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The other article, referred to, related to the vaccine disease. This was made the subject of the Annual Discourse before the Massachusetts Medical Society, which Dr. Adams delivered in 1858. This discourse contained some valuable statements in respect to vaccination and re-vaccination. It also contained an account of some successful experiments, which the author made by inoculating a cow with variolous matter, and thus deriving virus from a new source, for the production of the vaccine disease in the human subject. This added one more experiment to a few previously made, which make it probable that the disease in the cow has its origin in the small-pox of the human subject. From the virus furnished by Dr. Adams, the vaccine disease was produced by several physicians in this vicinity. It was not thought, however, to be superior in any respect to the virus previously in use among us.

For many years Dr. Adams was a Councillor of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He was valued by all who knew him, as a good citizen and a good man. These are not words of course. He had not any ambition for civic distinctions; but he always performed the duties which he owed to society in an exemplary manner. It was by its fruits that he evinced a Christian spirit. Most happy in his domestic relations, he did his share to make his home such as every man of pure taste and sound morals would desire. Through life he was distinguished by the soundness of his judgment, as well as by the utmost kindness of his manners.

Dr. Adams was a man of an average height and well formed, and generally had good health. Occasionally, however, he was dyspeptic. In 1855, he had a severe rheumatic fever; but with that exception, he was very rarely prevented from attending to his professional business until his last sickness. This was a hemiplegia, and occurred in the month of November, 1860. He had experienced some slight symptoms of paralysis in the month of August, 1859, while on a journey from Virginia to his own home. He recognized the character of these symptoms instantly, and took measures accordingly. He was occasionally reminded of the disease from this time, but had not any important attack until the period above named.

From that period the disease continued, mitigated at times, but ultimately proving fatal on the 22d of April, 1861. Until near its termination, his mind retained its powers much more than usual in cases of the sort; although, for the first few days, the powers of speech were seriously impaired. He understood his situation, and looked at it with calmness, ready to submit entirely to the will of his Maker. The above notes are grounded upon an intimate acquaintance with *the subject of them from the year in which he commenced business. 6

J. J.

SAMUEL TAYLOR.

SAMUEL TAYLOR died at Petersham, of pneumonia, December 24th, 1860, aged 50.

Dr. Taylor was born in Heath, Franklin County, Mass., February 23d, 1811. He worked on his father's farm-meanwhile attending to his studies till the age of fifteen or sixteen years, when he applied himself more determinately to study, especially of the classics and mathematics, under the notice of the Rev. Mr. Miller, of his native town.

At an early age, he commenced school-teaching, in which he was eminently successful, evincing the same characteristics that were shown in his then future profession — originality, and peculiarity of thought and method. I cannot say where or with whom he commenced the study of medicine. He attended Medical Letures at Hanover and Pittsfield, and graduated from the Berkshire Medical School, in December, 1835, and went to Petersham, Mass., on his following birth day, February 23, 1836, where he remained in the practice of his profession until his death, a period of twenty-five years.

In 1841, he married Miss Olivia K. Lincoln, who with four children is his survivor. I cannot but think that the mental and professional characteristics of Dr. T. were not generally appreciated or understood. His idiosyncrasies stood in the way of a knowledge of his best gifts. Assuredly he was a man of deep and earnest thought, many sided and catholic in his spirit. If sometimes he was persistent in the maintenance of his opinion when it conflicted with others', it was because he had reasoned up to it by a course that he felt was correct and irresistible. He was of ready invention, and both from pressing necessity and as the result of continued thought and reflection, has suggested and devised means and instruments that in my estimation were worthy of the notice of the profession.

Neither his dress or address was courtly, but there was a heart of tenderness beneath a rude exterior—a beautiful, refined delicacy of feeling. Of his immediate intercourse with his professional brethren I know nothing, though I can understand, I think, that it may not always have been of the most pleasant character; that here his peculiarities might intrude offensively; but I can say that he spoke of them in a becoming manner, even of those who stood over against him in the way of antagonism. An article in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, on the philosophy of mesmeric manifestations thrown off hastily, and written at an early period of the movement - shows something of the working of his mind. I am by no means sure, though not accepting his explanation of the phenomena, that anything since projected, however elaborate, rests on a firmer basis.

Dr. Taylor was a good man in his house; kind, affectionate and attentive to the highest welfare of his children. His weak side — and it was weak was superficial; his strong- and it was strong profound and worthy.

was

The foregoing sketch was furnished the writer by an intimate friend and neighbor of the deceased. More scarcely need be added.

The writer often had occasion to meet Dr. Taylor in consultation, and always with pleasure and profit. His examination of a case, his theory in regard to it, and his treatment, all indicated much originality and fertility of resource. He had remarkable faith in the power of medicine, and unlike many practitioners of the present day, his confidence in this particular never seemed abated. He was accordingly in the habit of employing full doses, and in favor of a more active treatment than most of his fellow practitioners. On one occasion, when called to prescribe for him, he desired that the treatment employed in his own case should be "what I would make use of in the case of a stout Irishman in the same situation"—showing more decidedly his faith in the use of medicine.

During the early period of his practice, his health was poor, and for a time he was supposed, not only by his friends but by himself, to be in confirmed consumption. He always believed, as he often said, that he was cured of this disease by the use of emetics of tartarized antimony. In after years, his appearance was robust, and his countenance florid. He was subject to occasional attacks of bilious disease, attended with violent pain and jaundice. In these attacks, he was accustomed to make use of the freest vesication, employing, in the course of the paroxysms, blisters of very large size, and repeating them frequently. The last and most severe of these attacks occurred in the spring before his death, and apparently came near being fatal. He had strong convictions that he could not recover, and, in view of his death, remarked, that though he could not die in ecstacy he could die in peace. His appointed time, however, had not quite come, and he recovered, resuming in a few weeks his professional duties. Through the season, and until his last sickness we believe, his health was nearly as good as usual, and he continued to attend to his practice. The disease of which he died (pneumonia) was of less than two weeks' duration.

G. D. C.

DANIEL MOWE.

DANIEL MOWE died at Lowell. He was a member of the Middlesex North District Medical Society. At a regular meeting of that Society, November 28, 1860, his colleagues paid a tribute to his worth in the following resolutions: :

"Resolved, First-That in the death of Dr. Daniel Mowe, an old and respected member of the Middlesex North Medical Society, we have lost an associate who was ever honorable and upright in character, kind and courteous in professional intercourse, correct and exemplary in life and manners, a safe and intelligent counsellor, and an always true and steadfast friend.

"Second-That inasmuch as his best working years were devoted to the interests of this community, so here his memory should ever be held precious, as that of one who, after a long and useful career, has left a bright example of an upright Christian life."

HORATIO THOMSON.

HORATIO THOMSON died at Belchertown, October 5, 1860, aged 57 years. We extract the following from a biographical sketch prepared for the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal by Rev. A. G. Oviatt :

:

"Dr. Thomson was born at Tolland, Ct., October 7, 1803, and was the son of Dr. Gurdon Thomson. He studied medicine with his father and elder brother of Fairhaven, Ct. He graduated at Yale Medical College about 1826, and immediately commenced the practice of medicine in Tolland, his native town. He moved to Belchertown in 1828, where he resided and continued in the practice of medicine till his last sickness. In his profession he was largely successful, and had a very extensive practice. He was a man of high honor and unbending integrity, and enjoyed the perfect confidence of his medical brethren, as also the confidence and affectionate regards of the community in which he lived.

"Dr. Thomson was a man of few words, remarkable discretion and sound judgment. In all his relations he so demeaned himself, that he commanded universal respect. He was a citizen whose word and motives were never called in question. He was a firm supporter of morality and good order, and always ready to bear his part in every safe undertaking to promote the public good. He was a member of the Congregational Church in Belchertown twenty-nine years, and as a Christian was cheerful and constant in the discharge of duty, and set an example of piety worthy of imitation."

WILLIAM WILLIAMS.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS died at Salem, June 17th, 1860, aged 62. He was distinguished for his devotion to his profession and his patients.

HORACE WALTER ADAMS.

HORACE WALTER ADAMS died on Sunday, Feburary 17, 1861, at his father's residence, in Boston. His disease was reported to the City Registrar as "pseudo-membranous disease of the throat." A detailed and very interesting account of his last illness, carefully prepared and read before the Boston Society for Medical Improvement, by his attending physician, Dr. Francis Minot, may be found in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of March 7th.

Concerning Dr. Adams the Journal remarks: "A contemporary truly says of him-'His good humor, warm heart and wide information made him a universal favorite, and he has passed away, leaving a void in his own family which can never be filled, while by society, to which he was an ornament, his death will be received as a peculiar privation. Few persons more enjoyed life or were more capable of enhancing the enjoyment of others, and our own regrets mingle particularly with the mourning of those, who, though bowing to the dispensation, cannot cease from lamenting the bereavement.'"

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