USA > New York > Orange County > The history of Orange County, New York > Part 51
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William S. Bennett, formerly of the Port Jervis bar, removed to New York, where his career has been one of uninterrupted prosperity and promotion. He is now representing his district in Congress, where he has already achieved distinction in that most difficult of all places in which to compel immediate recognition.
His abilities have been so conspicuous and the esteem of his colleagues
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
has been so unmistakably manifested that the attention of the entire country has been fixed upon this still cherished son of Orange County.
Not only has Orange County sent forth many lawyers whose names have become famous throughout the world, but Orange County is the Mecca te which many of the country's ablest lawyers repair to spend their declining years, attracted by its beauty and invigorated by its atmos- phere. Benjamin F. Tracy, once secretary of the navy and long one of the leading advocates of the bar of Brooklyn and New York, now spends much of his time upon his beloved farm near Goshen. General Henry J. Burnett, prominent in Ohio and New York, whose life of high adven- ture and brilliant achievement possesses all the interest of romance, also finds upon his Goshen estate the leisure in which to charm a choice circle of friends old and new with reminiscences of the famous men with whom he has been associated on equal terms and of the stirring scenes in which he has so honorably and conspicuously mingled.
Orange County, which has in days gone by attracted to itself the sensi- tive poet. Nathaniel P. Willis, the scholarly historian, Joel T. Headley. the gifted lawyer. Luther R. Marsh, and the still vigorous publicist, John Bigelow, will never cease to have a charm for the retired veteran of let- ters and the law. It should never cease to interest also the active and alert practitioner who, on its rugged hills and in its peaceful valleys and by its murmuring streams and from its bracing atmosphere can draw vitality. inspiration and delight- strength for the duties of each succeeding hour as he seeks to emulate the lofty virtues and resplendent talents of those whose eyes, like his, once wandered with rapture over its entrancing prospects.
NOTE BY TIIE EDITOR.
The Editor deeply regrets that since the modesty of the author has forbidden any reference to himself this review of the period in which Mr. Vanamce himself has borne so honorable and conspicuous a part contains no description of his own brilliant career as an advocate. But though it is thus unavoidable that his signal talents and accomplishments should not be specifically portrayed in these pages. still the intelligent reader will not fail to perceive in these graphic estimates of his conten- poraries an unconscious reflection of his own commanding character. lofty ideals and acknowledged abilities.
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CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
BY JOHN T. HOWELL, M.D.
T HE early history of Orange County is intimately connected with the physicians who practiced there, and had they undertaken the task, it is logical to assume that no citizens could have narrated the history of their day and locality better than they. Unfortunately the duties and hardships then attendant upon the practice of medicine so limited outside literary work as to have left even the annals of medicine bare of many important facts which it would seem ought to have been recorded. It is stated that at one time Dr. David R. Arnell expressed his intention to write a history of Orange County, but he failed to carry out this undertaking which he was so well qualified to perform.
In the earlier periods of the county's existence medical education began to feel the impulse of independence and the wider knowledge resulting therefrom, developed a higher standard of practice.
This advancement was undoubtedly favored by the self-dependence brought out in practice through widely separated settlements, and Orange County early established a reputation for skilful physicians. The re- nowned traits and ability of many of these physicians remain only in tradi- tion, but the anecdotes told of some of them show that they were men of more than ordinary attainments. Among those physicians best known in the early history of the county are Dr. Cadwallader Colden, who, be- sides being a medical author of note, was honored with the title of Lieu- tenant-Colonial Governor ; Dr. Moses Highby, who is remembered by his successful use of an emetic in the case of a British spy, and Dr. Benjamin Tusten for his heroism at the battle of Minisink. Other physicians have no doubt rendered equally meritorious services in less conspicuous ways, but being unrecorded remain uncredited in history.
Some interesting statistics have been collected by Dr. W. L. Cuddeback regarding the average length of stay of about ninety physicians who settled in Port Jervis and vicinity. Of these, sixty-five per cent. removed or died within five years : eighty per cent. before ten years ; eighty-five per
John T. Howell, M.D.
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.
cent. before fifteen years, and ninety per cent. before the end of twenty years of practice there. The reasons for this well known lack of per- manency and short longevity of physicians are best understood by those who really know the peculiar trials, dangers and discouragements of the daily life of a doctor. The character developed by the experiences of thirty or forty years of medical practice is logically one worthy of admir- ation and emulation and this is proven by the appreciative and unshaken position uniformly held by the old family physician "Our doctor."
A perusal of the older records reveal many interesting customs and . practices of the physicians of those days. Travel was generally on horse- back and the distances were often so great that meal hour or nightfall compelled the weary doctor to accept the proffered hospitality of his patients. Saddle bags were made to hold a veritable armamentum and the doctor must tarry long enough to put up his own prescriptions. Blood- letting, blistering and emetics were remedies often employed and were, perhaps, as potent for good as some other extreme measures which were later substituted with greater confidence and found after all to have but a limited field of usefulness. The average physician has but little time for public affairs, but a number of the Orange County doctors have held public offices both in the County and as representatives in the State and National legislatures. In times of war, too, our doctors names are found enrolled in the military lists and their records there have been most cred- itable. Other physicians seem to have found time for literary pursuits ; but these efforts have been mostly along medical lines. The patriotic gift of the Minisink Monument by one of their number is a matter of great pride and satisfaction to the physicians of this county.
The records of the Orange County Medical Society, although abbre- viated. present the local history of medicine more fully than it is to be found cisewhere. Even here we may search in vain for data which the busy physicians who have acted as secretaries have failed to record. How- ever, extending as they do over nearly the whole of the last century we can find many facts of interest, especially in the earlier years of its exist- ence. No county society was formed until after the passage of an act of the Legislature. April 4, 1806. This law. under which the Orange County and twelve other county societies were soon incorporatedi. permitted each licensed physician in the county to become a charter member and each society to elect a representative to the State society, which was to be
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composed of such delegates. The county society had the right to examine both physicans desiring to practice in the county and students of medicine who applied for licenses.
Upon the first pages of the minutes is found a concise report of the organization of the Medical Society of the County of Orange, with the names of the founders and officers elected. It reads in part as follows :
"Agreeable to a law of the State of New York, passed the fourth day of April, 1806, entitled 'An Act to incorporate Medical Societies for the purpose of regulating the practice of Physic and Surgery in this State,' the physicians and surgeons of Orange County met at the Court House in Goshen on Tuesday, the first day of July, 1806."
"Drs. Jonathan Swezy, Chairman (pro tem), Thomas Wickham, Clerk (pro tem), Elijah Randall, William Elmer, William Elliott, Samuel S. Seward, Benjamin S. Hoyt, Nathaniel Elmer, Elisha DuBois, Charles Fowler, David R. Arnell, Samuel Warner, William McCoppin, Aaron M. Smith, William Gourley, Elihu Hedges, Elcazer Gedney, Ethan Wat- son, Cornelius Roosa, James Bradner, Henry I. Hornbeck and Elijah Welch were present and produced their several licenses to practice physic. The Society then proceeded to organize and elect officers when the follow- ing gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year: Dr. Jonathan Swezy, President ; Dr. Samuel S. Seward, Vice-President ; Dr. Nathaniel Elmer, Secretary ; and Dr. Thomas Wickham, Treasurer.
"Drs. Anthony Davis, Joseph Houston, Joseph Whelan and Jonathan Hedges were, upon examination, licensed to practice physic and surgery in this State and admitted members to this Society. Dr. David R. Arnell was elected delegate to the Medical Society of the State of New York."
"Drs. Anthony Davis, Elisha DuBois, Charles Fowler, Joseph Whelan and Cornelius Davis were appointed censors."
The minutes of the earlier meetings were admirably kept and are still in an excellent state of preservation.
The autographs of the founders and other members who signed the by-laws form an interesting and valuable collection. The by-laws were carefully drawn and consisted of twenty-six articles. Meetings were held semi-annually or quarterly, and, as indicated by the titles, the papers read and discussed were of a high order. Notwithstanding such evidences of proficiency I find that these physicians were very poorly paid. In a rate list adopted by the society in 1807, the charge for a visit of less than one
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.
mile was but twenty-five cents, with a corresponding low charge for medi- cines furnished, and the largest fee asked for any operation was one lutin- dred dollars.
Dr. Arnell, who may be called the father of the Orange County Medi- cal Society, was elected president of the society eight times and was a charter member of the State Society. In 1818 he presented a library to the society. It contained fifty volumes, which, with five of the best medi- cal periodicals, were circulated among the members throughout the county. This collection formed a nucleus for subsequent additions and a valuable and useful library was maintained for many years.
In 1830 the membership of the society numbered sixty, of whom twenty-five attended the annual meeting.
Among notable resolutions passed was one in 1830 endorsing the Ameri- can Temperance Society and the tenets of temperance in general ; in 1832 the formation of health boards in each town; and in 1839 a resolution recommending a change in the method of examining and licensing stu- dents of medicine, the whole to be placed in the hands of the Regents, was forwarded to the State Medical Society. Such efforts were highly creditable and progressive, as is shown by the fact that the law providing for the last named recommendation was not passed until 1893.
An important amendment to the by-laws adopted at a meeting in 1840 marks the beginning of a prolonged and troublesome epoch of contro- versy over medical ethics, especially in regard to sectarian forms of prac- tice, including homeopathy, then being introduced in this vicinity.
The status of practice among the members of the society having always been regular (i. e., belonging to the general school of scientific medicine and not restricted by any sect or pathy), much criticism was aroused by the attempt of some of the local physicians to practice according to Hahnemann's Laws of "Like cures like." "Medicinal potency increased by dilution," etc.
An application for membership to the society from a physician who practiced that system was promptly rejected at the next meeting and much discussion ensued. The subject was frequently referred to in the minutes of the meetings for a number of subsequent years, and in 1851 several members were expelled from the society for practicing homeo- pathy. Ruies forbidding members to consult with homeopathic physicians were passed, and in 1856 there was prepared and printed for public infor-
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
mation a system of popular ethics, explaining fully the position of the society regarding the whole subject of ethics. Feeling ran high over the matter for a long time, as is shown by the lengthy discussions and resolu- tions devoted to the subject in the minutes, year after year. Gradually, as it became evident that there was an increasing abandonment of sectarian practice, a reaction came ; but it was not until 1883 that this society, fol- lowing the lead of the State Society, adopted a new code which permitted, under reasonable restrictions, consultations between regular and sectarian practitioners.
Dr. Merritt H. Cash, by his will in 1861, left a legacy to the State Society of five hundred dollars which is known as "The Merritt H. Cash Fund." The fund now amounts to seven hundred and fifty dollars and the interest is devoted to a prize essay written by members of the county medical societies throughout the State. Dr. Cash also left four thousand dollars for the monument erected at Goshen in honor of those who fell at the battle of Minisink. The society was, of course, much interested in this event and was accorded a prominent place at the unveiling of the monument July 22, 1862.
Four members represented this society and served as surgeons with credit and distinction during the Civil War: Dr. R. V. K. Montfort and Dr. J. H. Thompson in the 124th, Dr. Solomon Van Etten in the 56th, and Dr. Theodore Cooper (assistant surgeon) in the 156th regiment of volunteers.
In 1879 the society received a special invitation to attend the celebra- tion of the centennial of the battle of Minisink. This invitation was in recognition of the county's obligation to the donor, Dr. Merritt H. Cash, and for the patriotic and heroic services rendered by Dr. Benjamin Tusten at the battle of Minisink, July 22, 1779, where his life was sacrificed in the actual performance of his professional duties.
The last quarter of the century is notable in the history of the society for a renewal of interest and increased literary work. This was the devel- opmental era of antiseptic and aseptic surgery, and the records, as shown by the papers read and the cases reported, were creditable to the progres- sive spirit and practice of the members of the society.
A resolution to the effect that all members of the society, in good stand- ing for thirty years, be constituted honorary members was adopted in June, 1887. This honor was accordingly bestowed upon Dr. Bartow Wright,
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.
whose membership dated from 1834, and upon Dr. Harvey Everett, who joined the society in 1830. The former died in 1890 and the latter .April 8, 1899. having been a member of the society for sixty years.
In 1895 revised by-laws were adopted, one of which admitted to mem- bership any licensed physician who declared his full abnegation of sec- tarian principles and practice. This invitation was an expression of a principle and belief which it is hoped will in the near future rally all physicians to a broad standard of practice, and the recent law enacted. which provides but one board of examiners to grant State licenses to physicians of all schools, is another hopeful sign of medical unity.
In 1898. at the breaking out of the war with Spain, Dr. James R. Wood, a member of this society. volunteered and accompanied the 101st Regiment to Cuba. There he afterwards died in the performance of his duties, which were those of endeavoring to render sanitary the almost im- possible conditions at Guanajay.
In February, 1901, the Orange County Medical Association was organ- ized. about which time a successful effort was made to complete the organ- ization of associations in those counties where they had not been formed when the State Association split off from the State Society, because of the code question in 1882. The two sets of organizations had not been long maintained, however, when a comparison of their ethical standards re- vealed the fact that twenty years had so modified opinions as to have practically removed the differences. The associations, however, had the advantage of the recognition of the American Medical Association. which had never been accorded the societies since their adoption of the new code of ethics. In order to avail themselves of membership in the national association many of the members of the societies joined the asso- ciations, too, and the barriers between the two organizations eventually became completely broken down.
The first meeting of the amalgamated county societies was held at New- burgh. January 25. 1906. the combined membership being seventy-nine.
The society had three hundred and thirty-eight members and forty-eight honorary members during one hundred years. Of these sixty-two were ciected to the office of president one or more times, twenty-three to the office of secretary, and twenty-three to the office of treasurer.
The centennial celebration of the society was held at Goshen, Monday. July 2. 1906. The first part of the exercises consisting of addresses and
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THE COUNTY OF ORANGE.
an historical sketch-were conducted in the board of supervisors room in the County Building, which stands on the same ground once occupied by the old Court House, in which the society was organized, July 1, 1806. A collation, followed by short speeches, was afterwards held in Music Hall, which had been decorated for the occasion with flags and bunting. Eighty-five members and guests were present.
( A list of the officers and members of this society will be found in the chronological table.)
The second medical society formed in the county was the Homeopathic Medical Society of Orange County.
This society was organized November 12, 1851, at the time when con- siderable local interest had been awakened in this system of practice and the controversy heretofore mentioned was going on between the new and old schools. The first meeting was held in Newburgh when by-laws were adopted and the following officers elected :
Drs. A. Gerald Hull, president ; DeWitt C. Jayne, vice-president ; Ira T. Bradner, secretary and treasurer ; and W. A. M. Culbert, corresponding secretary. A committee was also appointed to prepare an address to the public in answer to that on ethics published by the Orange County Medi- cal Society.
Quarterly meetings were held during the first year, but no records of subsequent meetings are again found until January 11, 1870. The meet- ings were at first resumed semi-annually, but after three years, more in- terest seems to have been taken and the society met every three months. From time to time papers were read by members of the society bearing upon important topics and the society continued active for a number of years. After 1888 the meetings were held but twice a year, and interest waned until 1891, when they were discontinued.
(A list of the officers and members of this society will be found in the chronological table.)
The Tri-States Medical Society .- This society was organized in Sep- tember, 1871, by a number of physicians living in Port Jervis and the ad- jacent counties of the three States, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, which join near there. Drs. Solomon Van Etten, Isaac S. Hunt, O. A. Carroll and P. G. McCabe represented Orange County in the forma- tion of the society.
Quarterly meetings were held and fifty physicians became members
W. L. Cuddeback, M.D.
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.
during the first ten years. The society flourished for about eighteen vears but was finally discontinued, probably because of a renewed interest in the county societies. Several Orange County physicians served as of- ficers of the society.
(A list of the officers and members of this society residing in Orange County will be found in the chronological table.)
The Newburgh Bay Medical Society .- This society was organized Sep- tember 10, 1895. The first meeting was held at the Palatine Hotel, New- burgh.
There were present Drs. A. E. Adams, John Deyo, A. V. Jova, C. E. Townsend and J. T. Howell. Dr. Adams was elected temporary chairman and Dr. Townsend, secretary. Committees were appointed to secure ad- ditional members and draft a constitution and by-laws, after which the meeting adjourned until October 8th next. At that meeting there were present, besides the above mentioned, Drs. E. H. Borst, W. L. Carr. E. F. Brooks, W. S. Gleason, R. V. K. Monfort, G. Gartzman and M. C. Stone.
The society was named and by-laws adopted. The object of the society was declared to be the banding together of congenial physicians residing in Newburgh and vicinity for the purpose of study and discussion of med- ical and surgical topics and scientific subjects relative thereto, and the promotion of social intercourse among its members.
The society was incorporated November 8, 1897, and at that time had twenty-nine members. Since then interest in the society has been fully maintained, as is evidenced by the unusual record of individual work and attendance on the part of the members. The present membership numbers forty-two, of whom twenty-six are residents of this county. The meet- ings are held bi-monthly and are usually at Newburgh.
(.A list of the officers and members of this society will be found in the chronological table.)
The Orange County Medical Association was organized February 12, 1001. in Middletown, by Drs. M. C. Connor, W. E. Douglas, A. W. Preston. C. I. Redfield, William Evans, E .A. Nugent. L. G. Distlar and F. D. Myers. The following officers were elected: Drs. M. C. Connor, president : F. W. Dennis, vice-president ; Charles I. Redfield, secretary and treasurer. A committee on by-laws was appointed and the meeting adjourned until March 12, 1901, to perfect the organization. At the ad- journed meeting the appointment of committees was completed and the
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membership found to be sixteen, including those already belonging to the New York State Association. The additional members not mentioned above were: Drs. E. F. Brooks, J. B. Hulett, W. I. Purdy, R. A. Taylor, C. E. Townsend, H. E. Wise, and E. D. Woodhull. Meetings were held monthly in the different larger places of the county and much interest was maintained by securing the uniform presence of some recognized authority on a special subject for each meeting.
On December 9, 1905, the New York State Medical Association and Medical Society were amalgamated and the formal union of the corre- sponding county organizations took place, as heretofore stated, at New- burgh, January 25, 1906. The association at that time had thirty-seven members, a number of whom belonged also to the county society.
(A list of the officers and members of this association will be found in the chronological table. )
Homeopathic Medical Society of Dutchess, Orange and Ulster Counties. -The above-named society was formed in response to a suggestion of the Dutchess County Homeopathic Society. The first meeting was held in Poughkeepsie, but the society was not regularly organized until a meeting held at Newburgh June 24, 1902. Since that time the members have met regularly at Newburgh in the months of May and October each year, and much interest has been manifested. The present number of members is twenty-four, eighteen of whom reside in Orange County. Dr. William E. Reed, of Washingtonville, is now president, and Dr. F. A. Jacobson, of Newburgh, secretary and treasurer of the society.
(A list of the officers and members of this society residing in Orange County will be found in the chronological table.)
MIDDLETOWN STATE HOSPITAL ..
During the past thirty-seven years several hospita's have been built and conducted in the different larger places of the county. First among these was the Middletown State Hospital (homeopathic) for the care and treatment of the insane, which was incorporated in 1869. Funds were collected by Dr. George F. Foote, and a farm purchased near Middle- town as a site for the present hospital. About seventy-five thousand dol- lars was raised by private subscription, a part of which was used in hos- pital construction. The following year, 1870, the first appropriation was
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made by the State and the main building was opened for the reception of patients in the spring of 1874, with Dr. Foote as superintendent. After a brief service Dr. Foote resigned and Dr. Henry R. Stiles was appointed superintendent, which position he held until 1877, when he resigned, and Dr. Selden H. Talcott was appointed to fill the vacancy. Dr. Talcott served for twenty-five years until his death, June 15, 1902, and under his management the institution developed nearly to its present proportions. The present superintendent. Dr. Maurice C. Ashley, was appointed his successor.
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