THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF KINGS.
A regular monthly meeting of the Medical Society of the County of Kings was held at the rooms of the Society, No. 356 Bridge Street, Brooklyn, on June 19, 1888.
The meeting was called to order at 8.30 P. M., with Dr. Wallace in the chair. There were eighty members present.
The minutes of the previous meeting were read, and on motion adopted as read.
The Council reported favorably on the names of the following gentlemen: Drs. Sidney Allen Fox, George H. Treadwell, Fred. L. Goddard, Stanton Allen, Horace B. Scott.
The following gentlemen were declared elected members of the Society: Drs. Chas. S. Fischer, James L. Carney, Eliot Gorton, Heber N. Hooper, Henry H. Morton, Geo. B. Rockwell, Lewis S. Meeker.
The following gentlemen were proposed for membership:
Dr. J. Le Roy Tettemore, 128 Rockaway Avenue; graduated at L. I. C. H., 1881, proposed by Dr. J. H. Hunt and seconded by Dr. W. B. Chase.
Dr. Stanton Allen, 114 Montague Street, graduated at College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1881, proposed by Dr. Richmond Lennox and seconded by Dr. J. S. Prout.
Dr. James W. E. Roby, 115 Lee Avenue, graduated at Medical Department, N. Y. University, 1887, proposed by Dr. D. Myerle, seconded by Dr. W. M. Hutchinson.
Dr. Charles G. Purdy, 56 Pulaski Street, graduated at the University of the City of New York, proposed by Dr. Chase and seconded by Dr. Little.
The Secretary stated that the name of Dr. Stanton Allen was among the propositions for membership presented at this meeting, and also among those reported favorably by the Council.
He said in explanation that Dr. Allen’s diploma had been sent to the Board of Censors and passed upon before his name had been proposed, in order that the diploma might not remain with the Censors till next September.
This was an infringement of the By-Laws upon admission of members, but if no objection was raised, the By-Laws would be waived in this case.
No objection was offered.
SCIENTIFIC BUSINESS.
The first paper of the evening, “On the Relation of the Bacillus Tuberculosis in Pulmonary Phthisis,” was read by Dr. I. H. Platt, of Lakewood, N. J., and discussed by Drs. G. R. Butler, J. M. Van Cott, J. H. H. Burge, P. H. Kretzschmar and G. A. Evans.
The next paper was “A Case of Dystocia and Double Phlegmasia-dolens,” by Dr. Lucy M. Hall. This was discussed by Drs. Dickinson, Thayer, Skene, Chase, Schenck and Harrigan.
A paper, entitled “Note on the Disinfection of Physicians’ Clothing,” by Dr. R. L. Dickinson, was then read and discussed.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
The President called for the report of the Obituary Committees upon the late Drs. Chapman and Mitchell.
The obituary report of the late Dr. Chauncey L. Mitchell was then read by Dr. Burge, as follows:
Chauncey L. Mitchell, whose ancestors were of Puritan stock, coming to this country from Halifax, England, as early as 1635, was born in New Canaan, Connecticut, November 20, 1813. An excellent general education, obtained here and at Union College, Schenectady, was supplemented by a full course of study in the medical department of the University of the State of New York, better known as the College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was graduated in 1836. The next twelve months were spent in the New York Hospital, and the succeeding two years on the continent of Europe. All who knew Dr. Mitchell intimately are so familiar with his studious habits that they need not be told that he never lost an opportunity for observation and improvement. This was true of him, not only during the period of his pupilage, but in all the fifty years of his active practice, five of which were in the City of New York. He came to Brooklyn in 1844, was admitted to membership in the Society of the County of Kings soon after, and was thrice honored by an election to its highest office. All the duties of his active life he performed with dignity and zeal. No one more than he enjoyed the uninterrupted confidence and affection of this community. Among his friends and patients were numbered the best of our citizens, and he is now equally missed in the profession, in the church and in the household. Dr. Mitchell was an earnest and devout believer in the Christian religion. His connection with the Church of the Pilgrims antedates the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Storres, between whom and himself there was an intimate, personal and professional relationship for forty years.
Dr. Mitchell’s powers of observation and discrimination and his exactness of verbal expression were so excellent, that we regret that he did not give more time to authorship. An article on “The Effects of Ergot,” “Labor Complicated with Disease of the Heart,” and an occasional contribution to the journals, are all that we can find of his writings.
During the period of declining health, which occupied more than two years, Dr. Mitchell resigned many positions of responsibility, yet, at the time of his death, he was Sn. member of the Council of the Long Island College Hospital, member of the Amer. Med. Asso., Consulting Surgeon to St. John’s Hospital, to L. I. Coll. Hospital and to the Home for Aged Men, a member of the New York Academy of Medicine, New York Co. Med. Soc., and Kings Co. Med. Asso. He was also a life member and Corres. Sec’t’y of the L. I. Historical Society. It is matter of record that he was once a member of the Medical Staff of the Brooklyn City Hospital, and that he also filled with honor the Professorship of Obstetrics in the Castleton Medical College.
In 1843, Dr. Mitchell married Caroline, daughter of Hon. B. F. Langdon; in 1857, Frances, daughter of Hon. Benjamin Wright; in 1875, Kate, daughter of Hon. J. M. Van Cott, of this city.
Dr. Mitchell’s tastes were professional, literary, artistic and religious, but the centre of all was his own home. In the house which he had built more than forty years before, he died on the 8th of May, 1888, terminating a long career of untiring usefulness.
Mr. Chairman: In the preparation of this minute for the records of the Society, your committee have recognized the fact that they were appointed for this simple duty only. The pronouncing of a suitable eulogy belongs to other hands and to another occasion. We offer for your consideration the following:
Whereas, In obedience to the Divine Law the fully matured life of Chauncey L. Mitchell is ended on earth, and
Whereas, He was destined to fill a high position in the profession of medicine and as a citizen of this country, and
Whereas, He met all these requirements, fulfilled every duty, and discharged every obligation in such manner as only a highly cultivated, educated and honest man could, and
Whereas, When the end came, those who knew him best could truly say that he had left nothing undone to complete a noble, highly useful and honorable life;
Therefore be it resolved, That while paying this tribute to his memory we desire to express our high appreciation of his many virtues, and that while we deeply feel our loss, we also cherish his memory, and are grateful for the honor, dignity and advancement which his life’s work gave to this Society.
Resolved, That we offer our deepest sympathy to his bereaved family, and that a copy of these resolutions be conveyed to them as a humble tribute to his superior worth.
All of which is respectfully submitted by your committee.
J. H. Hobart Burge, M.D.,
Alex. J. C. Skene, M.D.
The report of the Obituary Committee, as above, was accepted and committee discharged.
The Resolutions introduced by this committee were adopted as read.
NEW BUSINESS.
The Chairman read a communication from the Secretary of the Kings County Pharmaceutical Society, stating that the term of office of the two members of the Board of Pharmacy from this Society had expired, and asking that their places be filled.
The President.—As I understand it, our elections take place only at the end of the year, and if this communication is to be acted upon, it will be necessary for the Society to pass a special resolution authorizing the election of these gentlemen. If it is the desire that the Society pass such a resolution, a motion will be in order.
A Member.—I move that the By-Laws be suspended so that the election may be had this evening. Carried.
The President.—Nominations are now in order. The present incumbents are Dr. J. H. Hunt and Dr. C. E. De La Vergne.
A Member.—I move that the two present incumbents be continued in office, if it be the voice of this Society, until the annual meeting.
Seconded and carried.
There being no further business, the Society adjourned.
W. M. Hutchinson, M.D., Secretary.