Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 23

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 23

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A proposition to open to the public a homoeopathic free dispensary was first made at a meeting of the Albany County Homoeopathic Med- ical Society, held February 4, 1865.

During the following two years various plans were offered and an interest in the subject was sustained, and at length culminated, in the fall of 1867, in the establishment of a FREE DISPENSARY, at that time the only public institution in Albany for furnishing gratuitous medical service and medicines to those who chose to avail themselves of its benefits.

This charity has been ably supported by members of the homoeo- pathic medical profession, and the large numbers of worthy poor who have been the recipients of its beneficent aid attest both its popularity and usefulness.

During the first ten years of its history it afforded gratuitous medical and surgical aid to more than sixty thousand applicants.

The number of medical prescriptions and of minor surgical opera- tions performed have usually ranged from two to three hundred per month.

The amount of charitable work in the aggregate during the first thirty years of its history, now nearly completed, is astonishing in magnitude, encouraging and gratifying to those who have been its willing supporters, and pleasing and beneficial to its thousands of grateful recipients.

An experience of five years of dispensary service revealed the fact that many of the applicants required hospital accommodations and treatment.

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With a view, therefore, of increasing its usefulness, and placing its work and operations upon a broader foundation, a building was pur- chased in the summer of 1872 and supplied with the requisites for both dispensary and hospital uses. The building at first selected having been found undesirable, in 1875 a larger and more suitable one was provided.

The present hospital and dispensary building is centrally and con- veniently located at No. 123 North Pearl street, is large and complete in its appointments, and is provided with all suitable appliances for accommodating thirty patients. The experience of the past three years plainly indicates that a building of double the capacity of the present one is greatly needed.

All of the homoeopathic physicians in the city hold themselves in readiness to render any assistance that may be needed. The staff of surgeons, Drs. W. E. Milbank, E. G. Cox, W. H. Van Loon and W. N. Nead, are so efficiently maintaining the high standard of success in their special departments that the resources of the institution are not only constantly taxed to the utmost limit, but make clear the pressing need of securing a far greater number of suitable rooms in larger and more desirable buildings.

While the influence of the membership of this society has been largely in support of the establishment of EQUALITY in the exercise of medical civil rights, as between schools of medicine, it must be admitted that its influence has been also actively exerted in support of the two essen- tial principles of homoeopathic practice, viz. : the SMALLNESS OF THE CURATIVE DOSE, and the physiological (PATHOGENETIC) ACTION OF DRUGS IN HEALTH AS A RATIONAL BASIS FOR THEIR CORRECT APPLICATION IN DISEASE.

Although the honor of having introduced the homoeopathic system of practice to the citizens of Albany, belongs to Dr. A. P. Biegler, who came in 1837, the real PIONEER of homoeopathy in this city was Dr. I. M. Ward. Dr. Ward came to Albany in 1841. He was the first resident American homoeopathic practitioner north of New York city, and for several years the only homoeopathic physician residing in Albany.

The representatives of the homoeopathic system at Albany, prior to the advent of Dr. Ward, were physicians of foreign birth and education. Their antecedents and manners did not contribute to the rapid promul- gation and popularization of the system of therapeutics which they

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labored hard to introduce. Their theories were considered visionary and their practice unsound.

The following list contains the names of upwards of one hundred homoeopathic physicians who have resided in Albany county, and have identified themselves with homoeopathic interests, either by member- ship in the Albany County Homoeopathic Medical Society, or by ser- vice in the Albany Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary.

The names of those who have been admitted to membership in the county society, are printed in small capitals. The names of those who have not joined the county society are printed in ordinary type.

The left hand column of figures indicates the chronological order and date of entrance on homoeopathic practice in Albany county.

1837. Augustus Philip Biegler, A. M., M. D. Born in Prussia, in 1790. Was graduated, March 29, 1832, from the Medical Department of the University of Berlin.

To him belonged the distinguished honor of having introduced the homoeopathic system of practice to the citizens of Albany, in Novem- ber, 1837. He resided in Albany two and a half years, and then re- moved to Schenectady, and subsequently, to Rochester.

He enjoyed the rare opportunity of having had a long personal ac- quaintance with Hahnemann, and of obtaining from him a thorough knowledge of homoeopathic principles and practice. He died at Roch- ester, N. Y., in 1849, at the age of fifty-nine years.

1838. Dr. Rosenstein. Formed a business partnership with Dr. Biegler. Resided in Albany one year, and then removed elsewhere.

1839. Emanuel Sieze, M. D. Dr. Sieze and Dr. Biegler came to- gether from Germany to this country, to engage in the practice of homoeopathy. Dr. Sieze first located at Hudson, where he remained a year and a half. He resided four years in Albany. He was an ed- ucated physician. In practice he made quite an extensive use of hy- dropathic treatment.

1840. Charles Frederic Hoffendahl, A. M., M. D. Born in Germany in 1799. Was graduated from the Medical Departmentof the Univer- sity of Berlin, in 1828. Came to this country in 1837; settled first in Philadelphia; came to Albany in 1840; removed to Boston in 1842, where he died in April, 1862, at the age of sixty-three years.

1841. Isaac Moreau Ward, A. M., M. D. Born at Bloomfield, N. J., October 23, 1806. Was graduated in arts from Yale, in 1825; and in medicine, from Rutgers Medical College in 1829. Began practice in

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Newark, N. J. ; removed to Albany in 1841; returned to his home at Lyons Farms, N. J., in 1847, where he died February 24, 1895, at the age of eighty-nine years. He was widely known as an eminent physi- cian and an upright and highly respected citizen.

1842. Charles Herbert Skiff, M. D. Born at Spencertown, N. Y., May 12, 1808. , Was graduated, in 1832, from Berkshire Medical Col- lege at Pittsfield, Mass. Began practice at Spencertown; removed in 1842 to Albany; and in 1843 to New Haven, Conn., being the pioneer homoeopathic physician of that city. Died at New Haven, December 11, 1875, at the age of sixty seven years.

1845. HENRY DELAVAN PAINE, A. M., M.D. Born at Delhi, N. Y., June 19, 1816. Was graduated in 1838, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city. Began practice in Newburgh, N. Y. ; removed, in 1845, to Albany; returned to New York city in 1865. During his residence in Albany Dr. Paine won the confidence and re- spect of the entire community, his friends and adherents being among the leading, most influential and intelligent citizens. The inaugura- tion of special medical legislation in behalf of the homoeopathic as a separate and distinct school of medicine, was due to Dr. Paine's efforts, more than to those of any other person. By the enactment of the law of 1857, providing for the organization of county homoeopathic medical societies, and the enactment of the law of 1861, providing for the organ- ization of the State homoeopathic medical society, the homoeopathic pro- fession of the State secured the same legal rights and privileges as were extended to old school physicians; and among those whose wisdom, tact and zeal were instrumental, during previous years of trial and self- denying labor, in placing the homoeopathic school and its organizations upon a safe and enduring foundation, the unflagging energy and well directed efforts of Dr. Paine were exceptionally effective, and are worthy of the grateful recognition and unqualified approval of the whole homoeopathic profession of the entire State. He died in New York city, June 11, 1893, at the age of seventy seven years. An ex . pressive epitome of his life and character, and touching tribute to his memory; is found in the closing sentence of an obituary notice of his death; "A devoted Churchman; a priestly physician; a Christlike man."

1846. ERASMUS. DARWIN JONES, M. D. Born at Upper Jay, N. Y., September, 10, 1818. Was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1841. Began practice at Keeseville, N. Y. ; removed to Albany in

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1846, where for forty-five years he conducted a large, successful and lucrative practice. He was noted for self-sacrificing devotion to the interests and welfare of his numerous patients. He excelled in indus- try, accuracy of discrimination, untiring patience, and a never exhaust- ing wealth of resources in all difficult and complicated cases. And through, and with, these characteristic qualities, there was always ex hibited a kindliness of feeling, courtesy of manner, and fervency of zeal, that caused both devoted friends and professional associates to sincerely regret that the infirmities of advancing years had, in 1891, brought forced retirement from active and effective work, in the field where his tact and skill were so long recognized as qualities developed to a degree to which few younger men could ever hope or expect to attain. He died August 17, 1895, at the age of seventy-seven years.

1847. John Alsop Paine, M. D. Born at Whitestown, N. Y., July 10, 1795. Was graduated from the Medical Department of Yale Col- lege in 1825. Began practice at Volney, and continued suceessively in Paris, New Hartford, and Utica, N. Y .; in Newark, N. J., Albany, N. Y., where he remained four years; subsequently in Newark, N. J., and Lake Forest, Ill., where he died June 16, 1871, at the age of sev- enty six years. He practiced the allopathic system nineteen, and the homoeopathic twenty-six years.

1848. Henry Adams, M. D. Born at Coxsackie, N. Y., July 6, 1787. Licensed to practice under the law of 1808. Began practice at Cox- sackie. Appointed surgeon to one of the regiments of the American army in the war of 1812, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y. Adopted the homoeopathic system of practice in 1846. Removed to Al- bany in 1848, and to Cohoes in 1850, where he resided to the time of his death, July 6, 1857, his seventieth birthday.

1849. HORACE MANSFIELD PAINE, A. M., M. D. Born at Paris, N. Y., November 19, 1827. Was graduated, March 11, 1849, from the Medi- cal Department of the University of the City of New York. Began prac- tice at Albany ; removed to Clinton, Oneida county, in 1855; returned to Albany in 1865. Relinquished active practice in 1895. Resides, in summer, at West Newton, Mass., and in winter, at Atlanta, Ga. He has, for forty years, been actively identified with the adoption of meas- ures for establishing the homoeopathic system of practice on a reasona- able and enduring foundation; for dissociating it from untenable and visionary theories; for securing the enactment of such laws as would ex- tend to the representatives of all recognized schools of medicine EQUAL

JAMES W. COX, M. D.

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CIVIL RIGHTS and PRIVILEGES; and such laws also, as would UNIFY and ELE- VATE medical educational standards, by transferring the right of medical licensure from medical college faculties (private corporations), to State control. In the prosecution of these measures, during the whole of that period, he has steadily made use of official positions on commit- tees, or as secretary of a number of medical associations, for promot- ing these desirable purposes. He received the degree of Master of Arts (honorary) from Hamilton College in 1859; and the honorary de- gree of Doctor of Medicine from the Regents of the University, on the recommendation of the State Homoeopathic Medical Society. He is an honorary member of a number of State homoeopathic medical societies in this and other countries.

1850. DAVID SPRINGSTEED, M. D. Born in the town of Bethlehem, Albany county, January 17, 1808. Attended medical lectures at the Medical Department of Yale College, and at the Duane Street Medical College in the city of New York. Licensed to practice in 1830, by the Medical Society of the State of New York. Began practice in Bethle- hem. Adopted the homoeopathic system in 1845. Removed to Albany in 1850; retired from active practice in 1880, after having completed a full half-century of successful professional work. He removed in 1880 to Saugerties, N. Y; in 1884, to New York city; and in 1889, to South Woodstock, Conn., where he died March 26, 1894, at the age of eighty- six years. He was appointed county physician by the Board of Super- visors of Albany county in 1851, the first appointment, it is believed, of a homoeopathic physician to such a position in the United States.

1851. WILLIAM HENRY RANDEL, M. D. Born at Albany, N. Y., Au- gust 28, 1829. Was graduated, in 1851, from the Medical Department of the University of the City of New York. Began practice in Albany, where he remained to the time of his death, December 13, 1887, at the age of fifty-eight years. Dr. Randel was closely identified with the work and progress of the Albany Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispen- sary, and was unremitting in his efforts to promote its development and usefulness.

1851. Pascal P. Brooks, M. D. Came to Albany in 1851. He had been an old school practitioner sixteen years, and had recently adopted the homoeopathic system. He remained in Albany two years, and then removed elsewhere.

1852. JAMES WILLIAM Cox, M. D. Born at Gilbertsville, N. Y., Feb- ruary 5, 1828. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 28

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January, 1852: Began practice in Albany, in association with his former preceptor, Dr. H. D. Paine. He remained a resident of Al- bany to the time of his death, June 9, 1896, at the age of sixty eight years. Dr. Cox was an accomplished, skillful and successful physician. His natural powers of insight enabled him to distinguish hidden and obscure features of disease; and he was blessed, in a remarkable de- gree, with the ability to inspire with courage, cheer and hope, those to whom he ministered as a physician. These qualities of mind were of the highest order, and won for him the steadfast confidence and love of all who were fortunate in making his acquaintance.

1853. Charles Gilbert Bryant, M. D. Born at Gilbertsville, N. Y., March 13, 1829. Was graduated from the Albany Medical College in January, 1852. Began practice at Little Falls, N. Y .; came to Albany in 1853; removed in 1854 to San Francisco, Cal., where he died in 1866, at the age of thirty-seven years.

1854. LESTER MARCUS PRATT, M. D. Born at Pratt's Hollow, N. Y., April 25, 1818. Was graduated in 1854 from the Pennsylvania Homoeo- pathic Medical College at Philadelphia. Began practice the same year at Albany. Remained in Albany until August, 1893, when he retired from active practice and removed to Homer, N. Y. During his long medical career he endeared himself to many personal friends on account of his recognized professional skill, his readiness to minister to the relief of human suffering among those in the higher walks of life, as well also as the illiterate and indigent. He possessed a cheerful and hopeful disposition and a sympathetic nature. Having these estimable qualities of mind and heart, it is not surprising that his friends were drawn toward him with a strong and abiding attachment; nor that his influence and life were radiant with the elevating and ennobling ten- dencies that mark the highest and best type of true manhood.

1857. GEORGE HENRY BILLINGS, M. D. Born at Claremont, N. H., June 19, 1835. Was graduated from the Castleton Medical College in June, 1857. Began practice at Cohoes in September, 1857; removed to Cambridge, N. Y., in 1862, to Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1865, and returned to Cohoes in 1871, where he died May 20, 1893.

1862. JOHN SAVAGE DELAVAN, M. D. Born at Ballston, N. Y., Oc- tober 18, 1840. Was graduated from the Albany Medical College, December 23, 1861. Began practice at Albany in 1862. Served three years in the war of the Rebellion in the capacity of assistant surgeon. Returned to Albany in 1865; removed to Geneva, Switzerland, in 1872;

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returned to Albany in 1876, where he remained to the time of his death, which occurred by accidental drowning, August 7, 1885. Dr. Delavan was respected for his noble and generous impulses. He stood in the front rank of the profession. His smile of recognition, his cordial greeting, and his faithful services were characteristic of a whole souled, generous hearted friend.

1863. WALTER SAMUEL BAKER, M. D. Born at Newark, N. J., July 18, 1841. Was graduated in March, 1863, from the New York Homoeo- pathic Medical College and Hospital. Began practice at Cohoes in June of the same year, and in 1870 removed to Newark, N. J., where (in 1897) he still resides.

1865. JOSEPH C. BUTLER, M. D. Pursued the study of medicine under the supervision of Dr. W. H. Randel, of Albany, and was graduated in 1865 from the New York Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital. Began practice in Albany immediately thereafter in association with his former preceptor. After a residence in Albany of two years he removed to Florida, where he died the following year.

1867. HARMON SWITZ, M. D. Born at Schenectady, N. Y., June 29, 1818. Began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. L. S. Roe, a homoeopathic physician of that city ; entered on practice before he had completed his studies on account of the sudden death, by accident, of his preceptor. He subsequently attended medical lectures, and re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1865 from the New York Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital. He became a member of the Albany County Homoeopathic Medical Society in 1867. He was for many years the sole representative of the homoeopathic school of practice in the city where he was born, and where he resided during the whole period of his life. Possessing the faculty of close observa- tion with acuteness of perception, he acquired a thorough practical knowledge of the theory and practice of medicine long before he be- came a legally qualified practitioner.

1867. JOSEPH N. WHITE, M. D. Born at Deerfield, N. Y., July 4, 1816. Was graduated in 1854 from the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati. He began practice at Amsterdam, N. Y., and remained there to the time of his death, April 24, 1890, at the age of seventy- four years. He became a member of the Albany County Homoeo- pathic Medical Society in 1867. He possessed a natural aptitude for his profession. He was gentle and sympathetic in manners, of simple tastes and habits, tenacious of principle, a Puritan in morals, yet withal possessed of the broadest charity.

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1867. HERMAN BROWNELL HORTON, M. D. Born at New Lebanon, N. Y., October 9, 1831. Was graduated in 1858 from the Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass. Began practice at Eden, N. Y .; removed in 1865 to Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, to Bath, in the same county, in 1866; to Albany in 1867; to Kinderhook in 1869; and in 1871, to Huntington, Suffolk county, where he died September 1, 1890. Dr. Horton took an active interest in the canvass which resulted in the establishment of the Albany Homoeopathic Dispensary, and on its or- ganization was appointed its first resident physician. He practiced the allopathic system seven, and the homoeopathic twenty-three years.

1867. J. Fenimore Niver, M. D. Born at Bethlehem, N. Y., April 31, 1839. Was graduated in 1864 from the Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass. Began practice at Stillwater, N. Y .; removed in 1867 to Cohoes; and in 1871 to Cambridge, Washington county, where, in 1897, he is still engaged in active practice.

1867. JAMES HENRY AUGUSTUS GRAHAM, M. D. Born at Sandisfield, Mass., January 11, 1809. Was graduated from the Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1836. Began practice in the city of New York, where he remained a number of years: resided at Catskill several years; and during the last few years of his life, at Berne, Albany county, where he died in October, 1878, at the age of sixty-nine years. He adopted the homoeopathic system in 1871, and adhered to it during the remainder of his life. He had been an old school practitioner thirty- five years.

1868. JAMES FRANCIS MCKOWN, M. D. Born at Guilderland, N. Y., April 1, 1844. Was graduated from the Albany Medical College, No- vember 25, 1866. Began practice (old school) at Albany the same year. Adopted the homoeopathic system in 1868, and adhered to it during the remainder of his life. He died August 25, 1892, at the age of forty- eight years.

1868. GEORGE ALDOMER Cox, M. D. Born at Butternut, N. Y., May 17, 1846. Was graduated in December, 1868, from the Albany Medi- cal College. He began practice at Albany immediately after gradua- tion; removed to Cohoes in 1870; returned to Albany in 1871, where, in 1897, he is engaged in the duties of active practice. He served two and a half years in the war of the Rebellion, and was mustered out of the service in June, 1865.

1869. JOHN SMITHWICK, A. M., M. D. Born at Boston, Mass., No- vember 8, 1842. Was graduated in December, 1868, from the Albany

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Medical College. Began practice at Albany in 1869; removed, in 1871, to Weston, Mass .; in 1880, to Sharon, Mass., his residence in 1897.

1869. PORTER LAFAYETTE REYNOLDS, M. D. Born at Cabot, Vt., May 18, 1823. Was graduated in the spring of 1861 from Castleton (Vermont) Medical College, and in December, 1861, from the Albany Medical College. Began practice (old school) at Troy in 1862; enlisted as assistant surgon, and served two years in the war of the Rebellion; began practice (homoeopathic) in 1864, at Albany; removed, in 1878, to Saratoga Springs; returned, in 1880, to Albany; and in 1887, to Oneida, N. Y., where he died April 21, at the age of sixty-four years.

1870. NELSON HUNTING, M. D. Born at Gallupville, N. Y., Novem- ber 21, 1837. Was graduated in 1869 from the New York Homoeo- pathic College and Hospital. Began practice at Gallupville, remained one year, and came to Albany in 1870, where in 1897 he is engaged in active practice.

1870. EDWARD ANNON CARPENTER, M. D. Born at Albany, Novem- ber 11, 1846. Was graduated from the Albany Medical College in December, 1869. Entered immediately on practice in Albany; removed in 1872, to Plattsburg, N. Y .; thence, in 1882, to Cambridge, Mass., where, in 1897, he is practicing his profession.

1870. STEPHEN H. CARROLL, M. D. Born at Milanville, N. Y., Au- gust 22, 1842. Was graduated in 1870 from the New York Homoeo- pathic College and Hospital. Began practice in Albany immediately after graduation, and in 1897 is still engaged in the duties of active practice.

1870. THOMAS HENRY MANN, M. D. Born at Norfolk, Mass., April 8, 1843. Was graduated in December, 1870, from the Albany Medical College. Began practice in 1871 at Willimantic, Conn .; removed in 1872 to Block Island, R. I .; in 1876 to Woonsocket, R. I., where for ten years he successfully pursued the practice of his profession. In 1885 he relinquished the practice of medicine, and entered other business pursuits. Residence in 1897, Fitchburg, Mass., at which place he holds the office of postmaster, and is the editor and publisher of the Fitchburg Evening Mail. Dr. Mann enlisted in the army in 1861, serving during the war of the Rebellion; was held a whole year at Andersonville Prison, and was mustered out of service in May, 1865.

1870. PHILIP I. CROMWELL, M. D. Born at Queensburg, N. Y., July 12, 1848. Was graduated December 22, 1870, from the Albany Med- ical College. Began practice at Albany, remaining one year; removed

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in 1872 to Cleveland, Oswego county, N. Y .; in 1874 to DeKalb, Ill. ; and subsequently to Wilmington, Will county, Ill., where, in 1897, he still resides.

1871. HENRY GREEN PRESTON, B. A., M. D. Born at Hartford, Conn., in 1847. Was graduated in 1869 from Bellevue Hospital Medical Col- lege. Began practice in 1869 at St. John, New Brunswick; removed in 1871 to Albany and in 1876 to Brooklyn, N. Y., where in 1897 he is still engaged in successful practice.

1871. JOHN HIRAM FITCH, M. D. Born at New Scotland, N. Y., April 2, 1837. Was graduated in 1868 from the Eclectic Medical Col- lege in New York city. Began practice in 1868 in New York city; in 1871 came to Albany; in 1873 returned to New York city, and in the fall of the same year removed to New Scotland, Albany county, where in 1897 he still resides. He enlisted in the army in 1861, and was mus- tered out of the service in September, 1864.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 23

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374