USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 48
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the necessity and usefulness of this part of the plan is apparent, and the sooner we make a beginning the better, but although I heartily subscribe to the collection of books, I think that the more they are read, the more general will be the conviction, that a good medical education although it may be commenced, can never be prop- erly finished in the country, where opportunities for the study of many of the most useful branches of our profession are not to be obtained, where many rare and important diseases seldom occur, where few young men can see a capital operation in surgery, and where none can attend the dissection of a whole body. One great advantage therefor which I hope to see flow from this institution is the encourage- ment of our public medical schools by a practice which has not hitherto prevailed so generally as from its usefulness and great importance it unquestionably ought; I mean that of sending young men at least to finish their medical education at New York, where a botanic garden, a chemical laboratory, an anatomatical theatre, a well regulated hospital, and learned professors, offer them every means of im- provement; and will do more in one season to promote their knowledge and to give them just, liberal and extensive use of their profession than many years spent in the country. I am confident that in this decided preference which I have given to the opportunities afforded by a medical education at a well regu- lated and amply furnished school which we possess in New York, I meet the hearty concurrence of every medical man of liberal mind in this or any other county of the State. They too well know the difficulties they have to contend with in instructing their pupils, too justly appreciate the excellent opportunities of our public seminary and too conscientiously feel their duty, to hesitate in a matter so apparent and so important. I know too the difficulties and obstacles which obstruct their wishes, the reluctance, and in too many instances the impossibilities of parents supplying the necessary expenses, and too frequently the impatience and confidence of young men. But would it not be a less evil, that those who either will not or cannot afford the necessary expenses of time and money to obtain a good medical education, should turn their thoughts to some other profession, than that the health and lives of our fellow citizens should be committed to the care of such as are confessedly unqualified for so delicate and important a task. I have nothing further, gentlemen, to add at present, but to thank you for the honor you have done me in appointing me your president to recommend' to you a unanimity, zeal, and public spirit in the conduct of this institution, and to promise you my hearty concurrence and faithful exertions in carrying into effect such useful regulations as you may think proper to adopt.
SAMUEL BARD.
November 11th, 1806.
At the meeting in which Dr. Berry was refused fellowship, the law against illegal practitioners was first put in motion, information being laid against a 1James Cavel for illegal practice. In this, the first, as well as in all future cases of proposed discipline and enforce- ment of the rules, we find that there are members doubting the power
1. James Cavel was admitted to membership in 1819.
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of the society to do anything in the way of discipline. This question of power is never raised outside, or by the defendant, but always by a member, and in most instances it has been overruled. It is a curious manifestation of the desire to be in the opposition which crops up so continually among men in all conditions in life. On January 22nd, 1808, a seal and a form for a diploma were adopted. It is very much to be regretted that all traces of this seal have been lost. In 1873, when I was secretary, I instituted a search among the families of for- mer secretaries, but could find no trace of it. The society then authorized the secretary to procure a new seal, and one was obtained of an uninteresting, conventional design, which had no special signifi- cance. In the centennial year of the society I found several impres- sions of the old seal, which is most characteristic and original, and at the anniversary meeting of the society I recommended that the old seal reproduced from the. impressions there shown, be the official seal of the society for the future.
The seal as shown has a profile of Dr. John Bard, the father of our first president, who lived both in New York and Dutchess Counties ; the inscription "Coun' N York. John Bard M. D. Medy Sy Dutss," and the billet of wood ( I tried hard to make it out, the staff of Aesculapius), with a serpent rising up, is all very good. An inaccu- racy (it was a common fault in those times) is shown in placing M. D. after John Bard's name. He had no degree; his preliminary and professional education were both very scant, though he made the most of his opportunities, and by his perseverance and natural ability rose superior to the difficulties that prevented his obtaining a college edu- cation. Let us by all means have the old seal as it was.
The first evidence of real public spirit was shown by the society in 1812, when a committee of three was appointed to publish such infor- mation as it may be able to obtain in regard to the nature and, method of treatment of the prevailing epidemic. This is very laudable, but if they had only gratified the curiosity of future generations by tell- ing what the epidemic was it would have been more satisfactory.1
1. This epidemie was one of Cerebo-spinal Meningitis, or Spotted Fever. In a letter written by Captain Fonda, the grandfather of the present cashler of the Merchants' Bank, to Dr. William Thomas, then in the army and stationed at Baton Rouge, he de- scribes the scourge, and says that there had been forty deaths already from it in the town. Poughkeepsie at that time had less than three thousand inhabitants, and forty deaths was a high percentage of mortality.
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It was at this meeting the deaths of Drs. William Lathrop and George W. Cook were announced, and it was resolved to wear crape on the left arm for twenty days in testimony of their regard for their deceased brethren, the first of the members to pass on. This custom was kept up, sometimes wearing the crape on the right arm, until 1836, when Dr. David Hosack, an honorary member, was the last so honored. On November 10th, 1831, Dr. Bard resigned the presi- dency of the society, which he had held since its organization, and the thanks of the society were voted him for his services as president. His resignation was occasioned by his appointment to the presidency of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He was then in his 71st year. He seems to have been a father to, as well as president of, the society. The most distinguished medical man of his time in this country, the society was most fortunate in having such a one to lead in its councils at its birth. He was an eloquent speaker, an interesting, instructive writer, loved and respected by his associ- ates, giving freely of his time and of his talents to the society, it is no wonder that it prospered under his leadership.
In the third generation there was another president with many of Dr. Bard's qualifications, whose service was longer, and whose reign, for he was a sovereign in the best sense while he served-was more beneficent than that of the first. I speak of Dr. Lewis H. White, whose memory we all revere, and of whom I shall say more later.
From May 19th, 1815, up to the present time the society has suf- fered from a chronic trouble for which no treatment that has been proposed has proved even palliative; it seems to have reached its climacteric in 1841, when a lawyer was employed to consult with the doctors and to direct the treatment, even to the extent of prosecuting delinquents, though the treatment never was carried so far. The collection of dues has caused endless trouble, and this was largely occasioned by the law which then compelled each physician practicing in the county to pay the society one dollar each year, whether he was a member or not. This law could never be enforced and was re- pealed.
From 1808 to 1816 the society was given the privilege of nominat- ing a student of medicine each year to attend one course of lectures free at both the medical colleges in New York City. Seven young men were given and availed themselves of this opportunity. On
ALFRED HASBROUCK, M. D.
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November 12th, 1816, the society made a new departure, and ordered that one hundred dollars be spent for instruments for the use of members of the society.
In 1817 two sets of amputating, and two sets of trephining instru- ments having been bought, it was ordered that one of each should be kept by the treasurer at Poughkeepsie, and one of each by Dr. Ricket- son at Beekman, for the use of the members. Afterwards a set of obstetrical instruments was bought, and the nucleus of a library formed, but for reasons not stated this venture proved a failure, and the instruments and books were sold to individual members in 1826. In 1817 the first standard of prices for ordinary practice was adopted in great detail, even giving the price of medicines by the dose or larger quantity. The charges vary but little from the fees of the present time.
From 1836 to 1838 the society was greatly exercised by the ques- tion of granting a diploma to a Joel Devine. Feeling ran high; with the slight knowledge we have it is impossible to judge of the merits of the case. The court intervened, a mandamus was issued requiring the society to show cause why a diploma should not be given. It was decided at last, at a meeting slimly attended, to grant the diploma.1
The late Dr. Pine in an historical sketch read before the society in 1875, gives this unfortunate episode as the cause of the gradual loss of interest shown by the members from about this time, which culmi- nated in 1845. Then after a meeting, where officers were elected, and new members admitted, and for no apparent reason, there was no fur- ther meeting till 1854. The society was passing through parlous times, and its life was only saved by an accident. At a meeting of the physicians of Dutchess County, held at Washington Hollow, Oc- tober, 1854, there were present Drs. Hillis, Hughson, Thorn, Dodge, Hasbrouck, Losee, Pine, Harvey, Bell, Campbell, and Bockee. A
1. The young man applied for examination by the society for a license to practice. The examination was heid and he was given a certificate which had to be signed by the President. This, Dr. John Cooper, the President, refused to do, on account of the moral character of the applicant. The case was taken to the court, a mandamus to show cause was issued, the parties to appear at Utica. Lawyers were retained, and expense incurred. Dr. Varick was elected President and signed the certificate, and that part of the troubie was settled, but the bilis were still to be paid, and it was this financiai end of the affair which so nearly disrupted the society. Smith, in his History of Dutchess County, says that "The future course of the young man more than justifled Dr. Cooper's action,"
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motion was made to organize a new society, not connected with the Dutchess County Medical Society. Motion lost. Just think of it! If that motion had prevailed we should not be here to-day, there would have been no centennial, and this honorable, useful organization would have passed into innocuous desuetude.
On motion it was resolved to reorganize the Dutchess County Medi- cal Society, and Drs. Hughson, Pine and Bockee were appointed to revise the by-laws. On November 4th, 1854, a meeting of the society was held at Dr. Pine's office, in Mill street, the president elected in 1845, Dr. Calvert Canfield, in the chair. New members were elected, the by-laws revised, and the name of the society changed, and called "The Medical Society of Dutchess County." On August 9th, 1859, the next meeting was held, no reason being given for the long interval. The only business of importance was the reception of Dr. Edward H. Parker as a member. There was a meeting in 1861, and then another break till 1866. In 1867 Dr. Lewis H. White was elected president of the society, and a new era of enlarged usefulness and increasing prosperity opened out for it. The meetings were regularly held, the annual in Poughkeepsie, the semi-annual in one of the country vil- lages. The numbers in attendance increased. The papers read were carefully prepared and full of interest. The discussions were intelli- gent and instructive. This change was due to the earnest efforts of one man, whose sincerity of manner, whose fatherly interest in the welfare and care of the individual interests of each member, caused him to be loved and universally respected. There were fourteen mem- bers present at the meeting when he was elected president, there were thirty-two present at the meeting in 1877 when he refused a renomina- tion, which he thought was for the best interest of the society. At one semi-annual meeting in Fishkill there were forty-four members present, the largest number noted. It is truly said that blessed is the country that has no history, for history is largely the record of war and discord. And so with our society. From 1867 to 1877 the record is one of peace and prosperity. Important action was taken in 1879 which had far-reaching results on the rank of the medical staff in the navy. The army medical staff had already received justice at the hands of the government, though it was only about 1810 that a medical man had any rank, and when rank was conferred Dr. William Thomas, of our society, who was then in the service, being
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given the rank of colonel, he received letters sent him in derision by the officers addressed to Colonel Thomas. The navy and army staffs had never been equalized, the navy remaining at a standstill. A grave injustice done an assistant surgeon, Dr. Charles L. Green, brought matters to a head. He was court martialed, and found guilty of treating with contempt his superior officer, in that he refused to report for duty a seaman who was on the sick list, and who in Dr. Green's opinion was unfit for duty. He was discharged from the navy. The society resolved that this was degrading to the profession, and that the attention of our Congressman, Ketcham, be called to the matter, and that he be urged to influence legislation on the sub- ject. Dr. De Witt Webb took the matter in charge for the society, and Mr. John O. Whitehouse having succeeded Mr. Ketcham in Con- gress, Dr. Webb urged the matter on his attention until in 1875, through Mr. Whitehouse's efforts a law was passed removing the dis- abilities of the surgeons in the navy, and giving them commensurate rank with those in the army. The thanks of the society were voted to Mr. Whitehouse for his successful efforts for the cause of equality and justice. The subject of medical education was also considered, and the efforts of the American Medical Association to raise the standards and make them uniform was urged upon the Legislature. On November 12th, 1872, the meeting was not held for a very unique reason. There was a distemper prevailing among the horses through- out the country which threw them all out of commission; the older members can well remember the inconvenience and confusion that re- sulted from business having to be attended to on foot. The State Society at its meeting in 1882 repealed the code of ethics of the Ameri- can Medical Association. The delegates present were Drs. Tuthill and Barnes. They were seated side by side when the vote was taken, the former voting aye, the latter no. In 1883 the question of rescind- ing this action was to come up at the meeting of the State Society, and the delegates, Drs. Barnes and Hasbrouck (the latter protest- ing), were instructed to vote for the restoration of the old code by a vote of 18 to 9. At the annual meeting in 1884 the code question was the prominent issue, and the society was greatly agitated. Dr. Has- brouck had served one year as president; by courtesy he should have been elected again. Every member of the society would gladly have voted for him, but the code question overshadowed all other considera-
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tions. Dr. Barnes was elected president, and Drs. Slack and Bayley delegates to the State Society, all being favorable to the restoration of the old code. From this time on the story of the society's life is too recent to be treated as history. The membership has increased largely and includes several practitioners of homeopathy.
The work of the society is only the collective results of the labors of its members. Where the activities of such an association has made a record of its work valuable, a knowledge of the lives and personal attributes of its members will always add to the interest and help to an understanding of its history. To-day we cannot even mention the names of all of the 385 men and women who at some time during the last century have been members, but in this, as in every institution, there are some men, like the mountain peaks in a diversified landscape, whose lives stand out so prominently before us, have been so rounded out by activities, and high achievement, that we are forced to give them the praise and recognition which their good works merit. Of this class our first president is easily at the head.
SAMUEL BARD, M.D., LL.D. By far the most illustrious member of our society and its first president, was of French descent. He was born in Philadelphia, April 1st, 1742, and came with his father to New York in 1746. He attended an excellent preparatory school, and entering King's (now Columbia) College, he graduated when 19 years of age. In the same year he sailed for England, but the vessel was taken by the French, and he spent five months in France, a pris- oner on parole. On reaching London he entered Dr. Russell's office and pursued the study of medicine. In 1762 he went to Edinburgh; here he received a medal in botany, and took his degree in 1765. In 1770 he returned to New York and engaged in general practice and lecturing on medicine, and in efforts to build a hospital. In 1791 this latter work was accomplished, and Dr. Bard was the first physi- cian appointed to the New York Hospital. During the war he lived with his father at the latter's residence at Hyde Park. Afterwards, when President Washington was living in New York, Dr. Bard was his family physician. Dr. Bard did not have the surgical temperament ; after his first surgical operation he fainted away, and his second and last was only accomplished after a sleepless night. In 1805 he took Dr." Hossick into partnership, and in the same year retired to his country place at Hyde Park. In 1813 he was elected President of the
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College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. The degree of LL.D. was conferred soon after by Princeton. He died at Hyde Park, May 24th, 1821, surviving his wife less than twenty-four hours. They were buried in a common grave in the family yard.1 It is told of Dr. Bard that he regarded his talents and education as a sacred trust, held for the use of those who asked for their aid, and that after his retirement to the country he never refused the call of any one who sought his advice. A man of great talent, disciplined by education and experience, he was an ornament to our profession.
DR. JOHN THOMAS, one of the founders of our society, and second only in prominence to the president, was born at Plymouth, Mass., April 1st, 1758. His father, Dr. William Thomas, was the surgeon of the troops which went from Plymouth in the French and Indian war, in the expedition against Louisburgh. He took a very zealous part in the disputes with the Mother country that resulted finally in the independence of her colonies. After the first blow was struck at the battle of Lexington, 1775, he immediately joined himself and his four sons, viz .: Joshua, Joseph, John and Nathaniel, to the first formed revolutionary corps. Joseph and John continued in the ser- vice throughout the war, Joseph as Captain of Artillery, and John on the Medical Staff. Dr. William Thomas, on joining the army, was appointed Regimental Surgeon, and ;his son John, then seventeen years of age, accompanied his father, as surgeon's mate. They joined the army at Cambridge in the spring of 1775. Dr. John Thomas, on the resignation of his father in 1776, on account of ill health, was promoted to the rank of Regimental Surgeon. He was commissioned Surgeon of "Wesson's" 9th Mass. Regiment, January 1st, 1777, and was transferred to the 8th Mass. in 1783. He served on General Washington's staff, was often a guest at his table, and was with him all through the winter at Valley Forge. Soon after the conclusion of peace, Dr. Thomas settled in the town of Poughkeepsie, where he remained in the reputable and successful practice of his profession until his death in 1819. He is buried in the cemetery at Pough- keepsie. He was one of the original members of the society of the Cincinnati. Endowed with considerable powers of mind and devoting
1. The bodies of Dr. Bard and his wife were moved to St. James churchyard, Hyde Park.
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himself to his official duties, Dr. Thomas overcame the difficulties and inexperience of his youth, and maintained a high professional respecta- bility. In all his conduct he was honorable, just and benevolent; for wit and humor he was unrivaled. Such was the fecundity and dis- position of his mind, that on all occasions he was furnished with an inexhaustible fund of anecdote and song, which made him a welcome guest in every place. There was considerable originality in the dis- play of his talents, which with the courteousness of his manner, won the esteem of gentlemen of the highest rank; and on one occasion at the table of Washington, he excited an unusual degree of merriment and pleasantry. He is said to have made General Washington laugh the only time he was seen to do so at Valley Forge. There is an invitation to Dr. Thomas to dine with General Washington hanging framed on the wall of Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh.
DR. JOHN BARNES was born on the Barnes farm, northeast of the present city limits, December 11th, 1790. He was a man of feeble constitution, but he accomplished a prodigious amount of work. He accompanied the troops from this section to Long Island in the war of 1812. He was easily the leading surgeon of his time for this and surrounding counties. This position attracted to him many students of medicine, and some of the leading physicians of the next genera- tion laid the foundations of their success under his wise supervision. It is to be regretted that the facts necessary for a more extended notice are not available. He died at his home, No. 45 Market street, August 29th, 1850, of dysentery. After his death his family were in straitened circumstances; bills were found on his books amounting to $30,000 which were uncollectable. He is buried in the cemetery on the post road, just north of the city.
DR. RICHARD A. VARICK was born in New York City, April 24th, 1806. His preliminary education was liberal and thorough; he grad- uated at the Rutgers Medical College in New York City in 1827. The practice of his profession was begun with Dr. John Barnes, and at the latter's death Dr. Varick succeeded to the business. His taste led him to the practice of medicine rather than to surgery, and his skill and kindly manner led to his being largely sought in obstetric work. He was one of the last of the old time doctors to ride in a chaise. He was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Dr. Varick died August 10th, 1871.
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Charles Iv Jique -
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DR. WALTER HUGHSON. While Dr. Barnes' sun was setting, a new planet was pushing above the horizon. Dr. Hughson joined this society in 1837. He was well educated, active, nervous, ambitious, wrapped up in his profession, devoted to his work. Born at Hughson- ville, October 31st, 1816, he married a daughter of Dr. Cooper, and this, of course, brought him in close connection with the Coopers, father and son. There was a strong rivalry between Drs. Barnes and Cooper, and the families in which they practiced were zealous friends of their respective doctors. Dr. Hughson was a surgeon naturally, by education and from choice, and his success was far beyond that of any of his predecessors. North, south, east and west he went, far beyond the county lines, in consultation and for operations. His death from consumption, on December 9th, 1857, was all too early, and left a great gap in the profession here.
DR. LEWIS H. WHITE was born at Somers, Westchester County, March 17th, 1807. His grandfather, father and himself had each two brothers besides themselves who were physicians. The doctor at- tended lectures at the New Haven Medical College, and afterwards received an honorary degree from the Medical University of New York. For several years he practiced at Johnsville, removing to Fishkill, succeeding his uncle, Dr. Bartow White. He practiced medicine actively for fifty-eight years, dying September 24th, 1886. During the latter years of his life his time was taken up largely with consultations with his brother doctors, his opinion being sought and valued most highly. He was for eleven years president of this society, and what he did for its welfare and success is a matter of record, for which we feel deep gratitude and give all praise. In all Dr. White's long and more than usually useful life he gave no offence, made no enemies. Every man who knew him was his friend, and was the better for his friendship.
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