History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I, Part 28

Author: Drury, Augustus Waldo, 1851-1935; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, pub
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 966

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 28

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He died at the ripe age of 86 years, admired and respected most by those who knew him best.

Doctor J. D. Daugherty began service with the opening of the hospital. He was a conscientious, conservative practitioner and a faithful worker in the wards. He labored to the end to give to others the relief which he could not obtain for himself. In the prime of life his labors were interrupted by that fell destroyer, phthisis pulmonalis. He died in 1903.

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The deaths of Doctors W. H. Negley and S. B. Ellis were inexpressibly sad. Both were young men who had barely stripped for life's race, for which they were exceptionally equipped. Both were men of fine character, of studious habits, of high ambitions, and came to St. Elizabeth after a prolonged service in the hospital for the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

Doctor Negley was born in Germantown in this county in 1863, graduated from Woodward High school, Cincinnati ( 1882), and from Miami Medical College in 1886. He died suddenly from Angina Pectoris in January, 1898.

Doctor Ellis was born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1867, graduated in arts from the University of Cincinnati, and in medicine from the Miami College in the class of 1892. He died from typhoid fever September, 1899.

P. N. ADAMS (1852-1898).

Doctor Adams was born, June 22d, 1852, in Lewis county, Kentucky. He attended Centre College, Danville, Kentucky, and began the study of medicine under Doctor Gundry of the Athens, Ohio, Insane hospital. The interregnum be- tween medical college courses was spent as druggist, either at the Athens or Dayton Insane hospitals.

He was graduated from Starling Medical College in 1878, and immediately accepted the position of Assistant Physician to the local Hospital for the Insane, which position was resigned after four and one-half years service to engage in practice in the city. From 1885 to 1889 he was a member of the Board of Pension Examiners.

Doctor Adams was twice married, but left no children, and died in July, 1898, after a delayed operation for appendicitis.

RICHARD RALPH PETITT.

Doctor Petitt was born in Erie county, Pennslyvania, on the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1857. His preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Sherman, N. Y., and in the High school at Ann Arbor, Michigan.

He entered the Academic department of the University of Michigan with the intention of qualifying for the teaching of languages, in the study of which he was always deeply interested. He changed his plans, took up the study of medicine, and was graduated in 1882 from the Medical department of the same university. He came at once to Dayton and began to practice on the west side, where his life was passed.

Modest, conscientious in the doing of all of life's obligations, studious and conservative in all of his views, Doctor Petitt represented the best type of the American family physician. He died in 1903 from phthisis pulmonalis.

THE MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL.

The Miami . Valley Hospital owes its being to the Protestant Deaconess Society of Dayton, which was organized in 1890 by Parson Carl Mueller with the express purpose of establishing a Deaconess home and hospital. A little

MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL

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band of Deaconesses came to Dayton from the Cincinnati home and, under direction of Pastor Mueller, rendered sick service in private families.

The idea of founding a Protestant hospital was fostered by the churches and Woman's Auxiliary Societies and had made such phenomenal growth by the fall of 1891 that the society felt justified in fitting up a temporary hospital. The Adam Pritz homestead on East Fourth street was adapted to the purpose and opened for the reception of patients in October with Pastor Mueller as superintendent and Sister Anna Von Ditfurth matron, who, with her assistant, Louise Goerke (later matron), had come from the celebrated institution at Bielefeld, Germany. This building, which was occupied for three years, con- tained about 37 beds and cared for over 1,100 patients. The medical staff was as follows :

Chief, Dr. J. S. Beck ; Surgeons : George Goodhue, M. D., William Plattfaut, M. D., P. N. Adams, M. D .; Physicians : G. C. Myers, M. D., C. W. King, M. D., F. D. Barker, M. D.

The new Deaconess Home and Hospital, which was formally opened and dedi- cated Oct. 4th, 1894, stands on the former site of the Widow's Home on ground donated by Mrs. John H. Winters. It is a complete and modernly equipped hos- pital and was built by voluntary contributions at a cost of about $150,000, under the supervision of the following efficient building committee: Benjamin Kuhns, A. A. Simonds, E. A. Barney, H. H. Laubach, Carl Mueller and J. S. Beck.

Late additions to the building bring the capacity of the hospital to 160 beds, including accommodations for about 60 private patients.

On occupying the new building the medical staff was reorganized- and en- larged and the Homeopathic School of Medicine given recognition.

REGULAR STAFF.

Physicians : J. S. Beck, M. D., Chief ; G. C. Myers, M. D .; C. W. King, M. D. Surgeons : George Goodhue, M. D .; William Plattfaut, M. D .; F. D. Barker, M. D. Oculists and Aurists: D. W. Greene, M. D .; Charles McGregor, M. D. Consulting Physicians and Surgeons: J. C. Reeve, Sr., M. D .; W. J. Conklin, M. D.

HOMEOPATHIC STAFF.

Physicians : A. S. B. Nellis, M. D .; W. W. Ensey, M. D. Surgeons: J. A. McCann, M. D .; J. E. Welliver, M. D.

After eight years of trial the difficulty of getting competent novitiates forced the trustees to abandon the idea of making the hospital a Deaconess institution. In carrying out the new idea a modern training school for nurses was established in 1899 and Miss Ella P. Crandall, who later became superintendent of the hos- pital, placed in charge. The graduates of the school now number forty-five.

To comply with this method of acquiring and maintaining the nursing force, the name was changed in 1903 to "The Miami Valley Hospital Society." The management of the society and hospital is vested in a board of trustees consist- ing of fifteen members, at least four of whom must be clergymen and two physi- cians, one for each school of medicine represented by the hospital staffs. When

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many have served so faithfully it may seem invidious to make special mention of any, but the Reverends Mueller and Colby, Messrs. Simonds and Cummin, and Doctor Goodhue have been specially active in promoting the interests of the insti- tution. The Woman's Auxiliary Society, the Jean-McMahon-McCreery Guild, and the Fruit and Flower Mission deserve mention in this connection.

Since the opening of the hospital the following important additions have been made :

Adjoining the main building and connected with it is the elegant Frank Jeffer- son Patterson Surgery, which was generously given by Mrs. Patterson as a memorial to her husband. This building was completed in 1904.

Miss Mary Belle Eaker, in one of her many liberal bequests to the hospital, provided for the erection and maintenance of a home for the nurses. This large and comfortable building was dedicated with appropriate services in May, 1905, and makes the Miami Valley Hospital one of the most complete institutions in the state.

The following medical men have served on the staff of the hospital:

REGULAR.

J. S. Beck, Chief for 17 years ; George Goodhue, F. D. Barker, P. N. Adams, Wm. Plattfaut, C. W. King, G. C. Myers, D. W. Greene, J. C. Reeve, Sr., W. J. Conklin, F. A. Henry, G. A. Hochwalt, C. H. Breidenbach, Horace Bonner, W. S. Smith, E. M. Huston, N. D. Goodhue, W. A. Ewing, G. P. Dale, O. V. Huffman, W. H. Delscamp, L. E. Custer, D. D. S., H. B. Harris, H. D. Rinehart, J. F. Dolina.

HOMEOPATHIC.

T. A. McCann, Chief ; J. E. Welliver, W. W. Ensey, W. H. Webster, A. S. B. Nellis, Curtis Ginn, H. E. Palmer, H. H. Herman, Frank Webster, C. E. Shawen, W. J. Blackburn, H. W. Dickinson, Rome Webster, W. H. Wetzel.

THE MIAMI VALLEY HOSPITAL-ORGANIZATION, NOVEMBER, 1909.

Florence A. Bishop, Superintendent.

TRUSTEES.

President, Rev. H. F. Colby, D. D .; Vice-President, W. J. Shuey, D. D .; Treasurer, E. F. Kimmel ; George Goodhue, A. M., M. D .; H. H. Herman, M. D .; John W. Stoddard, Rev. Holmes Whitmore, Herman Pretzinger, E. C. Harley, Prof. Geo. A. Funkhouser, D. D .; W. T. Wuichet, G. H. Schulte, Rev. Maurice E. Wilson, D. D .; J. R. Boalt, Frank L. Canby.

REGULAR STAFF.

Physicians : C. W. King, M. D .; C. H. Breidenbach, M. D .; W. S. Smith, M. D. Surgeons: George Goodhue, M. D .; F. Dale Barker, M. D .; William A. Ewing,

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M. D. Obstetricians: E. M. Huston, M. D .; A. H. Dunham, G. P. Dale, M. D. Oculists and Aurists : H. B. Harris, M. D .; H. D. Rinehart, M. D. Consulting Physicians and Surgeons : W. J. Conklin, M. D .; J. M. Weaver, J. A. Davisson. Pathologists : Dr. N. D. Goodhue, O. V. Huffman.

HOMEOPATHIC STAFF.

Physicians : H. E. Palmer, M. D .; W. W. Ensey, M. D .; H. H. Herman, M. D. Surgeons : T. A. McCann, M. D., Chief of Staff ; J. E. Welliver, M. D .; Curtis Ginn, M. D. Obstetricians : Frank Webster, M. D .; C. E. Shawen, M. D .; W. J. Blackburn, M. D. Oculists and Aurists: H. W. Dickinson, M. D .; Rome Webster, M. D. Pathologist, Rupert M. Welliver. Radiographers: L. E. Custer, D. D. S .; W. H. Delscamp, M. D .; H. S. Wetzel, M. D.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS.

There are, in addition to these public institutions, a few small but creditable private hospitals, as "The Moira" on McPherson street and "The Dayton Sana- torium" on Huffman Hill.

TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL.

Under a recent act of the legislature the commissioners of adjoining counties are empowered to provide an institution for the care of tuberculosis patients. Montgomery and Preble counties have gone together and formed a district hos- pital which has been placed, by the commissioners, under the trusteeship of Doctor J. S. Beck of Dayton and John E. Harper of Eaton. This action was secured by the efforts of the society organized by the Anti-Tuberculosis society of the Montgomery County Medical Society. Doctor Beck, Doctor E. B. Markey, D. W. Iddings and Judge Brown have been especially active in this society's crusade against the "White Plague." A country home, six miles north of the city, has been temporarily fitted for hospital purposes. It has a present capacity for twenty- eight patients.

BOARDS OF HEALTHI.

The first board of health in Dayton was formed in the fall of 1832, when cholera prevailed extensively throughout the country. In view of the danger of a local visitation of the disease, Mayor John W. Van Cleve invited the local physicians to suggest sanitary precautions. The report of the committee, which was signed by doctors John Steele and H. Van Tuyl, advised the formation of a board of health, the establishing of a temporary hospital, and a general abating of nuisances.

At a meeting of the common council held on the same day, these recommen- dations were adopted and the following citizens named as a board of health to attend to their enforcement: First ward, Aaron Baker ; second ward, Charles B.

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Greene; third ward, Peter Baer ; fourth ward, David Osborn; fifth ward, James H. Mitchell; basin, John Rench; brickyards, Isaac Van Cleve. A few weeks later, Elisha Brabham and David Pruden replaced Messrs. Rench and Van Cleve on the board, which was enlarged by adding councilmen Baker, Mitchell, Green, Baer and Osborne.

The organization was barely completed when a canal boat arrived at the basin, bringing twenty-five cholera infected German immigrants, of whom seven and two nurses provided by the city died. These cases were attended by Doctors Gans and Hibbard Jewett, for which service they were paid $65 by the city council.

The efficiency of the measures employed to stamp out the disease is shown by the fact that no other cases occurred until the following June (1833), and these were doubtless due to a new source of infection. The disease reappeared late in June and continued into September. There were thirty-three deaths.

On account of the grossly exaggerated reports which spread through this section of the state, greatly to the detriment of the business interests of the town, Doctor Haines, as mayor, issued an official bulletin admitting an unusual prevalence of bowel troubles, but denying on the authority of seven practicing physicians* the presence of epidemic cholera. Notwithstanding the edict of "the seven wise men," the disease, like Banquo's ghost, would not down, and before the ink was dry with which the denial was penned, other cases occurred and es- tablished beyond question the choleraic nature of the disease.

The second board of health was organized to fight the epidemic of cholera which swept through this valley in 1849. The first case of the disease to appear in Dayton, was on May 18th and was unquestionably imported from Cincin- nati. From this date, the disease continued with varying intensity until the mid- dle of August, when the health board officially announced the passing of the epidemic. The death roll of about two hundred and twenty persons, many of them prominent in the life of the town, gives silent evidences of the virulence of the disease. Two physicians, Silas H. Smith and John Hall, fell at the post of duty.

Doctors John Steele, Job Haines, and G. W. Greene were constituted a board of health on May 1Ith, and soon Messrs. Crawford, Conley and Boren were added from the members of council. In June, when the pestilence was increasing in severity, the board was further strengthened by the addition of the following prominent citizens : Henry L. Brown, James Kenney, Samuel Brown, George B. Holt, and Milo G. Williams.

The house of Mary Hess on Brown street was again improvised into a hospi- tal and Doctor Edmund Smith placed in charge. Doctor Smith, who won uni- versal respect for the way in which he discharged his unenviable duties, was one of the most promising young doctors that Dayton ever had. Possessed of high literary and scientific attainments, he died in 1851 at the age of thirty-five with life's mission only partially fulfilled.

* The following names were appended to this bulletin: Job Haines, John Steele, Joshua Clements, D. L. Terry, M. Chambers, Edwin Smith, John B. Craighead.

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Dayton did not have a permanent public health organization until June, 1867, when, under authority of a recently passed act of the legislature, the present board was formed. The board consisted of the mayor, ex-officio president, and six members appointed by the council : Jonathan Kenney, mayor, W. W. Lane, B. F. Wait, L. Patterson, J. W. Dietrich, C. Parker and J. W. Butt. The organization was completed by electing Dr. Thomas L. Neal, health officer and James A. Mar- lay, clerk.

The following list gives the names and approximately the vears of service

The name of Doctor James M. Weaver is accidently omitted from the list of health officers. He served from June, 1886, to June, 1891.

LAWuuVe itau Of time valu iur DiALUCH yCard anu uiu yevilian s sci vice in piac- ing the health department of the city on the high plane which has been since maintained.

DR. THOMAS L. NEAL ( 1830-1885).

Doctor Neal was born September 9, 1830 in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. He re- moved with his parents to Sidney and, at the close of his school days, Began the study of medicine with Doctor Conklin of Sidney, Ohio. He graduated from Miami Medical College, and spent one year as interne in old St. Johns, the famous predecessor of the Cincinnati hospital. On. his return to Sidney, he formed a partnership with his preceptor which lasted until his removal five years later to Cincinnati.

At the outbreak of the war he promptly offered his services to Governor Dennison, and passed the examination for a surgeoncy, but on account of not having been in practice the ten years required by law, he was only eligible for an assistant's commission, which he received. He went to the front with the Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a three-months' regiment, but was soon de- tailed in charge of the hospitals at Charleston, West Virginia, and was mustered out with the regiment on expiration of the term of enlistment.

Immediately after his discharge on unanimous petition of the officers, Doctor Neal was appointed surgeon of the Second Virginia Cavalry. While serving with the troops after the memorable defeat at Gauley Bridge, he contracted bron- chitis, which eventually led to his retirement from the army and partially in- valided him for the rest of life.

While in the army, Doctor Neal married Miss Achey of this city, and after his resignation in 1863, came to Dayton to resume private practice.

On the organization of the present board of health in 1868, Doctor Neal be- came its executive officer and ably and efficiently served the city in that capacity for sixteen years. He was an active member and officer in the American Pub- lic Health Association where he won for himself a wide reputation as a broad- minded sanitarian.

From 1870 to 1873, he was associated in practice with Doctor E. Jennings and in 1872, was a member of the board of pension examiners. From its formation, he

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Greene; third ward, Peter Baer; fourth ward, David Osborn; fifth ward, James H. Mitchell; basin, John Rench; brickyards, Isaac Van Cleve. A few weeks later, Elisha Brabham and David Pruden replaced Messrs. Rench and Van Cleve on the board, which was enlarged by adding councilmen Baker, Mitchell, Green, Baer and Osborne.

The efficiency

by the fact

were doubt

in June and

On accc unougn this

section of t wetrument of the business interests of the town, Doctor Haines, as mayor, issued an official bulletin admitting an unusual prevalence of bowel troubles, but denying on the authority of seven practicing physicians* the presence of epidemic cholera. Notwithstanding the edict of "the seven wise men," the disease, like Banquo's ghost, would not down, and before the ink was dry with which the denial was penned, other cases occurred and es- tablished beyond question the choleraic nature of the disease.

Doctors John Steele, Job Haines, and G. W. Greene were constituted a board of health on May IIth, and soon Messrs. Crawford, Conley and Boren were added from the members of council. In June, when the pestilence was increasing in severity, the board was further strengthened by the addition of the following prominent citizens: Henry L. Brown, James Kenney, Samuel Brown, George B. Holt, and Milo G. Williams.

* The following names were appended to this bulletin: Job Haines, John Steele, joshua Clements, D. L. Terry, M. Chambers, Edwin Smith, John B. Craighead.

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The following list gives the names and approximately the years of service of all who have served as health officers :

Thomas L. Neal, 1867-1883 ; A. H. Iddings, 1884-1886, 1892-1897 ; C. A. Bonner, 1898-1899; C. W. King, 1900-1905; F. W. Murphy, 1906-1907; George Goodhue, 1908.

But one of the health officers is dead, Doctor Thomas L. Neal, who was the executive head of the board for sixteen years and did yeoman's service in plac- ing the health department of the city on the high plane which has been since maintained.

DR. THOMAS L. NEAL ( 1830-1885).

Doctor Neal was born September 9, 1830 in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. He re- moved with his parents to Sidney and, at the close of his school days, began the study of medicine with Doctor Conklin of Sidney, Ohio. He graduated from Miami Medical College, and spent one year as interne in old St. Johns, the famous predecessor of the Cincinnati hospital. On, his return to Sidney, he formed a partnership with his preceptor which lasted until his removal five years later to Cincinnati.

While in the army, Doctor Neal married Miss Achey of this city, and after his resignation in 1863, came to Dayton to resume private practice.

From 1870 to 1873, he was associated in practice with Doctor E. Jennings and in 1872, was a member of the board of pension examiners. From its formation, he

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was identified with the consultant staff of St. Elizabeth hospital. Doctor Neal was a courteous gentleman with Chesterfieldian manners, punctilious in the ob- servance of the social amenities and an excellent clinician. He died February 12, 1885, from malignant disease of the sigmoid.

The present organization of the health department has been, above many others, aggressive and very efficient in bringing about sanitary reforms. It has done a yeoman's service in securing for the public a pure milk and food supply.

Members of the Board: President, Mayor E. E. Burkhart; President pro tem, Dr. J. Morton Howell; George W. Kalter, Allen C. McDonald, Dr. J. M. Wine, George R. Manchester. Health Officer, George Goodhue, M. D. Clerk, William B. Wright. Bacteriologist and Chemist, Meldrun B. Floyd, M. D. Dairy Inspector, N. D. Goodhue, M. D. Veterinarian, Walter Shaw, V. S. Inspector of Plumbing, Joseph V. Hirsch. Inspector of Food Products, Isidor Cohn.

HOMEOPATHY.

Doctor Henry Adams, of whom there is little record, is said to have been the first homeopathic physician to locate in Dayton.

Doctor Henry Wigand came next in 1847. The minutes of council show that in 1849 he petitioned for a homeopathic representative (presumably himself) on the cholera health board. The request was apparently favorably received by the city fathers, but there is no record of an appointment having been made. Dr. Wigand was absent from the city for three years preceding 1861, after which he continued in practice until his death.

Doctor Jacob Bosler, who late in his professional life became a convert to the new school, Joseph E. Lowes, F. W. Thomas, William H. Grundy and the two Websters, father and son, are the most prominent of the deceased members.

WILLIAM WEBSTER (1827-1894).

Doctor Webster was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1827. He graduated in letters from Farmer's College in 1848 and, choosing medicine for a vocation, entered the Eclectic Medical Institute in Cincinnati, from which he received a diploma in 1850.

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History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I, Part 28

Author: Drury, Augustus Waldo, 1851-1935; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, pub Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 966

Author: Drury, Augustus Waldo, 1851-1935; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, pub
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 966