USA > Indiana > Rush County > Centennial history of Rush County, Indiana, Volume I > Part 27
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CHAPTER XIII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
Rush county has been singularly and most happily favored, even from the days of the beginning of organ- ized society hereabout, by the high character and lofty standards of its medical profession. But it could not have been otherwise. The founder of the county seat, Dr. William B. Laughlin, not only was a skilled phy- sician, but a cultured gentleman in whose presence char- latanry and professional quackery could not survive. He was quickly followed by such other high-minded and cul- tivated physicians as Dr. H. G. Sexton, Dr. William Frame, Dr. Jefferson Helm, Dr. John Arnold, Dr. W. H. Martin and those of their type who similarly labored in the adjoining counties of Fayette and Franklin, and with an association of such men as these working in the public behalf the common run of medical quacks that were wont to batten on the pioneer communities where they could get a foothold simply did not dare to obtrude save in the most exceptional instances of effrontery such as that which the reader already has noted in the chapter on Bench and Bar, which relates how the pretentions of a pioneer "quack" were punctured on the witness stand in a case during an early term of court here. And such of these gentry as did come in did not remain long. Follow- ing these pioneers in the medical profession there natur- ally came others of the same high type and this exalted standard has been maintained throughout the century. For nearly seventy-five years an active organization of the Rush County Medical Society has been maintained and under the quiet, though none the less exemplary cen- sorship of such a society, there could be no let-down in the ethical standards behind which the medical profes-
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sion is marching on. The present membership of the Rush County Medical Society (J. T. Paxton, secretary) is as follows: L. M. Green. R. O. Kennedy, J. M. Lee, J. F. Bowen. M. C. Sexton. H. V. Logan, E. I. Wooden, D. D. VanOsdol, W. C. Smith. J. C. Sexton, F. H. Green, J. T. Paxton and F. H. Hackleman, of Rushville; E. L. Hume. W. T. Lampton and C. S. Houghland, of Milroy ; C. L. Smullen. of Raleigh ; H. P. Metcalf, of New Salem ; Doctors Me Vabb and Vandement, of Carthage: Doctor Barnett, of Homer, and A. G. Shauck, of Arlington. This, however, does not include all the physicians in the county. a few physicians remaining aloof from the asso- ciation. The General Assembly of 1897 enacted a law requiring the registration and licensing of Indiana physicians in the counties in which they maintained their practice, such licenses to be issued by the county clerk under the direction of the state board of medical registra- tion and examination. The question of whether an indi- vidual should be licensed to treat the sick is educational, and not sectarian. Hence the statute provides that the board "shall not in the establishment of the schedule of minimum requirements discriminate in favor of or against any school or system of practice, nor shall it pre- seribe what system or systems or schools of practice shall be taught in any of the colleges of universities or other educational institutions of the state." Therefore, no one is barred from obtaining a license to engage in the prac- tice of the healing art in Indiana on account of the school or system by which he practices. The issuing of a license is based solely upon the moral and educational fitness of the applicant. Practitioners not employing drugs in the treatment of human diseases are not required to submit to an examination in materia medica. A common exam- ination is given to all applicants only in the subjects that are in common taught by all schools or systems of prac- tice. Under the provisions of this act of March, 1897, the following persons have been granted licenses to prac-
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tice medicine in Rush county, the names taken from the records in the county clerk's office being set out in the order in which they are registered, some of these, of course, being the names of physicians who were then and perhaps had long been engaged in practice here: Ed- ward D. Beher, William C. Smith, William H. Smith, Ezra Bufkin, Frank H. Green, Edward I. Wooden, John G. Lewis, Charles H. Parsons, Charles H. Gilbert, Frank G. Hackleman, Harry J. Bell, Omar Magee, J. E. Mc- Gaughey, Alfred S. Hall, John H. Spurrier, Donald H. Dean, William A. Johnson, John Moffett, Andrew E. Graham, George B. Jones, Donald Kennedy, Charles L. Rea, Thomas H. Rucker, James L. W. L. Tevis, William T. Lampton, William S. Gordon, R. L. Hudelson, Henry P. Metcalf, Charles L. Smullen, Franklin W. Gregor, Lot Green, E. J. T. Paxton, Henry V. Logan, Hugh H. Elliott, Samuel C. Thomas, John A. Sipe, J. C. Dillon, Frank Smith, Henry G. Linn, Orlando S. Coffin, Will- iam N. McGee, Harry Eugene Wilcox, Holland P. Long, Joseph F. Bowen, William E. Barnum, O. P. Dillon, John D. Green, Lucian A. Lowden, Charles S. Hough- land, John H. Jones, William J. Porter, John C. Sexton, J. W. Shrout, Alpheus Marcellus Smith, J. Levi Lord, Roland T. Blount, Elmer M. Druley, James Garfield Put- nam, S. Gurney Kreider, F. J. Drake, Dawson D. Van- Osdal, Charles A. Guild, Joseph B. Kinsinger, J. W. Es- tes, LeRoy M. Coyner. R. H. Elliott, W. B. Gillespie, William W. Tindall, William Stoops Coleman, Andrew Robinson, Stuart Johnson, Charles A. Carter, Emerson Barnum, A. G. Shauck. E. Nave, Auldy Edward Phipps, Tell C. Waltermire, W. H. Dent, Earl Dayton Jewett, J. Raymond Hume, Lowell McKee Green, Roddie J. Hamilton, Justus C. Ferris, Merton A. Farlow, Carl By- ron McCord, Daniel Emmett Barnett, Ford Herman Fin- law, Caleb J. Horton, Albion J. Miller, Orvall Smiley, Henry P. Metcalf, Joseph Edward Walther, Roscoe N. Doyal, Robert Otis Kennedy, Carroll J. Tucker, George
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F. Lewis, John M. Lee, William J. Crozier, Marshall Cul- len Sexton, Robert Noel Bills and Edward L. Hume. Many of these names long have been honored in the com- munity. Many others are so unfamiliar as to suggest that they were perhaps those of young physicians who registered for practice here and then sought another field before they had created an individual impression in the local field. In 1899, the legislature enacted a law similar to that regulating the practice of medicine, covering the practice of dental surgery and requiring the registration and licensing of dentists. Since that time the following dentists have registered for license in the office of the county clerk: Jesse McGee, Frank M. Sparks, Frank Smith, F. R. Mcclanahan, C. C. Leming, Perly H. Chadwick, R. Basil Meek, Wallace G. Campbell. E. E. Stewart, John H. Muire, Carl Beher, George . Wyman. Warren A. Robinson, Henry Wilfred Kelly. Charles Kuhn, William A. Gant, Ernest F. VanOsdol, Charles S. Green, Charles W. Zike, Alex Ross, Hale H. Pearsey, George Walter Havens. Verl A. Bebout, Howard Thomas and Charles Ernest Eurit.
A REVIEW OF THE DAYS GONE BY
In an interesting review of the history of the Rush County Medical Society prepared for publication by the late Dr. William A. Pugh in 1879, there are set out in de- tail many points of informative interest relating to the medical profession in this county in an early day. Doc- tor Pugh was born in Rushville, in 1829, a son of Ren Pugh, one of the first settlers in the town, and was thus thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions here. In this review Doctor Pugh pointed out that "history fur- nishes no certain date as to the first medical organization in Rush county. While her first medical men were zeal- ous supporters of such institutions, and for many years belonged to district and to other societies, no organiza- tion confined exclusively to Rush county existed until
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about the year 1846. Prior to this date, Rush county was connected with Wayne, Union, Fayette, Franklin and Dearborn counties, forming what was called the Fifth Medical District of Indiana, taking its organization about 1828, and lasting about ten years. The meetings were held twice a year at Richmond, Connersville, Liberty, Brook- ville, Lawrenceburg and Rushville in turn, the members making the trip on horseback from their various points to the place of meeting. The prominent members of this society were men of merit, and of high professional stand- ing. In Fayette county there were Drs. Riland T. Brown, Philip Mason, G. R. Chitwood, Miller, Moffett and John Arnold. In Union county, Drs. Z. Custerline, Rose, Orpheus Everts, Sr. In Dearborn county, Dr. Brower. In Franklin, Drs. Heymond and Berry. In Rush county, Drs. W. B. Laughlin, Horatio G. Sexton, William Frame, Matthew Smith, Jefferson Helm, Ben Duncan and Will- iam Bracken. After the demise of this society, an or- ganization was effected under a special charter from the legislature of the state, possessing powers to examine and license candidates for the practice of medicine within the limits of the organization. This was called the Indiana Medical Institute, and embraced the counties mentioned above as constituting the Fifth District Medical Society. This institute was short-lived and inefficient, only main- taining a very feeble existence which terminated about the year 1844 or 1845. In 1846, the first medical society confining its jurisdiction to county lines was formed, and was called the Rush County Medical Society. Among the leading and working members of this society, we find the names of Drs. H. G. Sexton, William H. Martin, William Frame, William Bracken. John Howland and Jefferson Helm. Its juvenile members were Drs. James W. Green, Marshall Sexton, Erastus T. Bussell and Nathan Tompkins, all young men just entering upon pro- fessional life. Dr. John Howland was elected president at the organization, and Dr. Marshall Sexton, secretary.
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This society was the first to adopt and accept the Code of Ethics as published by the American Medical Association, which had just been organized. This first county society published this code of ethics in pamphlet form, and dis- tributed it liberally among the physicians and people of the county. The first board of censors were very liberal in their notions of professional qualifications, and conse- quently were rather lax in their examinations for mem- bership, admitting almost everyone applying. Many illiterate, inefficient, unskillful and unprofessional men were taken into its fold. It died of its own liberality, it fell of its own weight and ceased to have an existence shortly after 1850; and though its lease of life was short, there can be no doubt that it accomplished much good. It was the first to formulate regular medicine and sow the seeds of good principles of high professional attain- ments and of an honorable code among the medical men of the country. It had also the good effect of disseminat- ing among the people the same principles of justice be- tween physician and patient and between the public and the medical profession. In the year 1857, the following physicians of Rush county met in the court house, in the month of May, and organized the present society, calling the compact The Rush County Medical Society: H. G. Sexton, William Bracken, John Moffett, A. C. Dillon, James W. Green, John Arnold. John J. Dillon, Alvin Curley, JJ. H. . Spurrier, R. D. Mauzy, James Thompson and William A. Pugh. Dr. H. G. Sexton was chosen the first president and was annually elected to the same posi- tion until his death in 1865, a period of about eight years. Dr. John Moffett was at the same meeting chosen the re- cording secretary and was retained in the place until 1874, a period of seventeen years. For a period of three and a half years after its organization, the career of the Rush County Medical Society was in the highest degree satisfactory. Many scientific papers were read and dis- cussed, an increasing taste for literary and professional
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work was created, free discussions upon medical topics and careful preparation for society work incited the members. In addition to all, the secretary gave a very careful and close synopsis of the proceedings, papers and debates, filling quite a large volume.
"In the midst of this prosperity, the fire fiend vis- ited the town and included in its ravages the office of Dr. John Moffett with his whole library, the society records and everything belonging to it. At the December meet- ing in 1861, the secretary, Dr. Moffett, arose and made the following statement: 'Mr. President and Gentle- men : I have the unpleasant message to deliver to you this morning, that the entire records of this society were con- sumed in the late fire which occurred in Rushville. We think we can truthfully say, none can more than I regret the loss which has come upon us. Many scientific organ- izations before this one have met with similar disaster. The association has done much to promote the interests of the medical profession of Rush county and the com- munity in which it exists. For three years and a half it has held regular meetings, always having a sufficient attendance to constitute a quorum for business. Import- ant medical subjects have been closely examined, and ex- tended records of its proceedings were kept. This is all lost, so far as the latter is concerned, but I trust that most of us have treasured up in the storehouse of the memory the substantial doctrines which have been passed in re- view during the existence of our little band of medical brethren."
Doctor Pugh's recollections then go on to state that a rapid review of the work which had been accomplished was given from memory by the secretary, his remarks having been carefully written out for the purpose of read- ing to the society, and the paper was ordered to be spread upon the minutes, so that it should form an introduction to the new volume of transactions. After hearing the re- marks, Dr. W. A. Pugh offered a resolution to the effect
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that whereas the records and documents of the society having been destroyed, that "we now go into an entirely new organization, and that no members of the old society shall be considered as members of the new one now to be organized, who do not enter it in the regular consti- tutional way." The story then goes on to say that these resolutions having been unanimously adopted, Dr. H. G. Sexton. the president of the society, offered a new con- stitution which was adopted and the new society got on its way. From 1861 until 1876 the organization continued with an uninterrupted prosperity. In that year (1876) the State Medical Society made a very radical change in its organic union: and was organized upon a basis of representation, the members to consist of delegates sent by auxiliary county societies. After much hesitation and with much reluctance to change again, the Rush Medical Society unanimously agreed to become auxiliary to the State Medical Society. and at once changed its constitu- tion and by-laws so as to accord with the state organiza- tion. In his comments Doctor Pugh pointed out that "the scientific and literary work has been progressive, improving and of the highest order of merit. Several large volumes of transactions have been filled since the destruction by fire of the first one.
* * Monthly meetings are held on the first Monday of every month. and very few meetings have been missed in the entire existence of the society, which embraces in its member- ship almost every reputable practitioner of medicine in Rush county, and its influence for good is felt alike by the citizens and the profession. As a result of the work of this society. the community of Rushville and the differ- ent neighborhoods of the county have been remarkably free from the professional biekerings and jealousies so common to the profession of medicine. The unanimity and kindly feeling of Rush county physicians toward one another are admired by every one cognizant of the fact, and it is in a large measure attributed to the influence of
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the society upon its members." It is but proper to state that the fine spirit maintained by these "fathers" of the profession in Rush county has been maintained through the years and that there still is a most harmonious una- nimity prevailing in the councils of the society.
Regarding the pioneer physicians of the county Doctor Pugh had the following to say: "Rush county and Rushville were both named in honor of the renowned physician and philosopher of Philadelphia, Dr. Benja- min Rush, at the suggestion and through the influence of his admiring pupil and devoted friend, Dr. William B. Laughlin. Dr. Laughlin played an important part in the early settlement of the county. He surveyed the land, laid out the county seat, practiced medicine and exerted a great influence for good in the community. He was a man of fine classical education, of firm religious prin- ciples and of delicate and refined moral perceptions. These qualities marked him out as a leader in all good works, and gave to the society he assisted in organizing a high and pure moral tone. He was devoted to the cause of education, and, in 1828, opened a classical academy for instruction in the higher branches of education. He erected, at his own expense, on his own ground, a two- story frame building for this purpose. Many men, early prominent in the development of the county, among them Dr. John Arnold, received their early instruction at his hands. His high educational, religious and moral stand- ard had a decided effect in elevating the tone of the so- ciety in Rushville. There were also other physicians whose lives and labors were consecrated to the benefit of this county, and whose names must ever be intimately as- sociated with its development and progress. Dr. H. G. Sexton was the next physician to settle in Rushville, in 1823. He was young, energetic and ambitious, profoundly devoted to his profession, and ever striving to elevate the standard of its attainments. He was fully aware of the benefits of medical organizations, and would ride through
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the wilderness on horseback to attend a medical meeting at Indianapolis, Lawrenceburg, Brookville, or other equally distant points. When the legislature divided the state into medical districts, he was one of the first to come forward to organize the society of the Fifth Medical Dis- trict of Indiana. Dr. William Frame was the third physician to settle in Rushville. He was a cautions, pru- dent, skilful practitioner, and largely enjoyed the confi- dence of the community. He helped, by precept and example, to impart a high tone to society. Dr. W. H. Martin, though coming somewhat later, is justly entitled to rank as one of the pioneer physicians and public-spir- ited men who contributed largely to the development of the county. Dr. Jefferson Helm was a talented man of suave manners, who exerted a wide influence for good in the community. He bore his part in all private and pub- lic enterprises for the development of the resources of the county, and was the preceptor and first partner of Dr. John Arnold. Dr. Philip Mason, a giant in intellect, James Ford, Samuel Miller, David D. Hall, and the later justly celebrated geologist and teacher, Ryland T. Brown, all of Fayette county ; Drs. Daniel Cox, Cogeley and Rose, of Union; Dr. John Howland, of Franklin, and Dr. Pen- nington, of Wayne county, were the members of the Fifth Medical District from the counties other than Rush in the vear 1836. All these labored to develop the truths of medical science, and all made an impression for good on those surrounding them. The devotees of medical science have always contributed their quota to the general amount of human knowledge, and we see how closely con- nected the medical profession is to the people in all prog- ress in science, education and material prosperity."
SOME SIDELIGHTS ON THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE
In view of the fact that some newspapers of current date continue to print "patent" medicine advertisements it perhaps is hardly proper to refer to the weird an-
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nouncements of the manufacturers of "cure-alls" which were carried in the newspapers of the '50s, as noted in the files of the local newspapers preserved in the county recorder's office. Human credulity was played upon then, even as now, and the shelves of the druggists were lined with "remedies" of many sorts, the flashy titles of which evidently caught the fancy of the ignorant and credulous of that day. It is apparent from a glance at the advertising columns of the newspapers of those days that a good portion of the revenue of the papers was de- rived from these "cure-all" manufacturers. The physi- cians of that day, too, were a bit more free to approach the people through the columns of the newspapers than would be regarded as strictly ethical today. In the col- umns of the Rushville Republican in the spring of 1857, over the signature of J. C. B. Wharton, there is the fol- lowing: "Dr. Wharton would say to his old friends and patrons that he expects to be absent from home for the space of three or four months for the purpose of further investigation upon all the different departments of his profession, at the expiration of which time if his life and health be spared, he expects to return to Milroy and as- sume the practice of medicine as heretofore." Then fol- lows a paragraph of instructions regarding the settlement of accounts due him. In May, 1860, a notice states that "the Rush County Medical Society convenes at Manilla next Monday. The public is respectfully invited to at- tend. There will be an address suited to the public ear." This notice is signed by John Moffett, secretary. In August of the same year it is announced that "Newton Harris, a young dentist, has permanently established himself in practice over P. W. Rush's drug store." In November of that year there is a story to the effect that "the scarlet fever is prevailing to a considerable extent among the children of this place. It has proved fatal in but very few instances. The people of Washington town- ship are suffering from diphtheria, or putrid sore throat.
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It seems to be raging to a fearful extent in the north- eastern part of the county. We hear of one person who has lost four children. another, three, while many others lost from one to two during the past eight or ten days." In November, 1861, Dr. John Moffett, secretary of the society. in an announcement of the coming meeting of the Rush County Medical Society. sets out for the benefit of the members that "the subject of 'Tuberculosis' is being discussed: a matter of interesting moment when it is known that one-seventh of the total mortality is owing to its wasting effects in a large portion of the civilized world. * * The interest of the society requires every member to be found in his place so far as will comport with professional duties. * * It is well known that there are many subjects in medical science undergoing revolu- tions day by day, which creates the necessity for the prac- titioner to be active in the study of medicine to keep him- self familiar with the latest teachings and most approved methods of treatment of disease. Then it is unnecessary to urge upon any member of the association the fulfill- ment of the imperative obligation which has been assumed voluntarily." In the spring of 1868 the newspapers car- ried stories of the prevalence of "spotted fever" in the community. Comment was made that "this dangerous disease seems to be doing great damage in our community. It has been contended that the disease is not contagious, but it is giving the appearance of being so." In the spring of 1872 the paper carried quite a story regarding the soy- enteenth annual meeting of the Rush County Medical Society and points out regarding this society that "its career has been one of unprecedented success. It has steadily grown in strength and usefulness and is now one of the oldest and most efficient county organizations in the state. The monthly meetings are regularly kept up and well attended, and no one is allowed to go by without an essay. report of case or cases, and a discussion upon some medical topic. * * Each year has been marked by
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progress in the character of its papers, as to their literary and scientific merits; as, also, the marked improvement of members in being able to discuss the various subjects which come up for consideration. We are told that the productions of this body will compare favorably with similar documents in the state society. Some people have the very foolish impression that the only object of this and similar associations is to arrange fee-bills and con- coct plans whereby to swindle people by extravagant and extortionate charges for professional services. This so- ciety eschews all such unholy motives, and, as will be seen by the above narrative of its objects and doings, it de- votes the whole meetings to matters which mutually im- prove its members and thereby add to their own personal knowledge and usefulness, and hence, is for the benefit of the community at large." Along in the early '90s at- tention began to be paid to the necessity of public sanita- tion, and in April, 1893, W. C. Smith, city health officer, gave notice, through the Rushville papers, of the impera- tive necessity resting upon all to observe the ordinance against acts contrary to approved sanitary practices, pointing out that "no dead animals, slops, waste or trash shall be thrown in alleys or streets." and also that no hog pens would be permitted within the city limits "unless perfectly clean." The annual report of Dr. Lot Green, secretary of the county board of health, published in Jan- uary, 1894, gave the following statistics for the preceding year: Births, 265; marriages, 146; deaths, 101; conta- gious diseases, 46. In the spring of 1902, the newspapers called attention to the fact that the death rate in March in Rushville was 12.9 per 100; Rush county, 16.3, as against the average for the state of Indiana of 14.2. Evidently the ordinance designed to create better sani- tary conditions in the city was not being observed as it should have been, for in the spring of 1905 Dr. W. C. Smith, city health officer, declared his intention in a pub- lic announcement through the newspapers to enforce the
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