SAMUEL S. GREEN, A.M., spoke as follows: Mr. President:-Some of the gentlemen present know that a new history of Worcester is preparing. Dr. Samuel B. Woodward has been engaged recently in writing the portion of it which relates to the history of medicine here, and has just finished his paper. I have had the pleasure of reading it in manuscript, and have found it to be an admirable piece of work. Dr. Woodward tells me that he never could have written this monograph without the assistance which he received from Dr. Sargent, in several long conversations. It is gratifying to me, and to all of you, to know that a part of that abundant store of knowledge regarding local medical history, and of pleasant reminiscences respecting physicians in Worcester, of which Dr. Sargent was the repository, has been preserved and will appear in print. I had intended to remain silent this afternoon, but cannot help saying that Dr. Sargent has touched me several times by manifestations of his generous spirit. I can recall especially three occasions on which he took particular pains to express sympathy, and speak words of praise when I had met with successes in life. I belong, as you know, to one of the families which has been distinguished in Worcester for the eminence of members of it in the practice of medicine. When Mr. Washburn came to Worcester, thirty years ago, the last Dr. John Green to practise here, the most skilful practitioner, perhaps, in Central Massachusetts, had virtually retired from an active exercise of the duties of his profession. I fear, however, that in earlier days, when Dr. Sargent began his career here, Dr. Green and his brother-inlaw, Dr. Heywood, did not give him a very hearty reception. They probably felt, as doctors in small places are apt to feel when in possession of the field, an unwillingness to relinquish any portion of it to a new comer. Dr. John Homans was invited to settle in Worcester, by a prominent family here, but soon came to Dr. Green and told him that it had become apparent to him that there was not room for him in this place. He went to Boston, as you know, and became there a very successful physician. Dr. Sargent remained in Worcester, and it is because my relations and connections did little to help him while he was struggling for position in the town, that I have felt especially appreciative of the kindly and generous spirit which he has shown in his intercourse with me. Hon. P. EMORY ALDRICH said :— In addition to what has been already said by other members of the Council, in just eulogy of our late associate, Dr. Sargent, permit me to speak very briefly of his conduct and character in another and quasi public relation, where his rare intelligence, conscientiousness and absolute loyalty to truth were conspicuous. During my practice at the Bar, I had occasion to call Dr. Sargent many times, as a medical witness and expert, and heard him testify often when called by others. And from him, as such witness, courts and jurors were sure to hear an impartial and luminous statement of the facts as he had observed and understood them; and if beyond a mere statement of facts, his opinion as a medical expert was called for, that opinion was invariably given with caution, and with no apparent desire to support either side of the controversy, beyond its just merits. His opinions, as a scientific witness, were never for sale, they could not be bought. He never took the witness stand as a partisan, or in the spirit of advocacy. When called upon to act as a witness in a case demanding superior knowledge and skill, he first investigated the facts of the case, with a thoroughness I seldom ever saw practised by any other member of his profession; and having done that, he frankly stated his opinions of the case, whether favorable or unfavorable to the party choosing to call him. He encouraged no false hopes, nor set up any fanciful theories, unsustained by facts, upon which it might be possible to win a cause. He never forgot his duty to science whose precious treas ures he possessed in a large measure, nor did he sacrifice the honor of a noble profession, for the sake of temporarily saving a party who had sought his aid and was willing to reward him for it. If all witnesses summoned as experts, in all departments of art and science, would imitate the lofty example of our late associate, expert testimony might be redeemed from the suspicion and disrepute which now lies upon it, in our courts of justice. Dr. Sargent had a remarkably clear and forcible style or manner of stating facts and opinions, and he was never at a loss to give a reason for an opinion which he had once expressed. In giving his testimony he rarely ever used technical words; but his well-chosen language was such as to render his explanations and statements of recondite subjects plain to the learned and unlearned alike. He had a wholesome contempt for all ostentatious displays of learning, and, although his knowledge of his profession was varied and profound, he kept his knowledge for use and not for show. His first statements of a case as a witness, were ordinarily so clear, full and fair, that no amount of cross-examination could change or essentially modify them. Such a man, so abundant in learning, so filled with the love of truth, became a material assistant in the administration of justice in our Courts. And in closing this brief notice of him, I venture the affirmation, after having heard many of the most eminent members of the profession, as witnesses in the Courts, in all parts of the Commonwealth, that I remember no one who, in fulness and exactness of knowledge, in clearness and fairness of statement, was the superior of Dr. Sargent. Brief eulogistic remarks were also made by Hon. EDWARD L. DAVIS. PROCEEDINGS. ANNUAL MEETING, OCTOBER 22, 1888, AT THE HALL OF THE SOCIETY IN WORCESTER. THE President, STEPHEN SALISBURY, A.M., in the chair. The following members were present (the names being arranged in order of seniority of membership): George E. Ellis, Edward E. Hale, Charles Deane, George F. Hoar, Andrew P. Peabody, George Chandler, Nathaniel Paine, Stephen Salisbury, P. Emory Aldrich, Samuel A. Green, Elijah B. Stoddard, George S. Paine, Edward L. Davis, William A. Smith, James F. Hunnewell, John D. Washburn, Edward H. Hall, Reuben A. Guild, Charles C. Smith, Hamilton B. Staples, Edmund M. Barton, Charles Devens, Thomas L. Nelson, Lucius R. Paige, Samuel S. Green, Justin Winsor, Henry W. Haynes, Edward I. Thomas, Frederick W. Putnam, Andrew McF. Davis, J. Evarts Greene, Henry S. Nourse, William B. Weeden, Daniel Merriman, Ebenezer Cutler, Reuben Colton, Robert N. Toppan, Henry H. Edes, Grindall Reynolds, George E. Francis, Frank P. Goulding, A. George Bullock. The record of the last meeting was read and approved. The report of the Council was submitted in two parts, the first by the Recording Secretary, and the second by Rev. EDWARD E. HALE, D.D. NATHANIEL PAINE, Esq., Treasurer, submitted his report. in print, and EDMUND M. BARTON, Esq., Librarian, read his report. Rev. GEORGE E. ELLIS, D.D., moved that the above reports, as together constituting the whole report of the Council, be adopted. The motion of Dr. ELLIS was seconded by Mr. SAMUEL S. GREEN, who made some remarks relative to the trial of Mrs. Spooner, in Worcester, in 1778, whose execution had been incidentally mentioned in the Librarian's report. These remarks, subsequently enlarged by himself, are printed later on in these proceedings. JUSTIN WINSOR, LL.D., referred to several authorities not cited by Dr. HALE. Further brief remarks were made, mainly on the subjects of the numbers and sailing ports of privateers, by Rev. GRINDALL REYNOLDS, ANDREW MCF. DAVIS, Esq., SAMUEL A. GREEN, M.D., and Prof. FREDERICK W. PUTNAM. The report of the Council was then adopted and referred to the Committee of Publication. The Recording Secretary made a communication to the Society from the Council, recommending a change in the by-law relative to the time of holding the annual meeting. The proposition of the Council was that when the 21st of October shall fall on Sunday or Monday the annual meeting be held on the following Wednesday. After a brief discussion and informal expression of opinion, on motion of Mr. HOAR, it was voted to recommit the subject to the Council to be reported upon at the April meeting. The Recording Secretary also communicated the names of the following gentlemen, recommended by the Council for membership in the Society: Mr. JOHN NICHOLAS BROWN, of Providence, R. I. GRANVILLE STANLEY HALL, Ph.D., of Worcester. Mr. HENRY CHARLES LEA, of Philadelphia, Pa. JOHN MCKINSTRY MERRIAM, A.B., of Framingham, Mass. |