that place, which was then under the superintendence of Woodbridge Odlin,
and which has ever been one of the most celebrated institutions in New
England for the thoroughness of its instruction, and the character of
its pupils. His professional studies were pursued under the direction
of his father, and the celebrated Dr. Kettredge, of Andover, Mass., a
physician and surgeon that time of extensive practice and distinguished
reputation. He began his professional career at Hallowell, in 1791, and
here pursued it, "in season and out of season," with an uncompromising
diligence and success for more than half a century.
In 1793 he went to Boston to place himself in the hands of Dr. Aspinwall,
to be inoculated for the smallpox, in a hospital which had just been established
in Brookline. Finding it closed on his arrival, he proceeded to Dunbarton
for the same object. Disappointed here, also, and zealous and determined
in the object he had in view, he repaired to his uncle's Ware, where he
and another young physician, and several of the family, submitted to smallpox
inoculation, and remained in close confinement about a month ; passing
an ordeal which at that time was regarded as among the severest and most
perilous to which youth or manhood could be subjected. To show how little
apprehension was entertained, however, by the subject of this memoir,
he used to relate that he his companion passed the whole of their confinement
very cheerfully, and entertained themselves agreeably with music, &c.,
most of the time--he playing the flute with considerable taste and execution,
and his medical companion the violin.
After his recovery from smallpox, Dr. Page retained to Hallowell to
resume his practice, and with the intention of opening a smallpox hospital
upon a little island in what is now called Alliston's lake, in Winthrop,
a few miles west of the Kennebec. While matters were in progress, however,
for this enterprise, he was furnished with some vaccine matter by his
most intimate and attached friend, Benjamin Vaughan, Esq., who had just
received it directly from the hands of Dr. Jenner, of London. He immediately
made use of it, and was the first American physician, be it known,
who applied the vaccine virus to the arm of the human subject in this
country. Great was his disappointment, however, upon finding the matter
dry and inert, more especially as a portion the same parcel which had
been sent to Boston proved operative, and gave to a distinguished medical
philosopher of the times the enviable reputation which he himself would
otherwise have obtained. A few days subsequently he received another parcel
from this estimable friend Dr. Jackson, of Boston, and availing himself
also of fresh matter from the arm of a lady who had been vaccinated there,
and who is since allied by marriage to his family, he renewed his efforts
with success, and was the means of thus early distributing this great
blessing of mankind through the whole circle of his practice. The success
of the vaccine superseded the necessity of a smallpox hospital, and although
considerable expense was incurred in the enterprise, it was abandoned
almost as soon as conceived.
In 1796 he married Abigail Butler, of Newburyport, a lady of great personal
beauty, and who to many polite accomplishments, joined the
