USA > Indiana > A Medical History of the State of Indiana > Part 3
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ville, Ky .; Samuel A. Cartwright, of Natchez, and others. Dr. Cartwright probably exercised more influence over the physicians here, as he was raised in this state not more than twenty- five miles from Vincennes. He was an able writer and was well calculated to please those who were inclined to adopt a bold and active treatment, as most western and southern physi -- cians were at that time. He bled freely, but placed his greatest reliance upon large doses of calomel. From 20 to 100 grains were his favor- ite doses, and he claimed that the medicine was much milder in its action when given in large doses than in small ones. His formula for chol- era was 10 grains each of calomel, capsicum and camphor gum, repeated every half-hour. Dr. Hitt, of this city, informs me that he employed this treatment in the cholera here. His treat- ment of apoplexy was so very singular that I will briefly refer to it. He claimed that the immediate cause of death in apoplexy was the accumulation of phlegm in the air passages, in consequence of the failure of the pneumogastric and phrenic nerves to properly stimulate the respiratory muscles, and, therefore, the patient died, asphyxiated. Bleeding, he contended, only increased the difficulty, and he relied entirely on what he termed apophlegmatics, which consisted of capsicum 10 grains, mustard 10 grains, com- mon salt 10 grains, and calomel 10 grains, to be crammed down the patient's throat with a cloth wrapped around a stick, to be repeated until
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there was free vomiting and purging. In old persons I have seen the remedy act exceedingly well."
Another article bearing upon the very early medical history of Indiana is that by Hubbard M. Smith, M.D., Vincennes (Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1906), which is herewith reproduced :
CHAPTER III.
MEDICINE IN THE NORTHWESTERN TERRITORY : A CONTRIBUTION TO THE EARLY MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
"At the first annual meeting of the Sec- ond District Medical Society of Indiana, it occurred to me that it would not be inappro- · priate for its members to take a retrospect of the doings of our coadjutors, in their lines of action, about a century ago.
"The first medical society organized in the Northwestern Territory, wrested from the Brit- ish government by Col. George Rogers Clark on Feb. 25, 1779, occurred in Vincennes, Ind. The exact date is not positively known, but I know for a fact that its origin was prior to the year 1818. Goodspeed, in a history of Knox County, published twenty years ago, states that, 'in 1817, the physicians of this place met and formed a medical society.' Presumably, a so- ciety was then, or at an earlier period, formed, for I have evidence, obtained from a newspaper published in this town in 1818, in a call, printed therein, for a meeting of a medical society in that year, and my recollection is that Drs. Din- widdie and Truesdale were members. No known records of this society exist.
"Another society was organized here in 1827, and, on June 5, elected the following officers, viz .: Drs. E. McNamee, president; J. Kuyken-
!
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dall, treasurer, and H. Decker, secretary. Pres- ent: Drs. J. D. Wolverton, J. K. O'Haver and Philip Barton. This society bore the title, 'The Medical Society of the First Medical District of Indiana.'
"It will thus be seen that the name of this so- ciety was almost identical with our new district organization. The extent of territory the society embraced I know not, but it doubtless was as great as that of this organization. The member- ship embraced the names of the following doc- tors, towit : Philip Barton, G. G. Barton, Joseph Brown, G. G. Barry, B. J. Batty, Hiram Decker, H. Davidson, W. Dinwiddie, John W. Davis, James P. DeBruler, A. Elliott, William Fair- hurst, W. W. Hitt, Hezekiah Holland, R. B. Jessup, J. Kuykendall, Alexander Leslie, E. Mc- Namee, Joseph Maddox, F. M. McJenkin, N. Mears, John R. Mantle, Thomas Nesbit, J. K. O'Haver, T. F. Offutt, Joseph Porter, J. W. Posey, J. W. Pennington, Joseph Somers, Daniel Stahl, J. S. Sawyer, O. G. Stuart, G. B. Shu- mard, Hubbard Madison Smith, Thomas B. Thompson, J. D. 'Wolverton, W. C. Warner and Daniel Dinwiddie.
"By a reference to the records of this society some interesting facts are gleaned, not the least important of which is that of the existence at that time-1827-of a state medical organiza- tion. If I mistake not, the state medical society, organized in 1849, is supposed to have been the first state organization, which is an error. To controvert that opinion, I herewith quote from
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the Transactions of the Vincennes Medical Dis- trict Society the following:
"'This society proceeded to elect delegates of the State Medical Society, which resulted in the clection of Drs. J. D. Wolverton, for three years ; Hiram Decker, for two years, and Philip Barton, for one year.
"'Resolved, That this society do allow the sum of ten dollars to the delegate or delegates an- nually to the state medical society.'
"And, in 1830, a like sum was appropriated for expenses of delegates. These records estab- lish the fact that a state medical society existed as early as June 5, 1827, and perhaps earlier, and the one organized in 1849 was the second state society.
"Goodspeed's history of this society states that there was no standard pharmacopeia in the United States at that time, and that it sent a memorial to Congress to appoint a committee of competent physicians to compile one. This dis- trict medical society continued to hold meetings that were recorded up to March 23, 1835, and occasionally meetings occurred as late as 1854, of which the writer is cognizant, as he became a member of it in May, 1849, and knows of the admission of Dr. George B. Shumard in June following, and Dr. Robert B. Jessup in Febru- ary, 1854, as the treasurer's book shows; yet no records are known to exist recording the doings at the meetings subsequent to March, 1835. It is worthy to note in giving the medical history, especially concerning the physicians of this med- ical district and town of Vincennes, that an at-
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tempt was made to establish a medical school here in 1839. The charter of the Vincennes University, granted by the Territorial Legisla- tive General Assembly, gave it authority to es- tablish branches, besides literature, those of the- ology, law and medicine; and, although I find no record in the transactions of the University Board of Trustees, in a petition recorded there, from the physicians asking for the use of a part of its building, in which to teach medicine and its branches. The right to the ownership of the building being in controversy between the uni- versity and the State of Indiana, the petition was not granted, and the project fell through, and no further record of it exists.
"In looking over records of this society, I find little in them worthy of note. With the excep- tion of one paper presented by Dr. W. W. Hitt, which was ordered to be forwarded to the Medi- cal and Physical Journal, edited by Dr. Drake, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and to the Transylvania Medical Journal, Lexington, Ky., for publica- tion, there is little more than routine meetings recorded, embracing the elections of officers, granting diplomas, at $5.00, and a good deal about contributions, by-laws and medical ethics. Why the transactions were not recorded after March, 1835, is a matter of conjecture. As a matter of fact I know personally that members were received into the society as late as February, 1854, the members being the writer, in May, 1849; Dr. G. B. Shumard, June, 1849, and Dr. Robert B. Jessup, February, 1854.
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
"This district society having ceased to have a vital existence, a call was issued for a meeting, at the city hall, of the physicians of Knox Coun- ty, June 24, 1875, when the 'Knox County Med- ical Society' was organized, the following named physicians being present: F. W. Beard, A. J. Thomas, James F. Origan, Hubbard M. Smith, J. W. Pugh, W. W. Hitt, W. H. Wise, W. B. Sprinkle, O'Connel Fairhurst, J. N. Merritt, A. J. Haughton, Alfred Reel, John C. Beever, John R. Mantel, W. B. Harris, and M. Witherspoon.
"This society became affiliated with the state medical society, and maintained its organization until it was adopted by the new state organiza- tion.
"On Oct. 26, 1875, a new medical society was organized in this city, composed of physicians of the States of Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana, under the title of the Tri-State Medical Society. The organization elected the following officers : Drs. Joseph Thompson, Kentucky, president; W. A. Smith, Illinois, J. K. Letcher, Kentucky, and J. B. Armstrong, Indiana, vice-presidents; Geo. W. Burton, Indiana, corresponding secretary; F. W. Beard, Indiana, secretary, and Alfred Pat- ton, Indiana, treasurer. Other attending mem- bers were: Drs. John R. Mantel, Hubbard Mad- ison Smith, Willis W. Hitt, John C. Beever, William H. Beeson, Robert B. Jessup, Vin- cennes ; J. S. Dukate, Wheatland; John T. Free- land, Freelandsville, and Martin Witherspoon, Bruceville. These three states comprised origi- nally the scope of the society, but it permitted physicians of other states to join it, and in a few
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years its numbers had so increased, and become so cosmopolitan in character, that it lost its iden- tity, and assumed that of Mississippi Valley Medical Association. After meeting a few times in the states it originally comprised, it met in St. Louis, and thereafter in many distant states, and the new organization soon rivaled in mem- bership and power, almost, the American Medi- cal Association.
"About eight years ago another district medi- cal society was organized, which was composed of physicians of the counties of Knox, Daviess, Pike and Gibson, but it has been superseded by this, the Second Congressional District Medical Society.
"The foregoing may be considered as prosy matter, but, as it embraces concise early infor- mation. as to the time of the formation of the first medical society of the northwest, and the names of some of its members, and the medical organization following, to the present time, es- pecially as it relates to societies in county and district; yet I give it as a matter of medical history for the present, as well as for those doc- tors who will take our places in the coming years that it may be a matter of record ere time rele- gates the facts embraced herein to the vale of oblivion."
CHAPTER IV.
EARLY MEDICAL HISTORY OF ALLEN COUNTY.
Some of the early medical history of north- eastern Indiana is given in an article by H. P. Ayers, M.D., of Fort Wayne (Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1874), enti- tled, "The Medical History of Allen County." The article is deemed worthy of reproduction in its entirety :
"The first white doctors who visited the site of Allen County were connected with the soldiers, traders and missionaries in the early part of the last century, but their names have not descended to the present generation. The first whose name is now known, was Dr. Curtis, who visited Fort Wayne in 1810, but was as much an Indian trader as a physician.
"The same year Dr. Turner, who was con- nected with the United States Army, visited this place, and remained about one year.
"Dr. Benezet, who was connected with the army, came in 1811.
"In 1812 Dr. Crow, with Dr. Vorees, United States Army surgeon, reported for duty at this place. He accompanied a party of twelve men some miles north, where they were attacked by Indians, and all killed but the doctor, who proved too fleet for his red pursuers.
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"In 1815 Dr. Treat, who was also attached to the United States Army, relieved the former surgeon. He was, as I have learned from some of our oldest citizens, a most excellent man and physician, and by his urbanity and kindness en- deared himself to all who knew him. He was ordered to Savannah, where he died, much re- gretted by all.
"Dr. Smith, a volunteer surgeon, visited Fort Wayne in 1817 with a rifle company. He was from Lancaster, Ohio, and remained till 1818.
"In 1818 Dr. Uphane, from Canada, located in Fort Wayne, but only lived a short time, and was buried here.
"In 1818 or 1819 Dr. Benjamin Cushman moved to this place, and commenced the regular practice of medicine, and may properly be con- sidered the first resident physician. Dr. Cush- man has left a good reputation as a practitioner of medicine. He came from Richmond, Ind., but of his previous history I have not been able to learn anything. He died about 1839.
"Dr. L. G. Thompson was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, in 1803, and moved to Fort Wayne in 1825. He graduated in Ohio Medical College in 1837 and died in 1845. Dr. Thomp- son was the second resident pioneer physician in Fort Wayne, and commenced his practice about 1821. He proved himself to be an able and skil- ful man, and has many friends yet living who bear the most ample testimony to the assertion. His excellence of character did not consist alone in his medical abilities, but as a friend, a neigh- bor and citizen. He had few superiors. To the
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poor he was always kind. Dr. Thompson may be ranked among the best in his profession and as a valuable citizen in all the departments of society. His name will ever be associated with the early history of our city.
"In 1834 Dr. Lewis Beecher, a graduate of Fairfield Medical School, New York, located in Fort Wayne. Dr. Beecher was a man of fine abilities, and soon entered an extensive and valu- able practice in medicine and surgery. He con- tinued in his profession until 1841, when he abandoned it and engaged in the sale of drugs and medicines until his death, which occurred in 1849.
"Dr. P. G. Jones commenced the practice of medicine in our city in 1834, and died in 1853 from dissipation. Dr. Jones was a graduate of Maryland University, in Baltimore, Md. He was a volunteer surgeon during the Mexican war and served faithfully until its close .* He possessed a mind of more than ordinary ability and was a close observer of men and things. He abandoned the practice several years before his death.
"In 1842 Dr. Bernard Sevenick emigrated from Prussia and made Fort Wayne his home. He had been a surgeon in Bonaparte's army and served during several campaigns under that great commander, and continued, during life, to main- tain a martial bearing in all he did. He was gentlemanly and polite in all his intercourse and took great pleasure in maintaining the dignity of his profession. He died in 1849.
* Assistant Surgeon, Fifth Indiana Volunteer Regiment. -G. W. H. K.
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"Dr. B. C. Rowan settled in Fort Wayne in 1842. He was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1817, and died in Fort Wayne in 1862. Dr. Rowan graduated at the University of New York in 1847. In 1862 he entered the Army of the Cumberland. During the evacua- tion of Corinth he contracted disease, which caused his death soon after. He was esteemed and respected by all who knew him. Frank, unobtrusive and honorable, he was rapidly gain- ing a high position as a physician and man. He left many who yet regret his death and feel that he was too early cut down.
"Dr. Banks was born in Cincinnati Ohio; graduated at Louisville Medical College, Louis- ville, Ky .; commenced the practice of medicine at Fort Wayne, 1844. He continued here four years, when ill health compelled him to retire from the hard labor of riding. During 1849 and 1850 he resided in Cincinnati, where he died. Dr. Banks was an active, energetic man, and his prospects of success were flattering, but disease too soon seized him, and death too soon cut him off.
"Dr. J. Dailey graduated at Jefferson College, Philadelphia, and settled in this city in 1846, where he died in 1864. Dr. Dailey had all the mental ability for high attainments, but sacri- ficed all to intemperance.
"Dr. H. J. Weihmer was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1799; graduated in Berlin, Prussia, in 1827; emigrated to the United States in 1838; became a resident of Fort Wayne in 1847, and died in 1859. Dr. Weihmer was gentleman-
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
ly and affable in all his intercourse with others, and had many warm and admiring friends. He was a successful and careful practitioner of med- icine, and has left a large circle of admirers who yet speak of his worth.
"This completes the sketch of white physicians so far as we can ascertain, but we think it would be an unfinished task did we omit all reference to Indian doctors.
"Dr. Buck-on-ga-helas was largely engaged in the practice of medicine in Fort Wayne in 1804. He was physician and surgeon to Little Turtle, the great commander of the Miami tribe of In- dians. He acquired a great reputation in the cure of bites by poisonous snakes, but more par- ticularly from poisoned arrows then used among the Indians. His practice, however, was not confined to the Indians, but was quite extensive among the white inhabitants.
"In 1807 an Indian named Ma-te-a acquired some celebrity as a doctor, and was employed by many of the French settlers in preference to any other. It may be interesting to many to refer briefly to some of the appliances of the Indian doctor in the treatment of disease.
"The Indian doctors to whom I have referred were sharp, shrewd Indians and well acquainted with all the resources of the materia medica. Some physicians remember the days of doctors' saddle-bags, and perhaps some are yet compelled to use them. The Indian's medicine bag was made up in the same way ladies now make their needle cases. Several pockets of leather were fastened by thongs to a long strip of buckskin
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six or eight inches wide and the length accord- ing to the wishes of the doctor; each pocket was closed by strings on the top of the pocket. Each pocket was filled with certain roots, herbs, charms, according to the extent of the doctor's knowledge, and then hung over the right breast ; or, when he traveled, it was folded up and car- ried as a large roll. Army surgeons, under civ- ilized regulations, examine the mental and physi- cal fitness for military service, but under Indian regulations the surgeon's duty was to prepare the young warrior for duty by a spiritual prepa- ration and also furnish him with a war medi- cine. The former was accomplished by sweat- ing, bathing and eating bitter herbs and roots; the latter by the physician placing in the young warrior's shot-pouch a 'war physic' or 'war medi- cine,' which was to protect him against all the accidents and ills of warfare. The prescription was bones of a snake and wild cat; the modus operandi, or rationale of the charm, I need not give. But to our subject more particularly. In- dian doctors possessed a considerable knowledge of the medicinal virtues of plants and their ap- plicability to the poisons of reptiles, poisonous arrows, and the diseases incidental to savage life. But many of their efforts consisted only in incantations and juggleries. The doctor would usually dress and paint himself in the most grotesque and frightful form, and then with a great variety of contortions of the body approach his patient. He would breathe on him, blow in his face, squirt medicine in his mouth and nose; rattle beans or pebbles in a dry gourd over him,
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
at the same time keeping up the most horrid gesticulations and noises to frighten away the disease. After thus making his professional visit, he would retire to await the result of his effort. One peculiarity more: The Indian doc- tor would sometimes, after compounding his po- tion, drink it that he might thus cure his patient, a custom which, we think, would be highly re- pugnant to civilized doctors. I can not perhaps close this outline of the medical history of this section of the State of Indiana better than by quoting a few lines from 'Hiawatha':
"'Then the medicine-men; the Medas, The magicians, the Wabenos, And the Tossakuds, the prophets, Came to visit Hiawatha ; Built a Sacred Lodge beside him, To appease him, to console him, Walked in silent, grave procession, Bearing each a pouch of healing, Skin of beaver, lynx, or otter, Filled with magic roots and simples, Filled with very potent medicines- Then a magic drink they gave him.'"
CHAPTER V.
MEDICAL MEN IN THE EARLY DAYS OF INDIAN- APOLIS .- EARLY MEDICAL HISTORY OF EASTERN INDIANA.
Dr. W. H. Wishard read before the Marion County Medical Society, Dec. 6, 1892, a paper on the above subject, published in The Indiana Medical Journal, vol. xi, page 199, from which extracts are made .* His paper comprises the first fifteen years of history, 1821 to 1836.
"Dr. Samuel G. Mitchell, a native of Ken- tucky, located in Indianapolis in April, 1821. He was the first physician to locate in our capi- tal city. He was a licensed practitioner and had never attended lectures.
"Dr. Isaac Coe was the second physician to locate in Indianapolis, in May, 1821. He was a native of New Jersey. Besides being a conscien- tious practitioner and indefatigable in his labors, he helped to organize the first church and first Sunday school in the city. His remains repose in Crown Hill Cemetery by the side of his wife.
"Dr. Livingston Dunlap came from the State of New York in July, 1821. He and Dr. Mitchell formed a medical partnership, the first medical firm in the city. Dr. Dunlap ranked high as a physician and surgeon. He was in especial de- mand as a consultant. He was councilman from
* See also State Transactions, 1893, p. 16.
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his ward in 1834. He was physician of the Deaf and Dumb Institution for several years, and was postmaster from 1845 to 1849. He was elected professor of theory and practice in 1849 at the organization of the first medical college in Indianapolis. He practiced in the city for 41 years, and at the date of his death, in 1862, was the senior physician. He was the first per- manent president of the State Medical Conven- tion, presiding at the session of 1849.
"Dr. Scudder located in Indianapolis in 1821, and died there in 1829. He was regarded as an excellent physician and a Christian gentleman. "Dr. Jonathan Cool, a native of New Jersey, located in Indianapolis in August, 1821. He was a graduate of an eastern medical college. He received an appointment as surgeon in the United States Army, and for some time was sta -. tioned at the barracks at Newport, Ky. He be- came so intemperate that few would trust him, and died in 1840.
"Dr. Charles McDougle, a native of Ohio, came to Indianapolis in 1828. He formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Dr. Dunlap, who married McDougle's sister. In 1832 he received an appointment of surgeon in the United States Army, in which capacity he won distinction. When Dr. Wishard met him at Pittsburg Landing in 1862, he was medical di- rector of General Grant's army. He died in Virginia about 1884.
"Dr. John L. Mothershead, a native of Ken- tucky and a graduate of the Transylvania Medi- cal College, located in Indianapolis in 1830 and
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
formed a partnership with Dr. Mitchell. Later he was associated with Dr. Sanders, and still later with Dr. Bullard. He died in November, 1854. He was regarded as a successful practi- tioner .*
"Dr. John H. Sanders (1791-1850) was a na- tive of Bourbon County, Kentucky. In the fall of 1819 he rode to Philadelphia on horseback, where he attended his first course in medicine. On his return in 1820, he located in his native county, and soon became the leading surgeon of all that region of the state. In 1823 he gradu- ated at Lexington, Ky. In the winter of 1829- 30 he came to Indianapolis, and soon afterward formed a partnership with Dr. Mothershead. In 1839 he moved to Missouri, but returned to In- dianapolis in 1841, where he continued to reside until his death, April 4, 1850. His last partner `was Dr. P. H. Jameson. He ranked high as a surgeon."t
EARLY HISTORY OF EASTERN INDIANA
In a paper on this subject, Dr. Joel Penning- ton, of Milton (Transactions of the Indiana State Medical Society, 1873) has the following to say :
"I settled in the village of Milton (my pres- ent place of residence) in October, 1825. The town consisted of seven families. We resided during the winter in 10x12 cabins, with
* See State Transactions, 1855, p. 76.
t "His oldest daughter. Zerelda G., married Gov. David Wallace, Dec. 26, 1836, and became the stepmother of Gen. Lew Wallace, and later so well known as Mother Wallace, the apostle of temperance and reform."-Autobiography of Lew Wallace, vol. 1, p. 45 .- G. W. H. K.
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MEDICAL HISTORY OF INDIANA.
puncheon floors, clapboard roofs, stick and clay chimneys and ample fireplaces. We passed the winter very comfortably; had a full supply of all the substantials of life at low figures com- pared with present prices.
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