Maine or Canada, and came back refreshed and ready for work. He spent a short time again in Europe among his professional friends.

It had been the desire of Dr. Stearns to terminate his connection with the Retreat after thirty years of service. Before that time had arrived it began to appear there might be some doubt of this. He had become weaker, more easily fatigued, was growing thinner, and referred often to his former wish. He enjoyed exceedingly a fishing excursion to his old locality, and seemed for a while to be benefited, but the progress was slow. He was anxious for the prosperity of the institution in whose service he had been so long engaged. His supreme wish was gratified; he held the office of superintendent for thirty-one years.

Finally he was confined to his bed, able to take and retain little nourishment; the disturbance in the digestive organs had become serious, the mental activities were lessened, it seemed at times as if our brother was in a maze; he spoke so feebly that he could hardly be heard. Soon he spoke no more.

Quite a number of his medical friends saw him during his illness of two years. They cheered him greatly, aided him with words of friendship and comfort, but could not relieve that degeneration of the blood-vessels in the brain which overcame him at the last.

Henry P. Stearns, b. 18th April, 1828; m. Annie E. Storrier, Dumfries, Scotland, 1857; she d. 19th April, 1903; he d. 27th May, 1905; had children, Henry Stuart, Charles Storrier, Ellen Brodie, d. young.

I may properly add a few words to this sketch. The death of Dr. Stearns removes the last of the younger physicians who came here before the Civil War. There is now no one remaining but myself. Looking back over that long course of years I realize how much the profession has gained in numbers and in strength. When I entered the profession in 1837, there were physicians here who had been in practice in the eighteenth century. Among them was Dr. Lemuel Bacon, the grandsire of that gentle and generous man whose mortal remains we laid away but a few days since. Let us cherish his memory and that of all our associates who preceded him.

William Turner Bacon, M.D., Hartford.

HARMON G. Howe, M.D., Hartford.

William Turner Bacon, M.D., was born in Hartford, Conn., August 27, 1846, being the son of Leonard Holmes Bacon and Elizabeth Chester Turner. Both parents were from old New England Puritan stock, the father being a direct descendant from Michael Bacon, one of the founders of Dedham, Mass., settling there from England in 1640, the mother descending from Nathaniel Turner, one of the founders of New Haven Colony in 1650, coming from England with Governor Winthrop. Thus both lines of ancestors were represented by a member arriving in this country within ten years of each other.

Dr. Bacon was married to Miss Mary E. Coit, a daughter of the late Samuel Coit of Hartford, June 10, 1875. Their married life was without issue. Dr. Bacon was a very devoted husband, the long illness of his wife necessitating constant care and attention, which he gave unstintedly. The doctor and his wife traveled very extensively in the latter years of his life.

Dr. Bacon graduated from the Hartford High School in 1863, entering Yale College in 1864, and graduating in 1868 in a class consisting of many celebrated men. Then he began the study of medicine in the medical department of the University of New York, having as preceptor Dr. M. Storrs of Hartford, as at that time every student was obliged to enter his name under a graduate physician. He graduated from that institution in 1871, and then entered Charity Hospital, New York, where he served as interne for one year. Then he entered Roosevelt Hospital, New York, where he served as interne for about one year. He then received the appointment of tutor and assistant to the Professor of Physiology in the medical department of the University of New York, serving at the same time as curator of Charity Hospital and as student in the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

and as assistant surgeon in this institution; also as attendant physician to the outdoor poor from 1872 to 1876.

Dr. Bacon then came to Hartford and became a member of the Hartford Medical Society on October 2, 1876, joining the Hartford County Society in the following spring. With his fine fitting in the specialty which he had chosen he was taken on the staff of the Hartford Hospital in 1878, where he served faithfully until January of this year, 1906. He being cognizant of his physical condition, asked to be put on the consulting board at the annual meeting of the staff in December last. He also served on the board of St. Francis Hospital from the day of its opening until his death.

Soon after coming to Hartford Dr. Bacon became instructor in a Pathological Society founded by Dr. Chamberlain and others, and for two years served the society very efficiently as instructor in the use of the microscope, mounting of material, and in all the technique of the pathological laboratory as practiced at that date.

Dr. Bacon was a very active member of the Hartford Medical Society; indeed when in town he was always in his seat at the regular meetings of the society, the members recognizing his right by possession of a certain seat which he occupied. He was interested and active in forwarding the erection and furnishing of the Hunt Memorial. He became President of the Hartford Medical Society in 1902, serving one year as is the custom. The Hartford Medical Society cherish the memory of Dr. Bacon quite as much for his personality, which will live in the minds of us all, as for his great liberality in willing the society the magnificent sum of $100,000.

Dr. Bacon was elected as president of this society on April 18, 1900, serving one year in the chair. He has often filled the position of Fellow from this county, and has served on the Anniversary Committee of the State several times. Dr. Bacon was well known throughout the State as one of the leading specialists in his line. His grandfather, Dr. Leonard Bacon, was a well-known practitioner in Hartford. On the maternal side there was a Dr. Turner, of Philadelphia, an uncle of Dr. Bacon, who was prominent in the profession of that city. Mrs. Conyng

ham of Wilkes Barre, Pa., an aunt on the maternal side, is still living. Dr. Francis Bacon, of New Haven, and Dr. Leonard Bacon, also of that city, were of the same branch of the family.

Among the societies to which Dr. Bacon belonged are the following: Sons of the American Revolution, member of the Society of Cincinnati, Yale Alumni, Roosevelt Hospital Alumni, Congregational Club of Hartford, D. K. E. of Yale, Hartford Club, The State Medical Society, Hartford County Medical Society, Hartford City Medical Society, American Medical Association, American Ophthalmological Society. He was also a Mason of the third degree.

Dr. Bacon joined the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in 1877, and allowed nothing to interfere with his constant attendance at the public services on the Sabbath, up to the time of his death.

Although he was interested in so many societies, his church and the local medical societies were the only ones which interfered with his home life. His evenings and spare time were generally spent at his home, which he cherished dearly. He had little taste for society, the functions which secured his presence being fortunate and few.

Dr. Bacon was a ready writer and on many occasions we have heard him in this society as principal essayist or in discussion. He was explicit in his statements and forcible in discussion, yielding a point only when thoroughly convinced of error. He was well versed in parliamentary usage, and made an excellent presiding officer. Under a sometimes austere exterior he possessed an extremely kindly and charitable disposition. In his decease this society suffers in the loss of one of its most prominent members.

Jarvis King Mason, M.D., Suffield.

EDWARD F. PARSONS, M.D., Thompsonville.

Jarvis King Mason, M.D., Harvard '61, Yale, A.B., '55, M.A., '59, died April 8, 1905, in Suffield, having been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery for forty-three years.

He was the son of John Mason and Achsah Terry Mason, and was born November 8, 1831, in Enfield. Through his father he was in the line of Capt. John Mason, of Pequot fame, and through his mother in the line of Deacon Benjamin Parsons, one of the founders of Springfield, Mass., and prominent in the settlement of Enfield. From both these sources he inherited directly stalwart New England characteristics. Many individuals from families composing both these ancestral lines gained prominence in and out of the professions, and attained special usefulness in church and state.

His father, mother, and the other members of the family. were noted in their community for their reading and scholarship. His father was called a walking encyclopedia, and his mother was the nucleus of the gatherings for the literary students of the neighborhood.

Loaded at birth with such hereditary predispositions, it is no wonder that Dr. Mason should early in life manifest a keen sense of the seriousness of living and an appreciation of the duty of making the most of his intellectual ability by multiplying opportunities as so many in our noble profession have done before and since for gaining thorough equipment for usefulness in life. The district school did not satisfy his craving for knowledge, and he early sought the advantages offered at the academies located at Monson, Wilbraham, and East Hampton (where he was finally fitted for college). He entered Yale at the age of twenty-one, and graduated Bachelor of Arts in the year 1855. After leaving college he taught in various schools for a few years, and traveled