The Cogswells in America - citizen hylbom blog

245
than breaking it in pieces. He was tlie first one in this country to secure the
carotid artery with a ligature ; and
"that the Deaf and Dumb Asyhim in Hart-
ford, Conn., owes its existence to the exertions of Dr. Cogswell, in the first
instance, is as familiarly known as the institution itself." He was moved to
this by sympathy for his own daughter, Alice, a girl of strong and gifted mind,
but who by severe illness was rendered deaf and dumb at the age of six years.
Her father, by reading in a French medical pamphlet of the successful teach-
ing of the deaf and dumb across the water, was inspired to see if something
could not be done for such persons in this coimtry. It was largely by his
influence that Rev. Thomas Gallaudet visited I'aris. gathered information, and
brought back with him M. L. Clere. in iSi6, by whose services the first asylum
for tiie deaf and dumb was established in America, and .Alice Cogsw^ell was ils
first pupil.
Dr. Cogswell may be said to have been the originator of the Hartford
.A.sylum for the Deaf and Dumb, as he was of the Hartford Retreat for Insane
People. The former was foundetl in 1S20, the latter in 1S24. Dr. Cogswell
was chosen, in 1S12, the President of the Connecticut Medic.d .Society, which
olifice he held for ten years. He was not only a surgeon, but a scholar, poet,
and Christian. He was an assiduous and successful cultivator of polite litera-
ture, especially poetry. He was the companion and compeer of Dr. Ho|jkins.
judge Trumbull, Dr. .Strong. Mr. Theodore Dwi^ht, and others. He was also
a proficient in music.
Dr. Cogswell's last illness was of short duration, lasting only five days.
The whole ciiy of Hartford was moved by the event of his illness, and late at
evening people stood in groups along the sidewalks to inquire in whispei-- of
the physicians as they came from the house, " How is he? " His death was
a great public loss as well as a private aftfiction. His daughter Alice sank
under tlie bereavement, and herself died two weeks later. For notice of
Mason F. Cogswell, M. D.. rv,/. Lecture hy Prof. Jona. Knight, M. D.. before
Medical Class in Yale College. Nov. 2. 183:5. Vul. Wili.i.^ms Medical Biogra-
v\\\. pp. 100-109.
Makv a 1,1 l.v\Kli,\vh.. l.cL.inK ilu «ilc of Dr.Mn^un Fitch C..i;>ucll, w,,-. iIil- d.iu^hiti
n|- All-till l.rilv.iKl. .1 li.ililin.lliLi Ml Col, Willi.ini l.c-dy.ird. whu .iftcr .1 I.i.ul' .iiid hn|Rk>,
.
.in.l 111- iiRii iii,i--.uud .HUT Ik 1i,.