The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-03

extended recearch required to trace out
the natives of Waterbury who had re-
moved to other etates, we can form per-
haps just estimate Of the relative
magnitude of the labor expended upon
even so small a work, carried on as 1T
was under the pressure of public du-
ties as we'll as Of professional and 9th
er literary labor.
That this arduous work was contin-
ued under very discouragfng circum-
stances, while IT daily grew upon his
hands, was evident to those near
enough to observe; and they could but
admire and wonder at the courage and
perseverance with which. under so
many difficulties, he completed his self
imposed task
/ have been familiar with consider
able number of histories of towns and
counties in New England, but know
Of nome with the same linited scope
that are more valuable than tll1s. I'M
deed, l may say without fear of contra
diction, that the benedcient influences
upon New England community Of
such a chronicle Of the facts and optn-
ions that were coincfdent with the lay
ing of the foundations of society, and
which in future generations shall mark
In its successive editions the changes of
an advancing civilization, cannot be
over-est1mated.
Not by any means the least impor-
tant of the historical work accom-
plished by DR. Bronson was the inter
esting series of historical and biograph-
teal papers pertaining to the medical
history between December, 1872, and
October, 1876, comprising one hundred
and fifty pages of Vol H., including the
professional histories of eight members
of the New Haven Medical association.
He says In a PREDATORY statement that
in the following papers IT have aimed
to put in an enduring form much valr-
able and often perishable material
gathered several years ago from many
sources manuscripts, docu-
ments and letters, old newspapers, ira
ditions and living witnesses" 'In
their preparation / hoped to make an
acceptable contribution to general his
tory, and at the same time render a
special and much needed service to the
medical profession"
Before the Revolution there was not
much intercourse between the different
sections Of our country. A limited
coasting trade along the Atlantic bor-
der brought the commercial classes in
the maratime towns into frequent con-
tact; but the benefits Of this Intercourse
extended to the interior. Each
colony-im many instances each town
was to large extent an isolated COM
munity, But the war; which broke out
in 1775, brought with it great changes.
1t excited the widest passions; intro
duced selfishness, corruption, vice, mis-
cry, and what, in his estimation, was
the worst of all the consequences OF
war, a. deluge of paper money" But,
he adds, Certain advantages flowed
from it,
The medical profession of the state
highly appreciated the medical histo-
ries of Connecticut, as prepared for us
by DR.. Bronson. in the very valuable
notices of prominent physicians in our
early days, and read from time to time
before this society, as well as other pa
pers on the same general subject, print
ed in the proceedings of the Connecticut
Medical society. They still continue to
be read as classics by all the medical
men of the state, whose tastes incline
hem to preserve the historical Mtera-
lure of their profession; but unfortu-
nately, owing to the very limited edi-
ion that was published, these papers
being out of print, are no longer obtain
lble.
Speaking further of the days of the
Revolution," and the formative stages
If the medical profession in those tur-
oulent times, he says, Large bodies of
men were gathered from every quarter
Ind associated for military purposes;
md to supply them with food and cloth
ng, arms and equipments, an extended
Internal trade was required. The sec
ions near and remote were for the first
ime brought face to face, and bound to-
sether in desperate endeavor for a COM
non object.
MEN who had before BEEN strangers
became co-workers and personal
riends. Though the standard Of mo
ality was debased, they learned well
he advantages of union, of combined
fort and social intercourse which they
we're slow to forget The accomplish
nents which individuals in high posi-
ions possessed became by contact and
he magnetism of superior natures conn
non property, and reproduced their
ike.
Emulation was excited and society
heightened, and I'M certain sense inn
roved and refined.
There were in the army q few ac~
omplished and many respectable ply
icians and surgeons who witnesser and.
haired the benefits of united effort-of
amiliar professional intercourse-and
rho, when peace returned, feared the
and depressing influ-
noes of isolation. 1t was to prevent
his disastrous resulttto a fine body of
MEDICAL men, who had largely contribu-
ed to the success of the colonial armies
4 the field, and the independence OF
hese, United States among the nations
the world, that our army surgeons
ssolved themselves into county and
tate organizations to promote profess
ional excellence, as we'll as to maintain
)r the benefit of the whole country the
ucleus of what they saw was to be-
ome one of the learned and most USE
ii professions upon our continent"
AS a writer upon finance and political
DR.. Bronson's opinions have
lways been received with great respect
-herever they have become known.
He was am advocate of hard money.
lis father also was a. local authority
n financial questions, and established
10 first hank an WA fao~hi1y-xy Of x.rbsoh