Dr. Swift was a Republican and interested in the affairs of the town, and the political questions of the times, but his professional work debarred him from accepting any public office. During the rebellion he was anxious to become a Surgeon in the field, but the continued ill health of his wife required his presence at home, where he always cared most conscientiously for the families of those who died in the war. He was well known for his untiring patience and benevolence, and especially his kindness to the poor. His home-life was beautiful in its character, and he was always a devoted husband, and a kind and indulgent parent. In personality he was tall and dignified, and courteous in his professional relations After two weeks of intense suffering from asthma, accompanying Bright's disease, on the 19th day of April, 1901, he passed from his earthly labors to his final reward. -From The New Haven County Medical Association. Published by the Executive Committee. APPENDIX. REPORT OF THE DELEGATE TO THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL SOCIETY. Dr. Allen of Moosup and myself were your delegates to the Rhode Island Medical Society at their annual meeting at Providence in June 1901. Both delegates were present and after extending the greetings of the Connecticut Medical Society to the Rhode Island Medical Society, the subject of recognizing the license of one state board in other states was discussed, and we were assured that practically the Rhode Island Board did so. There were but two papers and these were freely discussed, after which we adjourned to the banquet hall in the same building. The attention and courtesy we received made us think that the Rhode Island Medical Society is as fine a body of men as it has ever been our lot to meet. Respectfully, W. S. RICHARDS. REPORT OF DELEGATE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE MEDICAL SOCIETY. The meeting of the New Hampshire Medical Society was held in the beautiful hall of a club house on a quiet street at Concord, on May 15th and 16th. There is something refreshing in the simplicity and practical business procedure of the sessions of the Society. The proceedings covered two days, the first day beginning with only four items of business, the balance of the day being devoted to papers. Early in the evening came the meeting of the "Councillors," who are equivalent to our "Fellows." "This meeting is designed to consider all questions relating to ethics, new business, and to attend to all applications for membership." After this brief business meeting there were two scholarly addresses on medical or allied topics. The Councillors reconvened at 8:30 the following morning, and at a seasonable hour the reading of papers was resumed, the annual dinner taking place after noon of the second day, as was the custom of our society. The gratifying feature of this arrangement is the relatively large proportion of time devoted to the consideration of papers, and the comparatively brief time absorbed in the transaction of business, and even that at hours not interfering with the object for which the majority have come together. The papers themselves were of a most practical kind, presenting for the most part the actual experience of village and country practitioners, with occasional contributions from specialists of the few cities of New Hampshire. The personnel of the society much resembles our own, as seen especially in the membership from our smaller towns, general practitioners predominating, specialists being few. Among the papers attracting attention and discussion were the following: "Some Syphilitic Lesions seen in the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Practice," by Dr. Fritz of Manchester--the recital of a series of interesting cases falling to his care and in many cases to his diagnosis after escaping detection by others. "The Spread and Restriction of Typhoid Fever," by Dr. Woodman of West Lebanon, gave quite fully the history of recurring epidemics of Typhoid on the bottom lands of the Connecticut River, recounting the very conditions common to the observation of country physicians dealing with primitive sanitary appliances and willful ignorance. "Dilatation, Hypertrophy and Chronic Bright's Disease," Dr. Felt of Hillsboro, dealt interestingly and intelligently with the incipient conditions so frequently overlooked in diagnosis, and declared the increasing prevalence of heart disease, a fact corroborated by others in the discussion. An exceedingly bright paper, not by a specialist but by one who would be classed among the "country doctors." While this passing allusion has been made to only three papers, it is interesting to note the general scope of the program, including chiefly the variety with which the general practitioner has to deal, contrasting possibly with a program of our own, based more upon hospital and specialized work, but the discussions showed the topics selected to be of practical, every-day interest to the majority of the men present. There was but little theorizing, there was but little from books, and yet the quoting of authorities showed familiarity with current literature. It seemed evident that many of these men |