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were soon manifest to the medical profes-
sion, as well as to a multitude of patients,
and his practice extended rapidly until
his time was very closely occupied. In
fact, it is probable that his death, which
occurred January 19, 1905, was hastened
by his very close application to the demands
of his numerous patients. For
twenty-four years he was located on
Washington Street and in 1890 purchased
the house which is now No. loi Broad
Street, and continued to reside there af-
terward. His success was the natural
result of his intelligent application and
industry. He was never idle and when
not actively engaged with patients he was
devoted to study or to some effort for the
promotion of the public interest. His
genial disposition and invariable cheerful
demeanor coupled with his faithful atten-
tion to his patients, not only gained their
confidence and love, but was a powerful
element in aiding their recovery. His
very courteous and generous treatment of
his contemporaries made him much
sought after in consultation and it is probable
that no other practitioner in Mid-
dlesex County had such an extensive list
of patients or the ability to make a greater
number of daily visits. In manner modest
and quiet, his judgment was ever ready
and his success was remarkable. In the
various medical associations of the community
he was active and useful, serving
from 1873 to '^'^77 as clerk of the Middlesex
County Medical Society and from
1876 to 1882 as treasurer of the State
Medical Society, and under his administrations
both these organizations were
greatly advanced in a financial way as
well as in all other departments.
On the organization of the State Industrial
School for Girls at Middletown,
Dr. Edgerton was appointed attending
physician and continued in that service
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
until the end of his life. In 1878 he was
chosen to deliver the annual address before
the graduating class of Yale Medical
School. For three years he was a member
of the State Pharmacy Commission.
In 1893 he was elected vice-president of
the State Medical Society and in the following
year was made its president. Very
active in the local medical association,
he was made president of the Middlesex
County Hospital Society, whose project
- for the establishment of a hospital in Mid-
dletown was happily carried to success
during his lifetime. He was seldom ab-
sent from the meetings of any of the societies
with which he was identified, and
contributed largely to the literature of
the profession. Among his valuable
papers, was one read at the centennial
of the State Society, May 27, 1892, at
New Haven, in which he discussed his
successful treatment of a case of diph-
theritic croup. His services were re-
peatedly in demand on commissions ap-
pointed by the Governor, to determine the
mental soundness of State prisoners. As
becomes every patriotic citizen, Dr. Ed-
gerton entertained a lively interest in the
conduct of public affairs. His first pres-
idential vote was cast for Abraham Lin-
coln, and he continued a constant supporter
of Republican principles, though
never accepting a nomination for any
civic office. In the midst of his great
activities Dr. Edgerton found temporary
recreation in music, and made occasional
trips to New York or Boston, where he
was enabled to hear some of the greatest
performers of his day. This did not
cause any neglect of patients, because he
always returned on an early train and
resumed without break his daily round of
visits. About every third year he made
52
a short summer trip to Europe and in this
way crossed the ocean many times. In