A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 90

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188

USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The first physician who appears to have settled here was Dr. John Mackie, who was here previous to 1736. He died in 1758, and of his medical practice we have no knowledge whatever. Succeeding him came Dr. William Smith, son of Nathaniel Smith, Esq., who owned a very large estate at Moriches. He first came to Southampton as a scholar of the Rev. Sylvanus White. In 1742 he studied medicine in Philadelphia, and settled here in 1754, remaining here until his death in 1775. His son, Dr. John Smith, was a physician here for many years, but the real successors of Dr. William Smith were Drs. Henry White and Silas Halsey, the latter removing to the western part of the State after the Revolu- tion.

Of the nature of a doctor's practice during the latter part of the last century and the early part of the present, we have a very full de- scription, contained in the account book of Dr. White, which is still in existence. His prices certainly were moderate,-so moderate that if physicians at the present time followed his scale of prices we could almost afford to be sick. As examples of the fees then earned by the medical profession, we may mention the following: Charge for a visit in the vicinity --- one shilling. For a visit more than a mile distant-three shillings. For a night visit- four shillings. A visit to the North Sea-five shillings, and if he stayed there all night, and furnished medicines, the charge was nine shil-

lings and six pence. To Setli Squire's, at Squiretown-seven shillings. To Wakeman Foster's, at Pon Quogue-eight shillings, and the same to Red Creek.

A visit, with paregoric, cost Squire Her- rick (a near neighbor) two shillings, and for three visits, with spirits of nitre, he charged three shillings and six pence. A visit to Wick- apog, in the night, with castor oil and pare- goric furnished, was ten shillings. He made a good many visits to Samuel Jaggeis, at Long Springs, at three shillings each. His son Syl- vanus made a good many more visits, but he got a wife by them. The fee for extracting a tooth was one shilling. A "purge" was one shilling and four pence; an emetic the same ; also the same for a dose of rhubarb. Two visits to Shinnecock, with sundry medicines, cost some Indians twelve shillings. A visit to North Sea, with bleeding thrown in, was four shillings.

A large part of his pay was taken in barter and days' work. At one time he gets a load of sea-weed for a visit, with the inevitable "purge," and again he brings home a fine bass, at a cost of a cent and a half a pound. We have no doubt but that his successors in the profession would be glad of such a chance occasionally. In one instance, a wealthy fam- ily at North Sea, for divers visits and doses, had run up a bill of nine pounds, seven shil- lings and six pence. This was paid, in what the doctor very justly calls "sundries," and in- cludes apples, flax, wood, pears, timothy seed, beans, clams, fish, eels, pigs, watermelons and geese.

His accounts show that all the medicines he used were of the very mildest kind, and it is doubtful if they have either killed or cured. Phlebotomy and cathartic medicines, or as he expressed it in much plainer English, "bleed- ing and a purge," was the beginning, the mid- dle, and the end. No matter what the disease might be, a "purge" was the first remedy ad- ministered. If the patient recovered, the doc- tor had the credit of it; if he died, it was charged to Providence.

When Dr. Smith wished to replenish his stock of drugs, he saddled his horse, fastened on his saddle bags, and started for New York. The end of the first day found him at Patch- ogue, where he tarried at the tavern over night. The next evening found him in the city, which then extended almost to Canal street. Having accomplished his business, he

588

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

started on his return home, and Saturday night found him safe at home.

The foregoing notes give an idea of the practice of medicine, and the relation of the physician to the people, up to the beginning of the present century, on Long Island. It is probable that the same relative conditions ex- isted in every other part of the country at that time. The following items regarding the phy- sicians in practice on Long Island up to this time, as far as the writer has been able to col- lect information concerning them, are intended to give the medical men of our city at the pres- ent time a view of the scarcity of physicians at that time, in any of the three counties of Long Island, for the purpose of organizing a Medical Society. In the county of Kings, the number was exceedingly small. Still there may have been a number of medical men in practice on this island, at the time referred to, who simply attended to their professional work, and never permitted their names to ap- pear in connection with any other work, but this was probably not the case, as they would likely have been called upon to perform some work for the town in which they lived, and in that way their names would appear upon rec- ord.

"The Annals of Medical Progress," by Joseph M. Toner, M. D., 1874, makes mention of the following physicians on Long Island :

Samuel Osborn, a son of Dr. John Osborn, of Middletown, Conn., studied medicine and became a physician of repute in Brooklyn. He subsequently resided in New York city. Drs. Ball and Wendell succeeded to his practice in Brooklyn.

Dr. Benjamin Treadwell, a physician of Long Island, was in practice for nearly sixty- five years. He died in North Hempstead, in 1830, aged ninety-five years.

Dr. Jacob Ogden was born at Newark, N. J., in 1721. Received the best medical educa- tion the Colonies afforded, and removed to Jamaica, L. I., where he remained in practice

during the remainder of his life. He was Warden of Grace Church from 1761 to 1802. He wrote several medical dissertations on the sore throat distemper of 1769. The application of mercury in the treatment of inflammatory complaints was extensively used by him in 1749: He was also noted for his advocacy of inoculation. He died at Jamaica, L. I., Sep- tember, 1780, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

Dr. Samuel Martin, of Hempstead, L. I., son of the Hon. Josiah Martin, located in Hempstead, where he was Warden of St. George's Church from 1770 to 1791. He died at Rock Hall, April 19, 1806, aged sixty-five years.

In the Proceedings of the Medical Society of the County of Kings, 1876, Dr. R. M. Wyckoff contributes a paper on "Kings County in 1776," from which we extract the following notes :

Dr. John Jones, who assisted the Pro- vincial Congress in establishing regimental hospitals, was a native of Jamaica, L. I. He was born in 1729. He studied medicine in Europe. Returning to this country in 1768, he was selected to fill the honorable station of Professor of Surgery in the Medical School of New York. He is the author of the first surgical book published in this country. It was brought out in 1776. The title reads : "Treatment of Wounds and Fractures; with an Appendix on Military Hospitals." He died June 23, 1791, aged sixty-two years.

Dr. Daniel Menema, a native of New York, who served as surgeon in the Second New York Regiment, was afterwards a resident of Jamaica, Queens county. He was a member of Grace Church; also of the Society of Cin- cinnati. In 1806 he was President of the Med- ical Society of Queens County. He died at Jamaica, L. I., Jan. 20, 1810.

Nathan Shelton, M. D., for more than fifty years a practicing physician in Jamaica, and for more than forty years a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was President of the Queens County Medical Society in 1829.

589

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ON LONG ISLAND.

(History of the Presbyterian Church, Jamaica, L. I., 1862.)

Dr. Joseph Bloodgood, who was born in 1784, graduated from the University of Penn- sylvania in 1806. He became a trustee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in 1811, and came to Flushing in 1812. He died March 7, 1851, aged sixty-seven years. He was Postmaster of Flushing for sixteen years. (History of Flushing, G. H. Mandeville, 1860.)

Dr. Benjamin Y. Prime, born in Hunting- ton, in 1733, was graduated from Princeton College in 1751. In 1756 and 1757 he was employed as a tutor in the college. He studied medicine with Dr. Jacob Ogden, of Jamaica, L. I., and for several years thereafter prac- ticed physic. He died Oct. 31, 1791, aged fifty-eight years.

Dr. Gilbert Potter was born in Hunting- ton, Jan. 8, 1725. He studied medicine with Dr. Jared Elliot, of Guilford, Conn. He was engaged as a surgeon in the French War. In 1776 he was appointed Colonel, and was asso- ciated with General Woodhull in protecting Long Island. In 1783 he returned to Hunt- ington, and pursued his professional calling. He died Feb. 14, 1786, aged sixty-one years. (Historical Address, by the Hon. Henry C. Platt, 1876, Huntington, L. I.)

Robert A. Davidson, M. D., was born No- vember 28, 1793, and settled in Hempstead in 1813. At the time of his death, he had been engaged in the practice of medicine over sixty years.

Dr. James Searing is remembered as an old resident, at one time residing in the Harper residence. He was the first Treasurer of the Queens County Medical Society. He died at the age of seventy-four years.

Edwin Webb, M. D., of Hempstead, was born in England, September 2, 1804. He came to New York when three years of age. He studied medicine with Drs. Ball and Wendell, who were in partnership, and were then the principal physicians in Brooklyn. He received

his diploma from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1825. (History of Queens County, 1882.))

Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, of Hempstead, L. I., was born in 1764. He died Sept. 7, 1831. He was a physician, naturalist, and Senator. He was admitted to the bar in 1791. Received his medical education in Edinburgh, Scotland. He held the chair of Chemistry and Natural History in Columbia College in 1796. In 1797 and 1798 he made a geological survey of the banks of the Hudson. He was a member of the Legislature at Albany from 1797 to 1813. He started with others the "Medical Reposi- tory" in 1798. Made a special study of yellow fever. Was present on November 4, 1825, at the completion of the Erie Canal. In 1820 he presided over a convention of physicians, who had for their object the formation of a Pharmacopœia. For twenty-seven years he gave an annual course of lectures at the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons. He was President of the New York Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, and in 1808 made, with others, that famous trip to Albany in Robert Fulton's first steamer. (N. Cleveland's His- tory of Greenwood.)

Dr. John B. Riker, born at Newtown, L. I., in 1738. He held the position of surgeon in the American Army, from 1775 until 1783. Returning to his native town, he practiced medicine until his death in 1795, aged fifty- seven years. He was considered a gentleman of high professional attainments.

Dr. Ebenezer Sage, born August 16, 1755, in Connecticut. He graduated from Yale Col- lege in 1778 ; in 1790 settled in East Hampton, and married a daughter of Dr. Wm. Smith, of South Hampton. He was elected to the Elev- enth, Twelfth and Thirteenth Congresses, and again in 1819 and 1820. In 1821 he was a delegate to the convention for amending the Constitution of the State of New York. He died Jan. 20, 1834, at Sag Harbor.

Dr. Isaac Hulse, born August 31, 1796, at Brookhaven, L. I., studied medicine in the-

590

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

University of Maryland, and graduated in 1820. In 1821 he was commissioned Assistant Surgeon in the U. S. Navy ; in 1824 Surgeon to the Naval Hospital in Virginia. In 1838 President Van Buren appointed him Fleet Surgeon of the West India Squadron. His medical reports exhibit talent of a high order.

Dr. George Muirson, of Brookhaven, L. I., in 1745 became celebrated for his successful treatment of small-pox by the administration of mercury, which method proved very suc- cessful in his hands. (Benjamin F. Thomp- son's History of Long Island, 1839.)

Dr. Benjamin F. Thompson was born in Brookhaven, L. I., May 15, 1784. He stud- ied medicine with Dr. Ebenezer Sage, of Sag Harbor, and practiced the same for about ten years. He then studied law, and was elected to the Assembly in 1813 and 1816. He was School Commissioner in 1813 and 1814. A History of Long Island was written by him in 1839. A second edition, in two volumes, was published in 1843. He died March 21, 1849.

Dr. Nathaniel Miller was born in Brook- haven, on April 17, 1783; graduated from the New York Medical College in 1812; was a member of the Assembly in 1818 and 1849. He died May 7, 1863.

Dr. Nathaniel Gardner, of East Hampton, born June II, 1759, was a Surgeon in the Revolutionary War, and served as a member of the Assembly in 1786, 1789, 1790. He died March 25, 1804.

Dr. Abel Huntington was born in the State of Connecticut, February 22, 1776. In 1796 he came to East Hampton, L. I., where he studied medicine, and for sixty years prac- ticed his profession. He was a representative in Congress from 1833 to 1837. Collector of Sag Harbor under President Polk, and a mem- ber of the New York Constitutional Conven- tion of 1846. He was known for his ability as a surgeon. He died May 18, 1858. (His- tory of Suffolk County, 1882.)

The following are the names of physicians,

who have practiced medicine on Long Island previous to 1822, so far as the writer has been able to obtain information in regard to them, together with the dates of their practice :

Dr. Gilbert Smith, 1775. Huntington, L. I. Dr. James Sandford, 1780. Huntington,

L. I. Died Oct. 1795.

Dr. Daniel Wiggins, 1790. Huntington, L. I. Died Sept. 10, 1805.

Dr. Zophar Platt, 1754. Huntington, L. I. Died Sept. 29, 1792, aged eighty-seven years.

Dr. Oliver Brown, 1800. Huntington, L.

I. Died Oct., 1815.

Dr. Jonathan Havens. Smithtown, L. I.

Dr. Zephanialy Platt, 1760. Smithtown,

L. I. Died Jan. 27, 1718.

Dr. Samuel H. Rose, 1790. South Hamp- ton, L. I.

Dr. Henry White. South Hampton, L. I. Dr. Silas Halsey. South Hampton, L. I.

Dr. Aaron F. Gardner, 1800. East Hamp- ton, L. I.

Dr. Samuel Latham, 1780. South Hamp- ton, L. I.

Dr. George Punderson, 1780. Brookhaven, L. I.

Dr. Samuel Moore, 1761. Newtown, L. I. Dr. William Lawrence, 1774. Musquito Cove, L. I.

Dr. Richard Udall, 1800. Islip, L. I. Died Oct. 6, 1841, aged ninety years.

Dr. Joshua Clark, 1780. Southold, L. I.

Dr. James E. DeKay. Oyster Bay, L. I.

Dr. Richard Sharpe. North Hempstead, L. I.

Dr. Purdy. North Hempstead, L. I. Dr. Drake. North Hempstead, L. I.

The town of North Hempstead claims the following as having been born in the town:

Samuel Mitchill, M. D., 1764, Professor of Natural History, etc., etc.

Benjamin Kissam, M. D., Professor of "The Institutes of Medicine."

Richard S. Kissam, M. D., Professor of Surgery.

Wright Post, M. D., Professor of Surgery.

591

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ON LONG ISLAND.

Valentine Mott, M. D., 1785. Professor of Surgery.

Dr. D. W. Kissam, born in Cow Neck, March 23, 1763. He married the daughter of Dr. Benjamin Treadwell, June 26, 1787. At the death of Dr. Sandford, 1795, he removed to Glen Cove, where he remained in practice until his death, November 21, 1839, at the age of seventy-six years.

Nathaniel S. Prime, in his History of Long Island, published in 1845, informs us that in 1802 the town of Brooklyn had but eighty-six freeholders, but that it was rapidly increasing in population, so that in 1816 the total popula- tion was 4,402. In the latter year the town was invested with the powers of a village. The impulse it received at this time soon became manifested, so that in 1822 the total population was about 8,000.

The formation of medical societies on Long Island dates from the organization of the Suf- folk County Medical Society, which was or- ganized July 22, 1806. The early records of this society have been lost, but as nearly as can be ascertained at the present time, Drs. A. G. Thompson, W. S. Preaston, and Dr. B. D. Carpenter were prominently identified with its formation. The first delegate to the New York State Medical Society was Dr. Nathaniel Miller, in 1818, and the second was Dr. Charles H. Havens in 1820.

This was followed by the Queens County Medical Society, which was organized Oc- tober 1, 1806, at Jamaica, with the following as its first officers: Daniel Minema, Presi- dent; Henry Mott, Vice-President ; Thomas Cock, Secretary; and James Searing, Treas- urer. But it is evident that they did not meet with success, for on December 17, 1829, a second society was formed. This also seems to have met with adverse circumstances, for the present society dates only from 1853.

At a preliminary meeting of the physi- cians of the county of Kings, held at Flatbush on the 25th of February, 1822, at which Dr. Charles Ball, Matthew Wendell, John Car-

penter, William D. Creed, Francis H. Dubois, and Adrian Vanderveer, were present, the or- ganization of a County Medical Society was decided upon, and carried into effect. At an adjourned meeting, held on March 2, 1822, at the inn of William Stephenson, Brooklyn, the organization was perfected by the elec- tion of the following officers :

Cornelius Low, President ; Matthew Wen- dell, Vice-President; Adrian Vanderveer, Secretary; and John Carpenter, Treasurer. At a second meeting, in addition to those present at the first one, were Drs. Joseph G. T. Hunt and Thomas Wilson Henry. A third meeting was held on the 8th of April, at which time a code of by-laws was adopted, and the following gentlemen presented their credentials :

Cornelius Low, licensed in 1782, died 1830.

Francis H. Dubois, licensed 1802, was born May 21, 1783, and died Dec. 27, 1837.

Matthew Wendell, licensed 1804, was born July, 1779, and died July II, 1860.

Jos. Gedney T. Hunt, licensed 1804, was born in 1783, and died June 25, 1848.

Charles Ball, licensed 1806, died 1845.

William D. Creed, licensed 1809, was born April 4, 1787, and died 1870.

John Carpenter, licensed 1812, was born April 17, 1791, and died Sept. 13, 1864.

Adrian Vanderveer, M. D., Col. P. & S., N. Y., 1818, was born Dec. 21, 1796, and died July 5, 1857.

Thomas Wilson Henry, M. D., Col. P. & S., N. Y., 1820, died 1867.

The above named gentlemen founded the Medical Society of the County of Kings.

At the meeting of May 8th, Dr. Matthew Wendell was appointed delegate to the New York State Society, and Drs. Jos. G. T. Hunt, T. W. Henry, and Charles Ball, censors ac- cording to law.

In July, 1822, the society adopted a seal, bearing the figure of a serpent spirally wound around a staff, with the inscription, "Scientia

592

HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

Salusque Deo," and around the margin the words, "Societas Medica Comitatus Regis. Instituta A. D. 1822."

At the annual meeting in April, 1825, the venerable President, Dr. Cornelius Low, resigned his office. in consequence of his in- tention to altogether abandon the practice of physic, on account of his age and its attend- ant infirmities. Dr. Low enjoyed a large practice in Buslıwick, New Lots, and part of Newtown. He was an ardent Patriot. He remained throughout his life unmarried. His deatlı occurred about the year 1830. He was . succeeded by Dr. George Cox.

The "Brooklyn Medical Journal" of Jan- uary, 1888, contains a short article on the formation of the Medical Society of the County of Kings.

The first physician that settled in Brook- lyn was Dr. John N. Barbarin, who estab- lished himself on Front street, which was then the main road, and remained in practice from 1784 to 1815. He was a Frenchman by birth, and came to this country as a surgeon in the British service. He was for a while stationed here during the occupation of Long Island by the British, afterwards resigning from the British service. He married a daughter of Mr. Bamper, and entered upon the practice of his profession in the village of Brooklyn. He died greatly respected.

Dr. Osborn conducted the first drug store in Brooklyn, on the corner of Sands and Jay streets. In 1811 it was bought by Ithiel Smead, who was followed by Dr. J. W. Smith, who removed the store to Hicks and Fulton streets.

Dr. Jos. G. T. Hunt's office was on the corner of Concord and Fulton streets. Dr. Clas. Hall's office was on Pearl street; Dr. Daniel McNeil at 22 Hicks street, and Dr. John W. Smith, 16 Concord street.

In 1809, the yellow fever prevailed in Brooklyn, producing what was known as the newspaper war between the physicians of the village. Among those particularly interested

were Drs. Osborn, Ball, and Wendell. Dr. Ball was President from 1833 to 1835, and Dr. Wendell in 1836, of the Medical Society of Kings County. Dr. Wendell was Health Physician from 1827 to 1834, and again from 1851 to 1856.

Dr. Osborn removed to Nev York, and Drs. Ball and Wendell succeeded to his prac- tice, their office being at the corner of Sands and Fulton streets. Dr. Ball's house is repre- sented in Guy's Brooklyn Snow Scene of 1820. See page 403 of this volume.

Dr. Francis H. Dubois and Jolin Car- penter were in practice in the town of New Utrecht. During the yellow fever epidemic Dr. J. E. Dubois, son of F. H. Dubois, fell a victim to the disease. A beautiful monument erected to his memory marks his resting place in the old village graveyard. Dr. Carpenter, in 1825, organized the first Sabbath school in the village of Fort Hamilton, its sessions be- ing held in a barn. In 1826 he organized the New Utrecht Sabbath-school, of which he was superintendent until his death.

Drs. Adrian Vanderveer and William D. Creed practiced medicine in the town of Flat- bush. Dr. Vanderveer was on July 24, 1832, chosen the first Health Officer, one of his. assistants being Dr. Creed. Dr. William Duryea Creed was born April 4, 1787. He was Sheriff of Kings County in 1811, and died in 1870.

In 1823 the Reformed Church organized a Sabbath-school, of which Dr. Vanderveer was the first superintendent, which position he held for thirty years. He was President of the Medical Society of the County of Kings in 1837 and 1838. He received the degree of A. M. from Columbia College in 1816.

Dr. Jos. G. T. Hunt was the first Health Officer of Brooklyn, being such during the years 1825 and 1826. He was well known in Masonic circles, being Master of Hohen- linden Lodge, No. 56, F. & A. M., in 1825, and Scribe of Nassau Chapter, R. A. M., during the same year. For a few years pre-

593

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION ON LONG ISLAND.

vious to this time he was surgeon to the Marine Barracks. He was President of the Medical Society of the County of Kings from 1825 to 1831.

Thomas Wilson Henry's office was at No. 67 Sands street, corner of Jay street. He was President of the Medical Society of the County of Kings during the years 1831-1832.

The above facts are related by Henry R. Stiles, in his "History of Kings County, in- cluding Brooklyn," 1884, vol. II, page 887; also in part by S. M. Ostrander, in his "His- tory of Brooklyn and Kings County," 1894, vol. II, page 32.

From the organization of the Medical So- ciety of the County in Kings, in 1822, until the repeal of that power by the Legislature in 1881, the society conferred sixteen licenses to

practice medicine, as follows (Manual, 1888, page 25) :

Nelson A. Garrison 1824.

Joseph N. Smith. 1827.

John Fred Sickels 1827.

Hartshorne Gregory 1829.

William A. Clarke

1832.

Henry A. Ruding

1832.

Philip Harvey. 1833.

John V. E. Vanderhoef. 1833.

Stephen M. Disbrow 1834-

Henry J. Cullen

1843-

Nelson J. Tucker

1848.

John Van Ness. 1852.

William H. Van Duyue.

1857.

George Wieber

1875.

Jolın Mears 1878.

W. E. Conroy

1879-

LONG ISLAND COLLEGE HOSPITAL.

CHAPTER L.

THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS.

BROOKLYN'S CITY HOSPITAL AND SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS-A LONG ROLL OF HONOR- ORABLE PROFESSIONAL NAMES.

HE formation of the state and county medical societies was authorized by the Act of 1806. Soon several coun- ty societies were formed in various parts of the State, though the Society of the County of Kings was not organized until March 2, 1822, at the residence of Simon Voiz, in Flatbush.

The first annual meeting took place on April 8, 1822, at a tavern called "Auld Lang Syne," conducted by William Stephenson, at Fulton and Nassau streets. The following were the first officers and founders: Cornelius Low, President ; Matthew Wendell, Vice-Pres- ident ; John Carpenter, Treasurer ; Adrian Vanderveer, Secretary and Corresponding Secretary ; Joseph G. T. Hunt, Thomas W. Henry, Charles Ball, Censors ; Matthew Wen- dell, Delegate to State Medical Society ; Fran- cis H. Du Bois and William D. Creed. From 1822 to 1827 the meetings alternated between the house at Flatbush and the Auld Lang Syne tavern, after which until 1857 they were held quarterly in the Apprentices' Library Building, Henry and Cranberry streets.

The records show that for a number of years the Society confined itself to the dis- -charge of the duties connected with the "regu- lating of the practice of physics and surgery within its limits." The nature of the work may be more clearly comprehended by the lay reader when the fact is known that the law of

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 90

Author: Ross, Peter. cn Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1188

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188