Worcester County, Massachusetts - Chapter 189: Worcester - (cb«^z««^^.) -, 1889

By Chari,Es L. Nichols, M.D.

Joseph Birnstill had the honor of introducing the practice of homreopathy to the citizens of Worcester in the year 1844. His office was in the west side of the house on Walnut Street, at the corner of Maple Street, and he continued here in practice until 1847. He then removed to Boston, where he remained for several years in active work, until his removal to Newton, where he died in 1865.

J. K. Clark came to Worcester May 8, 1849, and remained here until 1855, when he removed to Elizabeth City, Ohio, and thence, in 1858, into Kentucky. A few years later he moved to Sacramento, Cal., where he continued to practice for a number of years.

Lemuel B. Nichols was born in Bradford, N. H., October 6, 1816. His father though a physician of considerable skill and attainments, had destined him for a farmer's life, but literary tastes and hereditary instinct prevailed and he entered Brown University and graduated in 1842. The next four years he spent in teaching, and was instrumental in raising the grade of the public schools of Providence. While there he married Lydia C. Anthony, daughter of James Anthony, a prominent manufacturer in Providence. In consequence of the sickness of his family he became acquainted with homojopathic practice and studied its principles with Drs. Okie and Preston in that city. After the required amount of sludy he received his degree as a regular physician, in 1848, at the Philadelphia College of Medicine. In 1849 he came to Worcester, where he practiced as a homceopathic physician until the time of his death. Although slight in form and delicate in appearance, in consequence of his sedentary life, he possessed a wonderful constitution and great power of endurance. His quiet confidence and ready sympathy won him a large place in the public heart and gave him an extensive practice from the beginning. His death, September 28, 1883, left a wide circle of friends and patients to deplore their loss. He was one of the founders of the Worcester County Homoeopathic Medical Society, and was its first president in 1866. It was his custom to avoid all public office and to confine himself strictly to the limits of professional life, seeking to elevate his chosen profession by steady, conscientious effort.

Amherst College. Having studied medicine with the late Dr. L. J. Gridley, of Amherst, he obtained his diploma at the Medical Department of Dartmouth College in 1844. He began the practice of medicine in Prescott, Mass., in the spring of 1845, where he remained for one year and then formed a partnership with Dr. Wood, of East Douglas. Soon after this, in consequence of the death of Dr. Wood, he succeeded to his extensive practice, covering a large circle of families. The long rides, extending often into Connecticut and Rhode Island, and the constant strain of work at the end of nine years rendered it necessary for him to withdraw for a. time. During this resting time, his attention being called to the favorable effects of horaceopathic treatment, he attended a course of lectures at the Homoaopalhic Medical College of Philadelphia, and then settled in Worcester, January 1, 1855, as a homceopathic physician. For ten years he continued practice here in connection with Dr. L. B. Nichols, but again in consequence of failing health he was obliged to retire and gave up his practice to Dr. W. B. Chamberlain. He removed, in 1865, to Norwich, Conn., as general agent of the New York Life Insurance Company, but feeling again recruited, in a few years resumed his practice, which was continued until 1886. Since that time, his health being seriously impaired, he has withdrawn from active practice. He married, November 27, 1848, Fanny A. Graves, of Sunderland, Mass. He was a member of the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Medical Society for many years and was, in 1864, president of that society. By his kindly and sympathetic manner he attracted many friends, and by his careful and conscientious treatment he aided materially the establishment of homo3opathy in this city.

John B. Moore was born in Concord, N. H. After his academic education he studied medicine in the office of Dr. Alpheus Morrill in his native town. He came to Worcester in 1869, but in consequence of the death of his father a year later he returned to Concord, where he still continues in active practice.

W. E. Richards practiced in Worcester during the years 1868-69. In 1870 he removed to Syracuse, N. Y., but the climate proving too harsh, he settled in Boston, where his practice was very extensive. He spent much of his time, also, in extending the advantages of homceopathic practice to the poor in the dispensaries ; but a few years ago, his health being broken down by work and necessary exposure, he retired to Newton, where he now resides.

David Hunt, born in Providence, received his degree at Harvard Medical School and began practice in Worcester as a homceopathic physician in 1868. Soon after his marriage he removed to Boston where he was associated with Dr. I. T. Talbot for a short time. After several years of study in this country and abroad he returned t > Boston, where he has since practiced as a specialist in diseases of the eye. He was an active, earnest worker settled in Worcester.

Wm. B. Chamberlain was born in Loudon, N. H., September 15, 1827. After a good academic education at Tilton, he entered as student of medicine in 1849 the office of Dr. Alpheus Morrill, in Concord, N. H. With him and with Dr. S. M. Cate, of Augusta, Me., as preceptors, he studied during the intervals of lectures at the Dartmouth Medical School. Later he attended a course at the Cleveland Medical College, where he graduated in 1854. He at once settled in Keene, N. H., where he remained uutil May, 1863. He was one of the first to introduce homoeopathy to that part of the State, and by his natural qualities and earnest labors he succeeded in making the new method very popular, as I well as in gathering for himself an extensive field of 1 practice. His health giving way under the strain, he was obliged to resign his work. He went to Fitchburg for a few months to assist his brother-inlaw. Dr. J. C. Freeland, and thence to New Y'ork to study in the hospitals and gain a much-needed rest. On January 1, 1866, he was called to Worcester to take thefield of Dr. J. E. Linnell, and has remained here since that time. He was one of the founders of the Worcester County Homoeopathic Medical Society, was twice its president and was, in 1872, president of the Massachusetts Homoeopathic Medical Society. Since the beginning of his labors in Worcester he had associated with him some other physician, either as partner or assistant, each of whom, in turn, has settled here in independent practice. His ever-ready and generous aid has endeared him to his professional brethren, while his personal qualities and extensive medical knowledge have everywhere surrounded him with numerous friends and a large clientele. Though frequent absences from work have been necessary in consequence of the strain of his professional labors, he has always been overburdened with the number of those seeking his aid as soon as he resumed practice, and he still continues to do good work for the cause of homoeopathy, as well as in aid of suflering humanity.

Mary G. Baker came to Worcester in the fall of 1868, from Middleboro', Mass., where she had been engaged in a large practice in association with her husband. She gained many friends during her labors here, and was engaged in active practice until her death, February, 1880.

John M. Barton, born in Worcester, September 4, 1845, graduated at the Homoeopathic Medical School of Philadelphia in 1S70. After two years of practice in Newark, N. J., he came to Worcester in 1872, and was associated with Dr. W. B. Chamberlain for the succeeding three years. Since that time he has engaged in independent practice.

John H. Carmichael, born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer County, N. Y., January 29, 1851, graduated from the Medical Department of Union University in

1874. He settled in Worcester February, 1874, where he remained for two years, and then removed to Warren. After two years of practice in that town, and a year of renewed medical study at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, he returned to Worcester in 1879, where he remained until January, 1883. In 1883 he entered into partnership with Dr. L. A. Phillips, of Boston, but in consequence of the death of Dr. H. A. Collins, of Springfield, he removed to that city, succeeded to his practice, and still continues to enjoy a large field of labor.

Francis Brick was born in Gardner in 1838, his ancestors being among the original settlers of that town. Having studied with Dr. Sawyer, of his native place, he entered the Homceopathic Hospital College of Cleveland, from which he graduated in 1861. After some years of practice in Keene, N. H., he came to Worcester in 1875, where he took the practice of Dr. Chamberlain for one year during his absence abroad. The subsequent year he remained with Dr. Chamberlain as equal partner, and then established a separate office.

Charles L. Nichols, born in Worcester, May 29, 1851, studied at the Highland Military School. He graduated at Brown University in 1872, and at Harvard Medical School in 1875. After a year at the Homoeopathic Hospital of Ward's Island, New York, he entered the office of his father, Dr. L. B. Nichols, in 1876, and was associated with him until his death, in 1883, when he succeeded to his practice.

C. Otis Goodwin was born in Reading, Mass., April 19, 1849. Educated at Phillips Academy, Andover, he studied for some years in the office of Dr. J. N. Bates, of Worcester. He attended the Homoeopathic Medical School of Boston University, and graduated in 1877. In the summer of this year he settled in Worcester, where he has remained since that time.

Edward L. Mellus was born in Lubec, Me., May 24, 1848. After being engaged in business in the West for seven or eight years, he determined to enter the medical profession, and studied at Jefferson Medical School, in Philadelphia, whence he graduated in 1878. He settled in Cherry Valley in 1878, where he remained for one year, and then entered the office of Dr. W. B. Chamberlain, with whom he was associated until 1883. Since this time he has been in independent practice.

John K. Warren was born in Manchester, N. H., March 1, 1846. He graduated at the New York Homoeopathic Medical College in 1870, and settled at once in Palmer, Mass. He remained there for nine years and then went abroad for a year's study in the Hospitals, returning to Palmer, where he practiced until 1882. He then came to Worcester in December of that year and has remained until the present time.

Adaline Williams graduated from the New York Hospital College for Women in 1880, and came to Worcester after the death of Dr. Mary G. Baker, in

- In addition to those mentioned, several have established themselves in Worcester during the past two years, and the number of homoeopathic physicians in the city at this time being fifteen, there seems to be a very satisfactory growth among the public in favor of this method of practice. Among the societies and associations under the auspices of the homceopathic physicians, two only need be noticed here :

1. The Worcester County Hom(eopathic Medical Society, founded in 1866, with a membership of eight, to-day numbers forty-five active members and holds its meetings quarterly, at the society rooms, 13 Mechanic Street, where a library of about one thousand volumes has already been collected.

2. The Worcester Homceopathic Dispensary Association consists of all homceopathic physicians in the city. The meetings, on every alternate week during the winter months, are held at the rooms of the association. The dispensary, established at No. 58 Mechanic Street, October 4, 1880, by the labors of Drs. Charles L. Nichols and J. H. Carmichael, was incorporated January 15, 1885, and is supported by voluntary contributions and by a legacy of the late Mrs. L. J. Knowles. The dispensary rooms are at 13 Mechanic Street, and the hours are from ten to eleven, every forenoon. The work is in charge of the homoeopathic physicians of the city, each one of whom has contributed his share of the labors of this charily.