A necrology of the physicians of Lowell and vicinity, 1826-1898 : prepared for the Massachusetts North District Medical Society / By David N. Patterson.

  • Patterson, D. N. (David Nelson), 1854-1908.
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A necrology of the physicians of Lowell and vicinity, 1826-1898 : prepared for the Massachusetts North District Medical Society / By David N. Patterson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    pervades our circle today. If those venerable walls could speak, or if the veterans of the society would speak, they could, I fancy, A tale unfold. But those walls are dumb, and certainly I do not wish to break faith with my contemporaries of two decades ago, and so I will fall back upon the advice of our Aesculapian l)oet, that there are some things that are better Hushed up among one's friends. Suffice it to say, that the meetings were poorly attended, frequently no quorum was present, but few ]3apers were read, dissensions among the members were often long and loud, and at one time things came to such a pass that had it not been for our le^al connection with the State societv, our district association would have been abandoned. The late Dr. Edwards, in his able historical address in 1880, tersely sums up the situation in these words: ^'Lowell, such a year, month and day. Society called to order by the president, vice-i>resident or secretary, as the case might be. The records of the last meeting were read and approved; no quorum being present the meeting adjourned. Happily the days of no quorum meetings of this society are passed. The oft-repeated exi^ression that the way to a man's lieart is by his stomach is the keynote to the revival of this society. A free lunch always drawi^, and when, in 1879, it was voted to hold our meetings at the rooms of Xichols & Hutchins, to be followed b}^ a supper, the attendance soon greatly increased and an interest was awakened that has never since departed. Upon the dissolving of that popular and well-known firm, the meetings for a few years were held at the St. Charles Hotel. Subsequently, a transfer was made to the American House, where, with the exception of our July meetings, they are now regularly held. The custom, for a few years i^ast, to have our sum- mer meetings take the form of an outing, is, I believe, much appreciated and enjoyed by all. It may truthfully be stated that during the last ten or twelve years the action of this society has been most harmonious; its papers able and instructive, and, with