Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-09-01


subsequently he wrote numerous papers upon
the medicinal properties of plants, which were
published in the periodicals Of the day. A
dissertation upon the same subject Of sixty
three pages, recently appeared in the Trausac-
tions Of the American Medical Association,
from his pen. In 1917 a Tradiiionary and
Historical Sketch Of the aboriginal people of
this country, was read before the New York
Historical Society, and published in lis Jour
nal For this valuable paper he was elected
an honorary member Of this learned body. Il
subsequently attracted the notice Of the Royal
Society Of An,iquarians, Copenhagen, and this
distinguished body also conferred upon him
the honor of membership. In this year he be-
came member of Massachusetts Medical So
cety, a relation he maintained until his death
lie was true and ardent friend Of this vener-
able institution, a Councillor thirty years, and
its anniversary orator in 1912, his subject being
the Medical History Of franklin County. The
last words he ever penned expressed his sym
pathy for its welfare. He became an honora-
ry member of the Connecticut State Medical
Society in 1880, and of the Hopkins Medical
Society, Hartford, in the same year; cores
ponding member of the National Institute,
Washington; of the New England Historic
Genealogical Society, and delegate from the
Massachusetts Medical Society to the Ameri-
can Medical Association in 1852; and in the
succeeding year, an honorary member Of the
State Medical Society, Wisconsin. lie received
the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine
from Williams College in 1924, and that Of
Master Of Arts in 1920.
In the character of public teacher, DR.. VIII
liams acquired an honorable reputation In
1898 he was elected to the Professorship Of
Medical Jurisprudence in the Berkshire Medi-
cal Institution, the duties Of which he dis
charged during period Of eight years. In
1898, he delivered course ofleciures upon the
same subject in the College of Physicians and
Surgeons, New York, supplying the chair va
Gated by the sickness of Prof Beck. ln this
year he was appointed a lecturer upon Medical
Botany and Jurisprudence in Dartmouth Col
lege, and Professor Of Mate.ia Medica Phar-
macy and Medical Jurisprudence in Willough-
by University which appointments he resigned
at the expiration Of two years. In the discharge
of these public duties, he delivered over four
hundred lectures, which were all written out in
); full.
As an author he produced several valuable
works. The dominant trait of his character
was uniiring industry, which impelled him 10
the acquisition and compilation Of facts. lie
prepared for the press an edition of Tissot or
Health, with extensive notes, which, however
was never published. lie published notes ,c
> Bedingfeld's Compendium of fMedical Practice
and in 1881 small volume of Medical Jutis
prudence, designed as an elementary work OF
'e science. Subsequently more complete worl
ii was prepared but not published In 1887 h,
% published memoir of his ancestor Rev Johr
Williams, who with his family was taken a
the sacking of Deerfeld by the French in 1901
aud carried, ftrvte,iiBlv hard-i,iPs, iriti
Canada, and there held in long captivity. Th'
/ work contains an account of the Indian wars 0
that period, and has passed into its third edition
, In 1874, he published large octave volume
with many portraits, on American Medlca
Biography, which must forever connect hi
name with American literature. In lSi7 b.
published his final work, on the Genealogy an
History of his race, with numerous portraits
In addition to these more substantial works, h
has published upwards of seventy-fye occasion
al papers in the medical and philosophical jour
mails, from three to forty pages each, The pa
- ges of this Journal have been enriched by hi
contributions, throughout its entire course. Hi
studies and writings were persued with so mnc
~ ~ method and industry, that he accumulated
large number of folio volumes OF unpubishe
fe manuscripts. His reading was very extensive
and he possessed large and valuable library {
Is books, journals and manuscripts. From hi
F. first entrance into public life he maintained
. correspondence with men of eminence an
learning in this country and in Europe
In his habits, Dr. Williams was simple an
unostentatious in his professional relations, h
was punctilious to fault, affable to his junior
ire and conhding TO his equals. He was superiC
to tho petty jealousies that are so often fatal
IN honorable competition, and he regarded prefer
sion with unqualified disgust, wherever it migf
appear The miserable delusions of the da
found no response in his well-informed mini
1t was the governing rule of his life, to dign
-, fy the profession Of medicine 10 rescue it fIo
n. the grasp of imposters and to raise it TO III
highest standard Of honor aud usefelness. II
abored diligently in the formation Of Il
Franklin branch of the Massachusetts Medic
Society, and in the future advancement OF
~ interests. He was ever punctual at its mee
for ings, impariing instruction by his voice, al
The dignity by his presence III consideration
d. his services, ana his character as a genllemi
= and physician, his colleagues presented hi
with a valuable testimonial. on the occasion
= his dissolying his connection with them in 1876
During a long professional life he enjoyed Il
confidence of his professional brethren and
the community, and his consultation practi
)r, was very extensive. in the early period of h
in career he acquired the reputation of a skill
rst surgeon, but at latter day he declined oper
mas tive surgery altogether lie was habltual
ISL subject to angina of the chest, which was @
an ten of threatening character, and to a cerla
the degree disqualified him for that mental exciI
ment which is so often the attendant upon &
cal undertaking of capital operations. lie was
he exemplary christian, the ardent friend of ed
of cation, and in all the relations of life, wheih