USA > Pennsylvania > Armstrong County > Armstrong County, Pennsylvania her people past and present, embracing a history of the county and a genealogical and biographical record of representative families, Volume I > Part 19
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The nineteenth century was, without doubt. the great epoch-making century in the history of medicine. Instruments of various kinds to aid in better diagnosis were invented, further research into the hidden mysteries of the human body blazed the way for better results, the investigations and studies of Vir- chow in his cellular pathology, and the results of Pasteur in his study of putrefaction and fermentation, opened up the way for Lister in his further study of the germ theory of dis- ease, and give to the science of surgery the cine to any one if asked nor will I suggest antiseptic treatment of wounds. And follow- any such counsel. Furthermore, I. will not
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give to any woman an instrument to procure abortion.
"With purity and holiness will I pass my life and practice my art. I will not cut a person who is suffering with stone, but will leave this to be done by those who are prac- titioners of such work. Into whatever house I enter I will go for the advantage of the author of which is not known to the writer : sick, and will abstain from every voluntary
act of mischief and corruption, and, further, When in the cottage blessed with love's sweet store
from the seduction of females or males, bond or free. Whatever in connection with my professional practice, or not in connection with it, I may see or hear, I will not divulge, hold- ing that all such things should be kept secret while I continue to keep this oath inviolate. May it be granted to me to enjoy life and to practice my art, respected always by all men ; but should I break through and violate this oath may the reverse be my lot."
There has been most wonderful progress made, yet there are many things for research and investigation, for the history of medicine all down the ages has been a history of re- search, sacrifice and charity. If there was one who spent much time in the investigating laboratory seeking out something for the bet- terment of the human family, it was a medi- cal man. If there was one to devise ways and means to assist nature to restoration from broken laws, it was a medical man. Has there been a man wearing out his life, sacrific- ing his pleasure, his time, his home, his all for the sake of saving human life, even at the risk of his own, it was a medical man. The poor, the distressed. the weak and the 6
sick, as well as the strong and the rich de- mand his time and attention. From the palace to the cottage, from the mansion to the hovel, he goes with equal anxiety and earnestness to the sick and suffering, bringing comfort and consolation, so beautifully expressed in the little poem picked up somewhere, the
A babe is born and o'er the rustic door Is hung the crown of motherhood and fair Is all within-The doctor's there.
When 'neath the pall of mystic death's weird spell,
A mother's heart is broken by the knell Of all that's dear, and on the stair No baby feet-The doctor's there.
When virtue flees and breath of ruthless lust Eats into the soul as does the gnawing rust. When no one else with her the shame will share, With mother's touch-The doctor's there.
This was somewhat changed in the middle ages, yet some of our medical colleges impose similar obligations in the form of admonition today, and the admonition should be very im- pressive, for in the modern world the tempta- Where blossoms life's sweet bud at blush of day, Where breath of withered rose at evetide steals On the south wind, in joy or care, An uncrowned king-The doctor's there. away tion to get away from clean hands and a pure heart in the medical art is very great. With the increasing facilities for better sanitation, thus eliminating the causes of disease, the And may it be said of my professional brethren "At all times and in all places that they are always willing to give of their strength to the weak, of their substance to the poor, of their sympathy to the sick and suffering and their heart to God." May it be said that "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father seeth in secret himself shall reward antitoxines, the vaccines and the serums, thereby immunizing and controlling diseases that formerly ran rampant, and the continual influx of young men into the field of medicine, overcrowding the profession, makes it very tempting when gold and silver are offered as a bribe to decoy the unwary son of Hip- pocrates. But there is no need of accepting the bribe; let all stand fast to that which is good, true and noble, and stimulated by the thee openly," The widow who contributed successes of the past move forward as did the her mite at the altar of the Master received ancestors in medicine from the days of the as great a blessing as did the rich man who great father of medicine.
gave his fortune.
The little newsboy who carries home to his widowed mother the pennies he has so carn- estly worked for and so carefully saved, re- ceives his reward in the smile that greets him at the hearthstone and he is satisfied in the consciousness, that in the game of life the part that has fallen to his lot is not neglected. In doing good to others it does not necessarily follow that self-sacrifice shall be the penalty ; a tiny rosebud placed by the bed of suffering brings more real joy than a wreath of the most beautiful and costly flowers placed upon the grave when life has departed. A cup of cool water placed to the lips of the famished traveler may mean a soul saved for a life of usefulness ; a kindly word spoken to one in
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the throes of despondency will do more real good than will the greatest eulogy delivered at the open grave.
In the pathway of life opportunities for doing good towards our fellow-men present themselves each day. By accepting these op- portunities and by doing the things which our conscience tells us we ought to do, we not only bring joy and gladness to the hearts of those with whom we come in contact, but in the performance of these acts we are brought nearer the fulfillment of the hope we have always cherished, that our name shall appear on the roll of those who have done their duty. We have read where a certain man lay by the road-side, sick and hungry, stripped of his raiment, among thieves and without friends, and many passed by until there came the good Samaritan, who, without thought of personal reward, ministered to his needs. Yet through this act he received a reward in the consciousness that he had performed a deed of mercy.
PIONEER MEDICAL MEN
The early history of the medical fraternity of Armstrong county, whatever it may have been, was not handed on to us either by leg- end or written history. Previous to 1863 very little of the records of the profession can be found, except short notes from Smith's history, and rules of ethics. When Arm- strong county was founded in 1800, Dr. Simcon Hovey was the only practicing physi- cian and surgeon within its bounds. Dr. Hovey was a scholarly gentleman, a native of Connecticut, a good physician and a skillful surgeon for his day, and for several years he was the only medical adviser for the northern portions of Armstrong and Butler counties and the greater portion of Clarion and Venango counties. He located in the north- ern part of the county in 1797, and Hovey township bears his name.
In 1804 Dr. Elisha Wall was assessed in Bradys Bend township. From whence he came or whither he went no history can be gathered to tell the tale. Dr. George Hays was the first resident of Kittanning. He located there about 1810. Dr. Samuel S. Neale was a native of New Jersey, born in 1792, and re- ceived a good education in the Burlington schools. He studied medicine in the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania, and located in Kittan- ning to practice his chosen profession about 1814. He celebrated America's independ- ence day by his marriage to Margaret E.
Brown, daughter of Robert Brown, on the fourth day of July, 1826. He died in 1857, leaving to survive him two daughters and three sons. His one son, Hon. J. B. Neale, served a term as president judge of Arm- strong county courts. His grandson, Hon. J. H. Painter, was president judge of the county courts in 1913. Another grandson, Dr. A. P. N. Painter, was an honored and respected physician. As a physician Dr. Neale held the respect of his brethren on account of his skill as well as his observance of professional ethics, and he greatly en- deared himself to his patients.
MEDICAL SOCIETIES
In the summer of 1825 Dr. Neale called Dr. Josiah Stevenson to his office to talk over plans for an organization of the medical fraternity, and as a result of this conference the follow- ing notice was sent out November 1, 1825, to all physicians in the county :
"Dear Doctor-You are most earnestly re- quested to meet at the office of Dr. Samuel S. Neale. in Kittanning. Pa., November 16, 1825, for the purpose of organizing a medi- cal society to regulate the practice of medi- cine, to formulate a standard of ethics and for other purposes."
There were at this time about fifteen physi- cians in the county, and the writer is sorry that he cannot find any further information of this matter. It may be well said in honor of these pioneers of medicine in that early day that on account of the unsettled condi- tion of the country and the mode of travel it would be a difficult task to follow the trail on horseback for miles to attend such a meet- ing.
But these brave men met and succeeded in organizing The Armstrong County Medical Society, formulated a constitution and a set of rules of ethics. As the Jews were called an over religious people on account of the many laws they had to observe, so it may be said of these men they were over zealous in adopting a constitution and rules of ethics to cover almost every conceivable thing that might happen, and in later years when the men of '76 were about to organize, a resolution was passed to modify these rules, as they were too voluminous. The original constitution could not be found but the following rules of ethics as they formulated them were found in the files of the Kittanning Gasette and Columbian :
At a regular meeting of the Armstrong
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county medical society held in Kittanning on than the physician first called on should be Thursday evening, September 24, 1830, the able to resume the charge of the case, unless following Code of Medical Ethics was a continuance of his services should be ex- adopted. "The degraded condition of the pressly wished for by the patient or his friends. medical profession, not only of Pennsylvania, 7. Physicians should not visit their patients too frequently, lest seeing them oftener than necessary might produce unsteadiness of treat- ment. but of many other parts of the country, has long been a matter of deep regret to many of the most enlightened and honorable mem- bers, and although much of the time and 8. Theoretical discussions should not be too freely indulged in consultations, as they frequently give rise to much perplexity, with- out any improvement in practice. talents of some of the most respectable breth- ren have been occupied in endeavoring to ele- vate its standard and dignify its character, it is much to be lamented that they have not been more successful in their laudable attempts."
MEDICAL ETHICS
I. It is the duty of every medical practi- tioner to treat his patients with steadiness, ten- derness and humanity, and to make due al- lowance for that mental weakness which usually accompanies bodily disease. Secrecy and delicacy should be strictly observed in all cases in which they may seem to be peculiarly required.
2. The strictest observance of temperance cannot be too strongly inculcated in the minds of the practitioners of medicine and surgery -a clear and vigorous intellect and a steady hand being absolutely necessary to the suc- cessful practice of those branches of medical science.
3. Unfavorable prognostications should never be made in the presence of patients; yet should there seem to be immediate dan- ger, it becomes the duty of the physician to apprise the patient's friends of that circum- stance.
4. In every instance in which one physi- cian has been called on to visit the patient of another, a consultation with the former medical attendant should be proposed. Con- sultations in difficult cases should always be recommended, and the physician called on for that purpose should always show the greatest degree of respect to the practitioner first em- ployed and allow him the privilege of deliv- ering all the directions agreed upon.
5. Special consultations are sometimes wished for, in such cases, the physician called on should carefully guard against paying an- other visit, unless he should be requested to continue his services by the patient or some of his friends.
6. When one physician is called on to visit the patient of another in his absence or during short indisposition, he should not manifest a wish to continue in attendance any longer
9. The junior physician in attendance should always deliver his opinion first, the others according to seniority, and a majority should decide; but in the event of a tie, the physician first in attendance should give the casting vote in regard to the future treatment, and to him should be entrusted the future management of the case, unless the patient or his friends should object to his being con- tinued.
10. Although the possession of a diploma honorably acquired. furnishes presumptive evidence of professional ability, and entities its possessor to preeminence in the profession, yet, the want of it should not exclude practi- tioners of experience and sound judgment from the fellowship and respect of the regu- lar graduate.
11. In consultations, punctuality in meet- ing at the same time should be strictly ob- served, but the physician who first arrives should wait for a reasonable time for the ar- rival of the others. A minute examination of the patient, however, should not take place until one or more of the medical attendants are present, except in case of emergency. All subsequent visits should, if practicable, be made by mutual agreement, and no medical discussion should take place in the presence of the patient.
12. Attendance on members of the profes- sion or their families should always be gratuitous, but should not be officiously ob- truded. Should the circumstances of the medi- cal practitioner indisposed enable him to make a recompense for medical service rendered to himself or family, it is his duty to do so, espe- cially if he resides at a distance.
13. When one medical practitioner is called on to visit a patient whose recovery has been despaired of by the physician first in attendance and the disease should terminate fatally under his management, he should avoid insinuating to the friends of the deceased, that if he had been called on a day or even a few hours sooner he could have effected a cure.
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Such a course of conduct is highly repre- He is not warranted in interfering afterwards hensible and empirical in the extreme. And in unless requested to take charge of the case, the event of the patient's recovery, such a per- when he should propose an immediate consul- son should not assume all the credit as the cure tation with the physician previously employed. might have been partly effected by the medi- cines prescribed before he took charge of the case.
14. The use of nostrums and quack medi- cines should be discouraged by the faculty, as degrading to the profession, injurious to health and often destructive of life. Should patients laboring under chronic complaints obstinately determine to have recourse to them, a rea- sonable degree of indulgence should be al- lowed to their credulity by the physician ; but it is his sacred duty to warn them of the fal- lacy of their expectations and the danger of the experiment and the necessity of strict at- tention to the effects produced by them, in order that their bad effects, if any, should be timely obviated.
15. No physician should either by precept or example contribute to the circulation of a secret nostrum, whether it be his own inven- tion and exclusive property, or that of another. For if it be of real value, its concealment is inconsistent with beneficence and professional liberality ; and if mystery alone give it value of the President, punctual attendance is re- and importance, such craft implies either dis- quired. G. A. Meeker, Secretary." graceful ignorance or fraudulent avarice.
16. In all cases where diversity of opinion and opposition of interest give rise to con- troversy or contention between two or more members of the profession, the decision should be referred to a sufficient number of physi- cians, as they are frequently the only persons in the community capable of properly estimat- ing the merits of the dispute. But neither the subject litigated, nor the decision thereon, should be communicated to the public, as indi- vidual reputation might suffer, and the credit of the profession generally be injured.
17. A wealthy physician, or one retired . from practice, should refuse to give gratuit- ous advice, unless the danger of the case (in the absence of the practising physician) or the poverty of the patient should warrant him in so doing. In all cases where he may be pre- ferred, he should recommend a consultation with some one engaged in active practice. This rule should be strictly observed, as a contrary course is gratuitously depriving ac- tive industry of its proper reward.
19. Physicians should never neglect an op- portunity for fortifying and promoting the good resolutions of patients suffering under bad effects of intemperate lives and vicious conduct ; and, in order that their councils and remonstrances may have due weight, it will readily be seen, that they should have full claim to the blameless life and high moral character which we have stated to be a neces- sary prerequisite to an honorable stand in the profession.
20. Medical men should "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy"; and visits should, as far as consistent with professional engagements, be made either before or after public worship, or during its intervals.
From the files of the same paper we copy a notice from the secretary which reads "The Armstrong County Medical Society, agreeable to the requirements of its constitution. will hold its regular quarterly meeting in Kittan- ning at two o'clock P. M. on Tuesday the twentieth day of December, 1831. By order
We are indeed sorry that a list of names of these worthy men cannot be found; but judging from the high tone of the rules of ethics by which they were governed we are ready to take off our hats and bow with the greatest respect to our early pioneers in medi- cal practice, for the interest they manifested to better the condition and raise to a high stand- ard the medical profession as well as the inter- est they had in mind to better the condition of the laity.
Year after year as the roster of physicians will show, other physicians came into the county, locating in the different villages ; Kit- tanning, Freeport, Leechburg, Apollo and Parkers Landing seemed to be the favored locations, and it is quite easy to understand that on account of the conditions of the coun- try, the kind of roads, the mode of travel and the sparsely settled country districts, all were conducive to direct the physician to the rapidly growing towns, but methinks from the fre- quent changes from one place to another by some of the most prominent early physicians that the different towns were not all "Lands flowing with milk and honey." In fact there is that desire on the part of some of our mod-
18. When a physician is called on suddenly to visit the patient of another in consequence of some unexpected or alarming change in the symptoms, he should adopt a temporary plan of treatment suited to present circumstances. ern physicians to flit about from place to place,
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but the majority of the men in practice today have been quite stable in their locations.
The first homeopathic physician to locate in Armstrong county was Edward Manso, who came from Germany in 1812 and settled in North Buffalo township. No records can be found regarding his life there, and only the memories of old inhabitants can be drawn upon for what information we have about him.
MODES OF TRAVEL
In the early years of the county, before the lor, Freeport.
roads were well laid out as they are now, the trail was about all there was; horseback, with the saddlebags, was the usual mode of travel. One of the early physicians had rather a funny experience. One night, as he was returning home all tired out by a long hard day and so sleepy that it was very hard to keep awake any longer, he decided to walk and lead his "Old Faithful." On in the still hours of the night he went and finally feeling that he had some- what overcome sleep, he decided to again mount his faithful steed, only to find the saddle already occupied by an Indian. The doctor remonstrated, but the redface of the forest held to his seat. When every other argument failed the doctor finally thought of his profession, and said "I am a medicine man," and after satisfying the Indian of his identity he at once withdrew and the doctor was rather glad to proceed without his com- panion.
There was a diversity of choice among the men of the profession as to the color of their horses, some preferred a white horse and some a black horse, in fact there were favorites for each color, style and size. And when a doctor secured one to his fancy, that one was kept as long as he was able to do the work, and then retired on full feed and the best of care. Fol- lowing the saddle horse, came the cart, and after a few years the buggy and team. Doc- tors as a rule were very proud of a spirited, well mated span of horses, and Armstrong county physicians were second to none with their fine teams ; but the horse is rapidly being replaced by the automobile. The next possi- bility for speeding the doctor around will be the flying machine.
ARMSTRONG COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
The medical profession has always been noted for its progressiveness, always looking for something better, and in the spring of
1863 Dr. Washington Reynolds, believing that an organization of the medical men of the county would be beneficial to the fraternity, as well as to the common public, invited the physicians of the county to his office in Kittan- ning to form such an organization, the follow- ing being present : Dr. David Alter, Freeport ; Dr. Robert S. Wallace, Bradys Bend; Dr. Thos. C. McCullough, Kittanning; Dr. Wash- ington Reynolds, Kittanning; Dr. William C. Mccullough, Freeport; Dr. Thos. McGill, Freeport; Dr. J. R. Park, Whitesburg; Dr. C. S. Snowden, Freeport, and Dr. J. M. Tay-
The organization was completed, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, Dr. David Alter; vice- president, Dr. Robt. S. Wallace ; secretary, Dr. Thos. C. Mccullough; treasurer, Dr. Wash- ington Reynolds. Dr. Thos. C. Mccullough was elected delegate to the State convention, which met in Philadelphia that year, and gave a glowing account of the meeting when he next met with his county society.
The county society was not represented in the State meeting in 1864, but the annual dues were paid and the society was in good stand- ing; the following men identified themselves with the society: Dr. Robt. G. Ralston, Cow- ansville; Dr. John H. Hughes and Dr. John C. McMunn, Freeport; Dr. W. McBride, Leechburg; Dr. G. W. Burkett, Freeport, and Dr. William McBryor, Apollo. The above officers were reelected in 1864-65.
Dr. Washington Reynolds represented the county society in the State meeting in June of that year at Altoona, and the following was his report: "The undersigned, having been elected a delegate so recently as the 23d day of May, and since that time almost constantly engaged, has had no opportunity to collect ma- terial suitable for a report for the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania; there- fore, no report embracing the geology, geogra- phy, medical topography and medical statistics of Armstrong county will at this time be pre- sented. We can only promise, and we think with a great degree of confidence, that a full report on these subjects will be presented at the next regular annual meeting of the so- ciety."
The following year new officers were elected, and Dr. R. G. Ralston was elected delegate to the State meeting and gave a full report, thus fulfilling the promise made by Dr. Reynolds. This was the last report of the. Armstrong County Medical Society until 1876. And thus another blank occurred in the life
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of the society and for several years each phy- sician was a law unto himself. From some of the older physicians we learn that there was strife, jealousy and division. The first organi- zation finally disbanded, the second conception developed into a fully matured county medical society ; but for some parasite or microbe of discontent, from malnutrition and neglect its life blood slowly but surely ebbed away, and for a space of ten years Armstrong county was without a medical society. The population of the county was increasing, new industries were multiplying, and men of all pursuits of life began to feel the need of getting together to discuss the common problems, to exchange views and experiences, to gain inspiration and to organize.
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