USA > New Mexico > History of New Mexico : its resources and people, Volume I > Part 62
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About 1869 he returned to Old Albuquerque, practiced there about three years, then removed to Santa Fe, where he continued practice until his death. His practice was very extensive. He rode horseback over a sec- tion of country fully 200 miles in extent each way.
Among those who came with the army and after the expiration of their terms of official service was Dr. Kane, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. About 1850 he established himself in practice in Mora, then peopled exclusively by Spaniards and Mexicans. He was the first lithoto- mist to operate in New Mexico, and also the first surgeon to perform an operation for hernia in the territory. He became widely known. He was a man of great humanitarian instincts, a typical "doctor of the old school." His death occurred in 1878.
Dr. Edward R. Squibb, who accompanied the army as surgeon and was located at Fort Union for some time, afterward located at Las Vegas, where he practiced many years. He obtained widespread repute as a manufact- uring chemist, and produced the first chloroform fit for surgical use.
Dr. R. H. Longwell, who in later life obtained great notoriety in connection with the assassination of the Rev. Talby at Cimarron during the exciting scenes centering about Elizabethtown during the period when that camp was dominated by the rougher element, practiced in various places, principally at Santa Fé. After the Talby murder an attempt was made to lynch him, but he succeeded in effecting his escape and fled to Fort Lyon, where he remained until the Cimarron affair ceased to be the subject of such intense excitement. He originated the first legislation in the Territory regulating the practice of medicine. He died about 1895. Dr. Longwell was a politician as well as a physician. He took a deep interest in all public affairs, and his pronounced views and his disposi- tion to express these views freely on all occasions caused many men to become his enemies. He was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, but possessed a limited classical education. At the time of his death he was reputed to be the richest physician in New Mexico.
Dr. Peters, who attained distinction as the author of a history of Fre- mont's expedition, practiced at Fort Union in the early days. He was a man of brilliant literary attainments, and spent much of his spare time in historical research.
Dr. Luis Kennon, a graduate from the classical department of the University of Virginia, was one of the most scholarly practitioners in the Territory in the early days. He contributed to the general literature of the country and became as well known a writer as a practitioner. After resigning his commission as surgeon in the army he established himself in private practice in Santa Fé, whence he removed to Silver City. He was the first president of the New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners, the predecessor of the Territorial Board of Health, and exhibited a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the progress of medical science. Late in life he removed to Oregon, where he died about 1894, at an advanced age.
Dr. G. H. Shout, who is still remembered with feelings of profound veneration by many of the inhabitants of the northern part of the terri- tory, was post surgeon at Fort Union in the early days. He was a gradu- ate of the University of Vermont, and a man of rare mental attainments. He was present at the battle of Val Verde, as a surgeon with the Union forces. After leaving the army he located at Las Vegas, and until his
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deatlı, in January, 1884, enjoyed an extensive and successful practice. On account of his laborious country practice, which extended for many miles in every diretion, he became personally known to the majority of the in- habitants of the country surrounding Las Vegas, and his death was deeply mourned.
Dr. William A. Hammond, who afterward located in Washington, and for practically all his life was identified with the military service, becom- ing an international figure in medicine and surgery, was post surgeon at Fort Union in the sixties. His practice in the Territory, however, was limited to the work devolving upon him in his official capacity.
Dr. Alexander, one of the early physicians of Santa Fé, contributed generously to medical literature. His career extended over a period of many years, and he was widely known throughout the territory. Dr. Jane- way, now a celebrated physician and surgeon of New York city, and Dr. Roberts Bartholow, both men of national reputation, also practiced at Fort Union as army surgeons in the early days.
Dr. F. H. Atkins, who practiced in Las Vegas many years, now a resident of Los Angeles, California, was born in Brooklyn, New York, was graduated from Harvard University, and qualified for practice in the Long Island Hospital Medical College. He had served as a surgeon in the Civil war. He was president and secretary of the New Mexico Medical Society, and contributed frequently to medical journals.
Dr. Henry J. Abernathy, born in Tennessee in 1855, came to Socorro in 1879, shortly after his graduation from medical college. He was the first vice-president of the New Mexico Medical Society.
Dr. Alvin A. Shaw, who located at San Marcial in 1884, was a native of Illinois and a graduate of the Chicago Medical College in 1883. A number of other well known medical men of the Territory located within its limits during the early eighties. In 1881 Dr. George S. Easterday lo- cated in Albuquerque. He was a graduate of the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati. He was a popular citizen of Albuquerque and held the office of mayor. In the same year and at the same place located Dr. James H. Wroth, a native of New Jersey and a graduate of the University of Penn- sylvania. His interest and service have also been given to education, and as president of the Territorial Medical Association worked for the ad- vancement of his profession.
Dr. Martin R. McCrary, physician and surgeon of San Marcial, was born near Quincy, Illinois, November 16, 1857, a son of James and Letitia E. (Job) Mccrary. He remained upon a farm until twenty-one years of age and attended the common schools, the high schools at Payson and at Camp Point, Illinois, and the Gem City Business College at Quincy. His professional education was acquired in the Missouri Medical College, from which he was graduated March 2, 1881. He practiced successively at New Canton, Illinois, for a year and a half; Osakis, Minnesota, one year ; Cold- water, Kansas, two and a half years; Granada, Colorado, two years; Den- ver, two and a half years; Trinidad, Colorado, a year and a half; Springer, New Mexico, seven years, from September, 1894, until 1900, and in June of the latter year he came to San Marcial, where he has since continued in general practice. In 1902 he put in thermo therapeutic and electro thera- peutic machinery and he practices along modern scientific lines.
Dr. McCrary was married in 1882 to Lyda J. Rice, who died two
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and a half years later. In 1897, at Springer, New Mexico, he wedded Mrs. Marguerite Beatrice Johnson. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Brotherhood of Los Angeles, California.
Dr. John C. Slack, who came to the Territory in the eighties, and was register of the land office for the Colfax district under Cleveland's second term, was a native of Illinois and a graduate of a medical college at Louisville, Kentucky, and came to Folsom in 1889.
Dr. C. B. Kohlhousen located in Raton in 1882, being a graduate of the University of Virginia and well trained in the eastern hospitals before coming west.
One of the first homeopaths in the Territory was Dr. William Eg- gert, who located in Santa Fé in 1880. He was a native of Germany, but a graduate in medicine from the New York Homeopathic College. He gave much time to the literature of the profession as a contributor of special articles and books, and ranked high in both branches of the medical fra- ternity.
Dr. George H. Sowers came to the Territory and began practice in Socorro in 1880, and has been professionally active at different towns in the Territory. He was a native of Maryland and finished his medical course at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in New York.
Dr. Melvin G. Paden began practicing in White Oaks in 1880, al- though it was not until 1886 that he had thoroughly equipped himself for the profession by continued study and graduation at Louisville, Kentucky.
Dr. Z. B. Sawyer, a native of Ohio, came to Albuquerque in 1878, and in 1883 to Gallup, where, in a few vears, he became the physician longest in continuous practice in that town.
Dr. Russell was one of the earliest physicians to locate in Elizabeth- town, coming to that place in the early days of the gold excitement. He was the first mayor of the town, in 1870. His administration continued but one year, ending with the termination of the city government, in 1871.
Dr. J. M. Whitlock was in practice at Las Vegas as early as 1852, according to Frank O. Kihlberg of Las Vegas, who knew him at that time. During the Civil war he held a commission as surgeon in Kit Carson's regiment, and was killed in the mutiny at Fort Stanton in 1863. Captain Craig endeavored to start a meeting on account of the presence of a negro in the regiment, and Dr. Whitlock killed him. Craig's men then attacked Whitlock, killing him. Ninety-six wounds were found on his body. Dr. Shout, assistant surgeon, was promoted to the post of surgeon upon Whit- lock's death.
Dr. Stephen Boyce, a native of Canada, located in Las Vegas about 1850, but did not practice long. He subsequently engaged in trade and died a few years after coming to New Mexico.
Dr. Washington Matthews, an assistant surgeon in the United States Army, was for many years stationed at Fort Wingate, where he was lo- cated in the early seventies, perhaps at an earlier date. He utilized his tour of official duty in the Territory by researches in anthropology through close observation of the neighboring tribe of the Navajos, and became recognized as an eminent authority on the traditions, manners and customs of that tribe, besides the greatest authority on the Navajo blanket. His reports on the latter subject form one of the most interesting features of
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the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Dr. W. P. Strachan located in Albuquerque soon after 1860. He served in the lower house in the territorial legislature in 1864. He early aban- doned his professional career for commerce and trade.
Dr. John Symington, who came to Old Albuquerque during the Civil war, was a native of Maryland and a son of Colonel Symington of the Ordnance department of the United States army. He practiced there for several years, a portion of the time editing the Albuquerque Review in connection with his professional labors.
Dr. E. H. Skipworth, who is now engaged in practice in Roswell, has resided in New Mexico since 1879. For many years he practiced in Ros- well. He is a native of Kentucky and a graduate of LaGrande, Ala., College, and the University of Louisiana at New Orleans. He served throughout the Civil war with the Seventh Alabama Regiment under Bragg, and practiced in Kentucky and Arkansas before locating in New Mexico.
Colonel W. R. Tipton, M. D., has practiced in Las Vegas for a quarter of a century. He was born in Columbia, Mo., and prepared for his pro- fession in the University of Missouri and Jefferson Medical College, both of which institutions conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. For eight years he has been superintendent of the Territorial Insane Hospital at Las Vegas. He is a regent of the Normal University, was president of the board of trustees of the old Las Vegas Academy, the first non-sectarian high school in New Mexico. September 10, 1897, he was commissioner surgeon of the New Mexico National Guard, with rank of colonel, by Governor Otero. In 1885, 1888 and 1893 he served as presi- dent of the New Mexico Medical Society.
Among those who located in Las Cruces in the early days were Dr. James Booth, Dr. Lyon and Dr. Frazier. Dr. Charles A. Brown came from Virginia, a graduate of Virginia Medical College, class of 1872, and located in Rincon in 1884.
Dr. Keefe was the first to engage in practice in Deming.
Dr. S. J. Simpson, who located in Lordsburg in 1880, was the first practitioner in that town. He remained in practice there until 1889.
At Hillsboro, Dr. C. C. Crews, the first to locate there, practiced from 1876 to his death, in 1886.
Dr. M. E. Munger was in practice at Lake Valley from 1882 to 1887, Dr. Ennis from 1883 to 1886, Dr. J. V. Cowan and Dr. C. E. Williams practiced there late in the eighties.
Dr. Mason, who located in Kingston in 1891, was murdered in 1892 by James Hiles. Dr. C. L. Edmundson succeeded him. Dr. J. E. Thomp- son and Dr. R. E. Smith were also early practitioners.
Dr. Blazer, who came to Lincoln county in 1877, enjoyed an extensive practice there for nearly twenty years, and became widely known through- out the central part of the Territory.
In the early days of Colfax county, just prior to the construction of the Santa Fé Railroad, Dr. Washington, who had been in practice in Otero, was hanged by a mob to a telegraph pole. He was accused of mal- practice; and those who remember him state that he was generally re- garded as an undesirable member of the community.
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Dr. Coleman, who practiced medicine and had a drug store on Front street in Raton, in 1880-81, proved himself unpopular and one morning, in the spring of 1881, was "smoked out" of his store, and left the country.
Dr. Granville N. Wood opened an office in Silver City and practiced there for twenty years or more. He was a native of Massachusetts and a graduate of the medical department of the Northwestern University in the class of 1878. Before locating in New Mexico he practiced in Cali- fornia, Iowa and Kansas, and for a brief period was in the medical depart- ment of the Indian service in Indian Territory.
Dr. Harvey P. Mickey entered upon the practice of medicine in Las Cruces in the summer of 1894. He was a native of Indiana and a graduate of a medical school of that state in 1888. He also attended lectures in the medical department of Iowa University. He began practice at Newcastle, Ind., and came to New Mexico on account of failing health.
Dr. I. A. Butler was located in Mesilla in 1860. In connection with his practice he conducted a drug store in partnership with a Mr. Lucas.
Dr. G. P. Cornish, who has practiced in Albuquerque since coming to the Territory in 1897, was born in Alabama, graduated from Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia in 1885, and practiced at Flagstaff, Ari- zona, before coming here. Elected in 1905, he is now president of the Territorial Medical Society, and has been president of Bernalillo County Medical Society. Was chief surgeon of Santa Fé Pacific at Albuquerque until consolidation.
Of organizations for the advancement of the medical profession the most important and largest in scope is the New Mexico Medical Society. This is the outgrowth of the Las Vegas Medical Society, which was founded in Las Vegas in 1882, with Dr. J. H. Shout as president, and Dr. W. R. Tipton as secretary. During the life of the parent society monthly meetings were held at Las Vegas. The society continued to grow, its membership gradually embracing physicians from other towns than Las Vegas, until, in 1885, the name was changed to that of the New Mexico Medical Society, which, on December 4 of that year, was incorporated under the laws of the Territory, its charter being granted for the term of fifty years. All the annual meetings up to and including that of 1891, were held at Las Vegas, when, for the three succeeding years, they were held at Albuquerque upon the invitation of the Bernalillo County Medical So- ciety. Since 1894 these annual gatherings have been held in various cities and towns in the . Territory. A feature of each meeting has been a so- ciety banquet. Numerous valuable papers have been read, cases of un- usual importance have been presented-in person as well as by written and oral report-and pathological specimens of rare occurrence have been ex- hibited. The great extent of the Territory and the distances of travel, however, have seriously interfered with the attendance at these meetings.
For several years the society endeavored to secure the enactment of legislation carefully regulating and safeguarding the practice of medicine in New Mexico, but at three sessions of the legislature the measures in- troduced to this end were defeated. It was not until February, 1895, that these continued efforts were greeted with success and a law was enacted for the regulation of practice. This law, while based chiefly on the gen- eral principles underlying that of the State of Illinois, had various features
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drawn from the medical laws of other states, or based upon the experience of practice in this Territorv.
The officers of the Las Vegas Medical Society were: Presidents-1882, J. H. Shout ; 1883-4, W. H. Page. Secretaries-1882, W. R. Tipton ; 1883-4, W. H. Ashley. Those of the New Mexico Medical Society have been as follows: Presidents-1885, W. R. Tipton; 1886-7, M. W. Rob- bins; 1888, W. R. Tipton; 1889, E. C. Henriques; 1890-1, F. H. Atkins; 1892, J. H. Wroth; 1893, W. R. Tipton; 1894, G. W. Harrison; 1895, F. Marron y Alonso; 1896, Dr. C. G. Duncan, Socorro; 1897, Dr. J. F. Pearce, Albuquerque ; 1898, S. D. Swope, Deming; 1899, Dr. G. S. Easterday, Al- buquerque ; 1900, J. H. Sloan, Santa Fé; 1001, Dr. G. W. Harrison, Albu- querque ; 1902, W. G. Hope, Albuquerque; 1903, Dr. G. C. Bryan, Ala- mogordo; 1904, Dr. E. B. Shaw, Las Vegas; 1905, Dr. P. G. Cornish, Albuquesque ; 1906, Dr. T. B. Hart, Raton.
Secretaries-1885, M. M. Milligan; 1886-8, F. H. Atkins; 1889, F. Palmer; 1890-I, M. F. Desmarais; 1892-4, F. H. Atkins; 1895, H. M. Smith ; 1896, Dr. H. J. Abernathy, Socorro; 1897-8, Dr. G. A. Wall, Albu- querque ; 1899, Dr. W. G. Hope, Albuquerque ; 1900-3, Dr. J. F. McConnell, Las Cruces; 1904, Dr. G. H. Fitzgerald, Albuquerque; 1905, Dr. G. H. Fitzgerald and Dr. R. E. McBride, Las Cruces; 1906, Dr. R. E. McBride, Las Cruces.
(Dr. Fitzgerald was elected secretary at the 1905 meeting, but did not serve, and Dr. R. E. McBride was appointed by the council to fill out the term.)
The New Mexico Board of Medical Examiners was created by act of the legislature March 2, 1882. The law provided that it should be com- posed of seven practicing physicians of known ability and integrity, al- lotted among the various schools of medicine as follows: The allopathic school, four members; the homeopathic school, two members; the eclectic school, one member. This board was authorized to issue certificates to all who furnish satisfactory proof of having received diplomas or licenses fron legally chartered medical institutions in good standing ; to examine diplomas as to their genuineness; to examine persons not graduates of recognized schools and grant licenses entitling such persons to practice; to refuse certificates to individuals guilty of unprofessional conduct ; to re- voke certificates for like causes ; and the code of ethics of the United States Medical Association was made the standard and rule of decision concerning the professional conduct of members.
This board held rare meetings, at times two or three years apart, until the adoption of the statute providing for the organization of the Board of Health. In 1893 Governor W. T. Thornton reorganized the board, appointing Drs. W. R. Tipton, of Las Vegas; F. H. Atkins, of East Las Vegas; T. J. Houghton. of Albuquerque; G. S. Easterday, of Albuquer- que ; J. H. Sloan, of Santa Fé ; J. J. Shuler, of Raton, and William Eggert, of Santa Fé. Dr. Tipton was elected president, and Dr. Eggert, who had been secretary since the organization of the board, was re-elected. At the meeting held in Albuquerque in September, 1894, the standard of three years' study, three courses of lectures in three separate years, was adopted, to apply to all colleges. At this meeting a committee was appointed (one member from each school of medicine), Dr. Atkins, Easterday and Eg- gert, and the president, Dr. Tipton, with the co-operation of the president
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of the New Mexico Medical Society, Dr. Harrison, to prepare a bill for a more satisfactory act regulating the practice of medicine than the act of 1882. This committee, aided by the Bernalillo County Medical Society, did its work. The bill was presented to the legislature in January, 1895 (C. B. No. 16), was passed and approved February 27, 1895, by Governor Thornton, who at once reappointed the former members, substituting Dr. J. M. Cunningham, of Las Vegas, for Dr. Houghton, who had left the Territory. At the first meeting Dr. W. R. Tipton was elected president, Dr. Atkins, secretary, Dr. Sloan, treasurer, and Dr. Easterday, vice-presi- dent.
The statute providing for the creation of the Territorial Board of Health, adopted by the legislature February 27, 1895, says the board "shall be composed of seven practicing physicians who are graduates of medical schools of undoubted respectability." The statute provides that this board shall, "upon the production of evidence satisfactory to it, license any person who is the holder of a diploma from a medical college in good standing," and "shall require all persons, not the holders of such diplomas, to pass such examination as the board shall deem proper, before licensing any such person to practice."
The New Mexico Board of Pharmacy was established by act of Febru- ary 15, 1889, and the Board of Dental Examiners established by act of Feb- ruary 23, 1893.
The New Mexico Dental Society was organized at Albuquerque May 8, 1906, by the election of Dr. W. N. Macbeth, of Albuquerque, as presi- dent; Dr. L. H. Chamberlain, of Albuquerque, as vice-president, and Dr. L. E. Ervin, of Albuquerque, as secretary.
The Chaves County Medical Society was organized March 10, 1904, with the following officers and charter members: W. T. Joynes, presi- dent ; J. W. Kinsinger, vice-president ; William W. Phillip, secretary ; M. W. Flournoy. treasurer ; R. L. Bradley, W. E. Parkhurst, C. M. Yates, W. C. Buchly, C. M. Mayes, F. C. Blackwelder, Charles F. Beeson, Eugene M. Fisher. The present officers are: Dr. C. M. Yates, president ; R. L. Brad- ley, vice-president ; Dr. W. W. Phillip, secretary.
The Luna County Medical Society was organized in Deming March 8, 1905, Drs. C. F. Ellerbrock, J. O. Michaels, J. G. Moir, P. M. Steed and S. D. Swope becoming charter members. Dr. J. G. Moir was elected president ; Dr. J. O. Michaels, vice-president ; Dr. S. D. Swope, secretary, and Dr. P. M. Steed, treasurer.
HOSPITALS AND SANATORIUMS.
Fort Bayard, where is located the U. S. A. General Hospital, was es- tablished as an ordinary military post in the late sixties, the reservation being designated by presidential proclamation published in general orders May 25, 1869. The post was selected as a site for a hospital for the treat- ment of tuberculosis by the surgeon general, and work in this direction was begun by Major D. M. Appel, Surgeon United States army, October 3, 1899. At that time the fort still contained a small garrison of troops of the line. The experiment approving itself in practice, the garrison was withdrawn and the post was turned over to the Medical department for use as a hospital January 12, 1900. The hospital was primarily designed
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for treatment of soldiers of the United States army and beneficiaries of the United States Soldiers' Home who are affected with tuberculosis. At the present time sailors and marines of the United States navy are also ad- mitted. A limited number of civilians have also been admitted as patients by authority of the Secretary of War. No patient of whatever status is admitted without authority of the War department. At first the buildings of the old post were used for hospital purposes. During the past three years many new buildings have been erected, including a large house en- tirely of glass, for pleasure and recreation of patients, where they can be kept from the storms and yet get sunshine all day. The chief buildings now in use are: An Infirmary, for advanced cases ; a receiving Hospital ; six wards for ambulant patients, and quarters for officers and men on duty. The majority of the patients are quartered in tents. Tentage in use now accommodates 144 patients. The number of patients treated during the calendar year 1905, was 682. Cases present December 31, 1904, 335- On December 31, 1905, 346. Largest number of cases treated at one time during the year 1905, 372.
George E. Bushnell, major commanding, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, September 10, 1853; graduated from Academic Depart- ment, Yale, 1876; and at Yale Medical School, 1880. He entered the army February 18, 1881, located in New Mexico in 1903, and assumed charge of the sanatorium in May, 1904. He is a director of the National Asso- ciation for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis.
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