Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 81

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017

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Daniel Allen, of Hamburg, Lucius H. Allen, of Buffalo, Cyrenius Chapin, of Buf- falo, Thomas B. Clark, of Buffalo, Sylvester Clark, of Buffalo, Benjamin C. Congdon, of Buffalo, Jonathan Hoyt, of Aurora, Jonathan Hurlburt, of Buffalo, Daniel Ingalls, of Springville, Ebenezer Johnson, of Buffalo, William Lucas of Buffalo, Charles Mc- Lowth, of Buffalo, John E Marshall, of Buffalo, William H. Pratt, of Eden, Charles Pringle, of Hamburg, Elisha Smith, of Buffalo, Rufus Smith, of Aurora, Sylvanus S. Stuart of Buffalo. Ira G. Watson, of South Wales, John Watson, of Aurora, James Woodward and Josiah Trowbridge, of Buffalo.

The following-named were elected officers: President, Cyrenius Chapin; vice- president, Daniel Chapin; secretary, John E. Marshall; treasurer, Lucius H. Allen. Censors: Charles Pringle, Sylvanus S. Stuart, Benjamin C. Congdon, Lucius H. Allen and John E. Marshall.

Many of these physicians had lived in Western New York for years before Erie county was set apart, and had been members as well as in some instances officers of the Medical Society of the County of Niagara.

At the first meeting of the Medical Society of the County of Erie the president, Dr. Cyrenius Chapin, delivered an address in which, among other things, he inveighed against quacks, who, he said, did no end of harm, and he also deplored the inconsistency and cold ingratitude of the public toward the medical profession; and further, he affirmed, "the truth is too obvious to require illustration that our profession is far from maintaining the rank among the learned professions which its consequence demands." In the course of his address he called attention to the fact that the services of physicians were undervalued by the public, and he suggested that as they were not charitable institutions it was time to resolutely determine upon a total reformation.

In a public notice which he issued about this period Dr. Chapin stated that he felt it his duty to inform those indebted to him for professional services that the time had arrived when imperious necessity compelled him to make an immediate collection of his accounts. We quote from this note as follows: " It has too long been a prevalent idea with the public that the physician's bill is never to be paid, and to call upon a

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patient when restored to health and to the enjoyment of life by the skill and attention of his physician for a reward for the services rendered is considered almost an insult and hardship. To relieve my own necessity I am compelled to resort to an immediate collection, and this I shall do without discrimination. Those, therefore, who think it a duty to save the cost of prosecution will find it expedient to bestow immediate attention to this subject."

The question of finance was an important one to the society. Dr. Lucius H. Allen was its first treasurer, but he does not appear to have left a record of his service. The first treasurer's record obtainable is dated January 9, 1827, at which time Dr. John E. Marshall was treas- urer. This report shows that the receipts for the previous year were $11, and the disbursements $8. In 1830 the treasury contained six shillings, while the debts amouted to $10.50. In struggling to main- tain a cohesion of membership the society sought to enforce the attend- ance of its members. No person was legally entitled to practise medicine or surgery in Erie county except he was a member of the society. It, therefore, became compulsory on him to join, and if other- wise qualified the society had no right to refuse him admission. Like- wise, there was no legal way to get out of the society, hence it was empowered by law to exercise all sorts of discipline. Among other rules it imposed a penalty of one dollar for absence at any meeting, and some amusing incidents arose out of the endeavor of the treasurers to collect this fine.

At one of the sessions the following was adopted: "Resolved, That the treasurer be directed to collect outstanding dues from members- peaceably if he can, forcibly if he must." In response to his demands a large number of letters were received which indicated the unpopu- larity of the proceedings. One of these is deemed of sufficient interest for a synopsis of it to find a place in these pages. It was written by Dr. Bela H. Colegrove, of Sardinia, to Dr Marshall, under date of June 11, 1838. In it Dr. Colegrove protests against being fined for non attendance because the rule is unjust and discriminates against members. He lived thirty miles from the place where the meetings are required by law to be held and to go there twice a year meant a sacrifice to him of some $15 or $20, or to pay a penalty which the city members could avoid by the sacrifice of so many pence. He did not think he ought to compromise the interest of the community where he resided from neglect caused by attending the meetings. He did not

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complain of the amount but of the principle, and he would as soon and with equal justice make the penalty for non-attendance imprisonment in the county jail for a term of six months as to have it as it now is.

At the end of the first decade, that is, in 1831, the annals of the so- ciety indicate that very little progress had been made by the medical profession during that period. It does not appear to have improved in esprit de corps to any appreciable degree nor does its personnel seem to have improved in quality or quantity. The names of twenty or more members appear but once on the records, and only twenty are found on the roll of 1831. Of the original charter members but nine remained, namely: Cyrenius Chapin, Josiah Trowbridge, John E. Mar- shall, Benjamin C. Congdon, of Buffalo, Charles Pringle, of Hamburg, Rufus Smith and Jonathan Hoyt, of Aurora, Ira G. Watson of Wales, and William H. Pratt, of Eden. The following names were recorded on the secretary's book, but they do not appear to have completed their membership, namely: Daniel Allen, Nathaniel R. Olmstead, Isaac Dunning, John Allen, Henry Hitchcock, Thaddeus Hubbard, Parley B. Spaulding, James M. Smith, Jonathan Foote, Daniel H. Orcott, Israel Congdon, Alvin Cowles, Sidney R. Morris, Marvin Webster, John D. Fisk, Edward J. Durkee and W. P. Proudfoot.

If the profession of medicine and the medical society did not make substantial advance during the period from 1821 to 1831 it may be pleaded in extenuation that this was a period of privation, embarrass- ment and distress. The people were for the most part poor, or at least not wealthy. They had hardly recovered from the effects of the war, and there was but little capital with which to carry on great enter- prises. If then the people themselves were not prosperous how could the medical profession expect to advance ? It was a time, too, when quackery was gaining foothold, red pepper and lobelia represented ad- vanced therapy, while Thompsonian and steam doctors were abroad in the land. The conditions in short were those generally pertaining to newly settled regions. Under such environment it may be easily un- derstood that the practice of medicine was carried on by a few faithful followers of the science at a disadvantage that was well-nigh dis- couraging and which would have dismayed hearts less stout than theirs. Some, indeed, were obliged to supplement their already scanty in- comes by engaging in other pursuits part of the time, while others were compelled to abandon the profession altogether.

The medical society keenly felt the effect of the hard times and in 91

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1825 sought to replenish its treasury by raising its fee for membership from two to five dollars. The annual dues remained at one dollar as heretofore. That an expedient of such doubtful propriety should fail of its purpose is not surprising. Only two new members joined during the succeeding three years.

The society, however, was not idle during this period. It appears to have been among the first in the State to appreciate the value of vital statistics, for a bill on this subject was drafted under its direction which was sent to the Legislature for action. It also devoted much attention to the subject of vaccination and was always aggressive in the various branches of medical science. A number of men, too, joined the society during this period who deserve special notice.

Dr. Bela H. Colegrove, of Sardinia, was one of these. He was a native of Rhode Island, a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, and settled in Sardinia in 1820. He joined the society in 1823 and was president in 1828. He resided in Buffalo for a few years and was associated in practice with Drs. Trowbridge and Marshall. Finally he returned to Sardinia and continued his pro- fessional work for about fifty years. He became famous as a surgeon, and his ser- vices were in demand in adjoining counties. He died March 19, 1874, aged seventy- seven years.

Moses Bristol was born in Oneida county, came to Buffalo in 1822 and joined the society in 1823. He held the office of censor during the years 1834, '36, '37, '39 and '40, was president in 1833, and again in 1838. He continued in active practice until 1849, when his health began to fail, but he lived until 1869. Dr. Bristol did much to maintain the character and standing of the profession during the period of his activ- ity. Of others who joined the society in 1823 we find the names of Orlando Wake- . lee, of Clarence, and Emmons S. Gould. Benjamin C. Congdon, one of the found- ers, was treasurer of the society for one year, from 1828 to 1824, and continued as member until 1833.

Henry Rutger Stagg became a member of the society in 1824. He was secretary and librarian in 1828. again secretary in 1833, and president in 1834. He was a man of attainments, possessed a literary taste, but withdrew from the ranks of the pro- fession, severing his connection from the society in 1836. He became associate editor of the Buffalo Journal, a weekly newspaper, in which occupation he continued until 1838. Of the other members who joined the society in 1824 we may mention Erastus Wallis, of Aurora, Judah Bliss, of Buffalo, and Carlos Emmons, of Spring- ville. In 1826 but two additional names are recorded, namely, Michael Martin and · Stephen Dean, the latter locating at East Hamburg. Ira Shedd, a licentiate of the society, appears on the rolls during 1827, likewise Orson Cary, the latter becoming a censor in 1830.

Carlos Emmons established himself at Springville, joined the society in 1824, was elected vice-president in 1833, president in 1834, and a delegate to the State society in 1841. He also served as a member of the Assembly and in the Senate.

Erastus Wallis, of Aurora, became a member in 1824, vice-president in 1839, presi-

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dent in 1840, and served several years as a censor. He came to Buffalo, where he resided a few years, but returned to Aurora. He was a member during thirty-eight years, and died in 1862.

In 1828 J. S. Trimble joined the society : John M. Harrington, a licentiate, became a member in 1830, and also did Orson S. St. John and Lucian W. Caryl. D. J. Williams, of Aurora, joined in 1831.

We have already shown why the medical society failed to grow in numbers during the first decade of its existence. But now a new and prosperous epoch seemed dawning. Buffalo more than trebled its population in the five years between 1825 and 1830, while the county of Erie, exclusive of Buffalo, more than doubled its population during the same period.

Bryant Burwell, a native of Herkimer county, came to Buffalo in 1824 and joined the society in 1825. He was associated in practice with Dr. Cyrenius Chapin for some years. He was vice-president in 1832, and a delegate to the State society in 1833. He was appointed by the State society one of the committee of three to ex- amine the medical laws of the State with reference to the amendments needed; also he was made a member of a committee to obtain an opinion from the attorney-gen- erl upon the question of the powers of medical societies as to the admission of mem- bers. He became a permanent member of the State Medical Society in 1837. Dr. Burwell represented the Buffalo Medical Association at the initial convention held in New York in 1846 with reference to organizing a national medical society, and he was a delegate to the first and second meetings of the American Medical Association held respectively at Philadelphia in 1847, and at Baltimore in 1848. Again in 1850 he represented the city association at the Cincinnati meeting of the American Med- ical Association. He was a censor of the State Medical Society in 1847, 1848 and 1850, and a member of the committee of correspondence of that society for several years. Dr. Burwell maintained an active part in the deliberations of the county so- ciety until 1854, and was one of its censors for many years. He died September 8, 1861, aged sixty five years, having maintained the respect and confidence of his professional confrères during all the years of his residence in Buffalo.

Alden S. Sprague, another strong character, a native of New Hampshire, came to Buffalo a year later than Dr. Burwell, namely, in 1825, and was elected a member of the county society in 1826. He was treasurer from 1829 to 1833 inclusive, and was chosen president in 1835, during which year he was also health physician of Buf- falo. He was again elected president in 1851, but ceased to be an active member in 1852. He was a delegate to the State society in 1839, and again in 1845, and was elected a permanent member of that body in 1847. He died January 7, 1863, but little more than a year after Dr. Burwell, with whom he had been a contemporary for thirty-seven years. Dr. Sprague was recognized as one of the foremost physicians of his period, and he obtained also a deserved fame as a surgeon.

Harry H. Bissell, a native of Vermont, came to Clarence in 1828, during which year he joined the society. Afterward he removed to Lancaster where he was asso- ciated in practice with Dr. Hyde. Finally, he returned to Buffalo, was elected pres- ident of the society in 1836, and also served as a censor for many years. He was sent as a delegate to the State society in 1837.

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Luther Spaulding, of Williamsville, became a member of the society in 1831, al- though he had been a resident of the county since 1821. In 1832 Alden Thomas. Arba Richards, of Wales, Horace B. Camp, of Aurora, and Josiah Barnes, Joseph R. Jones and James Edwin Hawley, of Buffalo, became members of the society.

Charles Winne. a native of Albany, came to Buffalo in 1833, in which year he also joined the society. He was chosen a delegate to the State society in 1834 and was health physician of Buffalo in 1836. He served as treasurer of the society during the years 1836, '37, and '38, was secretary in 1845-46, and was associated in practice for some years with Dr. Josiah Trowbridge and Dr. Walter Cary. He became president of the society in 1863, and attained fame as a surgeon. He died in 1877.

Gorham F. Pratt was another physician who left the stamp of a strong individual- ity on the place and period of his activity. He was born at Reading, Mass., in 1804. and came to Buffalo at the age of twenty-six years, that is, in 1830. He entered the office of Dr. Cyrenius Chapin as a medical student, and took his doctorate degree at Fairfield, N. Y., in 1831. Soon afterward he formed a partnership with Dr. Chapin, his preceptor, which continued until the death of the latter in 1838. Dr. Pratt be- came a member of the county society in 1833, was secretary from 1834 to 1840, was elected vice-president in 1840, and president in 1841. He acquired a large practice among Buffalo's best families, and was one of the most distinguished physicians of his time. He made a model secretary, as indicated by the records during the period of his service as such. He died April 5, 1851.

Lucian W. Caryl and Orson S. St. John also became members of the society in 1830. Dr. Caryl was chosen treasurer in 1834. Dr. St. John was a native of Buffalo. He removed to New York where he devoted himself to literary and scientific pur- suits. He died there July 9, 1897. aged 87 years.

Horace B. Camp was vice-president in 1838 and 1841, and in the latter year he was chairman of a committee to which was referred the petition from Monroe county. asking the co-operation of this society in procuring a repeal of the law of 1836 which obliged persons with foreign diplomas to be examined by the censors of the State society. His committee made an adverse report to the repeal of the law, but recon !- mended such a modification of it as was proposed in 1837, namely, to the effect that physicians possessing foreign diplomas should be granted the privilege of an exami- nation by the censors of county medical societies or by the censors of the senatorial district in which they may reside.

James E. Hawley was elected vice-president in 1836, and president in 1837: he be- came a permanent member of the State medical society in 1848.

Josiah Barnes, a native of Connecticut and graduate of Yale College, took his medical degree at Jefferson in Philadelphia. He came to Buffalo in 1832 and joined the society the following year. He acted as librarian during the years 1835, '36 and '37; was secretary in 1840-41; president in 1842; and treasurer from 1847 to 1851 in- clusive. He was one of the ablest physicians of Buffalo, a permanent member of the State society, and died June 1, 1871, lamented by all who knew him.

Henceforth in the pages devoted to the consideration of this society. for the sake of convenience, a chronological record of the officers and members will be made, first giving the year, then the names of the members who joined, and finally the officers for the year in question.

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Brief sketches of prominent members who joined in each year will also be given. This will make the record easy of reference.

1834 .- During this year Francis L. Harris, James P. White, H. N. Munson, L. B. Benedict and Silas Smith became members.

James Platt White (1811-1881), a native of Livingston county, N. Y., commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Josiah Trowbridge in 1830. This was the beginning of a medical career destined to attain the largest fame, though it was little fore- seen at the time mentioned. Prob- ably no man of his time con- tributed more to the history of medicine in Erie county than Dr. White. He took his doctorate degree in March, 1834, at Jeffer- son Medical College, Philadel- phia, and in June of the same year joined the society. Dr. White was librarian in 1840: secretary during the years 1842-43-44, and was elected president in 1855. He represented the society in 1850 as a delegate to the State Medical Society and to the American Med ical Association. He became a permanent member of the State society in 1854, and its president in.1870. In 1877 he was elected vice-president of the American Medical Association. In 1878, at the Buffalo meeting, he was sup- ported for the presidency by the New York delegation. Through the machinations of two or three designing men who shall be name- JAMES PLATT WHITE, M. D. less-one yet living -- he was de- feated, the nominating committee standing fourteen for Dr. White and fifteen for his competitor. It is to the credit of the latter that he took no part in the tactics that defeated Dr. White; indeed he was ignorant probably of the whole affair until after the election was over.

This is not the place in which to write an eulogium of Dr. White-that has been properly done elsewhere 1-but it may be justly affirmed that since his decease, Sep- tember 28, 1881, his place has never been filled. He was a man of affairs as well as eminent in his profession, and his relations to many enterprises looking to the pros-

1 Dr. Austin Flint, Trans. Med. Society State of N. Y., 1882, p. 337.

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perity of Buffalo testify to his public spirited progressiveness. Dr. White's part in history will be referred to again when medical colleges, medical journals and hospi- tals are dealt with.

Francis L. Harris became a member of the Board of Health in Buffalo in 1831; health physician in 1838; vice-president of the society in 1845; president in 1846; delegate to the State society in 1836 and 1846, and a permanent member thereof in 1857.

Officers for 1834 .- President, Carlos Emmons; vice-president, Henry R. Stagg; secretary, Gorham F. Pratt; treasurer, Lucian W. Caryl; librarian, Erastus Burwell. Censors-Josiah Trowbridge, Moses Bristol and Charles Winne.

1835 .- Henry L. Benjamin, Benjamin A. Batty, H. H. Hubbard, W. H. Turner, Marcius Simons, W. H. Christison and C. H. Ray- mond.

It is recorded that Dr. Carlos Emmons, president of the society in 1834, was fined ten dollars for failing to deliver the president's annual address.

Dr. Charles H. Raymond during the year read before the society a thesis on the use of the stethoscope, this instrument, destined to play such an important part in the diagnosis of diseases of the chest, having just been introduced to the professor. He acted as librarian during the years 1838, '39, '41 and '42, and was a censor for many years, but ceased to be a member in 1844.

Officers for 1835 .- President, Alden S. Sprague; vice-president, W. H. Pratt; secretary, Gorham F. Pratt; treasurer, Lucian W. Caryl; librarian, Josiah Barnes. Board of Censors: Erastus Wallis, R. Smith, Charles Winne, Bryant Burwell and Josiah Trowbridge.

1836 .- George Lathrop, Nelson D. Sweetland, Abraham Miller, Samuel Salisbury, jr., William A. Greene and Brock McVickar.

Officers for 1836 .- President, H. H. Bissell; vice-president, J. E. Hawley; secre- tary, G. F. Pratt; treasurer, Charles Winne; librarian, Josiah Barnes. Censors: Bryant Burwell, F. L. Harris, H. B. Camp. Jonathan Hoyt and Charles Winne. Delegate to State Medical Society, F. L. Harris.

1837 .- Franklin Fitts, Charles A. Hyde, Horatio N. Loomis, Benja- min B. Coit, Samuel M. Crawford, Nelson Peck, Jesse Merritt, Edwin Griffin and Samuel M. Abbott.

Horatio N. Loomis, a native of Connecticut, came to Buffalo in 1830, and joined the society in 1837. He served as treasurer from 1839 to 1846 inclusive; was elected vice-president in 1851, and was sent as a delegate to the State society in 1848. During the organization period of Buffalo Medical College Dr. Loomis had ambitions for the chair of obstetrics. It is thought by many that he never forgave Dr. White, who obtained and held the chair for thirty-six years. Be that as it may there was never afterward a cordial feeling between these two men both successful

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practisers of the science and art of medicine. Dr. Loomis acquired a large following, and died March 22, 1881, respected by a great community.

Samuel M. Abbott was a student of Dr. John E. Marshall and a licentiate of the Medical Society of the County of Erie. He obtained membership in 1837, which continued until 1843.

Officers for 1837 .- President, James E. Hawley ; vice-president, Orlando Wakelee; secretary, G. F. Pratt; treasurer, Charles Winne; librarian, Josiah Barnes. Censors: Charles Winne, Moses Bristol, C. H. Raymond, Bryant Burwell and Carlos Em- mons.

1838. - Ford,' Morgan G. Lewis, Silas James, Jabez Allen, Noah H. Warriner.

Morgan G. Lewis was born in in Buffalo January 15, 1813, and located at Black Rock after graduating in medicine. In 1836 he was invited to assume the duties of editor of the Black Rock Advocate. He became a member of the county society in 1838, and continued in that relation until his death, February 8, 1858. Dr. Lewis was a man of courteous manners and a physician of distinction.

Officers for 1838 .- President, Moses Bristol ; vice-president, H. B. Camp ; secretary, G. F. Pratt; treasurer, Charles Winne; librarian, C. H. Raymond. Censors: Hora- tio N. Loomis, Josiah Barnes, Brock McVickar, Erastus Wallis and Carlos Emmons. Delegate to the State society, Alden S. Sprague.

1839 .- Grove C. Gage, Joseph Wilder, James M. Hoyt, James Ives, J. C. Bronk.

Officers for 1839 .- President, Josiah Trowbridge; vice-president, Erastus Wallis; secretary, G. F. Pratt; treasurer, Horatio N. Loomis; librarian, C. H. Raymond. Censors: Horatio N. Loomis, James P. White, Josiah Barnes, Carlos Emmons, Moses Bristol.

1840 .- J. B. Pride, Edmund Brown, George H. Lapham.

J. B. Pride, of Alden, was elected a member in 1840; vice-president in 1842; president in 1843. In 1849 he was appointed keeper and physician of the almshouse, and was reappointed in 1850.

George H. Lapham, of Aurora, became a student in the office of Dr. Jonathan Hoyt, at Hamburg, in 1841, served for many years as a curator in the Buffalo Med- ical College, enjoyed a large practice for many years, and died December 14, 1885, aged seventy-two years, respected and lamented by a large community.

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Our County and Its People: A Descriptive Work on Erie County, New York (Volume 1), Part 81

Author: Truman C. White Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1017

Author: Truman C. White
Publication date: 1898
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1017