USA > Michigan > Van Buren County > A history of Van Buren County, Michigan a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests Volume I > Part 39
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY
for the past sixteen years. A large two story cement building, which will be the future home of the Leader, is in process of con- struction and is nearly completed, and the prospect for future successful business was never better than at the present time.
"GOBLEVILLE NEWS"
The Gobleville News was established in the hustling little vil- lage of Gobleville in the fall or 1890, by J. M. Hall, who was its editor and publisher for nearly fifteen years. Under his admin- istration of affairs the paper became a six-column quarto, with two pages only printed at home, the remainder of the sheet being "plate." In August, 1905, the present editor and publisher, J. B. Travis, became the owner of the plant and at once doubled the amount of home matter, giving the patrons of the paper four pages of home news, instead of two as theretofore. In June, 1907, the News moved into new and commodious quarters on State street, which it now occupies. During the six years of the paper under its present management, it has practically doubled its business in all departments, has purchased a full supply of new and up-to-date type and other material including a power press, and now has a superior outfit for a newspaper of its class. Its editor, Mr. Travis, is a "Michigan boy" born in Hillsdale county, and prior to en- gaging in the newspaper business was superintendent of schools in various localities in the state.
SOUTH HAVEN NEWSPAPERS
The South Haven Sentinel was the first newspaper to be es- tablished in the village (now city ) of South Haven. It was founded in 1867, by Capt. David M. Phillips, a veteran of the Civil war, and, unlike most of the first papers started in the county, it proved a success from the start. Captain Phillips, however, did not long retain the ownership of the Sentinel, for one year after it was born he sold it to Dr. Samuel Tobey, who, in turn, transferred it to Capt. W. E. Stewart, another Civil war veteran. Captain Stewart suc- cessfully conducted the Sentinel until his death, which occurred on the 11th day of July, 1899. The plant then passed into the possession and management of his daughter, Miss Nellie Stewart, who was a pretty good newspaper man ( ?) herself. The paper has, since that time, undergone change of name and change of ownership until it has finally landed in the office of the South Haven Daily Gazette. The change of name occurred while the plant was owned and published by Dr. H. M. Spencer, who came into its ownership after Captain Stewart's decease. It was after- ward owned and published by O. C. Schmidt. Under his adminis-
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tration the paper was converted into a semi-weekly, but when it passed into its present quarters it was again changed into a weekly. While Captain Stewart owned the Sentinel it was a Republican paper and strenuously advocated the principles of that party. Since his death and since it became an Advocate it has sometimes advocated political ideas which, to draw it mild, have been very much at variance with the convictions of its founder and former owners.
In 1878 J. Densmore started a "Greenback" paper in South Haven, which he named the South Haven Record. After less than a year of life in the place of its birth it was sold to Kalamazoo parties and removed to that city where it continued to support the Greenback party until there was no Greenback party to support the Record.
There have been numerous other ventures in the newspaper line in South Haven that have had their little day and then passed into oblivion. Among them were the Fonetic Klips, a little monthly sheet issued by Almon J. Pierce. As its title indicates, the purpose of this little monthly novelty was to promote the use of phonetic orthography, of which system the publisher was an ardent sup- porter.
Other papers that have either been consolidated, amalgamated or abrogated are the News, the Avalanche, the Index and possibly others that have had their little day and passed off the stage.
There are published in the city of South Haven at the present time, two daily papers-the Tribune and the Gazette; one semi- weekly, the Tribune-Messenger, and one weekly, the Citizens Ad- vocate.
The Daily Tribune was founded in May, 1899, by Ira A. Smith, who converted it into a stock company. The articles of incorpora- tion were executed on the 31st of July, 1902. The stockholders were Ira A. Smith, Hattie B. Smith and Wilbur G. Smith, and the amount of the capital stock was $10,000. Later the paper passed into the possession of the present owners. The officers of the com- pany are S. H. Wilson, president; C. O. Monroe, vice president, editor and manager; C. J. Monroe, treasurer; F. W. Taylor, man- ager of advertising and job department. The Tribune is a six col- umn folio sheet. Soon after the paper passed into the possession of the present owners, the Messenger, a weekly paper that was be- ing published in the city at the time, was merged with the weekly edition of the Tribune, under the name of the Tribune-Messenger. This sheet was continued as a weekly until March, 1911, when it was changed to a semi-weekly and so remains.
The Daily Gazette was started about the first of May, 1909, with F. T. Lincoln as editor. On the 31st day of July, 1902, articles of
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incorporation were filed under the name of the South Haven Gazette Company. The amount of capital stock was fixed at $10,- 000 and the stockholders were F. F. Rowe and A. E. Kettle, of Kalamazoo, and F. T. Lincoln, of South Haven. Mr. Lincoln con- tinues to be the editor of the paper, which is a seven column folio sheet.
The Citizens Advocate, which is the lineal descendant of the Sentinel, the first South Haven newspaper, is also published by the Gazette Company, as a weekly journal.
Two dailies, one semi-weekly and one weekly represent a fairly ample supply of newspapers for a town of the size of South Haven, but they all appear to be prospering and to be well patronized. Neither of these journals misses an opportunity to advance the in- terests of the city and vicinity and the enterprising citizens of the place appear to fully appreciate the efforts of the press in their behalf and to give their papers a generous support.
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CHAPTER XVII
MEDICINE AND SURGERY
MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH-PREVENTIVE MEDICINE-SURGERY --
THE COUNTRY PHYSICIAN AND THE TRAINED NURSE-EARLY PHY- SICIANS OF VAN BUREN COUNTY-PAW PAW PHYSICIANS-BAN- GOR - GOBLEVILLE - HARTFORD - COVERT - LAWRENCE - LAW- TON-THE PROFESSION IN SOUTH HAVEN-SOUTH HAVEN CITY HOSPITAL-DECATUR-WILL CARLETON'S "THE COUNTRY DOC- TOR"-THE VETERINARY SCHOOL.
By Dr. G. W. Cornish
In the compilation of this chapter it has been necessary to digress somewhat from the usual routine of county histories. On account of the wonderful advancement of medicine during the period which this work covers, a general review of the progress of this science would be the history of the progress of medicine in this county.
We have summed up as concisely as possible the recent changes that have taken place along this line, and have endeavored to present them in such a manner that they may be readily compre- hended and understood by the lay reader and may also prove both interesting and instructive.
In a work that covers so much ground it has been necessary to quote quite freely from the writings of medical profession and others.
To those whose kindly assistance and ready response to in- quiries have so materially aided us in acquiring much informa- tion and data for this chapter, we desire to express our most sin- cere thanks and hearty appreciation.
The problem of public health, always of vital interest, assumes with the advance of civilization, the increase of population, the social and economic condition incident thereto, greater import- ance from year to year.
The one great problem of life is the preservation of health, and this one word covers the whole realm of the physician's labors, and hygiene or science and art of the preservation of health is Vol. 1-24
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receiving more attention today than ever before. Wherever people have correct ideas as to the requirements of health and make intelligent efforts to obey its laws, sickness is comparatively rare and the very best work both physical and mental is accom- plished. Not only does the individual help himself to progress and also those about him, but the community at large is benefited so that "public health is public wealth."
There are more people making themselves "physical bank- rupts" by violating the laws of health than the great majority of people think. Unfortunately, very few people will regard what the physician says on the subject until it is too late. However, it is the duty of every physician to do all in his power to teach his patrons the laws of the preservation of health and prevention of disease.
Roosevelt says: "The preservation of national vigor should be a matter of patriotism." Hygiene can prevent more crime than law. We need education along health lines. "Ignorance is the greatest criminal of the twentieth century. It smothers and strangles more babies, it eats out the hearts of more women, and cuts the throats of more men, it injures more homes, and fills more untimely graves than all the felons who fill the prisons of this world."
MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
A marked feature of this age is scientific research, and many great and useful additions have been made to the world's knowl- edge within the last fifty years.
The acquirement of a fuller knowledge of the properties of steam and electricity and their practical employment have revolu- tionized the world. Human conveniences have been multiplied and human comforts have increased, but the results of scientific ad- vancement have not been merely material; they have made for a greater amity and closer union between men and people. Medical science has gone apace with sister sciences. The physician has been no less active than the physicist and the electrician. Within the past three decades a great mass of actual pain has been lifted from off suffering humanity, social conditions have been improved. life has been prolonged, and made better and happier. The world is not ungratefully blind to the fact that progress in medicine and surgery has had an incalculable humanitarian importance.
Medical science can boast no less than any other science so far as progress is concerned, though our progress is not so visible to the eye as others are-such as ship-building that made it possible to cross the Atlantic in less than five days; steam and electricity
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which revolutionized the commerce of the world and made it pos- sible to travel sixty miles or more an hour by rail; air ships which fly thousands of feet in the air; the telegraph, telephone, the wire- less system which in times of war and storms will be of untold benefit, and I cannot forget the horseless carriages that convey the doctors to suffering patients in almost no time with a speed of from twenty to one hundred miles an hour. These are some of the very conspicuous results of the present day progress in science that strike the eye. But stop and think of the number of human lives saved as a result of medical advancement and of the great undertakings that sanitation and hygiene have made possible as a result of discoveries of causes of disease. It can then be. com- pared more than favorably with the advances made in other branches of science.
The doctors are the connecting link between that great medical body which handles the vast majority of the diseases we would prevent and the general public, the victim of those diseases. This means that the doctor is awake and must awaken the people to their duty to themselves and make it, plain to them that no man has a right so to keep his house or so to live his life in a civilized community as to jeopardize his neighbor's health or hap- piness. It is said in China it is the custom to pay the physician a certain amount to keep you well. When the patient is ill the pay ceases. This unique practice has much to recommend it. It means that we, the doctors, shall teach all our people that the duty of keeping clean in a physical sense is as high as that of moral cleanliness. This is accomplished in a great degree by teaching patients how to prevent diseases, how to avoid diseases instead of curing them.
PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
The Philadelphia Ledger of May 5, 1911, reports in substance the speech of President Taft on preventive medicine: "Whatever hostages to civilization were given by the United States in the war of 1898 have been wonderfully redeemed. The unwelcome con- quest of undesired territory in the tropics has been turned to the world's advantage by the conquest over tropical disease. This is the greatest triumph in the history of the American army. The army did not do it all, nor is the progress achieved since 1898 to be boasted of as a peculiarly national achievement. The study of bacteriology and the causation of disease has been going on in the laboratories and hospitals of the wide world, from British India all the way round the globe, through Europe and America and over the Pacific to Japan. What our army doctors did was to keep
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alert to every discovery and suggestion and apply it as the op- portunity came to them, with a scientific thoroughness and a military efficiency that changed the whole aspect of life in tropi- cal countries.
"Need I remind you of the names of men made famous, who are dear to the hearts of the nation for the great and unselfish work they have done to preserve health and life ? Close investigation and experimentation, demonstrated that the dread yellow fever was due to the mosquito and could be banished, and that malaria is not 'bad air' as its name indicates, but it is the poision of a cer- tain kind of mosquito, and 'Yellow Jack' is the same, only a dif- ferent kind of mosquito. It was early observed that exposure to night air was frequently followed by either malaria or yellow fe- ver, and this as well as other observations gave rise to a supposed similarity of cause of these two diseases. All this is now explained by the discovery of the fact that the two kinds of mosquitoes which communicate these two diseases are night birds. It is all very simple, after we know. It is very gratifying that our country has been able to show to the world one of the most striking examples in the history of preventive medicine by the extermination of yel- low fever through the discoveries of Drs. Reed and Carroll, and the practical application of their researches by Colonel Gorgas has made it possible for the nation to undertake a great engineer- ing task for years considered impossible by scientific men of other people. Medical science shall have its share in the glory of the achievement of the Panama Canal, a national dream realized. Were it not for this discovery this great canal could not be com- pleted. If United States had done nothing more than to show the Cubans how to prevent these terrible diseases it alone would have repaid many times over all the loss and suffering of the Spanish war. The redemption of the Philippines from all manner of dis- eases by efficient sanitation, vaccination and the extermination of disease bearing pests would make the American occupancy of the islands glorious, even if it had accomplished nothing for the men- tal advancement of the people.
"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.
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