Marin County Medical Society: Serving Marin for 119 Years
by Jocelyn Moss
The Marin County Medical Society had a skeleton in the closet! Literally! Dr. William F. Jones was the long-time secretary of the society and they often met in his office. Among the stacks of medical journals and piles of papers was a seven foot cabinet with a skeleton hanging in it. When pertinent, Dr. Jones brought out the bones to help elucidate an issue.
The announcement of the formation of the Marin County Medical Society appeared in the Marin Journal on January 27, 1898. The meeting was brought to order by Dr. H. J. Crumpton. The purpose of the society was to build a healthier Marin County, to encourage quality health care and to serve the community.
In the early days, Marin County Medical Society doctors would visit their patients in their homes, traveling on horseback or by horse and buggy. After 1905, the automobile was introduced for home visits. But if it was a late night call, it was an advantage to have a horse so the doctor could nod off while the horse found his own way home.
Over the years, the Marin County Medical Society has been involved in many civic services. In 1906 the doctors brought medical services to earthquake refugees camped at Forest Meadows at Dominican College. In 1910 the Society sought a separate place to treat tuberculosis patients. In 1911 the members formed a San Rafael Milk Commission to keep County milk supplies pure. In 1924, the society proposed a movement to build a new hospital. In 1957 the doctors volunteered to administer the polio vaccine for free to Marin County residents. The Marin County Medical Society remains active today with 350 members.
The photograph above, illustrating this article, documents a 1908 meeting of the Marin County Medical Society at Pastori’s Resort in Fairfax.
Pictured are:
Front Row L-R: Dr. John Keck, Rev. Joseph Byrne (honorary member), Dr. H.O. Howitt, Dr. H.J. Crumpton, Dr. W.I Wickman, Dr. J. H. Kuser
Back Row L-R: Dr. A.G. Winn, Dr.William F. Jones, Dr. S.M. Alexander, Dr. Ernest Chipman, Dr. George Powers, Dr. F.J. Hund, Dr. Harry O. Hund, Dr. H.W. Dudley
Originally published at https://annetkent.kontribune.com.
