USA > Indiana > A Medical History of the State of Indiana > Part 11
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Jones, David M . Corydon
Judkins, S.
New Garden
Kennedy, Levi H Belleville
Kennedy, S. A Fairland
Kersey, Vierling
Milton
156
MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Knepfler, Nathan
Indianapolis
Kitchen, J. M. Indianapolis
Kivett, John Evansville
Latta, M. M.
Goshen
Leonard, S. E. New Albany
Lewis, John
. Ogden
Leslie, Alexander
Petersburg
Link, Harvey
New Albany
Linton, S. M. .
.Columbus
Lloyd, Frederick
New Albany
Lindsley, John
Evansville
Lomax. William
Marion
Low, Nathan M
Elizabeth
Lynch, M. J. Indianapolis
Maclean, George M
New Albany
Mahan, Oliver P Crawfordsville
Martin, M. L. Middle Fork
Mauzy, R. D.
Rushville
Maxwell, James D
Bloomington
Mayo, William W
Lafayette
McClelland, J. S.
Jefferson
McClenahan, Thomas J
Anderson
McDonald, D. H. Indianapolis
McFadden, W. G London
McFall, D. M.
Cumberland
McFarland, J. B.
Lafayette
McGaughey, Jonn W
Morristown
McMechan, J. G.
Crawfordsville
Mears, George W
Indianapolis
Meeker, Daniel
LaPorte
Mendenhall, N
Plainfield
Mendenhall, J Ashland
Metz, J. J.
Ossian
Mitchell, G. B. .Martinsville
Moffett, John
Rushville
Moodey, John W
Greensburg
Moore, R. C.
Belleville
Morgan, Daniel.
Evansville
Morris, J. M.
Sulphur Hill
Mothershead, John L.
Indianapolis
MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA. 157
Mothershead, F. M Indianapolis
Mulhausen, H.
Evansville
Mulhausen, M.
Evansville
Mullen, Alexander J
Napoleon
Mullen, B. F
Napoleon
Mullen, J. W
Madison
Murphy, Edward
New Harmony
Negley, D. N Evansville
Nesbitt, Joseph A Allisonville
New, George W.
Greensburgh
Newcomer, Frisby S.
Indianapolis
Newland, Benjamin
Bedford
Newland, Elijah R
.New Albany
Nutt, John
Indianapolis
O'Ferrall, R. M . Lafayette
O'Neal, L.
Somerset
Olcott, W. A.
Manchester
Parker, G. B Indianapolis
Parry, Charles Indianapolis
Parvin, Theophilus Indianapolis
Patterson, R. J
Indianapolis
Pegg, J. A.
New Garden
Pennington, Joel Milton
Personett, L. D.
Greens Forks
Pleasants, John H. Indianapolis
Pressley, William H.
Augusta
Preston, Albert G
Greencastle
Rea, John New Castle
Reader, William . Corydon
Ramsey, C. S Indianapolis
Reagan, Jesse
Spring Valley
Reagan, A. W.
Mooresville
Record, Samuel
Lanesville
Reed, Thomas M Indianapolis
Reid, Samuel
. Salem
Ritter, Levi
Plainfield
Robbins, Clark
Monrovia
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158 MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
Robinson, William E. Louisville
Roe, John S.
North Madison
Rogers, Joseph H. D. Madison
Rosenthal, J
Fort . Wayne
Ronalds, Hugh
Evansville
Rooker, James I
Castleton
Rowan, B. C. Fort Wayne
Rowland, Willard Oswego
Rucker, T. H
New Albany
Runcie, E. T.
Millersburg
Ryan, Townsend
Anderson
Rynerson, J. N. Mt. Meridian
Sanders, John H. Indianapolis
Schonover, William S. .Hardinsburg
Scribner, Wm. A New Albany
Sexton, Marshall
Rushville
Sheppard, M.
Columbus
Sherrod, R. W
Millport
Shields, P. S ...
New Albany
Sinex, William G.
New Albany
Skinner, John A. Vincennes
Sloan, John
.New Albany
Smelsor, J. W .. Manwaring
Smith, Hubbard M.
Vincennes
Smith,. Isaac
Lafayette
Smith, W. R.
Cumberland
Somes, Joseph
Vincennes
Spencer, R ..
Monticello
Spencer, W.
Monticello
Spottswood, E. T
Perrysville
Stacy, George W
Warsaw
Stevens, Thaddeus M
Indianapolis
Stout, Oliver H.
Indianapolis
Sutton, George
Aurora
Talbot, H. E. Greencastle
Tate, William
. Lawrenceburg
Taylor, T. W ..
Battle Ground
Thomas, M. W
Franklin
Thompson, W. Clinton
Indianapolis
Thompson, W. E
New London
Tichnor, James Crawfordsville
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA. 159
Todd, Henry G Indianapolis
Todd, L. L., Jr . Southport
Todd, R. N. . Southport
Town, R. R.
New Albany
Tyler, W. W
Roanoke
Vail, Joel
Richmond
Vanderbark, Peter Knightstown
Vickery, A. M.
. Tipton
Wallace, A. G. Indianapolis
Wallace, Charles
Belleville
Walker, G. B.
Evansville
Walker, John T.
Evansville
Walker, Oscar C.
Blairsville
Weist, J. R.
.New Westville, O.
Welborn, J. C.
Bloomington
Weldon, Samuel J
Covington
Wellman, Richard M. Jasper
Wetherill, C. M
. Lafayette
West, Calvin
Hagerstown
Wilcox, J. R.
Evansville
Willard, R ..
Warsaw
Wilson, James B.
Salem
Wilson, John R
Evansville
Wilson James W
Rossville
Wilstach, C. F.
. Lafayette
Winton, Horace.
North Manchester
Winton, Robert Muncie
Winton, William R. Wabash
Wishard, William H.
Greenwood
Wolf, J. G ..
Morristown
Woodburn; J. H. Indianapolis
Woodworth, B. S Fort Wayne
Wort, Samuel
Brownstown
Wright, John F
Columbus
.
Wright, J. Joel.
Monrovia
Wright, H. Mansur Indianapolis Wyley, D. Jeffersonville
Yeakle, D. T.
Lafayette
CHAPTER XVII.
EPIDEMICS. - LEGAL ENACTMENTS. - RECENT LEGISLATION .- LAW OF 1897 .- LAW OF 1909 .- THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH .- SESSIONS OF THE STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY AND ASSOCIATION .- CHANGES IN THE STATE SOCIETY .- LIST OF PRESIDENTS OF THE INDIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY.
During the early forties an epidemic of ery- sipelas prevailed in a number of counties in In- diana, notably in Dearborn, Ripley and Decatur counties, and was known by the popular name of "black tongue."
In the Western Lancet, November, 1843, Dr. George Sutton of Aurora contributed an article entitled, "Remarks on an Epidemic Erysipelas, Known by the Popular Name of 'Black Tongue,' Which Prevailed in Ripley and Dearborn Coun- ties, Indiana." This article, like everything else that Dr. Sutton wrote, is valuable. The entire article was of so much merit that it was repro- duced in the English work of "Nunneley on Ery- sipelas." I have the American edition of this work before me (Barrington and Haswell, 1844), and the article begins at page 85. An extract from Dr. Sutton's paper will illustrate the char- acter of the disease :
"The following is a synopsis of the symptoms of this epidemic. When the throat was the part
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attacked, after the usual premonitory symptoms which have been frequently mentioned had con- tinued for two or three days, the patient was generally seized with a chill, which lasted in many cases four or five hours. This was fol- lowed by a high fever, swelling of the tonsils, submaxillary, parotid, and lymphatic glands of the neck; neuralgie pains, darting over the side of the neck and head, frequently following the temporal artery; tongue, covered at first with a thick brown coat, soon became swollen and often very dark in the center; deglutition frequently very difficult ; pulse generally full, though easily compressed; skin at first hot and dry, becoming moist and continuing so after venesection. In the mild form of the disease these symptoms were frequently removed at once by an active antiphlo- gistic course of treatment. Sometimes the mild form had only the appearance of cynanche ton- sillaris, but in the more malignant form, where the throat was affected, after the above symp- toms had continued for two or three days, and .sometimes from the very commencement, the pharynx became of a dark purple color. This color generally spread over the palate, tongue, and sides of the cheeks, the tongue becoming very much swollen, assuming a blackish-brown color; deglutition in many cases was almost im- possible. In most of these cases an erysipelas would commence at the angle of the mouth or nose and spread over the face and head, with all the symptoms peculiar to that disease. The in- flammation of the throat was seldom stationary; sometimes passing down the trachea, with symp-
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toms resembling laryngitis, or cynanche trachea- lis, and at last assuming the symptoms of pneu- monia. Sometimes this inflammation passed into the nostrils, and from them into the frontal sinuses; sometimes apparently into the antrum maxillary, but in nearly every case that I saw the throat became well while the erysipelas was spreading over the skin."
In the State Transactions for 1852, page 33, may be found a "Report of the Committee on the Practice of Medicine," in which Drs. M. H. Harding of Lawrenceburg, Ezra Read of Terre Haute, and John W. Moodey of Greensburg dis- cuss epidemics of scarlatina prevailing in 1837-8 and 1846-7. Also epidemics of dysentery, which prevailed at intervals from 1849 to 1852, and which was especially fatal in 1851 and 1852. Dr. Moodey, who was my preceptor, told me that his experience in these epidemics of dysentery was so distressing that he would often come home in the evening discouraged, after having visited from home to. home, throw his saddle-bags upon the floor, and declare in his despair that he would see no more patients, but on the morrow the demand of the sick and call to duty was so pressing that he again rallied and went on his sorrowful rounds. I was a boy of eleven years in 1851, but remember distinctly of an older sister, living in Rush County, who lost three children in one week from dysentery.
. At the session of the state society in 1852 a committee was appointed to ascertain in what counties and townships the "milk sickness" pre-
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vails, and whether this disease disappears upon the removal of the forests and cultivation of the land; whether it prevails to the same extent upon the highlands that it does upon the alluvial bot- toms, and any other facts relating to this disease. The query arose as to whether intermittent, re- mittent, congestive, and continued fevers were on the increase or decrease .*
Cholera prevailed to quite an extent, especially along the navigable water courses of Indiana, in 1849 to 1852.
The reader is referred to an exhaustive paper by Dr. George Sutton, "A Report to the Indiana State Medical Society on Asiatic Cholera as it Prevailed in this State in 1849-50-51-52." State Transactions, 1853, page 109.
Those days of epidemics antedated by many years the discovery of the germ theory of dis- ease, but the physicians of that period were men of sound judgment and practical sense and man- aged their cases discreetly
The Transactions for 1852, page 7, record a series of resolutions upon the death of Dr. Henry M. Dowling of New Albany. Nothing is said concerning the date of his birth, nor exact date of his death. He was present at the formation of the state society, and as such deserves this trifling recognition.
The Transactions for 1864, page 9, records the following resolution :
That this Society regard with profound regret and sorrow the decease of our lamented confrères, Drs.
* See report of Dr. J. S. McClelland, Jefferson, Clinton County, State Transactions 1854, p. 43. No positive con- clusions were reached. but the information is valuable .- G. W. H. K.
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[Calvin] West, [Talbott] Bullard, Elliott, and Wil- son; that we will cherish their memories in grateful remembrance, and emulate their virtues.
The Christian name of each one is omitted, and I am only able to determine definitely those of West and Bullard.
They were affected by fads in the early days of our state society, much as we are at the pres- ent time. In 1856 Dr. David Hutchinson was appointed to report on blood-letting in epilepsy, and in the Transactions for 1857, page 8, he says :
"Having examined the literature of the sub- ject, I find that none of our recent authorities have any confidence in blood-letting as a remedy in epilepsy, but, on the contrary, an opposite mode of treatment is advised, the disease being one of debility instead of plethora." Upon this statement the committee was discharged.
One resolution desired a committee to report a universal fee-bill for the entire state! I find no record of a report.
The slaughter of the innocents was prevalent in the sixties and was condemned by resolutions denouncing criminal abortion at the meeting in 1860.
The advantages of vaccination were emphat- ically urged by resolutions in 1860.
White lead as a remedy for superficial burns came into favor in the early sixties, being espe- cially recommended by the late Prof. S. D. Gross. It was discussed and a committee was appointed to investigate its claims. Whether the
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remedy lost out or the committee grew careless I can not say; but they made no report.
A committee was appointed to investigate "the evil effects of tobacco." The committee, long since dead, made no report.
A word of praise is due the late Dr. Calvin West of Hagerstown, who, in the early sixties. became an enthusiast over the microscope and made a number of valuable annual reports upon his investigations in the Transactions.
LEGAL ENACTMENTS.
. At every session of the society charlatanism was deplored, and the Legislature was urged to enact such laws as might be requisite for the protection of the state from incompetent and reckless practitioners of medicine and surgery, as well as those who dispensed drugs. Such re- quests were not unreasonable.
Quackery has always annoyed the profession of our state. As an unbidden guest, it has stalked in our presence, and, like the poor, will, pos- sibly, never cease out of the land. In the early history of our state there were stringent laws upon our statute books regulating the practice of medicine. Possibly they were too drastic for those primitive days. Physicians of high grade could not always be secured, nor properly com- pensated for their services, and so men of the "Doc Sifers" stamp and unskilled midwives were suffered, through sympathy, to attend our early inhabitants. Nevertheless, politicians have, as a rule, been the friends of quackery and the scorn- ers of legitimate medicine.
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At the session of the state society held at New Albany, May 19, 1852, a memorial from the Evansville Medical Society was presented, and, as it is a fair exponent of the early medical leg- islation, I shall copy the relevant portion :
Transactions 1852, page 6: "The Evansville Medical Society having had their attention called to the existence of a large body of irregular physicians, whose ignorance and incapacity exert a manifest injury, both upon the community among whom they practice and the profession whose calling they degrade, and, being anxious, so far as lay in their power, to redress this griev- ance, appointed a committee to report upon the laws of the state of Indiana, formerly bearing upon this subject.
"The committee reported that several laws upon this subject were passed in the years 1816. 1825, and 1830, entitled acts for the better regu- lation of the practice of medicine in the state of Indiana.
"The first of these acts, passed in the session of 1816, had for its object the organization of the profession into boards of supervision cor- responding with the judicial districts of the state. Provision was made for their perpetua- tion. Authority was conferred upon them to ex- amine and license to practice any applicant whom they might consider properly qualified. It af- fixed a rate or scale of charges for medical serv- ices. And, lastly, declared that any person prac- ticing medicine in the state, unless properly au- thorized so to do, either by the license of the
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examining board or otherwise, should not have the assistance of the law in collecting a remunera- tion for his services.
"The act of 1825 had for its object the better organization of the medical profession. It granted charters to a central state society and to local societies, corresponding to the judicial districts ;* enforced the regulations already made, and provided for the continuation of the soci- eties by fixed rules of representation.
"The act of 1830 provided for the remedying of certain defects in the old law and for en- forcing its regulations by denying the aid of the law to collect the bills of irregular practitioners. "Since 1830 these laws have all been repealed and none others enacted in their places."
The repeal of these medical laws left our state at the mercy of any one who chose to assume the name of "doctor" for the next fifty-five years.
RECENT LEGISLATION. t
The first legal attempt in recent years in any manner to regulate the practice of medicine, sur- gery and obstetrics in the state of Indiana was made during the session of the State Legislature of 1885.
* In the early days of Indiana, physicians were licensed to practice medicine by certificates granted by judicial or medical districts. Dr. John W. Cook of Pendleton, has kindly permitted me to copy one of these papers issued to his father, the late Dr. Ward Cook of Pendleton, in 1832. It is printed on a good quality of parchment; the seal, stamped on paper, showing an open lancet, is obscure. Dr. Dickinson Burt, who signs this certificate as secretary, was the first physician to locate in Delaware County. These certificates are mentioned elsewhere.
t The author desires to acknowledge valuable assistance rendered by Dr. George R. Green of Muncie, in this résumé of recent State laws.
The President and Censors of the Society for the Thirteenth Medical District, To whom these Presents may come, Greeting:
KNOW YE, That "and CoSE
On examination on the various branches appertaining to the Practice of MEDICINE, SURGERY and OBSTETRICKS, according to the "Rules and Regulations of said Society, hath been approved, and LI- CENSE to Practice .Medicine, Surgery and Obstetricks, is hereby granted him. He moreover recommend him to the notice of the Fac- ulty, and the patronage of the Public.
.
In Testimony the roof we have hercumin art our hands and afixed the Scal of said Sori- cty, ut Namsaatle in the State of Indiana, on the hives with day of betalas 1832, and of American Independence, the 5,-
Pres't.
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Censors.
Secretary.
Pizza #: MM + Dill printers-contreville , low .
Certificate issued in 1832.
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This act specified three classes of practitioners who should be permitted to practice under the protection of the law. It provided a system of registration in the counties wherein the appli- cant proposed to practice, and the conditions under which certificates were issued by the clerk of the court were as follows :
1. Graduates of reputable medical colleges pre- senting a diploma as proof of such graduation, supported by the testimony of two witnesses as to the moral character of the applicant.
2. Attendance upon one term of medical lec- tures and three years of practice immediately preceding the passage of this act, in the county where application was made, together with proof of good moral character, entitled the applicant to continue practice.
3. Any physician who had been engaged in practice in the state for ten years immediately preceding the passage of this act, upon proof of this fact, and also good moral character, was likewise permitted to continue in practice. This law practically disturbed no resident practitioner at the time of its passage in the state.
Another provision stipulated that after a speci- fied date only those who were graduates of rep- utable medical colleges should be permitted to begin practicing within the borders of the state.
This law was not perfect, but it marked the beginning of a return to the old laws of real worth which had been enacted and repealed early in the history of the state It was imperfect in that it left the moral standing of the applicant, and the reputability of the college, to the judg-
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ment of the clerk of the court, from which there was no appeal. There was no regular standard by which to measure the requirements, and the decisions were characterized by a remarkable de- gree of elasticity.
LAW OF 1897.
The act of 1897, while replacing the act of 1885, provides that all physicians who had reg- istered under the act of 1885 and have been in continuous practice in the state since that date shall be permitted to register under the new law.
This law also created the Board of Medical Registration and Examination, to which all ap- plications for registration must be made, and whose duty it is to issue permits in the way of certificates setting forth that applicants have complied with the provisions of the law. On the presentation of these certificates to the clerk of the court in the county in which the appli- cant lives and proposes to practice, and the pay- ment of a proper fee, a license is issued by the clerk. In case of removal from one county to another the license in the first county is to be deposited in the new county as evidence and a new license issued in lieu of it at the last resi- dence.
Under this law (1897) the applicant must be a graduate of a reputable medical college, and the standard of the colleges is determined by the Board of Medical Registration and Examination. This board also has power to determine the pre- liminary educational requirements of applicants. After February, 1903, the board requires an en- trance qualification, the minimum requirement
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being a high school diploma or equivalent docu- mentary evidence of education. If the applicant can not furnish such diploma as documentary evidence then the board gives an examination.
Prior to January, 1903, the entrance require- ments were the same as those prescribed by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
In 1905 the law was amended so as to add an osteopath to the Board of Medical Registration and Examination.
Under certain regulations, reciprocal agree- ments exist between certain states.
This law is handicapped in view of the fact that the state leaves the entire financial care of the board, together with its expenses, including expenses incurred in punishing violations, to the board itself, and there is no provision for its financial maintenance except that which the board is able to secure in fees from those who come before it for examination. No other body of men in the state is required to finance the enforcement of a state law, except physicians, and they are the only body of men willing to do it!
LAW OF 1909.
The Legislature of 1909 enacted a law regu- lating maternity hospitals, boarding houses for infants, and boarding homes for children, and the placing of infants. It provides for licenses by the board of state charities, fixes liability for the care of infants, prohibits the sending of pregnant women to other counties where their children become public dependents, etc. This bill is beneficent, as it will prevent the heretofore
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nefarious baby-farms which have in many in- stances flourished as adjuncts to the many illicit so-called maternity hospitals.
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.
In 1891 the general law creating the State Board of Health was enacted.
In 1901 the regulation of the discharge of factory refuse into the streams in the state was made a part of the duty of the board.
In 1903 further legislation was enacted re- quiring physicians or householders to report all cases of suspected contagious diseases to the Board of Health. It also provided for the estab- lishment of quarantine, and detailed penalties for violations.
In 1905 a bill was enacted providing for the establishment of a Laboratory of Hygiene and defining its duties.
In 1907 further legislation was enacted on the subjects of marriages, births, deaths, diseases and burial permits, and prescribed penalties for vio- lations. Also in this year the pure food and drug bill was placed upon the statute books. making the chemist of the State Board of Health a food and drug commissioner, and defining his duties, and placing the legal enforcement of this law under the supervision of the State Board of Health. Here, again, lack of funds have hin- dered the efficiency of the law.
In March, 1909, the Legislature passed an amendment to the former laws regulating the Board of Health. The duties of the State Board of Health are defined and increased. The name of the county health officer is changed to County
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Health Commissioner. He is to be elected on the first Tuesday in January, 1910, and every four years thereafter. "In every incorporated city there shall be a department of health com- posed of a board of three commissioners, not more than two of whom shall be of the same po- litical party, and at least two of whom shall be physicians well informed in hygiene and sanitary science, and who shall be appointed by the mayor of such incorporated city for the term of four years, and who shall be known as the City Board of Health."
SESSIONS OF THE INDIANA STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY AND ASSOCIATION.
After the formation of the society it was mi- gratory for a time, then was stationary at Indian- apolis for a number of years, and again became migratory.
The places of meeting were: 1849 to 1851, 1855 to 1864, 1866 to 1895, 1899, 1904, 1907 and 1911, at Indianapolis ; 1852, New Albany ; 1853 and 1898, Lafayette; 1854 and 1902, Evansville; 1865 and 1903, Richmond; 1900, Anderson ; 1901, South Bend; 1896 and 1910, Fort Wayne ; 1897 and 1909, Terre Haute; 1905, West Baden ; 1906, Winona Lake, and 1908, French Lick. Total: Forty-six times at Indianapolis and six- teen times at other cities.
The meetings were held either in May or June, except in 1862, when the Civil War interrupted, but a call session occurred the same year, Novem- ber 18 and 19. At the session held at French Lick in 1908 it was voted that hereafter meet- ings shall be held in the autumn.
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