CHAPTER XXXVII 

 VINCENT Y. BOWDITCH, M.D. 



PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION FROM 1908 TO 1909 



OUR fourth president, unanimously elected to serve for the 

 year 1908-1909, was Dr. Vincent Y. Bowditch. He had 

 already served the Association as vice-president from 

 1906 to 1908. 



The son of Dr. Henry I. and Olivia Yardley Bowditch, he was 

 born July 7, 1852, at Weston, Mass. He was graduated from 

 Harvard in 1875, and received his M.D. in 1879 from the Harvard 

 Medical School. He was house officer in the Massachusetts Gen- 

 eral Hospital from 1878 to 1879, instructor in clinical medicine at 

 Harvard Medical School from 1892 to 1899, and attending physi- 

 cian to the Carney and Boston City Hospitals. 



His father, the elder Bowditch, as has been mentioned on p. 4, 

 was a great physician, and particularly interested in diseases of 

 the lungs. To him we are indebted for the introduction of the 

 operation known as paracentesis thoracis (tapping of the chest to 

 remove accumulations of fluid). One of the most inspiring and 

 instructive works it has ever been the author's privilege to read, 

 not only on medicine, but also on philosophy, religion, and 

 politics, are the two volumes entitled "Life and Correspondence 

 of Henry Ingersoll Bowditch," by his son, Vincent Y. Bowditch, 

 who dedicated this wonderful biography to the memory of his 

 mother, the thought of whom was his constant inspiration while 

 writing the book. 1 



The mantle of the older Bowditch could not have fallen upon 

 worthier shoulders than those of young Vincent. With the 

 example of so much wisdom, patriotism, gentleness, and devotion 

 to high ideals, it is no wonder that Dr. Vincent Y. Bowditch has 

 become one of the most beloved and distinguished physicians of 

 New England and one of the most ardent tuberculosis workers. 



1 Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston and New York, 1902. 

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