Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 23

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368

USA > New York > Jefferson County > Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York > Part 23

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In 1823 E. Mayhew Adams and Walter Webb were elected members. Dr. Adams, as near as is known, came from Massachusetts and began practice at Smithville about 1825. Later on he removed to Cazenovia, and thence to Chicago, where he died. Dr. Webb was one of the few early physicians whose elementary and professional education were ac- quired in the county. He was born at Hoosac in 1495, removed with his parents to Oneida county and thence to Perch river, this county. He taught school and at the same time read medicine with Dr. Green, and afterward with Dr. Trowbridge, of Watertown. He went to Fair- field, where he studied with Dr. Willoughby, and where he was grad- uated from the medical college in 1823. From that time he practiced at Adams until 1868, when he removed to Washington, N. J., where he died.

In 1824 the society admitted William Bates as member. He, too, was educated in northern New York (at Lowville) and was licensed to practice medieine by the Lewis county medieal society. Sept. 12, 1821. He located at Pamelia Four corners in 1823, removed to Lowville in 1831, to Copenhagen in 1936, and to South Rutland in 1845, where he lived until his death, June 19, 1859. Dr. N. W. Bates, of Central Square, was the son of Dr. William Bates.

It is conceded on every hand that pioneership and early settlement in all branches of life and growth in Jefferson county was at an end in

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the year 1825, in view of which it is doubtful whether the scope of the present chapter contemplates further extended mention of early physi- cians of the county. In another department of this volume the reader will find biographical and family sketches of hundreds and perhaps thousands of early settlers and families. That department is provided for the especial and desirable purpose of separating as far as possible the purely historical and biographical elements of county history. However, in treating of special subjects some liberal construction of strict rule is permissible, and the foregoing sketches are furnished as part of the history of the old medical society organized away back in 1806, and continued in existence until about the year 1850, when through some lack of interest, and in good part due to the unfortunate repeal of state laws by the legislature, it was dissolved. Yet it is not our purpose in this chapter to omit mention of the members of the so- ciety who were admitted between the year 1825 and the dissolution, but the record of names will be continued, followed by a concise history of the successor organization, the present county society, and other kin- dred societies within the county. However, for further and extended mention of physicians of the county the reader is directed to the per- sonal history department in a latter part of the work.

In 1826, as disclosed by the records, new members were admitted as follows: Will- iam I. Fisk, Charles Orvis, Caleb Woodward, Hiram Mills (Plessis), and Lowrey Barney (Henderson). In 1828 the membership was augmented by the admission of G. S. Sacket, Pelatiah Dwight (Adams), 11. W. Bushnell (Sackets Harbor and Cape Vincent), Philip Maxwell, John D. Davison (Theresa), Almon Pitcher, E. M. Adams, A. W. Gray (Brownville), William J. Sikes (Watertown), Isaac Jenks, Samuel Wetmore and Foster Dexter (both of Adams), John P. Johnson (Champion), Converse J. Johnson (Champion), Caleb Preston, O. W. Cushman (La Fargeville), H. H. Hills (Chaumont and Champion), Elkanna French, Abner Benton (Ox Bow), D. S. Kimball, Ira Wright Watertown), Samuel Tucker (Rutland Center), David Dickerson (Sackets Harbor and Adams Center), Caleb Corp, Gordon P. Spencer (Champion), and Azariah Jones (Ellis- burgh). In 1829 there were admitted La Mont Bagg. Caleb Burge (Rutland), Jesse Ayers (Brownville), James K. Bates (Brownville and Watertown), Richard Clark (Watertown), Henry J. Munson (Evans Mills), and Alva Murdock (Philadelphia). In 1830 two members were added, James Green and Stephen Seymour, the latter a brother-in-law to Dr. E. M. Adams, and his successor at Smithville.

In 1831 Soranus W. Hunt, Aaron Sumner, Samuel J. Gaines (Theresa) and Jonathan Ellis (Clayton) were admitted, and in 1833 W. II. Wiser was added to the roll of members. In 1834 Isaac Munson was admitted. He was born in Herkimer county March 1, 1812, educated at Fairfield

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

academy and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of New York, and began practice at Evans Mills soon after 1834; he removed to Rutland where he continued in practice until he was elected county elerk in 1849, when he removed to Watertowu. In March, 1853, he was elected vice-president of the Agricultural insurance company, and after the removal of its place of business from Evans Mills to the county seat he laid aside practice and engaged actively in the manage- ment of its affairs. In 1835 Charles Eastman ( Ellis village and Water- town), William A. Wood (Chaumont and Dexter), and Abraham Hawn (Rodman) were elected members. In 1836 Ilannibal S. Dickerson (Rice's Corners) was admitted, and in 183" James K. Bates 1 became a member. He practiced at Watertown. In 1838 Dr. Walter Dewey became a member, but as early as 1824 he was practicing at Antwerp, and died in the town in 1845. Amasa Trowbridge, jr., one of the most popular young physicians of Watertown, who was killed by an accident in the village, and Amos Ellis, of Brownville were admitted in 1839. Charles Goodale (born in Watertown, May 18, 1817, and surgeon of the 94th N. Y. Vol. Inf. ) and William H H. Davis (of Camp's Mills and Sackets Harbor) were admitted in 1841. Dr. Benjamin Tractor was admitted in 1842. In 1843 William V. V. Rosa (Watertown), A. M. Van Ostrand (Watertown and Le Ray). Leonard Powers (Depauville and Stone's Mills), William E. Tyler (Sackets Harbor), and William G. Comstock (Evans Mills) were elected members of the society. Dr. E. S. Maxson, well known in Adams and Philadelphia, became a member in 1846. Martin J. Hutchins, who was licensed to practice by the county medical society in 1846, beeame a member in 1848, as also did Dr. Simon Goodle.

Among the other medical practitioners living in the county during the period covered by the preceding narrative, although their names are not found on the society's records, and perhaps were not members, were Drs. Avery Ainsworth, Cape Vincent ; Dr. Breed, Smithville; William J. Buckley Clayton ; William Carlisle, Three Mile Bay; William Christie, Rodman, died March 26, 1881; Jonas S. Conkey, Antwerp, died May 16, 1883; Darwin Cushman, La Fargeville, died December, 1888; De Esting Dickerson, Rice's Corners (now in Kansas City, Mo.): Dr. Fairburn, Cape Vincent ; William Frame, Depauville, died September, 1848; William W. Good-

1 Dr. Bates was one of the prominent physicians of the county, a thoroughly self-made and successful business man. He was born June 24, 1806, and acquired his medical education at Fairfield, where he was graduated. He practiced nearly 20 years at Brownville, and about 12 years at Watertown, removing to the latter place in 1848. Dr. Bates was an excellent business man and financier, and was also much interested in local polities; was elected inspector of state prisons in 1861 and held the office six years. He died in Watertown, June 30, 1872.

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TIIE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

win, Brownville, now dead; Samuel Guthrie,1 Sackets Harbor, died Oct. 19, 1818; Lucian Hannahs, Theresa, died May 8, 1876; II. W. F. King (or Koneg) Stone's Mills, died Aug. 14, 1855; E. Lemiro, Watertown, died Nov. 17, 1875; 1. B. Massey, Rutland (now in Sandusky, (.); Vietus Oliver, Woodville, died in 1870, Albert Par- sons, Black River, died March 24, 1887; William II. Robinson, Antwerp, died at Cedar Falls, Iowa; Dr. Sacket, Cape Vincent, dead; R. R. Sherman, Antwerp, died May 2, 1880; Dr. Sloat, Clayton; T. B. Wheeler, Watertown (now in Montreal); M. A. Winslow, Clayton (went west); Joseph Woodman, Whitesville.

So far as can be learned from the imperfect records of the society. the presidents of the old organization were as follows:

1806, John Durkee; 1807 12, no record; 1813, John Spafford; 1814 18, no record, 1819, C. P. Kimball; 1820, William Robinson; 182t-21 no record; 1825. 11. II. Sher- wood; 1826, Alfred Ely; 1827, Walter Webb; 152S, Amasa Trowbridge; 1829, Hora- tio Orvis; 1830, P. Maxwell; 1831-33, no record; 1831, Amasa Trowbridge ; 1835, S. Houghton ; 1836, Foster Dexter; 1837, James K. Bates; 1838, C. P. Kimball; 1839, A. S. Green; 1840, Kilborn Hannahs; 1811, 11. S. Dickerson; 1842, Ithamar B. Crawe; 1813, Eli West; 1841, Isaac Munson.

In later years, during the life of the society, the records do not show the names of presidents elected. In fact about this time the society began to decline, and when meetings were called they were not well attended. About this time, too, through some influence the legisla- ture passed an aet removing many of the restrictions which had pre- viously protected the legitimate practice, and the result was that numerous uneducated and unscrupulous persons set themselves up as medical practitioners to the great disgust and serious embarrassment of the profession at large, and for a time it appeared as if the entire clientage would fleck to the standard of these presuming quacks. Therefore it was only natural that interest in the society should de- cline when the very best physicians held their practice only in uncer- tain control. However, during the next score of years the necessity for a reorganized society was felt all through the county, and the sub- ject was informally discussed among the leading physicians. At last in 1868, Drs. Lewis, Spencer and J. Mortimer Crawe, with several others, considered the matter seriously, and the result was a meeting of county physicians at the American hotel in Watertown on Septem- ber 1, 1868, at which time these persons were assembled: Drs. Henry

(Dr. Samuel Guthrie was one of the eminent representatives of his profession, a chemist of rare ability, and was one of three men who almost simultaneously discovered chloroform the others being Soubieran, of France, and Liebig, of Germany). He was also the inventor and manufacturer of percussion pills. Dr. Guthrie was born in Brimfield, Mass., where he studied medicine with his father. He practiced a few years in Chenango county, N. Y., previous to coming to Sackets Harbor, where he afterward lived, and where he died Oct. 9, 1818.

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

G. P. Spencer, William R. Trowbridge, James K. Bates, J. Mortimer Crawe aud F. B. A. Lewis, of Watertown; H. S. Hendee, James T. Peeden and George N. Hubbard, of Carthage; Truman Tuttle, of Rod- man, and E. G. Derby, of Antwerp.

This was indeed a small and wholly informal gathering of interested county physicians, but they had at heart the welfare of the profession at large, and it was not long before the membership assumed substan- tial proportions, from which time the society has ever been a monu- ment to the thoughtfulness and consideration of its founders. From the beginning mentioned the society has grown to inelnde nearly an hundred active members at the present time, and is one of the largest and most useful organizations of its kind in this part of the state. Especially has its influence been felt in preventing quackery and un- lawful practices, and within the period of its history many cases of non-compliance with established law have been investigated and the proper remedy applied. The legislative enactment of 1880 has been carefully observed, and subsequent amendments have been of benefit to all legitimate and honest medical practitioners. But, to return to the record :

The Jefferson County Medical Society, new organization, was per- fected at a meeting held at Watertown on September 1, 1868. when James T. Peeden was elected to the chair, and F. B. A. Lewis, secre- tary pro tem. The first permanent officers elected were Henry G. P. Spencer, president; H. S Hendee, vice-president; F. B. A. Lewis, secretary, and William R. Trowbridge, treasurer. All other details were provided for, and the society then began the history which has proved continuous and successful. A detailed narrative of its growth and usefulness, while perhaps interesting, can hardly be considered essential to this chapter, but extraeting from the records it is proper that we furnish a list of the members, in addition to those before men- tioned, as they united with the society, and also the succession of presi- dents in the order of election. The members follow:

1869 .- H. M. Stevens, Frederick Bott, H. W. Jewett, E. A. Chapman, Ira H. Abell, Charles Parker. L. E. Frame, A. H. Gardner, L. F. Mason, Charles M. John- son, Robert Clink.

1870 .- N. M. Davidson, George G. Sabin, Parley H. Johnson, Anson S. Thompson Ezra B. Pratt, Eben S. Carlisle, Solomon V. Frame, Henry W. Streeter, William P Massey, William C. Bailey, Martin J. Hutchins, Charles A. Catlin, James D. Spencer Emerson Seymour.

1871 .- Lewis C. Watson, Amos Ellis.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

1879 .- A. A. Getman, J. Il. Miller.

1873 .- E. G. Howland, James Kelsey, N. O. Bemis, George G. Whitaker.

1874 .- J. R. Sturtevant, D. E. Pierce, John Grafton, E. Sill, D. A. Gleason, George Seymour, A. B. Stevens, M. L. Overton, J. T. Millard, J. Aldrich Wood.

1875 .- C. W. Burdick, Z. R. Babcock, L. E. Jones, Il. S. Lane, A. K. Ilale, Wil- liam T. Burdick, K. Hannahs, Charles Douglass, A. R. Rudd.

1876 .- S. L. Merrill, John Pierce, II. W. Streeter, S. L. Parmelee, N. D. Ferguson, S. W. Frame, N. G. Terry.

1877 .- G. A. Wood, Lois Fitch Mansfield, Wm. E. Tyler, J. 11. Tamblin, 11. 11. Deane, Il. A. Mellmoyl, C. D. Potter, A. J. Benedict, Jacob Daah, Charles Wright.

1878 .- George M. McCombs.

1879 -S. E. Ballard, Edward W. Trowbridge, Russell Finney, J. B. Ammon, D. (. Rodenhurst, Wm. H. Forsyth, Mills K. Church.

1880 .- B. C. Cheeseman, A. Il. Allen, Allen S. Smith.

1881 .- E. E. Ward, Charles M. Rexford, Miss F. C. Willard, M. L. Smith.

1882 .- T. E. Maine, S. Corbin Clark, G. A. Blake, J. C. Graham, C. E. Jones, Frank G. Clink, W. A. Vincent, A. S. Low, C. S. Drury, H. D. Bingle.

1883. - F. M. Shepard, Wm. N. Rand, Caroline R. Conkey, Hiram A. Stcarnes, E. 11. Taft, R. J. F. Burton.

188.1 .-- 1). L. Hubbard, F. W. H. Massey.

1886. W. H. 11. Sias.

1887 .- George II. Davis, J. Mortimer Crawe, jun., Gordon P. Spencer, L. G. Gifford, Edward F. Johnson, George M. MeCombs (re-admitted).

1888 .-- Jesse B. Low, Kate Parker, O. C. Eastman, W. O. Forrester, Frank R. Porter, Fred C. Bailey, J. W. Thompson, F. T. Dale. T. C. Baker.

1889 .- A. J. Boyd, A. K. Hale, George E. Sylvester, 11. II. Smith, Charles E. Riee.

1890 .- J. Monroe Smith, G. II. Wood, Elmer E. Eddy.

1891. - E. R. McCreary, II. L. Smith.

1892 .- J. E. Fowkes, G. A. Gardner.

1893 .- Alfred Goss, 1. E. Gardner, J. A. Barrett.

1891 .- II. L. Ladd, F. R. Calkins.

1895 .- Frederick J. Mann, W. N. Brown, E. S. Willard, W. J. Kellow, Isabel Meader.

1896 .- C. N. Bibbins, Grant C. Madill, L. E. Jones, G. II. Ives.

1897 .- E. J. Severance, A. W. Goodale, M. S. Lord, C. C. Kimball, A. J. Dick, 11. A. Hoyt, N. P. Joyner.

Other practicing physicians of the county whose names appear on the roll of mem- bers are Ervin C. Witt, C. F. Adams, H. C. Potter and W. C. Fawdry.

The honorary members are Drs. G. C. Madill, of Ogdensburgh; I. J. Fuller, of Spragueville; George MeCombs, of Binghamton; J. W. Eddy, of Oswego; W. F. Ford, of Utica; Roswell P'. Parks, of Buffalo; B. F. Drury, of Gouverneur: F. F. Drury and A. II. Allen, of Gouverneur.

Presidents .- 1868.69, Ilenry G. P. Spencer; 1870, James T. Peeden: 18$1, Ira II. Abell; 1872, Il. W. Jewett: 1873, M. J. Hutchins; 1874, William C. Bailey; 1875. J. Mortimer Crawe; 1876, Kilborn Hannahs; 1877, William P. Massey; 1878, Luke E. Frame; 1879, William R. Trowbridge, 1880, L. E. Jones; 1881, E. B. Pratt; 1882,

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

J. R. Sturtevant; 1883, C. M. Johnson; 1884, A. B. Stevens; 1885. George N. Hub- bard; 1886, George G. Sabin; 1887, Henry A. Mellmoyl; 1888, J. D). Spencer ; 1859, Charles Douglass; 1890, C. G. Stevens; 1891-92, E. A. Chapman: 1893, D. C. Rod- enhurst; 1894, Frank Massey; 1895, C. M. Rexford; 1896, G. H. Wood: 1897, O. C. Eastman.

Officers, 1897 .- O. C. Eastman, president; W. A. Vincent, vice-president; J. M. Crawe, jr., treasurer; F. R. Calkins, secretary; G. II. Wood, delegate to state soci- ety; J. A. Barnett, E. S. Willard, Isabel Meader, E. A. Chapman, G. G. Sabin, censors.

The Watertown City Medical Society was organized March 17, 1878, having as original members Drs. John Grafton, W. R. Trowbridge, J. Mortimer Crawe, H. G. P. Spencer, J. D. Spencer, E. Sill, C. W. Burdick, A. R. Rudd, S. L. Parmelee, C. M. Johnson and II. H. Deane. Soon afterward the names of E. G. Howland and Addison S. Low were added to the roll. The chief object of the society was to secure a more frequent meeting of the representatives of the profession in the city than was possible in the county society. but it was distinctly under- stood that the new organization should not in any manner conflict with the older one.

At the time indicated the members met and elected these officers: W. R. Trowbridge, president; J. Mortimer Crawe, vice-president; H. H. Deane, secretary ; J. 1). Spencer, treasurer, curator and librarian.

Notwithstanding the commendable purpose and favorable beginning of the city society, it proved to be a short-lived organization, and after the expiration of a little more than three years, due to lack of interest and the difficulty in assembling a quorum of active physicians, it was dissolved. The last meeting was held October 13, 1881.

During the period of its history the presidents of the society were as follows: 1818, W. R. Trowbridge; 1>19, John Grafton; 1880, J. Morti- mer Crawe; 1881, E. C. Howland.

The Watertown City Medical Society, the new organization, was formed at a meeting of physicians held January 28, 1896, in response to a general feeling on the part of the profession that closer association would be beneficial, all of which subsequent results have shown. The preliminary organization was effected by the election of J. Mortimer Crawe, chairman, and Charles N. Bibbins, secretary. On February 10 the physicians reassembled, adopted a constitution and by-laws, and elected these officers: J. Mortimer Crawe, president ; Gilbert Cannon, vice-president; Charles N. Bibbins, secretary, and J. M. Crawe, jr., treasurer.

The original members were J. Mortimer Crawe, Gilbert Cannon,

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Charles N. Bibbins, J. M. Crawe, jr., James D. Spencer, Wallace N. Brown, O. C. Eastman, M. Lee Smith, 11. H. Deane, E. S. Willard, Charles C. Kimball and B. C. Cheeseman. The following members were added to the society soon after its organization : Isabel M. Meader, F. R. Calkins, C. M. Rexford, Lois Fitch Mansfield, II. H. Smith, E. R. McCreary, W. J. Kellow, H. F. Kilborn, George II. Ives, J. M. Smith, 11. G. P. Spencer, D. F. Connelly, Fred. B. Smith, J. A. Barnett, O. O. Stowell and Henry Hoyt.

Dr. J. Mortimer Crawe has been president of the society since its organization, having been re-elected for a second term March 2, 1891. The other officers are Gilbert Cannon, vice-president; J. M. Crawe, jr., treasurer, and Charles N. Bibbins, secretary.

Homocopathy-A learned writer has said: All advancement comes through persecution ; and " no cross, no crown, " is applicable to science as well as to religion. Christianity itself surged through blood and fire to attain its mighty power. So, too, the medical world has been subject to convulsion from the earliest ages. Homeopathy sprang into existence something more than a century ago, discarded the settled rules of practice and asserted its claims before the world. Its dis- tinguishing characteristics, then as now, consist in the employment of medicaments agreeable to the principles denoted by its name, "similia similibus curantur," or " like eures like." The principle, however, first rendered into practical science by Hahnemann, the founder of the homoeopathic school, dates far back of his time, and was even glanced at by Hippocrates; but it remained for Hahnemann to propound the startling dogma in 1290, while engaged in translating Cullin's Materia Medica from English into German. The school passed through many wonderful and prolonged tests, trials and opposition, and was eventu- ally legalized in Bohemia in 1821; America in 1825; Russia in 1833; Austria in 1837; Prussia in 1843; England in 1858, and to-day is rec- ognized throughout the civilized world.

But notwithstanding all this remarkable growth there are now less than twenty-five homocopathic physicians in Jefferson county, and re- gardless of the manifest advantages of professional association and or- ganization, it was not until 1887 that a homoeopathic medical society was formed in the county. The local history of the profession of course far antedates that year, yet the school made no previous record except through the individual lives of its representatives.

The pioneer of the school in the county is believed to have been Dr. U. S. Dunning, who came to Watertown in 1813, and combined the

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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.

practice of denistry with his professional work. After five or six years he emigrated to California, thence removed to Oregon, but eventually returned to Adams, where he died. The next homoeopath at the county seat was Dr. C. E. Boice, who remained a few years, and was followed by George W. Foote, Dr. Bailey and W. A. Hawley in the order men- tioned. However, Dr. Simeon C. Knickerbocker was the first per- manent disciple of similia similibus curantur at Watertown, having come there in 1861, and practiced successfully to the time of his death. He was in all respects a worthy citizen. Drs. W. T. Laird and Ira V. Daggett came in 1822; Alfred G. Cole in 1877, all practicing at the county seat. Dr. Waldo located at Adams in 1863; J. W. Brown at Cathage in 1869: M. W. Gallup at Adams in 18:5, and G. H. Wood at Antwerp in 188 :. (Dr. Wood afterward joined the Jefferson County Medical Society).

The Farrington Medical Club, which includes in its membership the homoeopathic physicians of Watertown and vicinity, was organized November 15, 1884. and was named in honor of and allusion to Dr. E. A. Farrington, lecturer on materia medica in Hahnemannian medical col- lege, Philadelphia. The first officers of the club were S. S. Knicker- bocker, president; W. T. Laird, vice-president, and M. M. Adams, sec- retary and treasurer. The members, past and present, are C. S. Knickerbocker, W. T. Laird, G. A. Gifford, G. W. B. Smith, M. M. Adams, G. S. Farmer, R. F. Gates, H. De L. Knickerbocker and A. D. Chattaway.

The presidents, in succession, have been as follows: 1957, S. C. Knickerbocker; 18SS, W. T. Laird; 18-9, G. S. Farmer; 1>90, G. A. Gifford; 1891, M. M. Adams; 1×92, R. F. Gates; 1803, A. D. Chattaway; 1\94, G. W. B. Smith ; 1995, W. T. Laird; 1496, G. A. Gifford. The other present officers are: G. S. Farmer, vice-president ; A. D. Chattaway, secretary and treasurer; D)rs. Gates, Smith and Laird, censors.

The Jefferson County Homoeopathic Medical Society was organized November 21, 1888, and under its constitution made eligible to mem- bership any regularly licensed physician in the county who complied with the requirements of the law, and who was willing to avow his be- lief in the homoeopathic doctrine of similia similibus curantur. The original members who signed the constitution and by-laws were Simeon C. Knickerbocker, G. A. Gifford, M. M. Adams, R. F. Gates, W. T. Laird, E. A. Simonds, G. S. Farmer, W. H. Nickelson, W. L. Hart- man and J. D. Cole. The later members were G. C. Hibbard, C. A. Simonds, James E. Ryan, Frederick L. Santway, G. W. B. Smith, H.

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THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.

De L. Knickerbocker, M. M. Ryan, A. D. Chattaway, F. F. Williams and George W. Bartlett; honorary member, M. II. Brunson, of Low- ville.

At the organization meeting, on the recommendation of a committee appointed for the purpose, Dr. Simeon C. Knickerbocker was elected pres- ident; G. C. Hibband, vice president, and W. 11. Nickelson, secretary and treasurer; delegate to state society, Dr. Nickelson; alternate, Dr. Farmer.

The succession of presidents has been as follows :- 1888, S. C. Knickerbocker; 1889, G. 11. Hibbard; 1890, E. A. Simonds; 1891, M. 11. Brunson; 1892, F. L. Sant- way: 1893, W. T. Laird; 1894, W. II. Nickelson; 1895, G. S. Farmer; 1896, J. E. Ryan.

Having in this manner recalled the history of the medical profession and its representatives in the county, and having at some length re- ferred to the several medical societies which have been formed from time to time, it is fitting that at least a brief mention be made of the personnel of the profession in the county at large at the present time. In the early years of the century the physicians of the state either did not possess any political power, or if so possessed had no knowledge of the fact; but during the last score of years the profession has wickled a remarkable power in state politics, and have surrounded the practice with such safeguards that unlicensed practitioners and medical charta. tans have but a feeble hold on the public confidence. True, the latest appeal to the credulity of the masses is an invention to heal the unfor- tunate sick called "the Faith cure; " but it is now a well known fact that the persons seeking to popularize this means of cure are either de- ceived themselves or they are deceiving others. "Filth brings fever, and prayer will not interposc."

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Our county and its people. A descriptive work on Jefferson County, New York, Part 23

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co. Number of Pages: 1368

Author: Emerson, Edgar C., ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: [Boston] Boston History Co.
Number of Pages: 1368