The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-28


| physician In Watervi1le. DR.. Foster also
| attended lectures at the Albany IN. Y
medical college and at the Pennsylvania
medical college In Philadelphia. He took
| this degree at the latter institu ton il
1885,
In the year before his graduation the
| young medical student bad a taste of the
stern realities of his profession, such al
| comes to few young doctors.
In 1866 an epidemic of cholera ragged in
Waterville and Bangor sufficient to cause
great alarm and uneasiness. In Water
vile it ragged among the French and al
one time there were over thirty cases.
Dr.. Foster WAS studying medicine with
DR.. Boutelle at the time and he personal.
ly attended many of the sufferers and
afterwards contracted the disease him
self. He says that fifteen died in Water.
vile during the short time the epedemio
lasted.
About the same time the people of
Bangor were startled by the discovery of
Asiatic cholera il their midst. 1t as
sumed most violent form. DR.. Foster
then, rs has been stated, only a student,
the sick and dying. Over thirty died
during the epidemic.
DR.. Foster experienced an attack in
1855 when on O visit to Rockland. He
was driving from South Thomasto to
Rockland and when about half way to
hi,
fit Of vomiting. In few minutes he fell
exhausted in the bottom of his carriage.
suffering the most exoruciating pains
imaginable. He WAS taken to Rooklapd
and placed under the influence of a
powerful drug which produced a stupor
for four days. That undoubtedly saved
his life.
In 1858 and 1859 DR.. Foster took past
graduate COURSES In the College of
Physicians and Surgeons in New York.
and also in Philadelphia.
He came to Portland and began prac-
tioe here in March, 1859. He at once be.
gan to take leading place In his pro-
fession. In 1852, in answer to an apneal
from Washington, he gave a month Is
service as surgeon, In the hospitals.
He was early appointed United States
pension examining surgeon for the State
of Maine. and Continued until the for
m alton of the board of examining sur
geons in 1887, of which he was made a
mem Der and was elected president, a
position which he held until 1855. when
he resigned. In 1881, he was appoiuted
Medi cal director Of the Union Mutual
Life Insurance company, position
which he still holds.
He was member Of the Maine Medical
Association, Cum berland county
Medical Society, and Portland Medical
club. In the Cumberland County society
he was treasurer in 1869. vice president
In 1879, president In 1873. In the Mai ma
Medical association he was recording
secretary in 1862. treasurer from 1864 to
1878, and president In 1884. For sbopt
ten years he was an Instructor In the
Portland Schools for Medical Instruction
serving successively as instructor IN
anatomy, physiology and surgery. For
tho past twenty years he has been an
active mem Der OF the American Medical
and for several terms han
been member Of the Judicial Copnc,1
of the Association.
His large practice and experience in
obstetrics placed him among the frat
in the state, and he performed
the second operation of Caesarian Section
performed In the State Of Maine.
He WAS city physician of Portland for
two or more years. and served four,oa,
years as physician to the county Jail
In 1879 nr. Foster represented Ward
In the Common Council. he was