DR. CHARLES FOLLEN FOLSOM. 757 



on September 12 of the same year, the gap of four months having 

 been filled by Dr. F. W. Draper. The members of the Board at this 

 time, besides Dr. Bowditch, were J. C. Hoadley, C.E., David L. Web- 

 ster, Richard Frothingham, Robert T. Davis, M.D., and T. B. 

 Newhall. These same members served until 1879, when the depart- 

 ments of health, lunacy and charity were combined and Dr. Folsom 

 was chosen secretary of the united Board. 



Dr. Folsom believed that in accepting the appointment as secretary 

 of the State Board of Health he was shaping his life-work, and in the 

 letter to Mr. Gannett, above cited, he continues : "Of course, you can 

 never appreciate the disappointment it cost me to give up the practice 

 of medicine. It seemed like having in my palm something for which I 

 had bent every energy for a dozen years, and then calmly throwing it 

 away, and the silly liankeriny took shape in Danvers as the only practi- 

 cable form; but that is now gone, like all my other buried hopes at 

 which I can now smile and joke." 



The occupations of the conscientious secretary of such a board as 

 this, certainly of this board, are but faintly indicated in his title. His 

 duties cannot all be specified in detail and he does much that passes 

 unrecorded. Besides his labors as recording and executive officer, 

 nothing goes on that does not pass his judgment, feel his touch, receive 

 his contribution. He is the nucleus of the busy cell. The reports are 

 in great part his work, and it is a striking tribute to Dr. Folsom's in- 

 dustry and ability that the volume which was issued on the first of 

 January, 1875, only three months after his appointment, was not only 

 ready at the proper time, but contained a long article by him, implying 

 careful study, upon the meat supply of our cities, with suggestions for 

 its improvement. One of the most important among the numerous and 

 manifold secretary's jobs, and a task that called for good feeling, tact, 

 and judgment of a high order, as well as for firmness and intelligence, 

 was that of going about as inspector, critic, and adviser among the 



to realize the quality of the new secretary. Friends of Dr. Bowditch will be 

 reminded by it of the generous warmth which he threw alike into Ms friend- 

 ships and his public work. 



"Boston, June 25. 



"My dear Dr., — I send by mail the Advertiser of to-day. I felt my heart 

 almost jump as I read the dne compliment paid to you my dear Dr. in the 

 editorial. I certainly echo the wish that you may long continue to occupy 

 the position in which you are growing, not only in yourself, but in the estima- 

 tion and love of the community. God be praised that you dropped a letter 

 to me from Europe "just in the nick of time." . . . 



" Faithfully yours, 



"H. I. B." 



