Chapter XXVI.
THE MEDICAL SOCIETIES AND PROFESSION.
Previous to the year 1806 persons in this State who desired to practice "physic and surgery," could do so by presenting evidence of their competency to the chancellor, a judge of the Supreme or Common Pleas Court, or to a master in chancery, for which a certificate would be given which was to be filed in the county clerk's office. The penalty for non-compliance with this regulation was that no remuneration could be collected for the service, or a fine of $25 where remuneration was collected. This rather loose method of authorizing men to practice medicine led to extended abuse unscrupulous and ignorant persons. Certificates were frequently granted to unqualified practitioners through which the health and lives of the community were endangered and the standard of the profession lowered.
An act of the Legislature of 1806 authorized the formation of medical societies and conferred on them broad powers, at the same time imposing upon them certain duties. The chief usefulness of these societies in early years, if not in more recent times, was in preventing unqualified and unscrupulous persons from engaging in medical practice.
Under this act mentioned the physicians of Madison county took prompt action and on July 29, 1806, organized under its provisions. At the organization meeting held in Sullivan, the following persons were present and took part in the proceedings which brought to life the Madison County Medical Society: Drs. Israel Farrell, Jonas Fay, James Moore, James Pratt, John D. Henry, John Dorrance, Jonathan Pratt, William P. Cleveland, Elijah Putnam, Elijah Pratt, Thomas Greenly, Amos S. Amsden, Constant Merrick, Stephen Percival, Zadock Parker, Rufus Holton, Asa B. Sizer, and Asahel Prior. An election of officers was held and Israel Farrell was chosen the first president; Jonas Fay, vice-president; Elijah Pratt, and Elijah Putnam, censors.
At an adjourned meeting held October 26, 1807, Drs. Jonas Fay, A. S. Amsden, and John Dorrance were appointed a committee to report all practitioners who were working without a license. This action shows the existing feeling at that time among reputable physicians regarding the operations of charlatans and quacks. The good work went on and on April 26, 1808, the president, secretary, and treasurer were jointly delegated to "summon Hubbard Smith, William Patrie (Petrie?) and David Williams to appear and show that they are legally qualified to practice Physic and Surgery in this State."
Efforts to gather the nucleus of a library were early put forth, and some money subscribed for the purpose. The amended by-laws of 1819 specify that the surplus money in the treasury be not expended for library purposes until they amount to $75. In the same year steps were taken to introduce the description of cases by the members for mutual improvement and elevation. It was provided that every member should present at the semi-annual meeting or soon thereafter, one case, both in its symptoms and method of treatment, to a committee of three, who were to select such as seemed most important to be recorded in a book to be read at the annual meeting, or otherwise treated.
On July 28, 1820, the by-laws relating to a library were abolished and Drs. John L. Cazier, Peter B. Havens, and Thomas Spencer were directed to purchase periodicals for the use of the society. In July, 1821, Drs. Havens, Spencer and Clarke were appointed a committee to formulate a plan for the production and reading of prize dissertations, and subjects were offered for one each to be delivered at the ensuing semi-annual and the annual meeting.
The purchase of books and periodicals continued, the records showing that a committee was appointed in July, 1824, for that purpose, while in 1825, $30 were appropriated for books and $10 for periodicals. At the meeting of July 26, 1825, Drs. Bailey, Mead and Silsby were appointed to consider the most effectual method to suppress Quackery." This is another indication that the society, like those of all other counties, found their utmost efforts were necessary to rid the profession of ignorant practitioners.
In 1826, and other years down to recent times, further sums were devoted to the purchase of medical literature, Dr. Thomas Spencer being delegated to expend the money. This practice continued down to January, 1849, when it was ordered that the library of the society be sold at auction at the next meeting, July 21, 1849. At that date the sale was postponed and the records show no further action regarding the library.
This was evidently a period of sluggishness in the society, as at the meeting last named it was resolved "to put forth endeavors to sustain the society," and to "make an effort to form a District Association with Otsego and Chenango counties."
In 1832-33 further efforts were made to relieve the county from the operations of quacks and to draw into its membership all qualified physicians in the county. Between 1830 and 1840, a few papers were read before the society members which attracted attention and discussion. In 1834 a committee was appointed to examine the medical botany of Madison County. The society also took its share about that time in the prevailing temperance movement, adopting the following resolution on the subject:
Resolved, That it is the deliberate conviction of this Society that the common use of distilled spirits has heretofore been a productive source of disease, crime, poverty and premature death; that it is entirely unnecessary for men in health; and that it might be dispensed with in the treatment of disease.
An important step was taken at the same time designed to elevate the standard of scholarship in the profession as seen in the following resolution:
Resolved, That in the present advanced state of the science of medicine this Society regards the legal term of study too short, and think it ought to be extended one year, and that some care [should] be taken to fix preliminary studies.
It will be remembered that about 1840-45 the subject of mesmerism and clairvoyance came prominently before the public, creating no little interest. The members of the society proclaimed their views on the matter in a series of lengthy resolutions, wherein they ridiculed the whole theory as "all fallacious and unworthy to be countenanced by members of our profession." During the same period, Homoeopathy began to make itself felt in the community, and the members of the society, at first, had little more respect for it, apparently, than they had for mesmerism. A resolution on the subject was offered at the meeting of July 30, 1844, and after discussion was laid on the table. But the new practice gained more and more adherents, and on January 28, 1845, it was the subject of an address by Dr. George S. Loomis, after which the following interesting resolutions were offered, earnestly discussed, and finally adopted with only one dissenting voice:
Whereas, A few of the members of this Society have repudiated the doctrines and practice which are almost universally taught in the Medical schools throughout the civilized world and have adopted the theory and practice of medicine called Homoeopathy: therefore,
Resolved, That in our opinion the so-called system of Homoeopathy is irrational and delusive and its believers, however high may be their intelligence or moral standing, are deceived by the specious reasoning by which it is attempted to be supported.
Resolved, That in our opinion the practice of Homoeopathy is highly fraught with danger to the community, and that our duty to the public imperiously demands an exposure of its fallacies; therefore,
Resolved, That we as a Society disclaim all participation in the peculiar doctrines of Homoeopathy.
The protracted conflict between the two schools of medicine is well remembered by most persons to-day. Broader and more liberal views at last prevailed until the differences that once existed on the subject have mostly passed away. That this result was approached earlier than in most localities is indicated in a resolution by Dr. V. W. Mason on January 26, 1847, two years after the foregoing series was adopted:
?Resolved, That a committee be appointed whose duty it shall be to investigate the theory of medical practice called Homoeopathy, to test its medicines by actual experiment and repot to this society.
If this action was taken the records do not show its results. In more recent years the society has kept abreast of the advancement in general medical science and practice, and placed itself on record on all subjects of importance in relation to the profession.
Following is a complete list of all physicians who have at any time been members of the Society, with dates when they joined, as shown in the record book:
| Abell, ___ | July 27, 1824 | Carpenter, E. H., | 1894 | ||
| Adams, Homer, | July 27, 1852 | Carpenter, H.W., Oneida, | July 12, 1870 | ||
| Allen, J. B., | 1891 | Carpenter, Wesley, M., | July 14, 1863 | ||
| Amsden, Amos S., | July 29, 1806 | Carter, H. T., | 1888 | ||
| Antes, ___ | Jan. 28, 1840 | Cavana, M., | 1894 | ||
| Babcock, Benjamin, W., | July 27, 1824 | Cazier, John Le Conte, | July 28, 1819 | ||
| Babcock, H. E., | 1884 | Chamberlayne, J. K. | July 27, 1852 | ||
| Babcock, John, | July 31, 1822 | Chase, D. D., Morrisville, | July 11, 1871 | ||
| Bailey, E. P., | 1888 | Cheesbrough, Amos, | July 12, 1859 | ||
| Bailey, Eli S., | July 28, 1818 | Clarke, Isaac, | July 31, 1838 | ||
| Bailey, Silas, | July 26, 1836 | Clarke, John, | Apr. --, 1809 | ||
| Ballaou, ______ | Jan. 28, 1834 | Clarke, Samuel, R., | July 25, 1826 | ||
| Ballou, Russell, | July 12, 1859 | Clarke, Silas S., DeRuyter | Oct. 11, 1859 | ||
| Banning, George W., | 1896 | Clarke, Welcome A., | July 28, 1818 | ||
| Barber, Philo J., | July 29, 1834 | Cleaveland, Benjamin F., | July 25, 1826 | ||
| Barber, Samuel, | April 29, 1807 | Cleveland, William P., | July 29, 1806 | ||
| Barker, Daniel, | July 28, 1820 | Colegrove, C. M., | 1895 | ||
| Barnett, Milton, | Dec. 24, 1833 | Collins, D. S. P., | July 25, 1826 | ||
| Barrow, _______, | Jan. 25, 1825 | Collins, Nathan, | July __, 1830 | ||
| Bass, Henry, | Jan. 30, 1810 | Collister, Samuel, | July 27, 1824 | ||
| Beardsley, Henry G., | July 31, 1832 | Cook, Orange R., | July ___, 1829 | ||
| Beardsley, L., Oneida, | July 7, 1857 | Corcoran, James A., | 1898 | ||
| Beebe, F. D., Lebanon, | July 7, 1857 | Cornell, Alanson, | Jan. 31, 1832 | ||
| Beebe, F. G., | 889 | Coy, William, B., | July 31, 1838 | ||
| Beebe, Loren C., | 1898 | Crandall, H. S., Leonards- ville, | |||
| Billington, Merchant, | Jan. 13, 1874 | July 7, 1857 | |||
| Birdsall, Gilbert, North Brookfield, | Cunningham, Hugh, | July 29, 1828 | |||
| Jan. 19, 1864 | Curtis, Seymour, | July 30, 1839 | |||
| Blakeslee, A., | July 27, 1841 | Davis, George W., | 1889 | ||
| Boden, Edwin R., | 1894 | Davis, Lavinia R, | 1899 | ||
| Bradley, Samuel B., | July 28, 1829 | Davis, W. A., | 1899 | ||
| Brooks, Nelson O., | 1896 | Decker, John J., | 1898 | ||
| Brown, N. Clift, | 1881 | Didama, John, | Jan. 26, 1819 | ||
| Buckingham, E. D., | Jan. 27, 1835 | Dodge, A. A., | 1895 | ||
| Bullock, C. N., | 1883 | Douglas, A. S., | July 9, 1872 | ||
| Bushyte, Orlando W., | 1880 | Douglas, James S., | Jan. 28, 1834 | ||
| Burrough, Erastus B., | Jan. 31, 1827 | Douglas, W. H., | 1892 | ||
| Bush, Edwin D., Madison, | Oct. 6, 1857 | Dorrance, John, | July 29, 1806 | ||
| Drake, F. C., | 1894 | Huntley, J. F, | Jan. 22, 1878 | ||
| Eaton, John R., | 1880 | Huntley, J. F., | 1892 | ||
| Farnsworth, Charles, | Jan. 29, 1828 | Hurd, ___, | July 28, 1840 | ||
| Farrell, Andrew, | July 25, 1837 | Hurd, D. E., | July 25, 1843 | ||
| Farrell, Israel, | July 29, 1806 | Joy, Milton R., | 1887 | ||
| Fay, Jonas, | July 29, 1806 | Kennedy, James, | July 29, 1828 | ||
| Fisk, Joshua M., | Jan. 26, 1819 | Kennedy, Samuel, | July 31, 1821 | ||
| Fitch, W. R., | Oct. 13, 1858 | Kenney,____ | July 25, 1837 | ||
| Foord, Alvin, | Jan. 27, 1829 | Knapp, J. W., | 1884 | ||
| Foord, Henry, | Jan. 22, 1878 | Knowlton, Josiah, | July 31, 1821 | ||
| Foote, David, Y., | July 26, 1825 | Lane, Ebenezer, | Jan. 30, 1809 | ||
| Foote, Noah B., | July 30, 1821 | Langworthy, O. S., | 1891 | ||
| French, John H., W. Eaton | July 8, 1856 | Lee, ___, | July 27, 1835 | ||
| Fuller, Edward, | July __, 1829 | Lewis, Birdseye, | July 26, 1825 | ||
| Fuller, Samuel, | Jan. 26, 1819 | Litchfield, W. M, | 1892 | ||
| Furman, Charles L.,..Ham- ilton, | Lloyd, Frederick, O., | 1898 | |||
| July 8, 1879 | Lloyd, G. F., | 1887 | |||
| Galloway, E. H., | 1885 | Lockwood, Henry, | July 30, 1833 | ||
| Germain, Morris, | July 28, 1820 | Loomis, George S., | July__, 1829 | ||
| Germer, Hermann G., | 1898 | Loomis, Joseph, | July 28, 1840 | ||
| Gibbs, Levi, | July 28, 1818 | Loveland, E. W., Oneida, | Jan. 10, 1871 | ||
| Gillett, Jacob, | July 29, 1818 | Lull, Almond, | Jan.__, 1833 | ||
| Goff, I. N., Cazenovia, | Feb. 18, 1862 | Lull, Ansel, | July 31, 1822 | ||
| Goodell, John, | July 29, 1828 | Lum, W. Tappan, | 1896 | ||
| Goodwin, Timothy, | Jan, 25, 1825 | Marsh, M. M., | July 27, 1841 | ||
| Goslee, James P., | July 25, 1837 | Mason, Adolphus, A., | Jan. 29, 1828 | ||
| Gray, R. H., | July 10, 1860 | Mason, V. W., | Jan. 31, 1837 | ||
| Greene, Carl D., | July 10, 1877 | Mayberry, F. T., | July 29, 1845 | ||
| Greenly, Thomas, | July 29, 1806 | McClelland, __, DeRuyter | July 13, 1875 | ||
| Greenwood, Levi P., | Jan. 25, 1842 | Mead, Henry M., | July 25, 1843 | ||
| Griffith, W. H., | 1888 | Mead, H. P., | Oct. 13, 1858 | ||
| Guernsey, Jonathan, | July 31, 1822 | Mead, Onesimus, | July 29, 1817 | ||
| Guernsey, Sylvanus, | July 31, 1822 | Mead, Powers R., | Jan. 28, 1834 | ||
| Guthrie, Jarvis Moore, | July 25, 1842 | Mead, Thompson, Jr., | July 30, 1839 | ||
| Halbert, H., | 1889 | Merrick, Constant, | July 29, 1806 | ||
| Hamer, J., Oneida, | July 13, 1858 | Messenger, E. G., | Jan. 27, 1835 | ||
| Harris, George W., | July 12, 1864 | Messenger, M. P., | 1895 | ||
| Havers, Peter B., | July 28, 1829 | Miller, Edgar L., Eaton, | July 8, 1879 | ||
| Head, A. D., | 1874 | Miller, H. P., Eaton, | July 12, 1870 | ||
| Heffron, John, | July 27, 1813 | Mills, George W., | 1890 | ||
| Henry, John D., | July 29, 1806 | Mitchell, David, | July 29, 1817 | ||
| Holmes, A. M., Morrisville | Oct. 6, 1857 | Mitchell, David, | Jan. 26, 1841 | ||
| Holton, Rufus, | July 29, 1806 | Moffett, Joseph, | July 29, 1817 | ||
| Hoskins, A. N., | 1892 | Moore, ___, Munnsville, | July 18, 1873 | ||
| Hovey, Isaac, | July 28, 1819 | Moore, E. M., | Jan. 26, 1847 | ||
| Howland, Perez, | July 28, 1820 | Moore, J., | Jan. 27, 1835 | ||
| Hubbard, F. H., | 1888 | Moore, James, | July 29, 1806 | ||
| Morey, Zabina M, | Jan. 29, 1828 | Sexton, E. H., Oneida, | July 11, 1871 | ||
| Mumford, E. S., | July 8, 1862 | Sherman, Jonathan, | July 28, 1807 | ||
| Munger, G. B., | July 12, 1864 | Silsby, Jonathan, | July 29, 1817 | ||
| Nash, Rivera, | Oct. 27, 1807 | Sizer, Asa B., | July 29, 1806 | ||
| Nichols, ____, | Jan. 25, 1842 | Smith, A. D., New Wood- stock | |||
| Nicholas, A. S., | July 25, 1843 | July 14, 1868 | |||
| Norton, Joel, | July 29, 1817 | Smith, Hubbard, | Oct. 25, 1808 | ||
| Norton, Samuel, | July 26, 1836 | Smith, J. W., | July 9, 1872 | ||
| Noyes, Helon Fay, | July __, 1830 | Spence, Ira, | Jan. 28, 1834 | ||
| Oaks, William, | July 8, 1862 | Spence, Ira, De Ruyter, | Oct. 11, 1859 | ||
| Orton, ____, | Jan. 28, 1840 | Spencer, Thomas, | July 28, 1818 | ||
| Palmer, Benjamin, | July 31, 1821 | Spooner, Stillman, | Jan. 26, 1830 | ||
| Parker, Zadoc, | July 29, 1806 | Stacy, Consider, H., | July 28, 1820 | ||
| Patrie, William, | Oct, 25, 1808 | Stowell, Joseph, | Jan. 30, 1830 | ||
| Payne, John, | Jan. 29, 1828 | Sumner, Henry T., | July 26, 1825 | ||
| Peck, Daniel, | July 29, 1817 | Taylor, William, | Jan. 27, 1818 | ||
| Peck, S. W., | July 30, 1839 | Taylor, Willliam, Munnsville | July 12, 1870 | ||
| Percival, Stephen, | July 29, 1806 | Teft, Joseph, | July 30, 1833 | ||
| Perry, C. H., | Jan. 13, 1874 | Teller, J. T., | July 25, 1843 | ||
| Pfaff, Otto, | 1894 | Throop, J., Lebanon | July 14, 1868 | ||
| Pierce, Jeremiah B., | July __, 1810 | Tompkins, A., Miss, Hamil- ton | |||
| Potter, S. M., | July 30, 1839 | July 8, 1879 | |||
| Powers, Isaac, | April 29, 1807 | Treadway, ___, | July 25, 1842 | ||
| Powers, N. C., | Jan. 26, 1841 | Trevor, J., | July 25, 1843 | ||
| Pratt, Daniel, | July 28, 1819 | Tucker, Laban, | July 31, 1838 | ||
| Pratt, Elijah, | July 29, 1806 | Upham, ___, | Jan. 27, 1818 | ||
| Pratt, James, | July 29, 1806 | Ure, H. D., | 1874 | ||
| Pratt, Jonathan, | July 29, 1806 | Usher, Nathaniel, | July 31, 1827 | ||
| Prior, Asahel, | July 29, 1806 | Van Wagner, L. A., North Brookfield, | |||
| Purdy, Albert G., | July __, 1830 | July 11, 1871 | |||
| Putnam, Elijah, | July 29, 1806 | Warner, N. P., New Wood- stock | |||
| Putnam, John, | July 31, 1827 | July 8, 1879 | |||
| Rankin, J., | Jan. 27, 1835 | Warner, William, | July 31, 1832 | ||
| Rankin, Jairus, | July __, 1829 | Webster, _____, | Jan. 27, 1818 | ||
| Ransom, C. H., | 1874 | Wells, J. R., | Jan. 31, 1843 | ||
| Ransom, D., | Jan. 25, 1842 | White, Adonijah, | Jan. 26, 1819 | ||
| Reed, Amos, | July 30, 1839 | White, A. N., | 1890 | ||
| Ressinger, J. A., | July 10, 1866 | White, Homer, H., | 1891 | ||
| Rockwell, Alva W., | Jan. 28, 1823 | Whitford, James, | July 31, 1838 | ||
| Rogers, A. C., | 1874 | Whitmore, Theophilus, | Jan. 30, 1809 | ||
| Root, F. W., | July 8, 1862 | Wilcox, O. B., Earlville, | July 8, 1879 | ||
| Root, R. B., | Jan. 31, 1832 | Wilson, S. J., | 1896 | ||
| Sammis, O. K., Wampsville | July 8, 1862 | Wilson, ____, | July 26, 1814 | ||
| Saunders, A. L., | July 30, 1839 | Woods, Harvey, | May 8, 1810 | ||
| Scott, ____, | 1896 | Youngs, John T., | Jan.28, 1834 | ||
| Seamans, Horace, | July __, 1829 | ||||
The Madison County Homoeopathic Medical Society.__ Many years passed after the introduction of homoeopathy in New York in 1825, before any organized society existed. The new school met with determined opposition, and in 1830 there were only six homoeopathic physicians in the whole country, and almost all of these were practicing in New York city. When Dr. George W. Roberts introduced the practice into the neighboring county of Chenango, in 1841, there were not probably forty homoeopathic doctors yet in the country, and none at all in Madison county.
Previous to 1857 there were homoeopathic medical societies, but they were mere gatherings of physicians without any legal standing whatever. An act of the Legislature of April 13, of that year, authorized the formation of such societies with the same privileges and immunities enjoyed by those of the older school. In 1862 the Legislature incorporated the Homoeopathic Medical Society of the State of New York, and under this act county societies became auxiliary to the State society.
The organization of the Madison County Homoeopathic Medical Society was effected at a meeting of the Oneida County Society, held in Utica, October 18, 1864, Drs. E. A. Munger and George B. Palmer acting as the committee of organization of a society in both Madison and Chenango counties. This committee issued an invitation and on January 4, 1865, the following physicians met at the office of Dr. D. D. Loomis in Morrisville: D. D. Loomis, W. B. Brown, of Hamilton; G. L. Gifford, of Hamilton; A. E. Wallace of Brookfield; Ira C. Owen, of Sherburne; George B. Palmer, of East Hamilton; E. A. Munger, of Waterville; George W. Bailey, of Waterville, and H. M. Paine, of Albany. The formal organization under the act then took place, Dr. Munger acting as temporary chairman, and Dr. George B. Palmer as secretary. Drs. Loomis, Owen and Wallace were appointed a committee to report a form of constitution and by laws. When these were reported they were discussed and finally adopted at the same meeting. The first officers, also elected at that time, were as follows:
Dr. D. D. Loomis was elected president; Ira C. Owen, vice-president; George B. Palmer, secretary and treasurer; and Drs. A. E. Wallace, G. L. Gifford and George B. Palmer, censors.
Drs. E. A. Munger, H. M. Paine and G. W. Bailey were elected honorary members.
During the period since the organization of the society, it has been kept in a fair state of activity and accomplished much for the benefit of its members. Valuable papers have been read at its meetings and the many able and honorable men who have been and are members of this school of medicine in the county, have labored unselfishly for the afflicted.
Following is a list of the members of this society from its formation to the present time with dates of election:
Isaac Clark, Eaton,..............................June 27, 1865 H. F. Adams, Canastota,..........................June 27, 1866 John P. Hunting, Brookfield,...................October 2, 1866 Henry F. Adams, Canastota,.....................October 2, 1866 Stillman Spooner, Oneida,......................October 2, 1866 Harrison Willis, Clinton, (honorary),..........October 2, 1866 Edgar C. Bass, Cazenovia,........................June 25, 1867 A. A. Lewis, De Ruyter,..........................June 25, 1867 Edward Loomis, Oneida,...........................June 22, 1869 H. P. Mera, Canastota,...........................June 22, 1869 John W. Brown, Morrisville,......................June 22, 1869 M. M. Catlin, Brookfield,........................June 22, 1869 L. C. Crowell, Morrisville,.........................June, 1873 E. L. Coon, De Ruyter,..............................June, 1873 W. H. Griffith, Chittenango,........................June, 1875 J. T. Wallace, Oneida,....................................1876 E. P. Hussey,.............................................1876 J. E. Slaught, Hamilton,..................................1881 George E. Sanford, Eaton,.................................1882 Melvin E. Edgerton, Canastota,............................1882
Copied Exactly as Printed by
Patty Condon
14 March 2005
If you have resources for Madison County or would like to volunteer to help with look-ups, please e-mail me at Tim StowellMadison Co, NY Page
You are our 1466 visitor since 21 Apr 2005 -- thanks for stopping by!
Last updated: 15 May 2011