CHAPTER XXIX.
PHYSICIANS.
the first settlers of Connecticut came with but slender provision for the ills that awaited them. The pastor of the flock was the chief shepherd to whom they all looked for protection, and the teacher upon whose instruction, in sickness and in health, they mainly looked for guidance. In the year 1652 the General Court granted the first medical license, by which Thomas Lord was authorized to practice physic and surgery in Hartford and adjoining towns. Fifteen pounds was to be his annual salary so long as he devoted his time and attention to the sick and suffering members of the colony. The fee-table of Dr. Lord as established by the General Assembly, he having promised to charge no more, deserves to be transcribed:
"Thos. Lord having engaged to this court to continue his abode in Hartford for the next ensuing year, and to improve his best skill among the inhabitants of the towns upon the river, within his jurisdiction, both for setting of bones and otherwise, as at all times, occasions and necessities may re-quire. This court cloth grant, that he shall be paid by the country the sum of fifteen pounds for the said ensuing year, and they also declare that for every visit or journey, that he shall take or make, being sent for, to any house in Hartford
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12 pence is reasonable: to any house in Windsor, five shillings; to any house in Wethersfeld, three shillings; to any house in Farmington, six shillings: to any house in Mattabesock or Middletown, eight shillings, (he having promised that he will require no more)and that he shall be freed, for the time aforesaid, from watching, warding and training, but not from finding arms according to law!"
Dr. Lord died in 1662. He came to Wallingford often on professional business, and was also called to New Haven. Rev. Gershom Bulkley of Wethersfield, who was quite noted as a physician, and for a time was surgeon in a company raised to resist the aggression of their Indian neighbors, attended to the sick in Wallingford and vicinity. It is worthy of notice that the first case of medical jurisprudence in the colony, perhaps the first in the country, was referred to him for an opinion. Mary Brown of Wallingford was brought to trial for the murder of her son. As it was known that she had been subject to paroxysms of insanity, the court and the jury were in some perplexity relative to their own course of proceeding. To relieve themselves from this embarrasing position the court granted leave to the jurors to consult the most learned men in the colony and obtain their advice. They applied to Dr. Bulkley, whose character as a divine, whose opinion as a physician, and whose judgment as a magistrate were all held in high estimation. The following is the summary of his opinion:
"If she were not compos mentis at the time of the fact it is no felony, and consequently no wilful or malicious murder; and if she be known to be a lunatic, though she have her lucid intervals, there had need be very good and satisfactory proof that she was compos mentis at the time of the fact committed, for the law favors life."
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The legal opinion from which the above extract was taken was in advance of the age, and probably averted the doom of the unhappy woman who was on her trial for the murder of her child.1 Dr. Bulkley died at Glas-tenbury in the year 1713, at the age of seventy-eight. From an inscription upon his "obscure and modest gravestone" in the churchyard at Wethersfield, it appears that he was regarded as a man of rare abilities and extraordinary industry, excellent in learning, master of many languages, exquisite in his skill in divinity, physic and law, and of a most exemplary and Christian life.
Dr. James Hurlburt of Berlin, who was born in the year 1717 and had his office in Berlin near the line of the Hartford and New Haven Railroad, had nearly all of the practice in the surrounding twenty miles. Dr. Jared Potter of Wallingford was one of the most distinguished physicians in the State, and the teacher from whom many eminent members of the medical profession received instruction.2 He was a speculating theologian, and his speculations were of an infidel character; and it is said that his pupils, whatever progress they made in medical studies, generally left Dr. Potter's office with minds tinged with skeptical notions. In 1775 he was chosen surgeon of the first regiment of Connecticut forces, from whence it may be inferred that he was distinguished as a surgeon as well as a physician. His memory at this time is more associated with one of his own favorite remedies. Potter's powder has been for sixty years and over, a popular remedy with the physicians of
1 Dr. Summer's Address at the 49th Annual Convention of the Conn. Med. Soc.
2 One of Dr. Potter's students was Lyman Norton, who "commenced practice in Durham in 1797.
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Connecticut, but as employed in former days, it contained charcoal as well as the three ingredients, camphor, ammonia and chalk. By this combination he acquired the same reputation which adheres all the world over, to the combination of Dr. Dover. He was instrumental in forming the New Haven Co. Medical Society in 1784, and also the State Medical Society.1
In October, 1717, Dr. Benjamin Hull3 petitioned the General Court as follows: "Ye petishion of Benjamin Hull of Wallingford sheweth yt your petishioner having for some time practiced phisisik," requests the assembly to grant him permission to practice in Wallingford. Previous to 1800 there were in Wallingford Drs. Isaac Lewis, Isaac Bull, Isaac Hall, Gad Pond, Ebenezer Bardsley, Wm. B. Hall, Bilious Kirtland and James Porter. Dr. John Dickinson, son of Rev. Moses Dickinson of Norwalk, began practice in Wallingford, but soon removed to Middletown, from which town he was sent Representative to the Legislature in the time of the Revolution. He died in 1811, aged eighty-two years. Dr. Wm. Brenton Hall, a native of Wallingford, graduated at Yale College in 1786, and commenced practice in his native town, but removed to Middletown where he died in 1809.
Dr. Aaron Andrews was a son of Denizen Andrews and was born in the Meriden society. He settled as a physician in Wallingford, and built the house where he resided and which was afterwards occupied by his son Drake Andrews, and Leander Parmalee, and which is now owned and occupied by Samuel B. Parmalee. Dr.
1 See Biographical Sketches in this volume.
2 John Hull came from Derby with two sons in 1686. He located himself on the top of Town Hill.
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Andrews was considered a very skillful physician, and as such was highly respected.1 His son, Dr. John Andrews, was for many years a very successful physician in Wallingford. He married Abigail Atwater, and for many years resided in the house now remodelled and occupied by Roderick Curtiss. After the death of his wife, he married Anna, daughter of Rev. James Noyes. After her decease he went in his old age to Ohio and lived with his son William, where he died in his eighty-sixth year. He was buried in Wallingford, as he had requested.2 Dr. Jared P. Kirtland came to Wallingford in 1814 and remained about three years.3
Dr. Ambrose Ives was born in Wallingford, Dec. 30, 1786. He was the son of Abijah Ives, a respectable farmer, and the grandson of Abraham Ives. Dr. Ives was favored with fair advantages for a good English and sufficient classical education. He pursued the higher branches at the celebrated academy located in Cheshire. After finishing his preliminary course, he commenced the study of medicine under the tuition of the late Dr. Cornwall of the same town. From a classmate of Dr. Ives, we have learned that he was a laborious student, thorough in all the branches of professional reading in which he was engaged. He was, as in after life, extremely frugal of his time, and being favored with a retentive memory, he made excellent progress in his studies. In the year 1808, after completing his medical pupilage, he was licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and then located in the town of Wolcott, where he diligently applied himself to his professional duties during
1 See Biographical Sketches in this volume.
2 See Biographical Sketches in this volume.
3 See Biographical Sketches in this volume.
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a period of nineteen years. He removed from Wolcott to Wallingford in the year 1827, for the purpose of settling up his deceased father's estate. Here he remained two years, at the expiration of which time, he removed to Plymouth, Litchfield county, where he resumed the practice of medicine. In the last named place he soon acquired a large practice, in which he continued until the year 1834. At this time he relinquished his practice entirely and removed to Waterville, and became interested in the manufacture of gilt buttons, and took charge of the business. In 1837 he removed to Waterbury, and in 1839 sold out his interest in Waterville. Soon after he bought into the company of Brown and Eltin, and continued in this connection till his decease, but without himself engaging in the management of the business. In the last year of his life he was afflicted with paralysis. He died in the year 1852, at the age of 66.
Dr. Ives was a man of medium height, not tall, but stout, and in the latter part of his life became somewhat corpulent. He was an efficient town officer, serving his townsmen in different capacities. Several times he represented the inhabitants of Wolcott in the Legislature of the State. In the year 1818 he was a member of the convention for the formation of the constitution of this State. As a physician, Dr. Ives was sound, discriminating ing and skillful, the result of thoroughness and precision, the leading characteristics of his mind, made manifest in all his avocations. No practitioner in the vicinity in which he lived, was more deservedly esteemed for strong common sense and matured judgment. As a business man he was enlightened, sagacious and stable. Few men understood human nature more perfectly, or could
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see farther into the course of events depending on the human will. By able management and financial skill he succeeded in acquiring a large property. In conversation he was shrewd, intelligent and facetious. He had a fund of anecdote and illustration, and abounded in witty and humorous remarks. Few were more companionable or instructive. He was married in the year 1817 to Miss Wealthy V. Upson of Wolcott.1
Dr. Moses Gaylord was an eminent surgeon in Wallingford, for many years devoting his whole time to that branch of his profession. Dr. Gaylord was tall and rather spare looking, with thin face and large nose, and when riding horseback as was his habit, or when walking, was bent forward. He was a student of Dr. Jesse Cole of Durham.2 Dr. Gaylord died of a cancer on his face, and was quite advanced in years.
Dr. Friend Cook was a son of Samuel and Mary Cook of Wallingford. He prepared for college at the Wallingford and Cheshire academies, where he ranked high as a scholar, and entered Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. After he had graduated, he entered the Medical department of Yale College, and was a pupil of the late Dr. Nathan Smith. After having received his degree of M. D. in 1821, he located himself at Windsor, Connecticut, where he soon had a successful practice, which he was compelled to surrender on account of his
1 Proceedings of Conn., Med. Soc., 1860, p. 67. Bronson's History of Waterbury.
2 Dr. Gaylord was probably of the Plymouth branch of Gaylords. He married Jemima Tyler of Wallingford, and had Tyler, who died in the state of New York; Harriet, who m. Noah Lindsley of Meriden, and Nancy, who m. Israel Harrison.
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health. After spending some time at the South, he returned to his native town, and again commenced practice. But in a few years his failing health compelled him to relinquish his practice, and he removed to Atwater, Ohio. Here he practiced his profession for some time, but finally had to give it up. After a long illness he died February 8, 1857, aged sixty years, of cancer of the stomach. He married Abigail, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth Atwater.
B.K. HARRISON, M.D.
Benjamin F. Harrison, M.D., was born in what was then the town of Branford, and the parish of Northford in the year 1811 His father Elizur Harrison, and his mother Rebecca Bartholomew were also natives of the same place. His father was a farmer, and he was occupied on the farm until his eighteenth year, after which he was occupied with studies and teaching until the first of March, 1836, when he was graduated at the medical school in New Haven. Soon after he went to New York to continue his studies for a time, but in June he went to Old Milford where he commenced practice with Dr. French, but was induced to leave
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there and come to Wallingford in September of the same year, viz., 1836. Here he remained extensively engaged in his profession for ten years, when in September, 1846, he sold his residence and left his business to Dr. William Atwater, a former pupil, and early the next month sailed from New York for Havre, where he arrived November 1, and proceeded directly to Paris, where were still living most of the eminent physicians and surgeons of that country who had distinguished themselves by their works and writings during the early part of this century. In the schools and hospitals of Paris he pursued his pro-fessional studies with more assiduity than ever until May, 1847, when he left France and visited most of what were then the small states of Italy. In midsummer he returned by Switzerland, Germany and Belgium to Paris, and in August to England, and in September sailed from Liverpool for New York. Arriving home in October, he spent the remainder of the year in visiting various parts of the country, and finally selected an office in Cincinnati, Ohio. Circumstances afterwards prevented his settling there, and in February, 1848, he opened an office in New Haven, but in May was persuaded to take again his former residence and business in Wallingford. Here he remained in active business until after the war broke out, and in August, 1862, was commissioned as surgeon to a New York regiment then in the field at Yorktown, Va, where he immediately joined the regiment, and remained with it in the service in Virginia, North and South Carolina, until the regiment finished its service in 1864. After this time Dr. Harri-son served the Sanitary Commission for a few months in Florida, and South Carolina. At the close of 1864 he was again in Wallingford, resuming his old residence
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and continuing the practice of his profession, until the present time. During all his long residence in Wallingford, Dr. Harrison has taken active interest in the public schools. He was married June 8, 1837, to Susan Lewis, daughter of Frederick Lewis of Wallingford. She died September 10, 1839, leaving an infant daughter who also died seventeen years after. He again married June 20, 1868, Virginia V. Abelle, of Franklin, Conn. She died December 27, 1869.
NEHEMIAH BANKS, M.D.
Dr. Nehemiah Banks came to Wallingford in 1852. He was graduated at the Yale College medical school in 1844. In 1856 he purchased the Judge Pomeroy place He has had a large practice, and has been a very successful practitioner.
Dr. Henry Davis came to Wallingford in 1870, and bought the place formerly owned by O. I. Martin.
Dr. Baldwin, a Botanic physician, has practised in Wallingford for several years.
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MERIDEN PHYSICIANS.
Few are the recorded data for biography which ordinarily survive the life of the practitioner of medicine in country districts. The uniform and familiar character of his vocation affords but scanty material for the adornment of general history. Being more familiar with prescriptions than the pen, or more brilliant exploits of war or legislation, his fame is lamentably prone to expire with the memories and lives of those who have enjoyed the benefit of his professional labors.1
The first physician in Meriden was Dr. Isaac Hall. He was a son of Jonathan and Dinah Hall, was born July 11, 1714, and died March 7, 1781, age. 66 years. He married Mary Morse, Nov. 5, 1739, and had six children, one of whom, Jonathan, was a physician. He resided, while living, quite in the easterly part of the town, on that road which now passes the residence of Deacon Hezekiah Rice. Dr. Ensign Hough was the son of Daniel and Violet (Benton) Hough, was born Sept. 1, 1746, and commenced practice in Meriden in 1769. He lived near the center of the town. He was a short, lively man, a good physician, and well known and highly esteemed. He died Dec. 3, 1813, age. 67. Mercy, his wife, died Feb. 6, 1820, ae. 72. He left two sons, Ensign Jr., and Isaac. The last studied medicine and commenced practice in Meriden in 1802.2 He died Feb. 26, 1852, age. 71. During his residence in Meriden he had a large practice, but retired from the active duties of his profession in comparatively early life. Sally Bradley, daughter of Dr. Ensign Hough, died Aug. 11, 1864, as. 85 years.
1 Dr. Blakeman's Address before the Conn. Med. Soc., 1853.
2 See Biographical Notices.
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Dr. Wyllys Woodruff commenced practice here in 1825, in connection with Dr. Hough. He was born in Southington, Aug. 6, 1801, and was a son of Isaac Jun., and Abigail (Clark), Woodruff. He studied medicine with Dr. Jacob Brace of Newington, and Dr. Julius S. Barnes, of Southington, and was graduated at the Yale College Medical School in 1823. He married 1st, Jane Curtis, and 2nd, Mary Lewis. After Dr. Woodruff's death, she married Henry C. Butler, of Meriden. Dr. Woodruff had two daughters; the oldest married Thomas Hubbard. Dr. Woodruff was a slender built man, with light hair and eyes. His attention was given wholly to his business, yet he was of a very social disposition, fond of anecdote, and also took an active interest in church affairs. He died of typhoid fever March 31, 1842, universally beloved for his many estimable qualities, and highly esteemed for his medical skill.
The day that Dr. Woodruff died, a message was sent to Haddam by some of the leading citizens of Meriden, for Dr. Benjamin H. Catlin to come to Meriden and take the practice of Dr. Woodruff. He came here April 1, made arrangements for his removal, and commenced practice here April 5, 1842. He is now (1870) in full practice.1
Dr. Andrews commenced practice here, living in the old house west of the residence of Aaron Collins. He afterwards built the house now owned and occupied by Sidney Hall. He was succeeded by Dr. Gardner Barlow, a graduate of the Yale College Medical School, of the class of 1845. Dr. Barlow died of consumption in 1854, in the forty-seventh year of his age. He built the
1 See Biographical Notices.
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house now owned by Dr. Tait. He was a man well posted in his profession, of few words, indomitable energy, and although possessing delicate health, had a larger practice than any other physician in the town in his day. Dr. Morris was here in 1829, for about two years. He returned again in 1832, but remained but a short time. He bought and lived in the house of the late Walter Booth, on South Broad Street. Dr. Brown, a Thompsonian doctor, came here from New Britain, and lived in the house now occupied by A. H. Curtis on South Broad Street. He remained here a few years and removed to Ohio.
Dr. William H. Allen was born in Hebron, Conn., in 1819. He studied medicine with Dr. Stratton of Mid-dletown, and afterward with Dr. Lapham of New York. After practising in New Britain one year and in Goshen about six months, he removed to Meriden in 1840, succeeding Dr. Fields, who had practised here about a year. He first lived in the house then occupied by Dr. Fields, and occupied now by Mr. Charles Parker, on the corner of Main and High streets. Dr. Alien died of typhoid fever, Sept. 4, 1850. He was about five feet seven inches in height, and weighed about one hundred and seventy-five pounds. He had dark hair and eyes and a very high forehead, was of a social disposition, fond of company, and well read and skillful as a physician. He built the house now occupied by Mr. Levi Butler, corner of Main and Center streets. He left four children.
Dr. Edward W. Hatch came to Meriden in December, 1849, and retired from practice in 1859, to assume the office of Superintendent of the State Reform School.1
1 See Biographical notices.
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Dr. H. A. Archer was born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, England, April 8, 1820. He came to this country November 1, 1824. His father, William Archer, soon became a citizen of the United States by legal process, which made all of his sons who were minors citizens also. His early days were spent upon his father's farm in Webster, Mass., and there he became acquainted with Rev. John Parker, now of Meriden, who at that time was one of the most prominent preachers of the Methodist conference. In June, 1843, Dr. Archer entered the office of Dr. Amos Beecher of
H. A. ARCHER, M. D.
Barkhamstead, Conn., as a medical student, there pursuing his studies until the autumn of 1846, when he entered the medical school of Yale College. At that time Col. Dexter R. Wright, formerly of Meriden, now of New Haven, who has since distinguished himself as an advocate and counselor at the Connecticut bar, was a student in the law school. In 1847 Dr. Archer graduated and received his degree from the medical college of Kentucky. In the spring of 1847 he commenced
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practice in the town of Wethersfield, Conn., continuing there until January, 1850, when upon the invitation of some of the most prominent citizens of Meriden, he removed here and continued in practice until the autumn of 1857, when he sold out to Dr. John Tait and removed to Brooklyn, N. Y.
Dr. John Tait, the successor of Dr. Archer, was his assistant for a short time, and finally succeeded him in practice. He bought the house built by Dr. Barlow and afterward owned by Dr. Archer, which he remodeled a few years ago. Dr. Timothy F. Davis came here in 1850, succeeding Dr. Wm. H. Allen, and for eighteen years had a large and successful practice.1 Dr. Lewis Barnes came to Meriden in 1852, and had his office in the Meriden Bank building. He removed in a short time to Oxford, Conn.,where he now resides. Dr. W. N. Dunham, a homeopathist, came here in 1856, remained a short time, and disposed of his practice to Dr. C. W. Ensign who came from Tarifville. Dr. M. F. Baldwin was here in 1856. Dr. G. Herrick Wilson, of the school of Hahneman, came here in 1857, and has built up a large practice. Dr. Roswell Hawley was in Meriden in 1858. Dr. Asa Hopkins Churchill, a graduate of the Yale Medical school in 1857, succeeded Dr. E. W. Hatch in 1859.
Dr. James Wylie was born in Kilwinning, Ayreshire, Scotland, in 1829. He was graduated in surgery from the University of Glasgow in the session of 1852-3, and in 1853 came to this country. In 1854 he commenced practice in Meriden. In 1868 he took a medical and surgical degree from a medical school in Philadelphia, and returned to Meriden where he still practices.
1See Biog. Notices.
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Dr. Nehemiah Nickerson, a graduate of the N. Y. Medical School, came here for the second time in 1865, and was for a time associated with Dr. Wylie. After about three years he went to Missouri, and returned again to Meriden in 1870, and is now practising here. Dr. Frederick Fitch, a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical School, came here in 1866. Dr. J. J. Averill, a graduate in 1866 of the Yale Medical School, came here in 1866. Dr. John McMahon, a graduate of Harvard University Medical School, came here in 1867 and removed to Boston in 1869. Dr. Charles H. S. Davis, a graduate of the New York University Medical School, came here from Baltimore in 1867, succeeding his father in the practice of his profession. Dr. Bodyfield came here in 1869, but removed to New Britain in a short time. In 1870 Dr. Hamlin, a graduate of the Bellevue Hospital Medical School, Dr. Charles Mansfield and Dr. E. Newport, the last two Homeopathists, commenced practice in Meriden.
When Dr. Isaac Hough commenced practice, the usual fee for visits was twenty-five cents. In Dr. Wood ruff's time it was three shillings; obstetrical fee three dollars. When Dr. Catlin commenced practice here the fee was fifty cents, but soon went up to seventy-five cents. Soon after Dr. T. F. Davis commenced practice the usual charge was one dollar, then one dollar and twenty-five cents. In January, 1868, the Meriden City Medical Association adopted the following fee table:
"For first visit each day, $1.50; subsequent visit same day, $1.00; visit to Hanover, $2.00; visit at night from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M., $2.00; detention during nights, $3.00 to $5.00; visit in consultation, $3.00; obstetrical fee $10.00; obstetrical fee with instruments, $15.00; travel per mile from
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city limits within five miles, 50 cts.; vaccination, $1.50; vaccination at office $1.00; office advice, 75 cts; reducing fractures, $5.00 to $15.00; reducing dislocation, $3.00 to $15.00.
"The foregoing Table contains the standard fees of the Medical Profession of Meriden. They shall be increased according to the judgment of the practitioner concerned, in all cases of extraordinary detention or attendance. Also, in proportion to the importance of the case, the responsibility attached to it, and services rendered when these are extraordinary. They shall be diminished at the discretion of the Physician when he believes the patient cannot afford to pay the regular fees, and yet is able to make some compensation. It shall however be considered as unprofessional to diminish the standard fees with a view to mercenary competition."