Address delivered at the semi-centennial celebration of the Oneida County Medical Society : held at Utica, Thesday, July 8, 1856 / by D.G. Thomas.

  • Thomas, D. G. (Daniel Golden), 1806-1880.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Address delivered at the semi-centennial celebration of the Oneida County Medical Society : held at Utica, Thesday, July 8, 1856 / by D.G. Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    of January, 1806, when a memorial to the Legislature was adopted, asking for its sanction to the formation of a Medical Society. Dr. Fitch, of Washington, Dr. Stearns, of Saratoga, and Dr. Sheldon, of Montgomery, were appointed a committee to present this memorial to the Legislature. The memorial adopted by the meeting at Saratoga, was only designed for the three counties, but the committee pro- posed a general law for the State. Dr. Sheldon had been elected Speaker of the Assembly. This memorial, with its proposed extension of privileges was reported to the House and referred to a committee, the majority of whom were phy- sicians. They matured and reported the general law for the incorporation of Medical Societies. It met with a powerful opposition, and what think ye were the grounds of objection? It was the danger that would ensue to the peace and tran- quility of the State ; to have forty distinct associations of phv- sicians, with the corporate powers conferred on them by this bill. They little thought this great boon to society and the profession, would in a few years be neglected ; that those it was designed most especially to benefit would begrudge the time it required, and the small tax necessary to sustain it as a corporate body, and fail to comply with its requisitions.— When these objections had been so greatly magnified that a decisive vote against the bill was hourly expected, William W. Vanness rose, its powerful and eloquent advocate. He refuted the arguments of the opposition, portrayed the benefits to the profession and the public in such glowing colors and with so much energy and seal, that the opposition became feeble, the friends of the bill increased, and from that moment the successful issue of the bill was rendered certain. To his memory do the profession owe a monument of marble, with their gratitude deeply engraven upon its tablet. It is not necessary now to enter into a discussion of the benefits of associated effort. It has been the strong motive power in society ever since the Great Lawgiver bound to- gether his chosen people, to the present time. The other pro-