked the public offices in this community for more than fifty years, must ever endear Dr. Thomas to the medical practitioners of his native county, who long have held him in high honor and esteem.
Another resolution provided for the appointment of a committee, the duty of which should be to select some member of the faculty to pronounce an oration upon the life, character and services of the de- ceased; and the 28th day of August was named as the day for its delivery. These gentlemen constituted the committee: Doctors Muse, Hemsley, White, Sol. M. Jenkins, and Russum, and they selected Dr. C. C. Cox of Easton to prepare the discourse. On the day designated this accom- plished gentleman who to extensive and varied scientific attainments adds a high literary culture, and who is not less able as an orator than as a physician, delivered a finished eulogium of the departed, in which a brief review of his life was given and an appreciation of his character and quali- fications presented. It has been the good fortune of but few men of the profession to have been so eloquently praised; it is equally true that there have been but few who have better deserved such praise.4
In forming an estimate of the character and abilities of Dr. Thomas, the utmost partiality cannot attribute to him mental endowments of a high order; while the severest criticisms must concede to him the very best elements of character. Indeed it may be said, not for the sake of the anthithesis, that in his character lay his ability. His most marked traits were his singular mildness, gentleness and urbanity; and his best endowments were his faculty of feeling and showing a sympathy for the suffering and a personal interest in the welfare of those under his care-a sympathy which was spontaneous and unaffected, and an interest which was neither mercenary nor professional. It is not pre- tended that he possessed that finical morality which disdains those de- vices that are employed by some of the most honorable physicians for their own advancement in honor or profit, such as the manifestation of tenderness and solicitude for the sick under their care when none is
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