History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

" Itut to what cAuiK*, It may pertinently Ikj asked, Iioa medical science and the m-j<-ia] Improvements of the prtifejt.oiou been Indebted, more than U* the efforts <if Its memUxm which havooriglnatuil and W'eu promulgated by the aulhorlly of thi< various associations of the iK>ri<Ml? It Is futile to contend (bat the liitintt' H«-Ifi!«hiK'Mt of sonir individuals in all profes- rlonscan u<lci|uately be restrained, except by the fon^c of a general pub- lic as well as pmfuMioiml sentiment, expressLHl by means of codea ema- nating fmni mivJorilles of indivldnab In rocogni/.ed aMmciallon. ** It nxiuirca but a reference to the known tendoncleti of human nature to predict that should tlie existing system of medical oBAocIation boatian- doned, and the former c<jmpnnillvely fl<>cludod stale of medi :al society bo reintroduced, nu exMIng reAuemeiits, whether social or scientific, would prove adequate to sustain unharmed its present advanced poi^ition. There is reason to apprehend that our profey»iunal system, with its centric influences thus unhappily dissevered, and tlio affinities of interest re- uiajntng to assume their native sway over its detached and less responsi- ble constituents, as in former periods, still contains a sufllcient amount of discordant elements, not only essentially to derango lis existing fra- ternity, but also greatly to endanger it» scientific progress. " It is therefore much to be desired that the ropudiators of our medical organization, those who by their frequent interrogatory *(jui honof man- ifestly depreciate it«i character and imiwrtance, both in view of tlie public and many of the junior members of the profession, should institute a comparison between the present and past social and scientific history of the medical profession in the State, and then decide to what causes ita present improved condition is to be attributed. " It Is presumed that such canuid investigation will furnish sufilcient evidence to convince the most skeptical that it is tlirongh the emnlaCinn, stimulated by the fniteriial intercourse of its members in the various public associations, that we have been enablc<l to realize the jtresent im- proved moral and educational su|K-riorily of the profession over its jiart condition ; and that it is through a continuance of the same agency that we may confidently hoiw for a progressive odvonccment of its respect- ability and im|>ortanco in the estimation uf the community far bej'ond its present position. "It has been noticed that most of the respectable physicians of Fair- field County embraced with alacrity and zeal the plan of society organi- zation. Also, the records of its s jciety have been noticed to prove that their attention was early directed to professional improvement, by their adoption of meosures for the diffusion of nutlical knowledge and expe- rience among Its members. A ijolico syst«>m was also early e^tablishel designed to remedy evils whi.:li hiul long interrupted the harmony and fraternity of the medical society in the county; un abuse Indulged to such extent as not only to derogate the character and rank of the pnn fession in the view of the community, but doubtless in many cases in- stead of its officiating as an agent i>f mercy it became rather a ilcmun of evil to many a luckless subject whom disease had chanced to prostrate on the arena of conflict of his medical attendants. " Indeed, such was the existing emei^oncy that hod been induced by the inilulgenco of empirical habits by some of its physicians, that pnv- fessional contention was rondered proverbially Illustrnlive of discords in society generally. Individual exiiorience, whether real or osxumed, was habitually vaunted with the object of t>eguiliiig the Imagination of the credulous; and with many reputably ix'^pectable physii-inus the art of abstracting the legitimate {talients of neighboring rivals was iKinimount to that of healing their resjH-ctive diseasi'.-i. Indeed, self-interest, sought to be promoted by such dislionorabte means, a;i[ieared a» the object that Hwnyed many practitioners, rather than the honorable and liberal efforts adapted to the advancement of ntedical science and the public health for which they professed a special reganl. "To effect a reform of this depressed state of professional character, and to advance the scientific interests of the profession, was the obje<t of those iKitriots who originate 1 and by assiduity effiMited the medicitl organization of Fairfield County. They suecet:«sfully encountered the herculean task, and by the continued efforts of their siicce^tsors the hydra evils w* detrimental to the medical clcarocter have nearly disa|>- ])eared from the field of their former Influence. Those worthy pioneers now all rest from their labors, but their invaluable works remain, and it is their duo that their names be held in grateful remembrance by thufH) who have succeeded them In the same field of professional toil. "The names of the original subscrilK-rs of Fairfield County Society, who were contemiK»rar>- ]»ractitioner» In the county, are the fulb>wiiig, — viz., Asahel Fitch, Jonathan Knight, Pre^rr^e Woo<l, Gubrirl Ihildwin. Ezra Curtis, Davitl Hull, James E. lleach, ."Stephen Rockwell, William Shelton, Jos4>pli Tr»»wbrblge, James Clark, Thaddeus lielts, Th<mi:i- Pavis, Kliiha Delclier, James Ptttler, l>uvld Rogers, James ScofieM, Ilusea Ilurlbut, Lewis Iteeiv, Amos Mt.>ad, Jontilban I'oor, Shadrach Mead, Gideon Sheinnl, Klijah Ilawley, Dlivcr Uencroft. Am<>s Ibtki-r, Samuel Webli, John I.e-der. Rcnnell IVrry, Kli I't-rry, ttrange IJ^-nton, Denjamln Cuiiis, .Kdin Wo^sl, St<'phen Mlddlebn»ok, .\ugusliu Mcrwin, John U. (irep>ry, Ann's llotsfonl, William It^-iu-d, Uaniul Beard, William £<lscui, Minor lligby, (jidimn UeanUley. "It would affonl gratificalIon,<lid the m'cjislon admit, to l>ostow a par- ticulor nnilce of each Imlividnal winuo names are appendetl to the fore- going list ; but as this Is denied, I shall select those only, who from their IHipular estimate as practlllonerw, or from their mental eliaracleristies, ei^oyed a more extensive reputation in the community in which they resided. MEDICAL HISTORY. 35 " As a t; ilnitc li"W(.-vfr. tine tt) tlmsc wlmni mir limit? furbiJ a more ]iiiili ular iiifnli'iii, I may gciuTally tt.itt-, Ilwit l\u:y were ri-spcctil-lo siiiil vjiluoil jiriu'titioiicrs ; many of tlnrir miinber possessing merit and quiilificatiun, as such, nnt iiiferinr t> others who, emhiwoil «ith tlmso furtuniite ehaiacteiislic traits whidi ever arrest impuhir attrntion, en- joyed a more extended and ])rotnini-nt reinitation. " Dr. James Potter resided and praiticed in Sliernian, oi i;;iiially a part of Xew Fairfield, a town in the northwest part of FairlieM ('oimty. Ai- eordinj? to the best inforniati m I liave ohtaine I, liis native phu-e \v;is S.iuthinicton in this State. I have not lieen aMe to learii where or how he was ediirated. Rev. M. Guelston. of Sherman, thinks thai he nn^st probaMy ohtiiined his meiical eduL-iiti<in nnder the in.><trii<.tion of hi.-i rehitive, I>r. Potter, foimeily a physician of Wallin.i^ford. l>r. P-ilti-r appears early to have unite 1 and heroine a meniher of Ilie Xi\\ lla\<-n (Vmnty Society previous to the orcanization of that of his .jun ■ oimty, and was tlie third president of the Cotiuecticut Medical Society. He was probably the juime agent in the institution of that of his own county, ;is its recorris show that its first meeting was assrndded l;v his notification. Its honni-s were more frequently bestowed on him than on any other in- dividual member. As a practitioner, however, I do not learn that he possessed scientific or practical qualification sujierior to many of his brethren of the county. His zeal was ardent in the promotion of the in- terests of tlie profession, and to its exercise is untlonhtcdly to le attrib- uted the ready acquiescence obtained from so large a p 'vUiu of her jiliy- f-icians for the projiosed county organization. The notice wliicli Ih. Potter has iibtained from my predecessjr supersetles the in-ces-ity of an extended mention i>f his public character. Kev. M. Ouelston wiites re- garding; him, 'As a pliysician he wa.s highly esleeniel here and in a wide circle around. Ko intruder could have encroached upon his but^ine^s. In the political, civil, and religious community his agency ami intluentc was great, and his memory has been cherished by all who knew liim. lie was a popular teacher, and instructed many students in the science of his profes-iion.' "He is said to have been of social habits, and so passionately fond of angling as frequently to resort to the waters of Long Inland Sound— a ilistancc of twenty or thirty miles fnmihis place of resi'lence— to Indulge )iis favorite recreation. Of his jiersonal appearnnce a fiiend writes: ' He was of a giave and venerable ajipeaiance, 1 eing one of t lie hist w ho wou- thesnnill-cl dhesand tiiangular (or I'uiitan) hat, dressing his tall figure with nealnes,s and elegance. He was of a companionable temperament, and celebrated for telling anecdotes' He died I'eb. lo, 1S(H, aged .^ixty- teven years. "Dr. Giileon Shepard w;ls a i)ra-titioner and native of Newtown. T have learned that he studied medicine w itii Ih. Thonuis, a profes^i-nal j)redece!^s »r in his native town, who is said to have been a rejiulable jirac- titioner. I susi)ect that ttie early acquirements of Dr. Shepard were not extensive; but if such was the fact, lie eminently conipensateil for the defect by an Indiitnal dci'oti m to tlie science of medicine and its observ- ant apphcalion to the diseases which he treated. My early impressions of the doctor are, that he devoted greater attention to the occurring im- provements in medical science than most of his contemporary brethreti.