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Necrology of Samuel H. Griswold, M. D.

By Dr. Geo. H. Fox, M. D., Rutland.

Dr. Samuel H. Griswold was a man of large stature, ruddy complexion and strong constitution, having never been sick, so to speak, excepting from typhoid fever in his younger days, until his late illness. Three years ago a malignant growth-a sarcoma-appeared upon the right side of the neck extending in deeply. A year ago it was removed by a careful and difficult surgical operation, but after a few months it reappeared, causing finally, from pressure, some disturbance of the cerebral circulation, respiration and deglutition.

At last he was critically ill but a short time and passed away unconscious on July 13th, 1896.

Dr. Griswold was born in Massachusetts in 1818, but came to Wallingford, Vt., with the family when quite young.

He received there a good preliminary education and afterward taught school for a time--then he entered the office of Dr. John Fox of Wallingford for the study of medicine.

He attended lectures at the Castleton Medical College where he graduated in 1844.

It may be of interest to know that at that time among the professors of the college were Alfred C. Post, Samuel Parkman, Chauncey L. Mitchell, Ezra S. Carr and Solomon Foot.

There were sixty-six students in the graduating class of that year and the old college in those days was apparently in a flourishing condition.

He married Laura A., daughter of Alvin Tenney, of Rutland, in 1845, and went to Hoosick, N. Y., where he practiced medicine a short time; then he returned to Vermont and located at Clarendon Springs, and a few years later moved to West Rutland, where he did a good business for thirty years.

Having acquired a competence and wishing to lessen his professional work, he came to Rutland in 1875 to pass the remainder of his days.

Dr. Griswold was a man who typified the good traits of the New England country doctor of the past.

He was unconscious of hair-line divisions, of bacteria and of antiseptic measures and never troubled his patients with doubtful or imaginary diagnosis, but they knew what they were suffering from and accepted the situation.

While Dr. Griswold was perhaps not as exact and methodical as might be in his investigation of disease, his conclusions were quickly arrived at—more perhaps by a sort of medical intuition-and they were seldom amiss. The remedies selected for their relief were to the point and gave the desired relief.

He was a strong believer in the efficacy of medicine and impressed his patients with the same feeling. He was an all-round practitioner, tackling most of the surgical cases that came under his observation, generally injuries

from accidents in the marble quarries, and such accidents were not unfrequent.

He was what might well be termed a successful practitioner.

Dr. Griswold was an honest, upright, Christian man, genial in manner and a good citizen in all that the term implies.

He was treasurer of the Rutland Medical Club several years and at one time was vice-president of the Rutland Savings Bank.

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

OF THE

Vermont State Medical Society

(As revised October, 1892 and amended October, 1895, and October, 1896.)

CONSTITUTION.

ARTICLE I.—NAME.

This Society shall be called the Vermont State Medical Society.

ARTICLE II.--OFFICERS.

The officers of this Society shall be a President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor, Publication Committee of three members, of which the Secretary shall be chairman, Executive Committee of three members, of which the Secretary shall be one ex-officio, a committee on Necrology of three members, a Committee on Membership of three members, and a Board of License Censors, consisting of three members, all of whom shall be elected annually at the opening of the second day's session, by ballot when demanded by any member present, except the Committee on Membership, which shall be elected at the morning session of the first day, or in such other manner as the Society

shall direct, and shall hold their respective offices until the close of the next annual meeting, and until others are chosen.

ARTICLE III.-MEETING.

There shall be an annual meeting of this Society held on the first Thursday and Friday after the second Wednesday in October, at such place as shall be designated by vote, at the previous annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV.-MEMBERSHIP.

Any physician residing within the State, who is a graduate of a regular recognized Medical School, may become a member of this Society at any regular meeting, upon recommendation of the Committee on Membership and vote of the Society, by signing the constitution and paying the sum of three dollars to the Treasurer.

ARTICLE V.-DISCIPLINE.

Any member of the Society guilty of intoxication, unprofessional or irregular practice, or of gross immorality, or for other good reasons, may be expelled or suspended from the Society by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any annual meeting.

ARTICLE VI.

This Constitution may be repealed, altered or amended at any annual meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided such repeal, alteration or amendment be proposed at a previous annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII.

This Society may adopt such By-Laws, not repugnant to this Constitution, and may repeal, alter or amend the same, in such manner as a majority at any annual meeting may deem proper.

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