As the above described government cases are never of the advanced class, but start in fairly robust men, their stay in the hospital is usually short and the population is necessarily more or less shifting, the cases not requiring the same isolation and intensive care of those for which the hospital was originally intended. The government has decided to utilize the unoccupied grounds and has also purchased or leased adjoining property to put up temporary wooden shacks, so as to accommodate a much larger number, perhaps 800 or 1,000, under a single administrative command. Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM H. CARMALT, Councilor. (f) New London County, by Dr. C. C. Gildersleeve: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: The oldest medical society in Connecticut, the New London County Medical Association, has striven to hold its own during the past year. This association had sixty-nine members last year; we have lost two members by death and one by resignation, Dr. E. P. Brewer, who is in poor health and spends much of his time in Florida. The past year, considered from all angles, has been a successful year. The semi-annual meeting of the society was held at the Wm. W. Backus Hospital, Norwich, and was well attended. The annual meeting was held at the Crocker House, in New London, and was not well attended. We lost, by death, two members:-Edwin Ford Danielson, M.D., of Lebanon, who had been unable to meet with the society for many years. Patrick J. Cassidy, M.D., a graduate of Yale and Johns Hopkins Universities, and son of Patrick Cassidy, M.D., one of our honored Vice-Presidents and Dean of the medical fraternity of Norwich, a man of culture, naturally lovable, ethical, an indefatigable worker for the medical fraternity, a surgeon, whose ability was recognized beyond the confines of Norwich, was cut down in the prime of life. His death is a distinct loss to the profession of Norwich, New London County and the State. All the hospitals of the county have had a very busy year, the Norwich State Hospital having extra work to do, under the new Superintendent, Dr. Wilcox, on account of the fire at the Connecticut Hospital for the Insane. The Norwich Tubercular Hospital always has a waiting list and Superintendent Hugh Campbell, M.D., has been a very busy man during the year. The Wm. W. Backus Hospital of Norwich has extended free service to prospective soldiers and has established a venereal clinic. The Lawrence Memorial Hospital of New London has been crowded with patients and Dr. Sullivan and his conferees have had a very busy year. It is unfortunate for New London that the Government has leased the Memorial Hospital, in that New London has now no place to care for contagious diseases. A recent speech of the President of Holy Cross College of Worcester, Mass., delivered in Norwich, seems to be so fitting for New London County and Connecticut, that I take the liberty of quoting, in part: The medical fraternity, as well as the laity of New London County, realize to-day, that to-day, in order to make Democracy safe for all time, the supreme test in all our history is now being made in the minds and hearts of our people. Never before have we been brought face to face with such a crisis in our national life and never has the nation stood in need of clearer vision and stronger courage than in this hour. The man that stands beneath the Star Spangled Banner, beneath that emblem of our liberties, the man that takes that sacred standard in his hands, can never, according to our American minds, be too worthy of it, whatever be his education, his environment, his character. When his country's honor is at stake, when her safety is to be guarded, her preservation maintained, no sacrifice is too heroic, no labor too difficult, no obedience too irksome, no annihilation too profound. "Sacrifice" is the call from the soul of America. "Service" is the reply from the heart of the people. I am informed that New London County was the first county to fill its quota for the M. R. O. C. We have in service: H. M. Lee, M.D., New London; G. P. Cheney, M.D., New London; J. M. Gandy, M.D., New London; W. H. Gray, M.D., Mystic; E. J. Howland, M.D., Colchester; F. E. Wilson, M.D., Montville; J. S. Blackmar, M.D., Norwich; J. W. Callahan, M.D., Norwich; W. T. Driscoll, M.D., Norwich. Respectfully submitted, CHAS. CHILD GILDERSLEEVE, Councilor. (g) Tolland County, by Dr. Thomas F. Rockwell: Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: There is very little of interest to report in regard to work in Tolland County. The Tolland County Medical Association has a present membership of eighteen, thirteen taxable members and five nontaxable members. During the past year we have made a gain of three new members, Dr. John E. Flaherty, of Rockville, and Dr. Charles T. LaMoure and Dr. Gilbert T. Smith, both of Mansfield, and have lost one member by death, Dr. Eli P. Flint, of Rockville. Dr. Eli P. Flint died on the 31st of January, 1918, of pneumonia, after an illness of a few days. He was a native of Tolland County, being born in North Coventry, December 31, 1849. He graduated from Yale Medical School January 29, 1879, and has practiced medicine continuously in Tolland County since his graduation. His obituary will appear in the record of the Proceedings of the State Medical Society. The semi-annual meeting of this Association was held at Stafford Springs October 16th, 1917, and the annual meeting was held at the Rockville House, Rockville, Tuesday, April 16th, 1918, with a fair attendance. The literary exercises were very interesting and instructive. Dr. Harry L. F. Locke of Hartford read a paper on "The Prevention of Contagious Diseases." Dr. R. J. Boyle of Hartford read a paper on "The Value of Cystoscopy as an Aid to Diagnosis." Dr. E. K. Root of Hartford, President of the State Medical Society, was present and gave a very interesting talk on military matters from a medical standpoint. Respectfully sumbitted, THOS. F. ROCKWELL, (h) Windham County, by Dr. Robert C. White: Councilor. Mr. President and Gentlemen of the House of Delegates: Our Society has held two regular meetings during the year. The semi-annual meeting was held in Willimantic, October 18; the State Society, also The Connecticut Society of Social Hygiene and The Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene meeting with us; about seventy members present; President Edward K. Root, of the State Society, presiding. Programme for meeting follows: "Early Syphilis as a Public Health Problem," by Dr. Walter J. Heimann of New York; "Syphilis in Its Relation to Mental Disease," by Dr. W. C. Sandy of the State Hospital; "Problem of Venereal Disease in Its Relation to Penal Institutions," by Dr. Edith R. Spaulding of Bedford Hills Reformatory, New York. Reports by The Connecticut Society of Social Hygiene and The Connecticut Society for Mental Hygiene proved an interesting addition to the regular programme. The programme was one of unusual interest, and it is to be regretted that the facts laid bare on such occasions by such writers could not be heard by our entire membership. The annual meeting was held in Willimantic, April 18. Considering the number of men who are absent from us at the present time, who usually attend these meetings, the attendance should be considered a very fair one. Dr. John T. Black, Health Commissioner of Connecticut, gave us a talk on the new health code, noting many of the changes with which the physicians will have to familiarize themselves to comply with it. During the year we have lost three members by death: Dr. Frederick Rogers of Willimantic, Dr. A. H. Tanner of Brooklyn, and Dr. O. LaRue of Putnam. Their obituaries will be found elsewhere in the proceedings. The physicians of Windham County have had a busy year. The added work made necessary by the demands of the war, limited vacations, etc., have all been accepted cheerfully as one of the vital necessities in the winning of the world war. While the number of medical men remaining in the county who are physically fit for service in the Medical Reserve Corps are fast leaving, we can be counted upon for a few good ones in the deferred class. To date Windham County has seven men in the service. Six of them are members of our County and State Societies. Another has been accepted and will soon be called. Three or four have failed to pass the physical requirements and declined. Already the demand for more medical men has been made, and I have no doubt Windham County will do her full share in supplying them. I am pleased to note the willingness of our physicians to serve their country in any possible capacity. Respectfully submitted, ROBERT C. WHITE, Councilor. |