USA > Ohio > History of the Upper Ohio Valley, with family history and biographical sketches, a statement of its resources, industrial growth and commercial advantages, Vol. I > Part 73
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J. B. Reed was born in Washington county, Penn., December 14, 1846. His boyhood was spent upon a farm and in Burnsville, Penn. In March, 1865, he enlisted in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania cavalry, reach- ing the front about ten days before the surrender of Petersburg. He spent the summer doing provost duty in Virginia, and was discharged
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with his regiment August 11th. After this he attended college at Waynesburg and Washington, leaving the latter before graduating. Beginning the study of medicine in 1868 with Dr. Wilson, of Wash- ington, he spent one winter at Michigan university, graduating in 1872 at Western Reserve Medical college, Cleveland, Ohio. For one year he practiced in Cameron, W. Va., six years in West Alexander, Penn., coming to Wheeling in 1880 as a partner of Dr. J. H. Pipes. Here he was very soon successful, for he was of a genial, friendly disposi- tion, quick to respond to the cause of the sick, day or night, and at- tentive to all his patients, however humble. The extent of his practice may be estimated, when it is known that in a single year he attended 125 obstetrical cases. It was Dr. Reed's self-sacrificing devotion to duty that was the indirect cause of his death. In July, 1887, he was for the second time since coming to Wheeling stricken down with typhoid fever, and after a very lingering illness died October 17th with symptoms of pyaemia. He left behind him his wife, a daughter of the late Dr. John Stone, of Greensborough, Penn., and five children. Dr. Reed was a Modest, consistent, Christian gentleman and a mem- ber of the Second Presbyterian church. He was a member of the State and City Medical societies, and of the board of education of the city. It can be truly said of Dr. Reed that he left no enemy behind him.
Marshall County .- Zadoc Masters, physician and surgeon, practiced at Elizabethtown, now Moundsville, W. Va., from about 1805 to about 1845. During this time he was once elected sheriff of Ohio county, which then included the county of Marshall, after which time he re- moved to Paducah, Ky. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the community in which he lived. He experienced great hardships in his efforts to reach his patients, frequently riding forty to fifty miles on horseback, over hill and dale, by bridle paths, through woods, frequently swimming his horse across swollen streams, braving winter's blasts, and old Sol's scorching rays in his efforts to render aid to suf- fering humanity. His charges were moderate, and being a bad col- lector, he remained as he began, poor. His method of treating dis- eases was antiphlogistic-calomel was his sheet anchor. His lancet was kept sharp, and used for almost all ills and injuries.
Thomas McCormic was of Irish birth; studied medicine and sur- gery with Dr. Williams, of Clarksburg, Harrison county (then Vir- ginia). Practiced at Elizabethtown, now Moundsville, W. Va., from about 1820 to 1837. He was an accomplished physician, exceedingly popular, enjoyed a large practice and was very successful, sharing like Dr. Masters the hardships and difficulties attending the practice of medicine in that day. He loved his profession, was energetic, but finally succumbed to the opium and alcohol habit. He died about the year 1837, leaving very little property. George Stidger practiced in Marshall county during the years 1830 to 1850. His practice was ex- tensive. He once swam his horse, he on its back, across the Ohio river opposite Moundsville, in order to attend an urgent case. He lived to a good old age, and died in Iowa, whither he had removed
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some years before. He, like his predecessors, accumulated no wealth. Daniel Peck came to Moundsville at a period whose date is unknown. He was a most excellent and accomplished physician, very popular, and endeared himself to his patrons by many acts of kindness. Old gray headed men still visit his grave, and reverentially strew it with flowers. He died about 1848. George Gaus, physician and surgeon, practiced at Moundsville from 1836 to 1863. At the outbreak of the rebellion he became a surgeon in the United States army, dying in the service. He was surgeon of a division at the time of his death. J. W. Ney was born near Columbiana, Columbiana Co., Ohio, Octo- ber 8, 1817, and was educated in Salem, Ohio. Commenced reading medicine in Minerva, in 1835, where he remained one year and then removed to East Fairfield, same state, and completed his study with Sylvanus Fisher, after which time he attended Willoughby Institute one term. He subsequently practiced with his preceptor for four years. He emigrated to Moundsville in September, 1844. In 1840 he married Miss S. K. Wallahan, who died in 1843. Miss Mary J. Purdy became his second wife in 1846. She survived but two years, and in 1849 Dr. Ney married Mary J. McLean. He joined the State Medi- cal society in 1867, the year of its organization. He was fairly suc. cessful as a physician, but accumulated little means. He died in 1888.
S. B. Stidger was born December 1, 1830, in Springfield, Jefferson county, Ohio. He was educated in the common schools of that day. Read medicine in his father's office at Moundsville. In 1851 he lo- cated for practice at Jacob Burley's, near the present site of Cameron, where he remained one year. After the closing of the track of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, in 1852, he removed to, and built the sec- ond house in, Cameron. On the 12th of September, 1864 he was mar- ried. In 1856 he migrated with his family to Iowa, where he practiced in partnership with his father for one year. In 1858, owing to the sickness of his wife, he concluded to return to Cameron, where he con- tinued to have a large practice until the breaking out of the rebellion. At the commencement of the war he raised a company and was mus- tered into the service of the United States army in 1861. Was elected captain, but declined on account of inexperience in favor of Capt. James Donly, who had served in the Mexican war, and accepted the position of first lieutenant, serving three months, the time for which he enlisted. Most of this time he served in the medical department with detached forces. At the expiration of three months the regi- ment was re-organized, and Dr. Thoburn was promoted to colonel, and wrote to our subject requesting him to go out with him as sur- geon of his regiment. He then went before the board for examina- tion and passed, and received the position of assistant surgeon, serving until July, 1862, when he resigned on account of having been appointed administrator of his father's estate. He had charge of the post hos- pital at Cumberland, Md. He returned from the field to the regular routine of hospital duty. Since the war he has had a large practice in Cameron. In 1876-7 he attended his last course of lectures at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia. In 1868 he was elected to
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represent his county in the legislature. In 1867 Dr. Stidger joined the State Medical society, to whose Transactions he made several con- tributions. He was an active man in the Methodist Episcopal church, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. He died in 1883.
Thomas F. Marshman was a physician of excellent character who practiced at Dallas for many years. He joined the State Medical so- ciety at its first regular meeting, which was held in Wheeling, October 2, 1867.
J. M. Curtis was born in West Liberty, November 16, 1844. He was educated in the common schools and in West Liberty academy. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Twelfth West Virginia in- fantry. He was appointed third sergeant of Company D. In November, 1864, he was made second lieutenant of Company I, Twelfth regi- ment. In January, 1865, he was detached and assigned to duty as aide-de-camp, Second brigade, second division, Twenty-fourth army corps, which position he filled with distinction, and was awarded a medal by congress for meritorious conduct in the attack on Fort Gregg in front of Petersburg, Va. He left the service in June, 1865. Soon after this he began the study of medicine with Dr. Cooper, now of Wellsburg. He applied himself with great energy, and graduated at Miami Medical college of Cincinnati, in March, 1867, and was the class valedictorian. Soon after graduating he began practicing at Besler's Station, Marshall county, and there practiced very success- fully until the fall of 1874, when he located at Moundsville. On June 17, 1875, after returning from the commencement exercises of Bethany college to his father's house at West Liberty, he very suddenly died from supposed heart disease.
Dr. Curtis was a man of unusual natural ability, and but for his un- timely taking off, he would, with application, have been eminently successful in the new field to which he had so recently gone.
Epidemics .*- The first epidemic of which we get any definite infor- mation was that of a disease called the " cold plague," which scourged the western settlements in 1820-21. The cases were marked by a sudden chill and great pulmonary congestion. Deaths were numer- ous. At that period swamps and ponds were numerous in and near Wheeling, and were a source of malarial fevers, diarrhea and dysentery.
During 1832-33 the first epidemic of Asiatic cholera visited Wheel- ing and neighborhood. The town was in extremely bad sanitary condition, and the advice of physicians being unheeded by the au- thorities, a great many cases occurred, with a mortality estimated at 50 to 60 per cent. The disease prevailed from May until late in July. In the spring of 1834 there occurred an outbreak of puerperal fever, which was extensive and very fatal. In connection with this, many cases of erysipelas were also seen. Profuse bleeding, calomel and tartar emetic were the remedies most frequently used,
* For the facts here given concerning the earlier epidemics we are indebted largely to published papers of Drs. Hildreth and Frissell.
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and we may well pause to inquire whether more harm than good was not done by this treatment.
In the winter of 1836 and 1837 occurred a very malignant epidemic of scarlet fever. Death often occurred in the forming stage of the disease. An individual would often be attacked in the evening with nausea and great prostration, and become comatose and die before morning, without any external development of the disease. The fol- lowing winter (1837-8) scarlatina again prevailed with ever in- creased malignancy. Whole families were often stricken down with it, even in the country, on the hill-tops where the best sanitary con- ditions seemed to exist. In 1843 the "Tyler Grippe," or influenza, made its appearance. It was said to have come from Europe. The cases were ushered in by pain in the back and limbs, great muscular lassitude, chilliness, running from eyes and nose, hoarseness, cough and fever. They generally lasted only a few days, but often the sys- tem seemed to be rendered very susceptible to disease. During the following autumn many cases of typhoid fever appeared, and the type of disease seemed about this time to change from the sthenic to the asthenic or typhoid. Blood-letting, purging, and other depressing measures were hence largely abandoned, and a more supporting treatment introduced, which has continued to the present time. Scar- let fever again prevailed very extensively, and in a very fatal form in 1848 and 1849. If the patient survived the first stage, the eruption was profuse, the throat and adjacent parts greatly swollen and very painful, rendering deglutition almost impossible. This was often fol- lowed by sloughing off of portions of the tonsils and soft palate, usually terminating in death.
In 1847-9 there prevailed about Wheeling, as well as in many parts of the country, a disease called black tongue, erysipelas, etc. Puer- peral fever of a malignant type prevailed at the same time, producing many deaths. No causes could be assigned for these outbreaks. A second epidemic of cholera set in May 19, 1849, and continued until September. The cases were not nearly as numerous as in the epi- demic of 1832, but many cases occurred during the two or three sum- mers following, perhaps to 1854. Many deaths from this disease oc- curred among the men working on the B. & O. railroad, then in course of construction. "The narrows," about five miles below Wheeling on the river, seemed to be a choice locality for the disease, and about here many railroad laborers died. In the fall of 1857 diphtheria made its appearance in Wheeling as an endemic. The older physicians claimed to have seen the same disease in sporadic form under the name of putrid sore throat. Now, however, the cases were numerous and severe; sometimes affecting whole families, and being attended with frightful mortality.' Since this endemic, diphthe- ria has frequently visited the city, and sometimes the surrounding country. In the autumn of 1879 it prevailed to such an extent in the eastern part of the city, that a number of prominent physicians peti- tioned the city council for the enforcement of rigid sanitary measures against its further spread. In 1863 a few cases of cerebro-spinal
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meningitis, or spotted fever, occurred in the city. Some of the pa- tients died very suddenly, after but a few hours' illness; others were sick for several days before a fatal result occurred, while a number recovered, but very slowly. Cases of this disease were seen also dur- ing 1864-5. During these years there were also very many cases of typhoid fever, pneumonia and erysipelis.
In the summer of 1873 cholera made its appearance in the city. Dr. Jepson, at that time city health officer, believed that the disease was imported from Cincinnati, Ohio. During the summer thirty-five cases were officially reported to the health officer by the attending physicians: Of these, twenty-two proved fatal, a mortality of sixty- three per cent. It is probable that a few unreported cases occurred, with favorable results, thus reducing the mortality. The reported cases were carefully looked after by the health officer, and all possible sanitary precautions were taken to limit the disease. (Full particu- lars of this outbreak can be found in Vol. I, Transactions of Ameri- can Public Health Association, in which is printed Dr. Jepson's report.)
During the early part of 1873, puerperal fever cases were more numerous than at any time since 1849, and they were attended with great fatality. The disease generally set in within forty-eight hours after delivery, the initial symptoms being either a distinct chill or . chilly sensation. These were followed by fever, varying from 102 to 105 degrees. The pulse was quick and never strong, abdomen always distended, tenderness in pelvic region, and a tendency to delirium which was sometimes well marked. The tongue early became dry, sordes appearing on the teeth, and the pulse early gave way, this typi- cal condition speedily terminating in death. For several years there continued in the city a tendency toward puerperal diseases.
In the fall of 1873 typhoid fever prevailed in Wheeling to an extent never before known. It was estimated that four or five hundred cases occurred during the last four months of the year in Wheeling alone. As a rule the cases were of a mild type and very many of them were among children. In the winter of 1874-5 scarlet fever cases were very numerous, especially in the southern end of the city. It was estimated that in the Eighth ward, with a population of about 4,000, not less than 250 cases occurred from October to April, inclus- ive. Most of the cases were severe, many being of the anginose variety, and others were complicated with diphtheria. In the malig- nant cases the eruption was of a dark, purplish hue, and it was slow to recede, remaining long after its usual period. An indescribable, peculiarly fetid odor was said to exist, by which, alone, cases were sometimes diagnosed before the patient was seen. Inflammation of the cervical glands, as a sequel was quite common, and in an unusual number of cases this was followed by suppuration and sloughing of tissue.
About the beginning of 1890 influenza, under the name of the Rus- sian grippe, made its appearance in this section of the country on its westward journey from Russia, where it seems to have had its origin. It prevailed to an unheard of extent, scarcely a family escaping. The
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symptoms varied in different cases, sometimes the nervous system, sometimes pulmonary, and again the gastro-intestinal tract being chiefly affected. Hence some patients suffered violent pains in the head and other parts of the body, others were attacked with vomiting and purging, and still others with more or less grave pulmonary symp- toms. Nearly all experienced the ordinary catarrh of nose and bronchial tubes. All cases were attended with prostration, and while as a rule the acute symptoms continued but a few days, not unfre- quently pneumonia, bronchitis, or a continued fever of longer dura- tion developed, while the prostration, especially with the aged and feeble, was great and protracted. The mortality in Wheeling during the first months of 1890, was unprecedented. Pneumonia, dysentery, measles and typhoid fever all prevailed. During February, March and April, the number of typhoid cases was very large, but the type was not severe. The deaths during the first four months were, from pneumonia, 57; typhoid fever, 64. Total from all causes, in January, 77; February, 96; March, 104; April, 86. For the four months, total equal 363, which is over 31 per 1,000 of population.
Medical and Charitable Organizations .- The first medical society or- ganized in the Pan-handle, was in Wheeling in 1835. But little can be learned of its history. At a meeting held October 17, 1835, in the Lancasterian academy, a fee bill was established, which is signed by the following physicians, all of whom are believed to be now dead: Drs. J. Morton, John Eoff, J. Q. Eoff, Thomas Townsend, M. H. Houston, George Buchanan, Thomas Brues, James Tanner and D. B. Dorsey. Some items from this fee bill may not be uninteresting. " For first visit, one to two dollars; every subsequent, one-half to one dollar. Obstetrical cases (common), five to eight dollars, charging half-dollar for each visit after the third day. For bleeding or tooth- drawing, fifty cents. Small powders, twelve and a half cents. Ano- dyne powders, twenty-five cents." A separate charge was always made for medicine. The above charges seem fairly good, when we consider the times in which they were made, and the primitive mode of living, as compared with the present. But it is quite probable that in most cases physicians were compelled to "cut rates," since we are told by Dr. Hildreth, from whose writings we obtain many of our facts, that it is " within his boyhood recollections when visits were made for twelve and one-half cents."
The Ohio County Medical Society .- Dr. M. H. Houston, having re- cently attended a meeting of the American Medical association, in- vited the regular profession to his residence on July 5, 1847. In an address delivered to those assembled, he said: " I have invited your attendance here this evening, in order to confer with you on the propriety of forming a society auxiliary to the State Medical society of Virginia. Such an association, organized upon the same basis, and to be controlled by the same general principles which govern the present society, will doubtless conduce to our own benefit, whilst, at the same time, it will show our willingness to add our influence, how- ever small, to the great system of medical reform now in progress
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throughout the country." The address closes as follows: "It is for you, gentlemen, to say whether you will continue in your present state of disorganization, or whether, enrolling yourselves under the broad banner of the State Medical society, you will put your shoulder to the wheel and exert your united strength in urging forward the great car of state, if not of national medical reform." This eloquent appeal seems to have been effective, for at a subsequent meeting, held August 12, the " Ohio County Medical Society" was organized, with the follow- ing officers: President, Dr. M. H. Houston; vice president, Dr. James Tanner; corresponding secretary, Dr. W. J. Bates; recording secre- tary, Dr. E. A. Hildreth; treasurer, Dr. Thomas Townsend. The following additional members signed the constitution: Drs. John Frissel, S. P. Hullihen, A. S. Todd, D. S. Forney, T. Yates, James McCoy, Edward Ringell, S. W. McElhenny, James R. Brotherton, John English. But two of all those who participated in the organiza- tion of either of the above societies are now living, viz .: Drs. John Frissell, now eighty years of age, who, though in retirement, is still occasionaliy solicited to see a patient; and Dr. W. J. Bates, who is in vigorous mental and physical health, and still actively engaged in practice.
Medical Society of the City of Wheeling and County of Ohio .- This society was organized October 17, 1868, being composed of nearly all of the regular physicians of the city. It met twice each month and was conducted very successfully and profitably until the members be- gan to be indifferent and ceased their regular attendance. Since December, 1886, it has not been possible to assemble a quorum, and the society may be considered as non est. So far as we can learn, the above are the only medical societies that have had an existence in the Pan-handle.
The City Dispensary .- In November, 1845, Drs. Todd, Bates, Fris- sell and Hildreth organized a city dispensary, and influenced the city council to make an appropriation for its support. The object of the institution was to render professional services to the worthy poor of the city. One of the physicians was on duty at certain hours each day to prescribe and dispense medicines as needed, and to vaccinate all proper applicants for this service. This was the first voluntary medical charity ever established in the city. It continued in existence about four years, when it was killed by professional jealousy. It was located near the northwest corner of Chaplain and Twelfth streets.
Private Infirmary .- In November, 1845, Dr. John Frissell sent a case of typhoid fever to the house of Mrs. Barnes, located near the present Linsly institute building. This lady gave the patient such excellent attention that Dr. Frissell and Dr. Hullihen continued to send her patients, and her residence became a regular infirmary. For larger accommodations she removed to a house near the Market street bridge, and afterward to one on Sixteenth street, owned by the late Lewis Steenrod. Mrs. Barnes continued to manage this in- stitution, and it was very successful for a number of years, the patients. finally being transferred to
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Tho Wheeling Hospital .- Seeing the success of the above institution, and there being still a demand for larger accommodation, the late Bishop Whelan of the Catholic church, took out a charter for the Wheeling hospital, March 12, 1850, and some time after this institu- tion was opened in a house near the end of Fifteenth street, now owned by Mr. Joseph A. Metcalf. Drs. John Frissell and S. P. Hullihen were appointed surgeons to the hospital, and Dr. M. H. Houston, physician. It is believed that the latter never served in this capacity. The hospital was later removed to its present site near the north end of Main street. After the death of Dr. Hullihen, Dr. John Frissell was the sole physician and surgeon to the hospital, a relation he still sustains. Patients are at liberty, however, to make choices of any physician in the city, and very many of those treated in the hospital are the private patients of different physicians. Marine patients are also maintained here by the United States government. The successor of Dr. Hullihen was Dr. S. L. Jepson, who received from the secretary of the treasury, the appointment of acting assistant surgeon in the Marine hospital service. This he resigned in February, 1890, Dr. C. F. Ulrich being his successor. The Wheeling hospital is owned and controlled by the Catholic church.
Piedmont Hospital .- Under this name the city conducted a hospital for small-pox patients for a number of years from about 1870. The building was a small one story frame, located on the west side of the creek, north of the B. & O. Railroad tunnel. So many years have elapsed since a case of small-pox existed in the city, that this building has become dilapidated, and will perhaps never again be used.
The City Hospital .- For several years past there has been consider- able discussion in private circles touching the city's need of a non- sectarian hospital, in which the sick poor might be treated without charge. Stimulated by the Women's Union Benevolent Society, and by "The Hospital Ten "-an association of ladies in the St. Mat- thews' P. E. church-this discussion culminated in a charter being taken out January 2, 1890, in the name of the following gentlemen: Rev. R. R. Swope, H. M. Russell, W. F. Stifel, Morris Horkheimer and W. A. Wilson. The above gentlemen, with the following, were elected as a board of trustees of the City hospital, at a meeting of the stockholders held at the Y. M. C. A. building, March 11, 1890, viz .: Alfred Paull, L. E. Sands, H. F. Behrens and N. B. Scott. The board organized by the election of these officers: President, Rev. R. R. Swope; vice-president, W. F. Stifel; treasurer, Alfred Paull; secretary, Lawrence Sands. The new hospital will be opened for the reception of patients as soon as a suitable building can be secured.
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