USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A History of Van Buren County, Michigan: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its. > Part 40
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"The value of vaccination must be admitted by every sane mind as a preventive of smallpox. In well vaccinated Germany but one person a year in every million dies of smallpox. In Eng- land, where vaccination is general but not universal, twenty per- sons in a million die of the disease. In the Philippine Islands in certain districts where there had been 6,000 deaths annually be- fore vaccination, one year after its completion Dr. Victor G. Heiser reports that not a single death from smallpox has been known.
"In the comparative restricted field of military medicine alone
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we have but to recall the awful scourge of typhoid fever in the camp at Chickamauga and contrast with it the army reports of today to recognize the astounding progress of twelve years. In the Spanish War hardly a regiment escaped typhoid and the death rate among the affected was appalling. In the division now in Texas living for two months under canvass in a rain soaked coun- try, there has been one case, a civilian, not protected by vaccina- tion against typhoid. Thus by our vaccines and serums, our hy- gienic and sanitary precautions and by the alert watchfulness of specially trained physicians we are able to prevent epidemics, and how has our mortality decreased."
The practitioner of medicine saves lives one at a time, and right noble is his calling. But is it not infinitely wiser to prevent the pollution by sewage of a stream supplying a city of a million than to fight that pollution in the bodies of 10,000 innocent victims of filth ? Is it not better far to prevent the pollution of our food, houses, vehicles and streets from tuberculosis than to spend mil- lions on treatment and then see our loved ones die by the tens of thousands? Is it not cheaper to spend a hundred million of dol- lars and rid our country of every mosquito than to see business wither at flood-tide under blighting grip of yellow fever. and our kindred and friends perish from the pest. while malaria takes its yearly tribute of thousands of lives in our country and destroys the earning power to the extent of probably $50,000,000 an- nually and perhaps double that ? Shall we not vaccinate all our people at a cost of 25 cents each rather than leave some hundreds to die annually, and some other hundreds of thousands to be branded with scars? Vaccination, with re-vaccination until the susceptibility to vaccine is exhausted is an absolute protection from an attack of smallpox, but there is no known remedy which in any way modifies the disease once it is well started.
Of no less importance to mankind is the wonderful discovery of diphtheritic anti-toxin. In this country more than 100,000 lives are saved annually by the use of this serum.
We shall better estimate the value of disease prevention in our time by considering the losses which the human race has in the past sustained by reason of the non-existence of an adequate and scientific prevention. Take for example the bubonic plague some times called "Black Death," or the "Great Mortality" which is said to be the most dreadful calamity ever visited upon mankind. It is said that when the plague visited London it killed 50,000 peo- ple in one year. In Constantinople there were daily more than 10,000 victims. One third the population of Persia is said to have been bestroyed by it and one half the population of Europe was destroyed by this disease in the 14th century. But of the great
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destroyers of mankind none has ever been comparable with tuber- culosis-"Great White Plague." It is killing 5,000,000 people in the world every year. However, tuberculosis no longer claims its victims in these days unchallenged as those who contract it are not abandoned as hopeless cases for many in the incipiency of the disease recover. But the cry on all sides is not so much how to cure it as how to prevent it. How to stamp it out.
The recent causation of the hookworm disease has likewise been found to have its origin in soil pollution and stagnant waters in a similar manner to that of typhoid as it is an intestinal disease, and now that the cause of this disease is known the spread of it will doubtless soon be under control.
Of late years, much interest has been manifested in prevention and cure of one of the most fatal diseases when once infected of any of the contagions, that of tetanus. No doubt the unsuccess- fulness of the serum treatment of this disease is largely due to the fact that the treatment is not used sufficiently early. The physi- cians need the co-operation of legislative bodies in accomplishing a sane Fourth of July, thus doing away with source of infection of a large percentage of this disease.
Above we deem sufficient to give the reader some idea of the advancement in medical research in the last few years among in- fectious and contagious diseases, although many more might be enumerated.
The one thing we have done well in the last few years is devel- oping of the preventive side of medicine, the triumph of which we have above mentioned. How is this accomplished? One of the most encouraging features of modern civilization is the gen- eral interest which is being aroused in the matter of healthful and hygienic methods of living. All these advances have been the re- sult of agitation and education among the laity, by the progressive physician. Hygienic measures and varied environment have cer- tainly replaced much of the drugging which was the only recourse in former years, but it must be borne in mind that these by them- selves have by no means covered the whole treatment of disease as is sometimes fondly imagined, nor do they justify us in withhold- ing other therapeutic agents, already well approved by experience in conjunction with them.
Within the last few years there have arisen several non-drug branches of the healing art, such as chiropractic, osteopathy, new thought, Emmanuel movement, magnetic healing, Christian science and other cults or "pathies," nearly all of which could be classed under the head of psycho-therapy or mind cure and massage; each and every one of which has an element of truth on which it bases its claims and in functional troubles, and to some extent in
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organic disease, exerts a curative effect. Also infra-red and ultra- violet rays as curative agencies are receiving considerable recogni- tion.
Someone says: "One of the most important relationships be- tween the medical profession and citizenship at large exists in the carefully planned and properly carried out system of medical supervision of school children. The influence that physical defects have upon retardation in school work is becoming well recognized. It is a lamentable fact that many school children are unjustly ad- judged of being mentally deficient, or dull and backward, when in fact this deficiency is due to remedial physical defects. It is a deplorable fact that thirty per cent of all school children are suf- fering from diseases of the eye."
Dr. Stanley Hall says: "What shall it profit a child if he gain the whole world of knowledge and lose his own health ?" The thinking mind, the equipped mind, and the healthy body are the three things necessary to make the ideal life, and the greatest of these is the healthy body. Our law makers are beginning to rec- ognize the necessity of legislation along these lines. Already a man who risks the spread of tuberculosis and other pulmonary dis- cases hy expectoration in public places is amenable to law. The treatment of children's diseases is now eminently a matter of en- couraging national reaction. Air is admitted in abundance, chil- dren are properly fed, and they are taught the importance of cleanliness. "Children should be warned against open fruit and candy stands on streets, street soda fountain, open waffle wagons. hokey-pokey ice-cream, and the public drinking cup. House- wives should not buy foods in open, fly-invested markets or those exposed to street dust, flies, animals and promiscuous public handling. Investigate your milkman, your baker, your ice man and your marketman. Know where your ice cream is made and how." These are a few of the instructions of Michigan Board of health.
We are becoming forcibly acquainted with the facts of the per- nicious character of flies in spreading disease, and are being aroused to the great necessity of destroying them. No longer can we patiently tolerate the little pests good naturedly. Toleration in the matter is a deadly error of omission. We must wage an active warfare upon them in the name of humanity. Never drive a fly from a sick-room but swat him on the spot.
SURGERY
As to surgery which is probably one of the most fascinating di- visions of the work of a physician, two prominent discoveries were made during the period which we cover that revolutionized the
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practice of surgery, namely, anaesthesia and antisepsis. The first abolished pain as a disturbing element during operative proced- ures, and the second prevented suppuration during the healing process. Together they effect a painless operation and rapid heal- ing of the wound. Operations that a half century ago were un- thought of and even unthinkable on account of their danger, are daily performed with the most absolute success. The surgeon of today enters and explores the abdominal cavity with as little hes- itancy as he would amputate a toe or finger. The battle field of the late wars bear positive proof of the advancement in surgery. The mortality from wounds being only about one-sixth of that of the wars of a half century ago.
Probably no recent discovery has aroused more interest or curi- osity in the people of the world than the discovery by Roentgen of Germany in 1895 of the X-ray which is a kind of light produced by electricity and is capable of penetrating wood, flesh, and other organic substances. Practical use of the rays is made in looking within the body so as to determine by sight the condition of the bones and the location of substances imbedded in the flesh. As an adjunct for diagnostic purposes in both medicine and surgery it has proved a wonderful aid. In fractures and dislocations, in lo- cating foreign bodies, in the treatment of some types of skin dis- eases and cancer, and in the examination of many of the internal organs its value is beyond dispute.
THE COUNTRY PHYSICIAN AND TRAINED NURSE
The country physician is compelled to handle nearly the entire field of work without assistance. Not even a trained nurse. He usually finds his most difficult cases many miles from help, and nine times out of ten too poor to obtain a nurse or extra physician. Consequently the country physician has to "strip off and sail in." He handles the compound fracture as readily as would a whole hospital staff. He comes out as successfully with his transverse or face presentation as the best of the maternity hospital. And many other such cases he handles alone which the city doctor would not undertake without a trained nurse and an extra physician. One of the most valuable accessories in recent years to the success- ful handling of disease is the trained nurse. Not a few people could bear witness to the fact that they owe their lives to the untiring efforts of the faithful nurse. Only the physician can appreciate at full value her assistance, who during the critical hours, or days or weeks faithfully cares for her patient, watches every symptom, rightly interprets its meaning, whether for good or for
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evil, and promptly and intelligently applies the prescribed reme- dial measure.
Many are the physicians and many are the trustful nurses who have laid down their lives in their efforts to relieve suffering hu- manity from the ravages of virulent contagions, with no rattle of musketry, no din of battle, no cheers of comrades, no thrilling strains of military music to stimulate and urge them forward to meet the enemy, but calmly and deliberately they place their lives as a bulwark between death and. disease, many times with no prospects of recompense or remuneration other than the conscien- tious satisfaction of duty to mankind. No annals tell of battles fought and won; no songs tell of their brave deeds; no flowers deck their graves; no anniversaries emulate and commemorate their virtues; no monuments are erected in honor of fallen heroes. And again, the physician who worked and studied hard and long to perfect some wonderful discovery that has been the means of relieving so much pain and suffering and the saving of so many lives, unlike other scientific inventors, does not ask for a patent ; does not demand a royalty on every life saved, but gives it to the world gratuitously for the benefit of mankind.
The triumphs which have been already achieved by preventive medicine have rightly won the plaudits of the world; but we must not forget that the pharmacologist whose scientific ,investigation of drugs has been no small factor in contributing toward success The most unsavory concoctions of the modern pharmacy are as the "nectar of the gods," when compared with the medicines of olden times. A few years ago the pharmacist or physician made all of the elixirs, tinctures, plasters, pills, etc. from crude drugs and with no degree of certainty as to their strength. The elegant pharmacy of today furnishes palatable mixtures, coated tablets, capsulated bitter or nauseous medicines, serums, vaccines, etc. with unquestionable accuracy.
EARLY PHYSICIANS OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
The early physicians of Van Buren county were pioneers and they were the guardians of a widely dispersed population. Aside from their professional duties they contributed their full share to the material development of a newly opened country. Some were men , of culture who had gained their medical education in college but the greater number were of limited educational attain- ments; their professional knowledge had been acquired in the office of established practitioners of more or less ability. Of either class, almost without exception, they were practical men of great force of character who gave cheerful and efficacious assist-
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ance to the suffering, daily journeying on horseback scores of miles, over a country almost destitute of roads and encountering swollen, unbridged streams and destitute of water-proof garments or other now common protections against weather. Out of neces- sity the pioneer physician developed rare quickness of perception and self-reliance. The specialist was then unknown and the phy- sician was called upon to treat every phase of bodily ailment serv- ing as physician, surgeon, oculist, dentist and often times as nurse. His books were few and there were no practitioners more able than himself with whom he might consult; his medicines were simple and carried upon his person, and every preparation of pill or solution was the work of his own hands.
To the men of those days we owe much for our present knowl- edge ,and lightened burdens, of which they knew nothing in the days of their activity. They blazed the way for us through pathless forests and unmarked fields of medical research and we certainly should feel very grateful for, their noble life-work.
It is at all times pathetic to contemplate the dependence that is placed on the skill and ability of the regular practitioner to accomplish cures in cases that are oftimes beyond human aid, and if it is so at this time when the physician is aided in his work by all the modern appliances that scientific investigation has devel- oped, how much more so it was in pioneer times when he had not only to cope with disease but with an unhealthful environment that tended to tear down his work as rapidly as accomplished. Chills and fevers in the early days were great promoters of dis- ease, weakening the system and rendering it a vulnerable prey to the epidemics that were prevalent each year, and the miasma of the swamps was a condition that ever existed, so that the pa- tients were only relieved to again become victims of a malady produced from this source. Quinine and liver pills were kept in every household, and indeed they formed an important part of the equipment of the pioneer physician, who supplemented their use by medicines to allay the fever following the chills. Often- times, however, he was not sent for until disease had made such ravages that the utmost he could do was to relieve the suffering of the lingering patient who was beyond the aid of human skill. Doctors were few in those days, and it was not unusual for a father to take , a sick child in his arms and tenderly carry it for many miles to consult a physician in regard to its ailment, which likely as not was of some virulent type of germ disease. Local prejudices , existed then, as now, and who shall say that they were not well founded, for faith in the ability of the attending physi- cian is a valuable aid to the work of the remedies employed.
In those days, it was not unusual, in the dark hours of night,
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to hear the galloping horse of the hurried messenger go speeding past, and in the gray of the morning to see, returning home, the familiar form of the weary physician who had traveled far in the cold or wet, smoothed the pillow of the pain-racked brow or ush- ered into the world a new being, in whose life he ever after took the interest that can only be engendered by a life-long association in a community fraught with human interest.
To the mother of the household the family physician was re- garded as a dependence as indispensable as is the check book of the modern financier of today, and in her he found a faithful ally who in the administration of his remedies expended ,a generous share of loving solicitude that inspired the complete confidence of the patient. Indeed so keenly alive did she become to the neces- sity of coping with disease under adverse circumstances that in her wanderings in the fields or woods she was ever on the lookout for roots and herbs to be used for medicinal purposes. Mullein leaves were gathered and dried to be smoked for catarrh ; hoarhound was brewed and the tea used for making candy for colds; sassafras was made into a tea in the spring time and the children were in- duced to drink it under the representation by the diplomatic mother that it was a rare treat, and if the youngster presumed to differ from this opinion he was made to drink it anyhow; catnip was made into a tea for infants and nervous people, and wild cherry bark into a tonie, and sundry other roots and herbs had their various uses, known to the careful mother. In every neigh- borhood it seemed there was some woman who was especially gifted in the line of nursing and who was sent for by neighbors for miles around in case of sickness. Many times in the pioneer days a messenger would come, often times in the night, setting the dogs to barking and startling the household by loud rappings on the door, saying, "Mother is sick, Mrs. Blank," or "baby is sick," and "mother wants you to come over right away," and there never was any hesitation in complying with such requests or thought of pay for the rendering of such services, and the same excited mes- senger who called for the neighborhood nurse went speeding on to bring the doctor.
PAW PAW PHYSICIANS
Van Buren county's first physician according to the best knowl- edge obtainable was one Dr. Barrett who located in Paw Paw in the summer of 1835. He came from New York. After practicing in Paw Paw for three or four years he moved to Kalamazoo, where. he spent the remaining portion of his life.
In the fall of 1835 Dr. Levi HI. Warner settled in or near Paw Paw. Dr. Warner with several others came from New York. After following his profession in this county for about twelve years he returned to New York.
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Dr. Torrey came to Paw Paw in 1837 practiced several years. On account of failing health he returned East and soon after died.
Dr. Josiah Andrews from Cayuga county, New York, located at Paw Paw in 1838, one of nature's noblemen, representative in state legislature in 1846, later associated with Dr. H. C. Clapp and with Dr. L. C. Woodman. Was surgeon of the Third Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War. Died at Paw Paw in 1886, age seventy-five years.
Dr. John W. Emery came from New Hampshire to Paw Paw in 1848, died in 1884, age eighty-six.
Dr. George Bartholomew practiced in Paw Paw three years. Was surgeon of Panama R. R. Co., died in Keeler in 1887, age sixty-six.
Dr. Wm. B. Hathaway of Jefferson Co., New York located at South Haven 1853, came to Paw Paw 1861, practiced quite a num- ber of years.
Dr. Henry C. Clapp, Cayuga Co., New York came to Paw Paw in 1842. Studied with Dr. Andrews. Practiced in Paw Paw several years then removed to Chicago.
Dr. Lucius C. Woodman, was assistant surgeon Third Michigan Cavalry and surgeon Eleventh Cavalry in Civil War, an excel- lent surgeon and a very fine man. Was partner of Dr. Andrews after the close of war. Died 1883, age fifty-five.
Dr. Leroy R. Dibble practiced in Paw Paw several years; in the early '70s removed to Albion, Mich.
Dr. Edwin B. Dunning practiced in Paw Paw for quite a num- ber of years and until his death was member of the pension ex- amining board. Died 1894, age sixty-four.
Dr. Charles M. O'Dell came to Paw Paw in the early '50s. Died in Paw Paw 1895, age eighty-one.
Dr. Eugene Bitely settled in Paw Paw in 1853 and practiced there until his death. Died 1873, age forty-nine.
Dr. Michael E. Whalen, died in Paw Paw 1895, age thirty-five.
Dr. Charles S. Maynard practiced in Paw Paw for many years. died 1910, age eighty.
Dr. Geo. Hilton came to Paw Paw in 1883 and in 1887 moved to Chicago.
Dr. L. E. Curtiss, born in Paw Paw, began practice in his home town. He removed to Berrien county a few years ago.
Dr. A. W. Hendryx, homeopathist, practiced in Paw Paw, for a few years. Dr. F. T. Roach, a young man, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Michigan, began practice here a few years ago, but re- moved to Detroit. Dr. Roscoe W. Broughton, another Paw Paw born and bred also a graduate of the same institution, began prac- tice in his home town, but soon removed to the far west where he is now practicing.
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Dr. Henry Charles began practice here, but recently removed to Kalamazoo.
The resident physicians : Dr. Wilbur F. Hoyt, Dr. J. C. Maxwell, Dr. Geo. B. Jackson and Dr. Barnabas, O'Dell, Dr. M. F. Smith, Osteopath, Miss L. R. Lofquist, Chiropractic.
The registered dental surgeons of Paw Paw are: Dr. W. C. Y. Ferguson, Dr. O. E. Lanphear and Dr. Vern Van Fossen.
BANGOR
Dr. Joel Camp came from New York State to Bangor when it was a wilderness, being obliged to go on foot and horseback. He was truly a pioneer. Practiced about fifty-five years. Died 1901 at the age of eighty-five.
Dr. Jas. E. Ferguson was born in New York State 1824, grad- uate of Jefferson Medical College and came to Bangor in 1866 where he practiced continuously until his death in 1903. He served two terms in the State Legislature.
Dr. John L. Cross graduated from Cincinnati Medical College in 1872. He came to Bangor 1877 where he practiced until his death in 1883.
Dr. M. C. Cronin came to Bangor in 1882. He graduated from Medical department of Butler University, Indiana, in 1881, and built up a very large and renumerative practice in this vicinity. He moved to Mt. Clemens, Mich., about 1898 where he still lives and has an extensive practice.
Dr. John R. Giffen, a native of Canada came to Bangor in 1894. having graduated from Williamette University the same year. He is still practicing his chosen profession in Bangor and stands high in the community.
Dr. N. A. Williams a native of Michigan came to Bangor 1897. graduated from University of Michigan 1883. He is still lo- rated in Bangor and is one of the leading physicians of the county.
Dr. E. G. Low came to Bangor from Breedsville about 1904 and is still in active practice.
Dr. James Murphy, a native of Ireland, came to Bangor in 1900. Dr. Murphy graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1866. He died in Bangor, 1906 at the age of sixty-three.
Dr. Norman D. Murphy, son of Dr. James Murphy, was born in Canada, graduated from University of Michigan 1904, began practice in Bangor the same year, and through his integrity and skill is enjoying a very renumerative practice and is held in high esteem.
GOBLEVILLE
Dr. Babbit located in Pine Grove township about 1864-65.
Dr. E. A. Bulson located in Gobleville about 1869, practiced
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here for a number of years, went from here to Jackson where he is at this time making a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear. nose and throat.
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