USA > New York > Queens County > Long Island City > History of Long Island City, New York. A record of its early settlement and corporate progress. Sketches of the villages that were absorbed in the growth of the present municipality. Its business, finance, manufactures, and form of government, with some notice of the men who built the city > Part 14
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
Dr. James Clark was closely followed by a Dr. Folcks, also by Dr. John Greenfield and Dr. John Hazard, the two latter of whom practiced between the time of Dr. Foleks and the close of the century (1699). Their early labors have left no mention. In all likelihood they had much rough surgery to perform, owing to the accidents and the difficulties of the settlers with the Indians from time to time. It is recorded that small-pox, typhus, yellow and malarial fevers prevailed during these times, though to what extent, and what means were employed to prevent the spread of these diseases, and to limit them to indivi- duals, no information exists. Some references also found to tuberculosis, and to " spotted fever," by which was probably meant typhus rather than cerebro spinal fever.
From 1700 to 1750, Dr. Evan (or John) Jones, Dr. Berrien and Dr. Hugh Rogers practiced their profession Dr. Jacob Ogden, of Jamaica, was frequently called in consultation. He was an able man and wrote several medical papers on the sore throat distemper (diphtheria?) of 1769. He also treated rheumatism and other inflammatory affictions with mercury, and was a prominent advocate of inoculation for small-pox. Dr. Jones was the author of the first surgical book said to have been published in this country, its title being "Wounds and Fractures, and their Treatment," with an appendix on Military Hospitals. He was also Professor of Surgery in the medical school at New York, and directed the formation of JUDGE JAMES INGRAM. military hospitals for the provincial congress during the Revolution. It is evident, therefore, that a high standard of merit existed among the physicians of this region even in those early days, and that they strove to combat disease and relieve distress.
HON. EDWARD J. KNAUER.
In addition to those who espoused the cause of freedom, there were a number of British surgeons with the troops scattered throughout the country. One Dr. Josiah Pomeroy was at Newtown, at a military hospital located there, and a Dr. Harper had charge of a similar hospital on what is now Thomson avenue, near Dutch Kills Creek. . Dr. Samuel Cutter was reputed to be a very learned and benevolent man and well liked, although he was a loyal refugee from New England.
Many of the young men in the families of those days took up the study of medicine and surgery, usually finishing at Edinburgh. Among these may be noted the following :
Dr. Benjamin Moon, who died in the West Indies in 1745.
Dr. William Moon, born 1753, died 1824, was a nephew of the former. He practiced forty years, and was President of the New York Medical Society for many years, as well as a trustee of the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Thomas Sackett, of Newtown, born 1729, died 1769.
Dr. Joseph Sackett, born 1733, practiced at Newtown, but was compelled to flee during the stormy days of the Revolution. He died in New York 1799.
Another member of this family, Dr. James Sackett, was a surgeon in the Navy during the Revolution.
Dr. John Burroughs, born November 17, 1776, died November 12, 1812.
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Dr. Dow Ditmars, born July 12, 1771, practiced in Astoria for many years.
Dr. Richard Lawrence, born March 3, 1764, died in 1804.
WILLIAM E. STEWART, ESQ.
Hle was educated at Edinburgh and practised at Newtown and vicinity.
Dr. John Berrien Riker, born 1738, characterized as a "d- rebel " by the British and forced to flee for his life. He served with Washington's army during the war and died at Newtown in 1794.
Dr. Stephen Rapelye, a surgeon in the United States Navy.
Dr. Isaac Rapelye, subsequently a practicing physician at Brooklyn, .N. Y.
Dr. Henry Mott married Miss Janeway, and was the father of the famous Dr. Valentine Mott. Di Mott was buried in the Mott family burying ground on the property of W. H Furman, at Maspeth, and his grave was in a good state of preser- vation in 1880, according to papers left by the late Wm. O'Gorman, Town Clerk of Newtown. Dr. Mott died in 1839, aged 82 years.
This brings our sketch of medical men to the end of the last and the beginning of the present century and includes brief mention of those patriotic physicians and surgeons who were loyal to their country in time of need. It may safely be inferred also that men such as these were as conscientious in the per- formance of professional duties as they were loyal and sacrificing in
behalf of their country. Nor is it to be forgotten that the troubled conditions of the times interfered with such labors as tend to occupy the leisure moments of physicians and which might tend to perpetuate the record of professional achievements.
Of the early medical practitioners known to the oldest of the living residents of the city the name of Dr. Baylies is one of the most often heard mentioned, that is, of those physicians who had their offices in Newtown and practiced throughout the surrounding country.
Dr. Baylies practiced as far west as Blackwell's Island, he being rowed over from the mainland as occasion required.
Dr. Gustavus Baylies was born at Uxbridge, Mass., in 1761, and as a boy of sixteen he served two periods of enlistment as a soldier in the Revolutionary army. After the war he entered Harvard College, and subsequently took up the practice of medicine at Bristol and Newport, R. I.
In 1805 he moved to Newtown and continued in practice for thirty years. In the war of 1812 he was a commissioned surgeon in the army, and was evidently a man of strong personal and professional characteristics.
1.KEDERICK N. SMITH, ESQ.
It is related of him that he employed with success hydro-therapy in cases of yellow fever as early as 1820, in spite of the opposition of the public and the doubts of his professional brethren.
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The incident that led to his adoption of this plan of treatment was peculiar and quite accidental. During the war of 1812 Dr. Baylies, in his capacity of Surgeon for the Army and Navy, was directly the cause of the removal of yellow fever patients from ships stationed in the East River to the Government hospital at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. During the progress of the removal one of the very worst cases fell overboard into the river, the water of which was ice cold at the time.
This patient, far from dying, as was most certainly expected, made the most speedy and uninterrupted recovery of the whole number, and this fact led Dr. Baylies to more closely study and advocate the use of cold applications and effusions in diseases accompanied with high temperature. It is a fact worthy of record that this is the view which is accepted, and whose practice is adopted by the most enlight- ened and successful practitioners of the present day.
Dr. Baylies died in 1834, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was engaged in the active practice of his profession up to the day of his last illness, in fact, he contracted pneumonia while visiting his patients during an inclement season.
One son, Gustavus Baylies, Jr., Esq., is a consulting lawyer, with offices at New York and residence at the old homestead at Newtown, Another son, Hussey Baylies, M. D., MATTIIEW J. SMITH, ESQ. married Miss Harriet Blackwell, of Astoria, and practiced medicine there during his lifetime. A grandson, Dr. Bradford Baylies, also practiced for some years at Astoria, but is now a resident and practitioner at Brooklyn, N. Y.
The medical history of these two successors of the elder Dr. Baylies may be briefly stated as very much like that of their progenitor, who was a typical physician of the old school, yet had that inde- pendence of character and practice that stamped him as a true, progressive physician, and not a mere follower. His memory is held in high esteem, both as a physician and friend, by the few old residents who have been spared since his time.
The Baylics family of physicians form the connecting link between the old physician, practising at Newtown, and those who have since practiced in Long Island City. At the beginning of the century the territory of this city had but a few hundred inhabitants, but Astoria, which had rapidly grown, was naturally looked upon as a place that afforded opportunities for the exclusive labor of a skilled physician and it was only natural that physicians should embrace the opportunity and take up residence there.
Among the early medical names figuring in the history of Astoria are several of those who, while not so actively engaged in medicine, were and have been more or less engaged in practice. Lack of exact information permits only brief mention of them, as follows :
Dr. Alexander H. Stevens was one of the sons of General Ebenezer Stevens, who lived in Astoria, and who also built Fort Stevens, at Hallett's Point, during the war of 1812. The family has always been famous socially, commercially and professionally.
Dr. Alexander H. Stevens was the first President of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and became one of the most eminent surgeons of his day.
IRA G. DARRIN, ESQ.
Dr. John Stevens, a grandson of Ebenezer, was a graduate of the Harvard Medical College and died somewhere in the West.
Another member of one of the oldest families who settled here was Dr. Dow Ditmars, who
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graduated from Princeton College, subsequently studying medicine under Dr. Ledyard. He practiced his profession at Demerara for twelve years and moved to Astoria about 1816, subsequently engaging in farming. He probably kept up his interest in medicine during his lifetime, for, when he died in ' 1860, at 90 years of age, his medical library came into the possession of Dr. Wm. Remsen Taylor, of Astoria, the oldest physician in point of practice now in this city, and the honored President of the Long Island City Medical Society. As far as known the library is still in the possession of Dr. Taylor .*
Dr. William Chamberlin also practiced in Astoria in the early '50's, but no record of his life work exists as far as can be found.
Dr. Samuel T. W. Sanford, the father of the Honorable Horatio S. Sanford, was the earliest medical practitioner at Ravenswood, but in later days he took up commercial pursuits. The name still lives of a Dr. Woodhull, who practiced somewhere in Ravenswood, and although his medical record cannot be found he is still gratefully remembered by some of the older residents-a pleasant thing to dwell on for the present generation of workers, who sometimes are prone to imagine their hard work is likely to go unrecognized.
The most eminent name from a medical standpoint of the many famous physicians and surgeons, who have practised in the neighborhood, is that of the late Professor James Dowling Trask, M. D., of Astoria. He was the progenitor and the best representative of the more modern type of physicians and surgeons, and from him we must certainly date the medical history of the city proper, for while other physicians have lived and practiced here at earlier periods, they were largely influenced by family or property connection and did not follow medicine in its entirety.
Dr. Trask was an unusually brilliant man, gifted with a deep knowledge in many directions in subjects considered comparatively difficult to his own profession, and has left behind him a record of useful work faithfully done that will perpetuate his name and memory in surgical circles far beyond the present and coming medical generation.
Graduating with the highest honors from the University of New York in 1844, he passed the next fifteen years in the general practice of medicine at Brooklyn and White Plains, N. Y. And it is a remarkable fact that, during the time he was engaged in the arduous work of a mixed country HARRY T. WEEKS, ESQ. practice, he forced himself by his writings and addresses into the foremost position in the medical world, on his special subjects embracing the diseases of women and children. He was considered one of the foremost medical men of the present generation in this country.
This is well illustrated in his having been selected, shortly after his removal to Astoria, to fill the chair of obstetrics at the Long Island Medical College, and as. Professor of the Diseases of Women and Children in the same college. This was an unusual honor for so young a man in those days of " older men," for Dr. Trask was then but thirty-nine, and his special subjects were the least known and possibly the most neglected by the physicians and surgeons of his day. A man working in such an independent field of action must of necessity include, within his group, a vast knowledge of the general principles governing medicine and surgery.
He was one of the founders, therefore, of the Long Island Medical College and of the Brooklyn Dispensary also, of which he was among the first surgeons, and associated with him in his work were such eminent men as the two Flints, Professor Dalton, Professor Doremus and Professor Frank Hamilton. It is doubtful if any college faculty, even at the present time, has had men so uniformly qualified and skilled in their various departments, and who have left collectively and individually so brilliant and permanent a record of medical achievements.
Dr. Trask resigned from the faculty after four years, and subsequently refused what at that time was rightfully considered by medical men the highest honor that could be conferred in this country,
* Dr. Taylor has died since the above was written.
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
viz., a professorship in the Medical University of New York on his special subjects. It is to be regretted that Dr. Trask did not accept this position, as it would certainly have advanced the art of obstetrics greatly. It is easy to estimate the value of a man's service in general medicine or surgery, for not only are the teachings and practice of his predecessors known, but they remain to guide and strengthen the physician or surgeon, who puts forth efforts in the same field of labor.
In the yet untrodden paths of progress in the medical history of a country, the greatest honor must be given to those who "blaze" the way, and Dr. Trask was one of them. Fortunately the memory of such service will grow in the estimation of medical men with succeeding generations, when the topics in the field of labor followed by them will have become the common property of all.
In addition to the many other positions of honor and distinction held by Dr. Trask during his lifetime, we find that he was President of the Queens County Medical Society, one of the founders of the American Gynecological Society, and corresponding and honorary member of many native and foreign medical and scientific societies. Surely a record which the medical practitioner of to-day in this city can ponder upon and strive to emulate.
Dr. Trask died in Astoria, a place evidently well beloved by him, on the 2d day of September, 1883, and is succeeded in practice by his son, Dr. James Dowling Trask, Jr., a physician and surgeon of ability, resident also at Astoria, and who possesses many of his late father's distinctive qualities and character- istics.
A Dr. Jakel practiced in Astoria about 1860. He died in Europe while on a visit. One of the earliest practitioners at Hunter's Point was a Dr. Tanksley, about 1860. He went south, possibly to the war. A Dr. Boylan preceded Dr. Graves. Dr Graves is also well remembered by many of the old residents of the lower portion of the city, but again, unfortunately, no record has been found of his early work.
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Dr. HI. Beyer was the pioneer physician of Dutch Kills and is still living at Staten Island, N. Y., having BENJAMIN GRINNELL STRONG, M.D. been succeeded by Dr. De Witt Hitchcock. Dr. Beyer was known as a man of conservative principles and was well qualified as a physician.
Among the physicians who practiced at Dutch Kills the best known and respected were Dr. De Witt Hitchcock and Dr. Herbert G. Lyttle. Dr. Hitchcock retired from active practice about ten years ago and is now living in the upper part of the State, enjoying a well earned rest. He was, perhaps, the most active practitioner that ever lived in this section. He was a graduate of the University of New York and of the New York City hospitals-finally visiting Europe in the pursuit of advanced knowledge. The record he has left behind him among the people and profession is that of a well qualified, painstaking, conscientious physician. His practice embraced a large extent of country and a varied clientage, yet he was esteemed by all for his professional skill and tireless applicati a to his profession. He, with Dr. Lyttle, marked the advent of the trained hospital
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND CITY.
physician in the newer portions of the city, and these two men, one deceased, the other retired, did much to elevate and maintain the high standard of medical progress in the city. Dr. Lyttle, who died in 1891, was a man universally esteemed and not the less for his interest in church work and organization.
Another of the practitioners at Hunter's Point, and now deceased, was Dr. Z. P. Dennler, who graduated from the Geneva Medical College at the beginning of the Civil War. He enlisted in the service of his country as surgeon in the army, having charge of the hospital at Washington, D. C. He subsequently was in active service with the Seventh Army Corps and served throughout the war and for one year subsequently.
It was his probe that was used to determine the direction taken by the bullet in the body of the martyred President Lincoln. The probe is still preserved in the Museum at Washington.
Dr. Dennler was a good surgeon at a time when surgery and surgical methods were not as popular as they are to-day. The war greatly promoted this seience. Surgery has been called the " Daughter of War." Dr. Dennler was also a good physician and held many positions of honor and responsibility. He was a member of the Board of Health, surgeon to the Long Island Railroad, member of the Medical Historical Society of the State of New York, of the New York Medical Society, and of the Queens County Medieal Society.
DR. JOHN FRANCIS BURNS.
Among the names that will be recognized more particularly by the old residents is that of Dr. Edward HI. Duggan, who came to a sudden and unfortunate end. He was a good practitioner. Though he lived in Greenpoint he had quite a practice here as well. Dr. Morrissy is another of the Green- point physicians who has practiced more or less here for the past twenty years. Dr. James Day may also be mentioned in this connection. Dr. William Warner Meiners is well and favorably known in Hunter's Point. He served one term as Coroner, but poor health compelled his retirement from politi- cal life, which was regretted not only by his patients but by the medical fraternity.
Several young men engaged in business here have studied medicine and are now graduates : notably Dr. Bartlett, Dr. Willken, Dr. MaeNamee, Dr. Mahnken and others. T vo young physicians remain to be more particularly mentioned, as they both gave promise of greatness in their chosen profession and both met their death at an early age in the cause of science and humanity. The first was:
Dr. Charles Bartow. He was a native of this city, the son of Jacob Bartow, Esq., of Astoria, and Annie K. Bartow, a niece of Francis Scott Key, the author of " The Star Spangled Banner." He graduated second in his elass from Columbia College in 1891, being honor man in chemistry, historian of his G. FORBES, M. D. class, president of the Class Club, and winner of the prize debate of the Barnard Literary Society. He also graduated in medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1894, standing
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second in the class, honor man, and winner of the Harsen prize. He entered the Presbyterian Hospital, New York, by competitive examination, again standing second, but never served his full term, dying October, 1895, aged twenty-six years. Dr. Bartow contracted a pulmonary disease in the cause of scientific investigation into the nature and habits of the Tubercle Bacillus, conducted by him at the pathological laboratory of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. He may rightfully be considered a martyr to science.
Doctor Alvah M. Thompson had a somewhat similar history. Although Dr. Thompson was not born in this city, he spent the greater portion of his early days here, and also received his education at this place, previous to his literary and medical college courses. Ile graduated from the University of New York in 1891, and was one of the honor men of his class. This secured him a position at the City Hospital, and in the discharge of his duties there he contracted tuberculosis, which caused his death in 1893. Dr. Thompson was beloved by all who knew him and gave promise of becoming a prominent physician.
The practitioners at present actively engaged in the city are as follows:
Andersen, A. J., Astoria. MeKeown, Patrick J., Hunter's Point.
Barry, John H., Hunter's Point.
Macfarlane, R. F., Dutch Kills.
Brennan, Francis E., Hunter's Point.
Meiners, W. W., Hunter's Point.
Bumster, P. H., Hunter's Point.
Meyer, Panl O., Settlement.
Burns, John Francis, Dutch Kills.
Mulot, Otto L., Astoria.
Burnett, William J., Hunter's Point.
New, James L., Ilunter's Point.
Fitch, Neil O., Astoria.
Platt, Clarence, Astoria.
Forbes, George, Ravenswood.
Prentiss, Robert S., Astoria.
Frey, Walter G., Hunter's Point.
Shultz, Reuben, Ravenswood.
llerrimann, Menzo W., Settlement.
Smallwood, Samuel B., Astoria.
Hinkson, John R., Blissville. Kennedy, James B., Hunter's Point. l'oeght, Anselm.
Strong, Benjamin G., Dutch Kills.
Strong, Charles E., Astoria.
Several of the physicians have been prominent politically. Dr. Taylor and Dr. Strong have both been candidates for the mayoralty, and the latter has served one term as Coroner. Dr. Rainey, the projector of the Blackwell's Island Bridge, is of course to be mentioned in a medical history of the city.
Dr. Wm. J. Burnett, one of the oldest practitioners here, is President of the Long Island City Savings Bank. Dr. Walter G. Frey is the founder and President of the Long Island City Free Library. Dr. J. Frank Valentine, although a resident of Richmond Hill, is well and favorably known in the city, he having an office in this city, being Surgeon in-Chief to the Long Island R. R. with its 575 miles of track centering in this city. Dr. Valentine has also to look out for the medical welfare of 2500 employees along the lines, and the sanitary and hygienic condition of the rolling stock and stations.
Dr. Smallwood, besides being a good physician, is an inventor of much ability and has relin- quished practice to follow out his idea in the perfection of machinery.
Starting without any regular physicians not many years ago, Long Island City now employs the services of many skilled physicians, and it is to be hoped that they will strive to keep up the high standard of medical practice which has called into existence the two beautiful new hospitals, St. John's and Astoria, for the reception of the indigent sick and for special cases. The city is well able to provide all the modern equipments needed in medical practice, and in this respect is far ahead of cities of greater size. Long Island City has its own medical society, known as the Long Island Medi- cal Society. Its officers are: Dr. Wm. Remsen Taylor, President, since deceased; Dr. R. F. Macfarlane, Secretary; Dr. Wm. J. Burnett, Vice-President.
Many of the members have been active in preparing papers, and the discussions have been profitable to all. Many are also members of the Queens County Medical Society, one of the oldest and most learned of such societies in the country during the past five years. In 1894 the society held its first meeting in this city for fifteen years, at Miller's Hotel, and it was the most successful meeting, both from a professional and social standpoint, in the history of the society, representative men being present from many of the older county medical societies, notably Suffolk, Kings and New York, and the papers read were of the highest order of
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merit. Dr. Cooley, of Glen Cove; Dr. Mann, of Jericho; Dr. Henrickson, of Jamaica, and Dr. Lanehart, of Hempstead, are the ones most active in the society, and who have always given, as medical men, the most encouragement by their example, in struggling to keep up a high standard of work. under, at times, very discouraging circumstances. Long Island City has, in fact, half a dozen physicians well qualified to take up various specialties if the conditions permitted. The scattered condition of the city and the nearness of the great elinies in New York, act as a barrier to the realization of the hopes of our local physicians. That they may be able to arrange their practices more to their tastes and inclinations, but I am convinced that the day is not far distant when such will be the case. It is the inevitable tendency of the medical times, and the wonderful advancement made in the various departments of medical science, which render it hard for a physician to keep track of them all.
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