SOCIETIES. COLONIZATION-ANTI-SLAVERY-TEMPERANCE-ANTIQUARIAN 1812, and' deservedly ranks first among the benevolent institutions of the state. It is composed of men of the first talents, of the highest respectability and worth and of all religious denominations. Its object is the distribution of the Scriptures, without note or comment, among the poor and destitute of our own and foreign lands-to aid in placing the word of God, the means of salvation, in the hands of every individual of our fallen race. It has for several years past made it an especial business to seek out the destitute in our own state, and to supply all who will receive it with the word of life. The annual reports of the society show that it has already aided much in distributing the Scriptures, but the light of eternity only will reveal the amount of good which it has effected in promoting the salvation of sinners. ciples of the state society may be gathered from the 3d article of its constitution which declares, that " In pursuing its enterprize the society asks no physical interference with slavery on the part of the free states, or of the general government; nor will it make any appeal to excite the slaves to insurrection; nor will it use any unlawful or unchristian measures ;-but it will seek the overthrow of slavery by fearlessly exposing the guilt and danger of holding men as property, by rebuking sin and calling for its immediate relinquishment-by appeals to the understanding and conscience-by the power of the pulpit and the press-by petitioning Congress to use its constitutional powers for the suppression of the American slave trade and the abolition of slavery in those territories under its jurisdiction-by addressing considerations of interest, safety and economy to the people of the slave hold This society holds its annual meeting at Montpelier on the Wednesday succeeding states-by exhorting the people of the ing the second Thursday in October. In subordination to the state society, there are auxiliary Bible societies in most of the counties in the state. ing a public sentiment, which shall be effectual in its extermination." free states, in view of their confederation, and consequent participation with the south, to use all lawful and peaceable means for the removal of the common The Vermont Colonization Society.-This evil-and by kindly, frankly, yet boldly, society was organized in the year 1818, holding truth before the public mind, and for the laudable and humane object of as-inviting all to join in forming and expresssisting the free blacks, in the United States, who desire to return to Africa, and thus to remove a principal obstacle to Soon after the organization of the state the manumission of those held in slavery society, auxiliary associations were formin this country. It acts as auxiliary to ed in many towns, numbering in the ag the United States Colonization Society gregate many thousand members. In and has aided in the establishment of a January, 1839, a weekly journal, "The flourishing colony of free blacks on the Voice of Freedom," was commenced unwestern coast of Africa, where that de-der the patronage of the society and pubgraded race is raised to the dignity and privileges of civilized and enlightened freemen-an establishment to which the Christian philanthropist looks, as the instrument in the hands of God,for suppressing the diabolical traffic in slaves, and for conveying the blessings of civilization and Christianity to the benighted millions of Africa. This society holds its annual meeting at Montpelier on the third Thursday in Oct. The Vermont Anti-Slavery Society was formed by a state convention assembled at Middlebury on the 30th of April and 1st of May, 1834. At this convention delegates were in attendance from 26 towns, and numbering about 100. The attention of the people had been, to some extent, previously awakened to the subject of emancipation by the labors of O. S. Murray and Henry Jones, the former of whom had lectured in several counties in this state in 1832, as an agent of the New England Anti-Slavery Society, and encountered much opposition. The prin lished three years. From its organization the society has been steadily progressing in its work, and at present few are found in the state who are opposed to the principles set forth in its constitution. The Vermont Temperance Society.-This society was organized in 1829, and holds its annual meeting at Montpelier on the Tuesday next succeeding the 2d Thursday in October. The object of this, and of county, town and neighborhood temperance societies, which are formed in all parts of the state, is the banishment of alcohol, that most prolific source of moral and physical evil, from use as a beverage, and, apparently, much good has been effected by these united efforts. And we have no doubt that, if these societies would entrench themselves upon the ground of expedience, and would then pursue their measures with energy and candor, the amount of good effected by them would be greatly increased. The Vermont Historical and Antiquarian Society was incorporated in November, INSANE ASYLUM. 1838, and is located at Barnet. It owes its origin to the efforts of Henry Stevens, Esq., who is president of the society, and to whose unwearied labors the society is indebted for the greater part of its valuable coellctions which relate chiefly to the early history of the state, and consist of files of most of the early newspapers published in the state, amounting to near 700 volumes, sundry books and pamphlets, and some valuable manuscripts. Asylum for the Insane.-In the fall of 1834, Mrs. Anna Marsh, widow of the late Dr.Perly Marsh, of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, left by will $10,000 to found an Asylum for the Insane on the bank of the Connecticut, somewhere in Windham county, Vermont, and in October of that year the Hon. Samuel Clark and John Holbrook, Epaphri Seymour and John C. Holbrook, Esqrs. were incorporated as trustees of said institution by an act of the legislature. In 1835, the legislature appropriated $10,000 in aid of the benevolent designs of the institution, and have since appropriated $6,000 more. In 1836, the trustees decided upon its location in Brattleborough, on the place formerly occupied by Joseph Fessenden, Esq. situated at a short distance in a northwesterly direction from the east village. The old mansion was at first enlarged and opened in December, 1836, for the reception of patients, with whom it became crowded in the course of about seven months; and in 1838 another more spacious building was erected, adapted especially to the objects of the institution. Wm. H. Rockwell, M. D. was appointed the first superintendent and continues to perform the arduous and responsible duties of that office. Since the Asylum was opened 230 patients have been received, of which about one third of the chronic cases and nine-tenths of the recent cases have recovered. The present number of patients is about seventy five. The Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1827, and issued its first policy, March 31, 1828. Individuals become members of the company by having property insured in it, and each member is obliged to bear his share of the losses sustained by the company, in proportion to the property which he has at their risk. The affairs of the institution are managed by a board of directors who are chosen annually by the company and who appoint a secretary and treasurer. The following table, kindly furnished by J. Y. Vail, Esq. secretary the company, exhibits the aggregate their proceedings from their organization to the present time: of of 908 Notes. batements, of losses and and all in-cents on all Losses, A-Whole am't. Salaries | Three per and expen- Abatements, cidental ses of set'lg &c. expenses. 246 60 1756 35 665 44 1961 45 977 75 6620 56 1039 88 1835 3646 15874 13072 2859321 13276561 10605093 604676 39 17455 06 53227 172723 91 1836 3629 19503 14788 3150375 16426936 12160937 767444 14 25741 59 78968 76 2620 15 1840 1810 29710 13614 1676816 25433650 11447838 785848 78 26623 34 217789 93 2848 25 1841 1672 31382 12012.1697241 27130891 10430256 731542 45 26166 61 243956 54 2476 88 179683 $8284 65 854697 42002 64 1834 3598 12228 10726 2713440 10417240 8997229 498268 36 8914 71 35772 11 2799 33 1832 2051 4938 46121689671 4493272 4180700234081 21 4872 53 11493 09 1726 18 1833 3692 8630 7890 3210528 7703800 7003395 384976 28 15364 31 26857 40 3882 67 1837 3141 22644 16029 2733851 19160787 13025716 841116 41 31398 39 110367 15 4925 56 1838 2744 25388 16620 2247409 21408196 13278540 878616 41 32813 01 143180 16 2796 24 1839 251227900|15590| 2348638 23756834|12732080 860397 99 47986 43191166 592432 17 955 1761 1726 897016 1746913 1694619 84456 80 1831 1126 2887 2767 1056688 2803601 2680560137361 09 4659 11 180233 8678971 795 687664 1830 3855 22 3 5449 63 5 3952 35 3 3 4827 75 4 36278 64 35346 02 49121 08 47110 46 24544 19135 50132612 66131974 62 34523 69 121 00172085 10167583 87 43808 50 118 00221461 23 218002 47 69370 83 67289 47 97826 75 95651 17 28732 86 77 00 254126 31 247474 06 22866 18 75 50281020 34 276117 55 Result No. of Whole Polic's No. of now in insured year to issued. Polic's force. the past same. $ 1756 35 205 10 year. 1828 1829 165 165 164 180233 641 DISEASES OF VERMONT. CANKER-RASH, DYSENTERY AND FEVERS. In 1838, Mutual Insurance companies | common, but not very mortal. About were incorporated in each of the five the year 1784, canine madness prevailed, counties of Bennington, Windham, Rut-not only among dogs, but cats, foxes and land, Windsor & Orange, which accounts wolves were affected. On the 17th of for the slight diminution of the business of the state insurance company since that period. SECTION VIII. Diseases of Vermont. March of this year, a Mr. Stewart, of Barnard, was bitten in the face by a mad wolf. In 27 days from that time symptoms of hydrophobia appeared, and three days after he died of that horrid disease. His son, bitten in the arm by the same animal, had symptoms of the disease in 30 days, but recovered. The canker rash was epidemic in the western part of the State in the winter of 1787-8. In the summer and fall of 1788, the dysentery prevailed, and proved very mortal; and was followed by the measles. In the fall of 1789, the influenza was universally epidemic; scarcely an individual escaped, and in some cases it prov Although Vermont is blessed with an atmosphere, and with water as pure and wholesome as any other country in the world can boast, still diseases of several kinds have prevailed, more or less, from the very commencement of the settle-ed mortal. This year was noted for a ment. A particular account of these, and especially of such as have been epidemic, with the accompanying circumstances of temperature and state of the atmosphere -origin and progress,--symptoms and treatment, would constitute an interesting and valuable part of our domestic history. The limits, however, of this work will admit only of a brief abstract. The diseases, which have been most common in Vermont, are fevers, dy sentery, consumption and other inflammatory complaints arising from colds, induced by the sudden changes of temperature to which our climate is subject. The two former have frequently been epidemic and at some times very fatal. Cases of consumption have occurred in every year from the first settlement of the State, but it is believed that their increase has been in a much greater ratio, than that of the population. Intermittent fevers were common in many places in the neighborhood of lake Champlain, when the country was new, but since the lands have become generally cleared cases of that complaint are of rare occurrence. general scarcity of provisions; but the statement of Mr. Webster was news to the inhabitants, that, "In Vermont people were reduced to the necessity of feeding on tadpoles, and pea straw boiled with potatoes." From 1790 to 1795, there were cases of the ordinary diseases of the climate, but no serious epidemic. In the winter, at the beginning of the year 1795, the pleurisy was epidemic, and in some places considerably mortal. In the fall of this year, the ulcerous sore throat, or canker rash began to prevail, and during the following winter it was very mortal, It was computed that there were from 20 to 30 deaths to each 1000 inhabitants, throughout the State. In the spring of 1796, the measles were common, and in the summer and autumn, fevers and dysentery produced considerable mortality. The latter disease was very fatal to young children, particularly in the neighborhood of Rutland. In 1797, fevers, which had been called inflammatory, bilious, or remittent, assumed a more formidable character, and Previous to the American Revolution were then called typhus or putrid fever. the population of Vermont was very in- The canker rash, or scarlet fever continuconsiderable, and little is known respect-ed this year, and canine madness was ing the diseases up to that event. Be- common. The prevailing diseases in 1798, tween the years 1773 and1777,a malignant were typhus fever and dysentery. They sore throat is known to have prevailed at were both severe in some neighborhoods, several times and to have been fatal to while others were comparatively exempt. many children. In the summer of 1776 The dysentery was particularly mortal in and, also, of 1777, the dysentery was Pomfret, Norwich and Sandgate. From universally prevalent in this State and 1799 to 1806, the dysentery prevailed throughout New England; and produced more or less, during the summer and great suffering and mortality in the Amer-autumn of each year. In 1802, it proican army, in the neighborhood of lake duced considerable mortality in many Champlain. The same disease prevailed places. The year 1800, was distinguishextensively in this State between 1783 ed for the prevalence of the typhus fever and 1790. In 1781 catarrhal fevers were in the neighborhood of Woodstock, and SPOTTED AND LUNG FEVERS, ASIATIC CHOLERA. ever experienced in Vermont. This disease resembled that which immediately preceded it, excepting in having its chief in 1802 and 1803, the canker rash, or throat distemper prevailed generally, but was not quite so mortal as it had been at some former periods. In 1803, the hoop-location upon the lungs, and being longer ing cough prevailed. In 1804, an influenza, or catarrhal fever, produced considerable mortality along the western part of the State. The prevailing disease in 1805, was the typhus fever. The year 1807, was noted for a severe influenza, which prevailed, not only in Vermont, but throughout the United States and Canada, and also in Europe. In the summer of 1808, fevers were common, but the following year, 1809, was remarkably healthy. This year was, however, noted for a general blight upon wheat. In the year 1810, the diseases of this State seem to have assumed a new character, taking a sthenic or inflammatory type, and from this period for several years, the greatest amount of sickness was in the winter instead of the summer, as had been previously the case. It was about this period, that that short and fatal malady, the spotted fever, first made its appearance in Vermont. It did not, however, excite general alarm, or prevail extensively till the beginning of 1811. In January of this year, it made its first appearance in the vicinity of Woodstock. From the 23d of January to the 23d of March, the average number of new cases was about 35 weekly, within a circuit of five miles from the court-house in that town. The whole number of cases, within the above limits, up to the first of June, was computed to be about 600; and the number of deaths between 60 and 70. During the same time this disease appeared in the greater part of the towns in the eastern part of the State, from Massachusetts to Canada, and in many places the mortality was,proportionally, much greater than at Woodstock Although the disease was very considerably abated during the summer, it renewed its ravages in the fall, and in the beginning of 1812, it was in many places, even more fatal than it had been the preceding winter. This epidemic was calculated to produce the utmost alarm. No age, nor sex, no condition was exempted. It, however, more commonly attacked, and fell with greatest force, upon persons of the most robust and hardy constitutions; and it often proved fatal to such in the course of a few hours from their first attack. It was not uncommon for the patient to be a corpse, before a physician could be brought to his assistance. The spotted fever was followed by the epidemic peripneumony, or lung fever, which proved to be the severest epidemic in reaching its crisis. It commenced in this State, among the troops of the United States army, stationed at Burlington, in the autumn of 1812, where it proved very mortal, carrying off from 10 to 12 a day, for several weeks before it began to spread among the inhabitants. But, by the beginning of the year 1813, it had become general throughout the State; and in the course of the winter, it swept off from 20 to 60 of the most respectable and useful inhabitants of almost every town. The whole number of deaths in the State, by this disease during the winter, was estimated at more than 6000, or one death to every 40 inhabitants.* From 1814 to 1832, there was nothing remarkable in the diseases of the State. Isolated cases of consumption, typhus and lung fevers and other endemics were constantly occurring, and annually bringing down numbers to the grave, and dysenteries, scarlet fever, measles, influenzas, &c., were several times epidemic, and produced considerable mortality, in particular sections. Early in June, 1832, that most dreadful disease, the Asiatic cholera, made its first appearance on this side of the Atlantic. It commenced nearly at the same time at Montreal and Quebec, and soon extended into the United States, producing a universal panic throughout the country. The first case of cholera in Quebec, was on the 8th of June, and in the first three days there were 41 deaths, and the number of fatal cases there during the summer, was about 2000. In the course of three months from the appearance of the disease in Montreal, it is computed to have carried off 2800 persons out of a population of 30,000, or one eleventh part of the whole. Although the alarm was very great in Vermont, on the appearance of the cholera in Canada, but few fatal cases occurred within the State, and these were mostly confined to the towns along lake Champlain. In Burlington there were only four deaths by the cholera, three of these on the 17th and 18th of June, and the last on the 24th of August, and the whole number of fatal cases of the disease within the State did not exceed 10 or 12. During the prevalence of this disease in Canada, in 1834, Vermont was entirely exempted from it. Since 1834, no alarming epidemic has prevailed, and all parts of the State have *Our materials thus far are derived principally from Dr. Gallup's work on the epidemics of Vermont. PULMONARY CONSUMPTION. been remarkably healthy during this time, with exception of the last fall and winter. Since August, 1841, the amount of sickness and the number of deaths in the State have been unusually great. Typhus and lung fevers have been common in most parts of the State, and in many cases fatal; and during the winter and present spring, a malignant sore throat has prevailed and still continues (May 2, 1842) | to prevail through all the western parts, producing considerable mortality. The disease usually commences by a soreness in the throat, but developes itself in other parts in a great variety of ways, and is attended with a high fever. Thus far it has, to a great extent, baffled the skill of our best physicians. Of all the diseases, which continue from year to year to make their inroads upon our population, the pulmonary consumption is the most fatal and most deplorable. Slow in its advances, it almost imperceptibly undermines the constitution-dries up the fountains of life, and annually brings down hundreds to an untimely grave; and the prevalence of this disease seems to have been constantly on the increase from the first settlement of the state to the present time. It doubtless, to a considerable extent, had its origin in the sudden changes, to which our climate is subject, and which have become more marked in proportion as the country has become cleared and cultivated. But it is believed that the increase of this disease is owing still more to our present modes of living, to the confined air of our stove rooms and our compliance with the absurd caprices of fashion. The following are a few instances of longevity: Names. Residence. Mrs. Jane Hazelton Townshend Walter Scott Swanton Susanna Carpenter Royalton Benjamin Cook Whitingham Mrs. Sprague Clarendon Joseph Monta Colchester Mrs Susanna Corliss Mrs Mary Buel Mrs Dillía Abbey Died. Age. 1810 103 1815 110 SECTION IX. Miscellaneous. Lotteries. The practice of raising money by lotteries for specific objects was, in early times, sanctioned by the legislatures of most of the states in the Union; and Vermont, though she did not indulge in this species of gambling to very great extent, adopted for a while this mode of dispensing charity, and of promoting good objects. The following list is believed to contain abstracts of all the acts, granting lotteries, which have been passed by the legislature of this state: To raise £840, for building a bridge over Black river, February 27, 1783. To raise £150, for repairing the road between Chester and Black river, October 26, 1789. To raise £150, to aid John Hubbard in erecting a brewery in Weathersfield, October 26, 1789. To raise £300, to make a road from Woodstock to Rutland, October 27, 1791. To raise £150, to repair a bridge in Roy. alton, October 28, 1791. To raise £200, to aid J. Hubbard and A. Downer in erecting a brewery, November 3, 1791. To raise £150, for building a road in Shrewsbury, November 3, 1791. To raise £600, to assist in building a court house in Rutland, Oct. 25, 1792. To raise £200, to Anthony Haswell to repair loss sustained by fire, Oct. 31, 1792. To raise £1200, to Jabez Rogers, to repair losses by fire, October 31, 1792. To raise £300, for building a bridge over the river Lamoille, Nov. 8, 1792. To raise £500, for building a bridge over White river at Hartford, Nov. 8, 1792. To raise £150, for building a bridge over Deerfield river at Readsborough, Novem ber 8, 1792. To raise $2500, granted to A. Spooner, S. Barrett and S. Conant, Oct. 25, 1793. To raise $500, for building a bridge in Greensborough 1810 100 in Fairfax, October 30, 1793. Orwell Derby Simeon Hooker Westford 1840 101 10 100 1811 104 Many more might have been added had pains been taken to collect them. According to the returns of the census of 1840 there were then living in the state 22 persons who were upwards of 100 years of age, and about 200 others who were upwards of 90 years old. To raise $500, for making a road from To raise $500, for building a bridge over Otta-Quechee river at Woodstock, March 7, 1797. To raise $500, granted to John Wood, March 9, 1797. To raise $2000, granted to Joseph Hawkins of Alburgh, October 30, 1798. To raise $1000, granted to Horatio Knight, October 31, 1799. |