To this date, nearly three thousand cases have been treated, with only four deaths, a success that augurs well for homœopathy. The expenses of the dispensary have been defrayed by private contributions. We find at the end of the year a deficiency remains that we are in hopes of making up soon.

It is hoped that the State and city will contribute something toward the maintenance of an institution that is affording so much relief to the sick poor.

We are in hopes that the State will appropriate a sum that will pay for the services and time of a resident physician, as it is impossible to obtain such services without a small compensation; and then, if our friends will supply the means for defraying the current expenses of the year, we shall be able to go on with the work with renewed vigor.

The past year exceeds in number of patients treated any previous year, showing how the poor appreciate the opportunities afforded them for obtaining medical relief.

To our patrons we return many thanks for their generous support, and in behalf of thousands of the poor we will say that they will ever hold you in grateful remembrance.

It is earnestly desired that the number of our patrons be increased, in order that we may afford increased facilities.

Hoping for a further continuance of your support, and promising to leave nothing undone that we can do,

We remain, respectfully,

HENRY N. AVERY, M. D.

EDWARD W. AVERY, M. D.

PROGRESS OF HOMEOPATHY.

The number of homoeopathic physicians in the United States, at present, is about four thousand.

There are four life insurance companies in successful operation in the United States, that insure the lives of those treated homoeopathically ten (10) per centum off, from the old allopathic rates, experience showing that those treated by the homoeopathic system live longer, have a more speedy recovery, and a greater freedom from subsequent ills.

These companies, during the past year, have met with unusual success. They are, the Atlantic Mutual, of Albany, N. Y.; the Hahnemann, of Cleveland, O.; the Homœopathic Mutual Life, of New York city, and the Widows and Orphans, of St. Louis, Mo.; all safe and reliable companies, with the most substantial men for officers and directors, to be found in the country.

The Trustees of the New York Ophthalmic Hospital have transferred the institution into the hands of homoeopathic surgeons and physicians.

A new Homœopathic Medical College has been organized during the past year, in the city of Philadelphia; making in all eight Homœopathic Colleges in the United States.

The regents of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, have appointed a Chair of Homœopathy.

New Dispensaries have been established throughout the country. Efforts are being made to give other institutions the benefit of the system.

Report of cases treated at the Poughkeepsie Homœopathic Dispensary, for the year ending October 1, 1868.

ARTICLE XL.

Necrological Report. Biographical Notices of the late Dr. M. J. Whitton; the late Dr. J. F. Merritt, and the late Dr. F. C. Vanderburg. By JOHN Hornby, M. D., of Poughkeepsie.

Milo James Whiton was born at Lee, in Berkshire county, Mass., March 27, 1805. He studied medicine with his brother, Dr. Lyman Whiton, and also at Berkshire Medical College with Dr. L. Hubbard of this city. He practiced medicine for twenty-five years, seventeen years of which time he was a homoeopathic physician.

Although a delicate constitution, he is said by his friends, to have been of an ambitious and active disposition, which he evinced during his studies; pursuing them for three months, while lying on his back disabled by disease. Though never enjoying good health, he was always ready to relieve the sufferings of others. The poor and rich shared equally his philanthropy.

He was of a kind and cheerful temper, which endeared him to his friends and patients. He was successful in the treatment of chronic diseases, to which he paid most attention; and particularly to the use of the galvanic battery in combination with his prescriptions of medicine. He had formerly practiced in Saratoga county, where his abilities were much appreciated, and his removal to Brooklyn, N, Y., regretted by his friends and patients.

He practiced in the latter city four years, when his preference for a country life induced him, to remove to Fishkill village in this county.

In his religious principles, was a Methodist, of which denomination he was an active and useful member for the last sixteen years of his life.

He died of disease of the heart on the 15th day of December, 1867, after a short and sudden illness. He has left a widow and three sons to lament their irreparable loss.

Jesse F. Merritt, M. D., was born in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, N. Y., on the 22d of January, 1831. He acquired his education in the schools of his native place, and commenced the study of medicine in 1848, with Drs. Platt and Nelson, of Rhinebeck, in this county.

At the recommendation of Dr. Vanderburg, he subsequently removed to New York city, and graduated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the year 1852. After this he married, and established himself in practice at Hyde Park, his native vil

lage, but removed, in 1854, to Rhinebeck, at the solicitation of his preceptors, Drs. Platt and Nelson, with whom he entered into professional copartnership.

In 1855 he was forced to leave practice, and travel to the Southern States for his health, which became impaired by an attack of hemorrhage from the lungs. In 1856 he returned to Albany, and resided there with his family till the following winter, when, his health being much improved, he returned to this county, and located himself at Pleasant Plains, establishing an extensive and lucrative practice, remaining there till the time of his death.

His health for several years had been in a declining condition, and in August, 1866, it failed so much as to force him to retire from active practice. He was under the medical treatment of his friend Dr. Vanderburg during most of the last winter, but in the spring fol lowing improved so as to ride in visiting his patients, which he continued to do until about three weeks before his death, when he slowly and steadily declined until he expired on the 30th day of March, 1868.

In 1855 he investigated homeopathy, at the instance of his former partners. The result was his adoption of the practice. This was continued, with their approbation, until the dissolution of copartnership in the fall of 1855, on account of ill health, and he continued so to practice till his demise.

Dr. Merritt was, at the instigation of the Secretary of the State Society, H. M. Paine, M. D., the chief promoter of our county society organization in 1861.

He was at all times zealous to promote its interests, and was onę of its most able and valuable contributors.

STATEMENT BY REV. A. P. STOCKWEEL.

The medical fraternity will be pained to learn of the death of Dr. Jesse F. Merritt, which occurred at his late residence, Pleasant Plains, Dutchess county, N. Y., March 30, 1868, in the 38th year of his age. His life, though short, was not spent in vain. He has left behind him a name honored and respected by all who knew him.

Dr. Merritt was born in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, N.Y., Jan. 22d, 1831. Death soon left him an orphan. His early life was intrusted to the care of an uncle, Mr. Jesse Frost, of Clinton, Dutchess county, N. Y., who greatly loved him, and was loved as a father in return.