History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

" I would add tu the above statement <»f Dr. Knight that Dr. T. Betts wni the grandfather of Hon. Thaddeus Betts, liite of the Intted States Senate. Dr. Knight, l>esides the Cj*toemed writer of Hk* al»ove, hacl an- other eon. Dr. James Knight, w)io located and practiced in Slaiufonl, but died in early life, al><>ut tlie iioriod 1H18. Pre. Betts and Knight were among the most pntmlnent and influential members who aided in the establishment and were zealous supporters of the Fairfield County Medi- cal Society. "Among the mo«t omlneut physicians of Fairfield County was Dr. Ilosea Hurlbnt, of Groonfleld Hill. Ho was a nativo of Berlin, Conn., nnd iiun of Samuel Hurlbnt, of that town. He commenced the btudy of medicine with his celebrated and eccentric uncle. Dr. Jame.-) Hut Unit, of Wethemfltdil. He was fur a time a student in the offlco of l>r. Woleotl, of Litchfield, the elder Governor of thnt name. While there he num- l«red aninng his Intimate ojWH'lates Judge Reeve, Aaron Burr, John Allen, and Oliver Wolcott. Jr. Even among such intellectual a>>4ocintes lie Is Md>l to haveHUHlaininl a distinguished jmrt, through the exercise of n markivl oriKinal gunlus. a ready Mclntilliillng wit, and Interesting con- vuriMttonal i-mers. Ho snl«4>4|Uently commenced pnictice in the ujipcr |iart of Bltddhtown, fnmi which place, aflef a short ro^idence, ho removed to Greenflidd, in the t»>wu of Kalrfiehl, where ho resided until his de- reoi^, dinlingulflht*d alike iw a physician and man of gouerolly cullivntod and mre genluN. " r>r. Huribut i>niiii(wwed a high senbo of the dignity of his pn.fession, and evfr iibhorr<^l duplicity In all its forms. He despised alike the medi- cal cmHric, thu legal iMttifogKiT. and the ^niall p^dltlclan, who seldom failed |i» rweive and M-nnibly to writhe under the cjutlgutton of his pun- gent ■hnris of wlttioiKm, by which, with acute aim, ho rarely fulled to mark his victim. " In ojldltion to hi* familiarity with the metllcal lilomtun< of the day, his ntli'utloii wns •.. far Riven to btdles'lettres science that, with the aid uf a nmoj kably ridvntive uioftor?-, many of Iho classic poets, ac Milton, Do'dcn, Tope, Young, and Johnson, he was accustomed to repeat nearly entire fn»m memory. "The doctor himself i>ossos8e<i a rare poetic genius, which, however, woH more employe"! in aid of occasions inviting the exeirise of his mas- culine satirical jHtwers than i:i the ordinary gentle effusions of th"' 9{use9. He ntrely i)ermitlcd the publication of his iKiotic pieces. One, however, entitled 'The Quack,' directed against tlie charlatanr}-of a pro- fessional neighbor, he published anonymoui^ly, with scathful effect upon its unlucky victim. "Such was the rctentivencss of his memory, however, that most of his poetic compositions he could readily repeat. Suvernl of these I have heard him recite, which ip |)oelic gracefulness even Bur])assed, while the pungency of their satire was not inferior to, that of Peter Pindar or McFingal. "Among the many anecdotes which might be ofldneed to show tb doctor's instant wit and ready application of quotation, the fo|lowing is pertinent. Being in a company of attorneys, one of the number, with the desi:;n to rally a repartee, atjked the doctor why perpetual unbroth- erly feuds were so chanicteristic of the members of the nte^licul pro- festiion, at the sumo time boujstingly remarking, * Not s > with us lawyers ; we ever live in neighborly harmony, quarrels hitnlly being known tu exist among us.' Says the doctor promptly, in the language of Milton, — "'Devil with devil damned. Firm concord holds. Men only dii-agrce, Of creatures rational,' etc. "Ah a jdiysician, Dr. Huribut was doubtless far In advance of the gen- ondity of lii:^ conteniporai ies. His views of the lrcatmt>nt of diseases aji- proximuted more to moilern practice thon the overdnigging wbijh clmmcterized the ci-a in which he practiced his profesf^iou. He was op- posed to polifjittttrmncif, and ever directed his treatment with a view to aid the salutary effortsof the economy in itsstniggles against diseased act itui, rather than embarrass them by the burdensome infiuencos of a great va- riety and excess of prescription. The chief object which he ever kejpt in v)<-\v WHS a diet and regimen adapted to the condition of his|>atient,and the exhibition of such medicines na existing symptoms ai)peared to ii< dicate. It was his marked disapprobation of the contrary jiractice pm sued by most of his neighl>oring brethren, in connection with the iHdijt edly expressed disgust of the petty arts practiced for pn»cniing patient- which ilrow upon him an excess of their hostility, and caused him tti l - fretinenlly denounced by them, as a cynic inimical to the interests of lln- professi(»n. " Dr. Huribut possossed a remarkably fine personal appearance. His form was coniuuinding, dignifieil, and gniceful. In conversation, his langmige was char^te and select. Vulgarisms, whether in sentiment or exprosTiion, met his frowning rebuke ; nuti all acts t>f a mean and dishon- omble character, which wore subjects of his tdtservatiou, over met the flaying force of his saliriciU lash. He was scrupulously neat in his i^i son and temperate in liis habits. Ho was a regular reader aud admit* i of the Bible, and n finn believer in the truths of Christianity. He died April '20, lS'i."(, aged eighty years, leaving a reputaition that will long survive him throughout the c.unmunity In which he lived. " Being a neigbtior and friend to the doctt^r in the eai'ly period of my professional life, I had the fortune of attending him in his lost Illness. An anecdote t.K:curred at that lime well illustrative of )iis character and of the foive of the ruliug iMisaion in death. The disease which termi- nated his life was a i>aruxysiiml anil extremely iminful affection of lb- stomach, of an obscure nature. For several days he retained an ui> clouded intellect. During the intennissions of the ininful att^icks li<- was 08 usual social and communicative. Being M'usible of his approadi- ing end, and having been for a long periiHl on uns >cial tonus w ilh Di Hull, liooxprossi>d the Commendable wi.'^h for an interview for the pu' pose of a rectuiciliatiou. Di. Hull re.idily recipn>cated the feeling, and an amicable ailjnstment wiut the result. During the interview, in the al«onco of his iminful |ian>xysm, Iho doctor's favorite to]>ic of me<licinn happened to be the subject of conversation ; an<l * Jluir* Colic PUU.' which the invalid over hold In sneering contempt, became the object of a jocose rally upon his recent friend. Dr. Hull, jtrHdeiW/v Judging that the reconcilialion might be hazunled by attempting derense. sufiered t)it* pleasantry to prvceed till the embarrat<stnent of his titiuition olicite<l th<- reM|ionse, * Yes, doctor, tln*e pilht are a favorite hold<y of niine'—* w hi- li thousands have riNlo todeuth V was continuously hupplttil by the |Mtieiit. " Dr. .\<tahel Fitch wan one of the early physicians of Redding, and Is n-iuemU'red in Fairfield i'ounty as a woUhy man and one of its nx'-t rospt<cta)ile practitloneis of modictne. He was among the princi|«l pi >- ueum in the foruiatlou of tli6 County S>>ciety, but died soon un«r its oi- 3IEDTCAL IITSTORY. 37 gaiiizfttinn. His deatli occurred in 1792, or about thiit period. I under- stninl tlmt he wns the ^ratidfathiT uf rrofc-ssor Kniyht, of Y.ilc CulU'gc. "Aiiiiniy the [ihysiciau's uf F;iiifii.-ld County whit eiijtijud a lunt; and successful practicu was Dr. Thuuias l\ivi:i of IltKidiiig. He wns a native iif Wasliington, LilchtiLdil Co. He coninu-nced tlic istndy uf uiedicine at the aRO of sixteen witli Dr. Seth Hastings, uf that town, a ])liysitian t'oniewhat distingui»lu-d, I am informed, as a nu-dical teaidiL-r. l)i-. Davis, jiievious to the attainment of his majoiity, vas admitted ai a partner to tlie extensive practice of his preceptor. He suhseipiently removeil and jiracticed medicine for a period in Sliermau, in Fairftehl t'ounty. lu lT'.t;j, on the deceive of Dr. Fitcli, he renmvfd to Itedding. wlicre In- cmu- tinued in the duties uf his profes.siun till Iiis dL'atli, w lurli u< iuind in ls:;i. " Dr. Davis possesses the reimtalinn uf heing among the tirst of tlie physicians of the county who assnmeii regularly uljstetrical duties; and N< I successful were his labois tliiit lie I ceanie particularly eminent in that department. It is asserlel nf liim that during the long period uf his practice he never lost a paiturient iialieiit. "Tlie doctor being svimniom-d as an important witness to appear hef'it' (he i;ourt in Kairtield. and nut ai'pearing, ttie sheriH' was sent tu citiui'el liis attendance. Being absent, and learniugon his return that the ollieer was awaiting at a public-hnu.'.e iu the vicinity, he, witliuut uutice tn the t.rticial, rode to Fairfield arid appeareil before the court. On the tpiesti.iu occurring with the coiiit regarding the costs attending the capi/in, he re- ipiested one or two of his legal fliends to excuse his dehnqnency. The judge decided, notwithstanding, that the law must be ..bservi-d and tliat the doctor must bear the expenses. Dr. Davis then recpie^ted a ln-arliig in his own behalf, which being granted, renuirked, ' Jliiy it please the cnurt, I am a good citizen uf the State, and since 1 was sumnnuied to attend tliis court I have introduced tbreu other good citizens into it.' The cuuvt replied tluit for so good a plea lie would leave the paities to pay the expen^es. The doctor received the cungiatnlati<.n* id tbe bar for his successful defence. '■ Tlie following anecdote,ns connecteil with anuther subject embraced in these biographical sketches, and also with a historical event occurring in this convention, 1 will take the liberty to iidat,e ;