Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-14
PRICE THREE CENTS
"shakespesfe's Medical KnowIedae. .

The Washington County Medical society
held a regular quarterly meeting as guests
ef the Randolph members at the Ran
dolph Inn Tuesday afternoon. Recently,
the Orange County society disbandeds
and most Of its membership viii probably
20 to the Washington county society.
This was the first meeting to be held IA
Randolph, and was well attended, enjoy
able and highly instructive.
A nice banquet was served by Landlord
HAYWARD. Dr. Lindsay OF Montpelier,
the president. presided at the meeting
following, when Drs. g. l.. Stewart and
IL. 4. Newell OF Randolph, A. L. Marshall
Of Chelsea and II. h. Hayward Of Tun-
bridge were added TO the membership.
A feature Of the program was a paper
by Hon. John H. Senter, the well. known
Montpelier lawyer, on "The Medical
knowledge of Shakespeare" Mr.. seuter
is a deep student OF Shakespeare, and bis
more than layman's knowledge Of medi-
cine enabled him 10 present his subject
ia a most thorough and enhancing way.
He began BY saying that william
Shakespeare had been claimed by many
Of the professions and trades as one OF
their number on account OF the true,
critical and technical knowledge of their
art he possessed, as displayed by his
writings. He was lawyer, say somei
divine, say others; a doctor, sailor,
tradesman, a naturalist, say still others,
each citing many passages from hls WORKS
to prove that ue could be naught else ana
have the inside grasp on theory and het
that he showed.
Mr.. Senters opinion is that Shakes
psare was not a specialist in any lines
bat that he absorbed an immense amount
Of technical knowledge concerning every
thing and wove IL all into his poems aud
dramas. That he could do this showed
his really inspired nature.
Mr.. Senter said that from all OF Snakes
peare's preserved works there could be
cited some 525 passages that bore directly
upon medicine and its allied lines.
During his paper the author cited about
200 of these, taking them up as they ap-
piled to various phases, different diseases,
the use and effect OF drugs, surgery, the
symptoms of old age and death, ana dld
notforget the '.drives" aimed by the BARD
OF Avon AT the profession. His summary
of quotations, thus carefully classified,
showed the amazing knowledge OF Shakes
peare for the time in which he lived.
Some 20 passages were given TO show that
Shakespeare, who died twelve years
before Harvey discovered the circulation
of the blood and the hearts action, WAS
no stranger to this same idea.
II Shakespeare had a specially IN bis
medical knowledge. II was OF inslnity.
HIS depletion OF King Lear is so clear
case OF senle dementia that 1t has been
held as a / example by modern alienlsts.
Hamlet, be character whose reason was
dethroned (or was 4 a clever slmllation p
by the m irder OF his father, exhibits
another phase OF mental trouble quite
common.
Mr.. senter showed how the modern
schools OF medicine were outlined IN the
ory by this author OF three centuries ago,
and how even the fads OF this day were
not unknown to him. One of the refer
20 y tkN Fnn The
sore, when you should use the plaster
Mr.. Senter finds, however, few pass
ages IN Shakespeare SO clearly hacking IN
correct medical knowledge as to prove him
q layman. They are but few, and suffice 10
serve both as his excuse for making them
and to show how much layman had
really acquired of The most technical
knowledge. That knowledge came 10 him
by careful study OF the best authorities,
notably Claudius Galen.
Mr.. Senter was followed by Prof. A. %.
j. Hey with technical paper on oh
servation on the Symptomatolngy and he
Treatment of Choecystitis and Cholelithi-
asisn Prof Kelley Is pathologts at
German hospital in Philadelphia, and is
now giving lectures on the theory ana
practice OF medicine at the University OF
Vermont. His paper was of great interest
and value.
Those present at the meeting were Drs.
j. S. Deziel, NJ. l.. Chandler, +. Z. Ligouri.
o. q. Stickney OF Barre, Francis Clough OF
Durham. n. H., l.. w. Clough OF Bethel.
A. Il. Marshall OF Chelsea, III. H. Hayward
Of Tunbridge, VIM. Lindsay, O. b. Bisbee
and Edwin A. Cotton of Montpelier, q. l..
T. Hayes of Graniteville, }. II. Judkins OF
Mortified, l.. b. Allen OF Post Mills, +. g.
Angel, j. p. Clifford, A. z. Bailey, l.. A.
Russlow, c. l.. Stewart, q. w. Scott, IL. l.,
Newell OF Randolph.