Dr. Elias Cornelius, of Somers, was a native of Long Island, and served as surgeon's mate in the Revolutionary army. After the close of the war he settled in the western part of Somers, where he practiced his profession over forty years with eminent success and credit. During the Revolution he contracted the habit of smoking, snuffing and tippling, but, contrary to the generally received opinion, was never intoxicated during his long and arduous life.

Dr. James Fountain says: "Dr. Cornelius was truly a pattern physician ; with a very limited medical education, he commenced the active duties of his profession, but full of energy and ambition, he studied and practiced both by day and by night. He kept three good horses, and rode off rapidly, and on his arrival at home he gave his horse over to his groom, and went directly into his office, and there spent all his available time in the pursuit of knowledge or in the compounding of medicines. He availed himself of every means of information ; he commenced taking the first medical periodical ever published in America, viz. : The Medical Jteposifory, and ever since continued to read it. He had also all the principal authors of his day, and studied them thoroughly. Having been inspired by a genuine love, with the requisite enthusias.m, for his profession, he gave it his undivided attention, and the whole

THE MEDICAL PROFESSI(X\.

force of his energies and talents were made subservient to it. He died at the age of sixty-eight years, having been blessed with a large family, which were carefully and respectably bred. One of his sons, having been thoroughly educated, became one of the most celebrated and accomplished divines in the New England States."