Allen County, Ohio - Chapter 13: The Medical Profession, 1906

Chapter 13: The Medical Profession

A Brief History of Medicine - The Allen County Medical Society - Physicians of the Past - Dr. William Cunningham - Dr. William McHenry - Dr. W. H. Harper - Dr. Samuel Sanford - Dr. Robert W. Thrift - Dr. Newton Sager - Dr. C. A. Evans - Dr. P. H. Brooks - Dr. Brice Blair - Dr. John Davis - Physicians of To-day - Dentists of Lima.

A Brief History Of Medicine

"The proper study of mankind is man ; higher than this there is none.'' The above is a philosophical truth - expressed many centuries ago. It has the same force to-day, for the proper study of man leads to the study of the laws of God as applied to and as governing man. The study of medicine is the study of man in most vital relations. It is as old as civilization itself.

The history of medicine must necessarily begin with the written history of events. Its earliest period is enveloped in profound obscurity. It is largely myth and fable. We look to the Scriptures for our earliest account of medicine. In these writings may be gathered here and there a fair idea of Egyptian knowledge and practice. Egypt had a class of men who practiced the healing art, and they also embalmed the dead. The art of embalming required a rather definite knowledge of anatomy. Prof. Roswell Park, in his great history of medicine, says that probably the mythical being whom the Egyptians called "Thoth," whom the Greeks named "Hermes,'' and the Latins "Mercury," passed among the Egyptians as the inventor of all sciences and arts. They attributed to Thoth a large number of medical works, and great medical skill. A knowledge of medicine is not attained in a day. It is a growth of centuries. Perhapsno one of the professions is based more largely upon experience than mqdicine. Strabo says that the Egyptians exposed their sick and afflicted in the public squares ; that any one who had been similarly afflicted might give his experience and advice for the benefit of the sufferers. Herodotus says the same custom prevailed in Babylon. Pliny assures us that the kings of Egypt, permitted the opening of corpses for the purpose of discovering the causes of disease. Thus originated the autopsy of modern days.

The Scriptures give ample proof of the medical knowledge of the Hebrews. The book of Leviticus is largely made up of rules concerning matters of public health. The measures suggested by Moses for the prevention of the spread of leprosy could not now be surpassed, says Professor Park. Solomon was skilled in medical lore next to Moses. To Solomon is attributed a very accurate knowledge of natural history. Josephus claimed Solomon had such perfect knowledge of the properties of all the productions of Nature, that he availed himself of it to make remedies extremely useful. A knowledge of medicine was widely extended among the Brahmins, a priest caste of India, who alone had the right to practice medicine.

These ancient priests practiced much absurdity, yet they had some knowledge that we of to-day cannot equal. "They are believed to have had an ointment that caused the cicatrices of variola to disappear, and they cured the bites of venomous serpents with remedies whose composition has been lost."

In China medicine has been practiced for almost untold centuries. Its study was introduced by the third emperor of the first dynasty, Hwangti. It was based upon the pulse. Great stress was placed upon the study of the pulse, for from it could be divined the seat, duration and gravity of the disease.

As the historian must look to Greece for much of the world's art, so also must the writer of medical history, for it was yEsculapius who gave to the Greeks, and thus to modern times, the first principles of medicine. PEsculapius was supposed to be the son of Apollo and the nymph Coronis, and, as was true of Homer, a number of Grecian cities claimed the honor of his birthplace. He was the leading -character in medicine of all the ancients. Temples were erected in his honor, and distinguished priests were dedicated to these temples, and schools of instruction founded. So noted did he become that, in later times, the imaginative Greeks related that when Pluto became alarmed at the daily diminishing number of arrivals in his kingdom, he complained to Jupiter, and the latter destroyed the audacious healer of men. From this event, some wit said, "The modern children of SEsculapius abstain from performing prodigies."

Pythagoras was the first to introduce the custom of visiting the sick in their own homes. He was a man of immense learning, and in many ways has left his mark upon the intellectual world.

But the central figure in the history of ancient medicine is Hippocrates, a descendant of TEsculapius. To him at least io volumes on the general practice of medicine are attributed by Renouard, who has made an exhaustive study of the life and work of Hippocrates. These writings, joined to those of Pythagoras, Plato and Aristotle, formed a definite part of the great libraries of Alexandria and Pergamos - "The most ancient authentic monument of medical science." Next in order comes the work of Alexander the Great, who collected the riches, intellectual and natural, of the universe. The value of this collection - the great Alexandrian Library - will never be exhausted.

The most noted of the early Roman writers on medicine was Aulus Cornelius Celsus. Celsus was a man of very wide and accurate knowledge - in fact, he was a walking cyclopedia of the day.

But the most noted, as well as influential, of all the early physicians was the great Galen (131-201 A. D.). He was a native of Pergamos. He traveled widely, and studied at Alexandria. He practiced at Rome, where, by his brilliant logic, eloquence, profound erudition, great versatility and practical skill he easily took first rank. He was a voluminous writer, and he accomplished great things in anatomy and physiology. For many years after Galen the practice of dissection was discontinued. His influence was so great that many schools grew up under his instruction, and he had many followers.

Following Galen came a long period of transition covering the Greek period of Rome, then the Arabic period, the great School of Salemum and the School of Montpellier. This brings the history of medicine down to 1400 A. D., when the "New Age" begins, running on to the present. This "New Age" - or the "Age of Renovation," as Renouard calls it, had a sudden awakening, following the establishment of hospitals and medical schools, the invention of the compass, the telescope and the microscope. Engraving on copper also added to this new age, but above all other influences was the invention of printing. This was the erudite period, and we find the names of Linacre, Vesalius, Columbus, Eustachius, Fallopius and others, prominent. Then we read of the great work of the University of Paris with its thousands of students from all nations. The "cell" doctrine was introduced after more extended study of botany and zoology in the 1 6th century.

that of Dr. William Harvey - the circulation of the blood, which he announced through his lectures from 1613 to 1619. The results of his researches were not published until 1628, and, because of the intense jealousy in his native England, his work was unable to pass censorship there, but was published in Frankfort, Germany.

The announcement of this discovery should have appealed at once to the intelligence of every doctor of the land. On the contrary it aroused bitter opposition, and, in fact, it caused a general stupefaction in the medical world. All classes of professional men took part in the discussion, especially naturalists and philosophers. Rene Descartes, one of the most brilliant men of any age, was the first to declare in favor of Harvey's argument, and Cambridge University accepted it in 1649. Harvey only answered his opponents by new proofs, and in other ways maintained a dignified silence. He lived long enough to see his theory universally adopted.

Perhaps the most noted of all medical discoveries was that of Dr. Edward Jenner, wide ly known as the "Father of Vaccination." This great discoverer was born in 1749, and, when a medical student, was told by a milkmaid that cow-pox had protective power against variola; he reported the statement to his preceptor, Dr. John Hunter, in 1770. The young Jenner was told not to spend his time thinking about what had been told him, but "to investigate." The subject never afterward left his mind. Dr. Waterhouse, professor of medicine in Harvard College, made the first vaccinations in the United States, in 1800, upon four of his children.

The medical world is fully conversant with the wonderful work of Virchow, Langenbeck and his pupil, the great Billroth. "Billroth was for many years the surgical sun of Austria-Hungary, and he it was who performed the first resection of the larnvx, and of the stomach." And widely known in America are Dr. Waterhouse, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr.

George B. Wood, and Dr. John C. Dalton, whose text-book is to-day studied in many colleges. None the less noted is Dr. Austin Flint, of New York, as a teacher and author. "His text-book on Practice is -the most popular American work on the subject that has ever appeared, and is still in general use." Nor would we omit the name of the genial "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, whose "Chambered Nautilus" will ever be a treasure of the human heart. For a third of a century he was professor of anatomy at Harvard.

Dr. Ephraim McDowell, of Danville, Kentucky, threw lustre upon the profession in America by having performed the first "rational and deliberate ovariotomy, in 1809." Names like those of S. D. Gross, J. Marion Sims, and D. Hays Agnew, will ever give a prominence to the medical profession in America equal to that of any other country.

The history of medicine in any country would be incomplete without a reference to the discovery of Dr. William T. G. Morton - viz. : the use of ether in surgery, first proved to the world in October, 1846. On his tomb in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Boston, is this selfexplanatory inscription :

"Inventor and revealer of anaesthetic inhalation, before whom in all time surgery was agony, and by whom pain in surgery was averted and annulled; since whom science has controlled pain."

The discovery of anti-sepsis is equally important with that of anaesthesia. To Lord Lister is due this great honor, though his work was based upon the researches of Tyndall, Pasteur and Koch. Some antiseptic processes that would avail against putrefaction - in fact, an antiseptic system - had long been yearned for by the surgeons throughout the world. Lord Lister gave this system to the world, and upon its importance it is well here to quote Dr. Roswell Park:

"The writer makes no apology here for having introduced two distinct chapters - one upon the history of antiseptic surgery, the other upon the history of anaesthesia. First of all they are the two grandest medical discoveries of all time ; and, secondly, they are of Anglo- Saxon origin - the one British, the other American. To the introduction of anaesthetics and antiseptics is due a complete revolution of earlier methods, complete reversal of mortuary statistics, and the complete relief of pain during surgical operations; in other words, to these two discoveries the human race owes more of the prolongation of life and relief of suffering than can ever be estimated or formulated in words. What an everlasting disgrace it is that, while to the great murderers of mankind, men like Napoleon in modern times and his counterparts in all times, the world ever does honor, erects imposing monuments and writes volumes of encomiums and flattering histories, the men to whom the world is so vastly more indebted for all that pertains to life and comfort are scarcely ever mentioned, save in medical history, while the world at large is even ignorant of their names. For this reason, if for none other, these chapters find an appropriate place in a work of this character."

In the same class from the point of usefulness to mankind may be placed the discovery in recent years of the great value of antitoxin by Prof. Von Behring, of Berlin, and the great work of Dr. Carl Schlatter, of Zurich, Switzerland, who completed the earlier work of the great Billroth, by the successful removal, in 1896, of the entire stomach from his patient, Anna Landis, a silk weaver of Zurich.

The medical profession in Allen County has always held a high rank. Its personnel shows to-day some of the most noted surgeons in Ohio, and a large number of the most successful practitioners.

Was organized in Lima on the first Tuesday of May, 1867, with the following members: Drs. William McHenry, E. Ashton, S. B. Hiner, Samuel A. Baxter, C. I. Neff. W. H. Ward, W. H. Harper and R. W. Thrift, of Lima; William Sullivan, of Westminster, and Jesse G. Honnell, of Beaver Dam. Subsequently in the same year were admitted Drs.

S. Yoder and F. Hermann, of Bluffton ; James LeRoi Booth, of West Cairo; H. D. Hill, of LaFayette; Brice Blair, of Jackson township; J. H. Williams, of Upper Sandusky, and R. E. Jones and John Davis, of Gomer.

Dr. William McHenry was the first president and Dr. S. B. Hiner the first secretary. On June 2, 1868, in accordance with a law passed by the Legislature regulating the practice of medicine in Ohio, an amendment to their constitution was adopted and a board of censors was elected to which "all applicants for membership, or certificate of qualifications, were to be referred for examination and report, and no person shall be eligible to membership in this society who does not possess the qualifications required by law to practice medicine in the State." On balloting, Drs,. Wagner, Jones, Thrift, Ashton and Hiner were elected as said board of censors.

During the first year of its existence the society held monthly meetings, at which medical papers and essays were read and methods and cases were discussed. The members took active part and the meetings were full of interest, and much profit and good were derived from the intermingling of ideas. Subsequently, for a few years, the society became inactive until it was revived about 20 years ago and took on its old-time zeal and interest. It is to-day in a prosperous condition with about 40 of the leading and best doctors of the city and county as its members. The amendment made in 1868 is still a part of its rules and regulations and only such physicians are eligible as "possess the requirements by law to practice in the State." Its members, moreover, gain reputation by their works alone, the matter of advertising being forbidden to them. Meetings are held twice a rnonth at which - as in the early days - essays are read and discussions are held. For a long time the meetings were held in the assembly room of the Court House, but in recent years they have met in the Y. M. C. A. Building. The officers are as follows: Dr. Collins, president; Dr. O. E..

Physicians Of The Past

In 1832 Dr. William Cunningham came to Lima, where he resided 10 years, dying September 3, 1842. In 1833 Dr. William McHenry settled in Lima, remaining here until his death in 1890. An account of these physicians has been given in the chapter on the early history of Lima. Dr. Samuel Black, who was also one of Lima's earliest teachers, practiced in Lima in the '30s, but later removed to Putnam County. Dr. S. D. Anderson and Dr. William Finley were pioneer physicians who continued for some years in practice in Lima.

Dr. W. H. Harper came to Lima in 1845 and for many years was closely identified with the town and her citizens. His early years of medical practice were in the horseback and saddlebag period. He began the study of medicine in the spring of 1840 in Jamestown, Ohio, under the tuition of Prof. John Dawson. He attended his first course of lectures at the medical college at Louisville, Kentucky. Dr. Harper was married in the fall of 1840 to Clarissa Winans and to the union were born 10 children, of whom four are living: Mrs.

R. K. Syfers, of Indianapolis, Indiana; T. W. Harper, an attorney at Terre Haute, Indiana; Mrs. Annat, of Wooster, Ohio, and W. H. Harper, Jr., of Ottawa, Ohio.

Dr. Samuel Sanford began the study of medicine in 1842 in Madison County, Ohio, finishing in Lima. He came to Lima in 1846, opened a drug store and in 1849 began the practice of his profession. In the latter year he was married to Jane Scott, daughter of William and Jane Scott, old residents of Lima. Dr. Sanford served as city coroner for some years, also as county director of the poor; was appointed postmaster under Pierce's administration; and also filled the office of township trustee. His children, six in number, were: Charles A., Harry, Anna M. (Mrs. J. Y. Marmon), Oniska (Mrs. A. C. Reicheklerfer) , Samuel and Lewis. Mrs. Marmon is the only one of these living. Dr. Sanford died in the summer of 1904.

Dr. Robert W. Thrift was for many years one of the prominent physicians of Allen County. He was born in Fairfax County,. Virginia, February 1, 1823. His father,.

James Thrift, whose ancestors were from the North of Ireland, was a farmer in moderate circumstances. His mother, whose maiden name was Sina Ball, was descended from an English family, of that name. His father and uncle were in the land service of the War off 1812. As there were no public schools in Virginia at that time, young Robert was educated at a private and select school. At the age of' 21 he removed to Muskingum County, Ohio,, and began the study of medicine under Drs. Bealmere and Ball. In 1847 he moved to. Kalida, Ohio, where he practiced his profession for 13 years. During 1851-52 he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, graduating in 1852. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, though a native of Virginia, he immediately responded to the call of the Federal government and was appointed' to a captaincy. When surgeons were called for, however, he offered his services, was examined and accepted, and then resigned his captaincy, May 3, 1861, to enter the United States Army as a surgeon, continuing as such, until September, 1864. During this period he filled the position of surgeon-in-chief of the Second Division, 20th Army Corps ; Third Division, Fourth Army Corps, and medical director of the general hospital at Danville, Kentucky. Returning to Kalida in 1856, he resumed his profession, and remained there two years. In February, 1867, he removed to Lima. In 1876 he was elected to the chair of diseases of women and children in the Fort Wayne Medical College, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In July, 1877, lie was appointed United States examining surgeon for pensions and was president of the Lima board. On May 1, 1854, the Doctor was married to Angerona Rice, daughter of Clark H. and Catharine Rice, of Kalida, and a sister of Gen. A. V_

Rice, who represented the Fifth Ohio District in Congress, 1875-79. Dr. Thrift's family consisted of three daughters and one son : Flora R., Kate R., Robert W., Jr., and Julia Mabel. Dr. Thrift died in Lima in 1893.

Dr. Newton Sager was one of the pioneer physicians of LaFayette, Ohio, as well as a prominent politician and one who took an active part in all public enterprises, especially those for the advancement of educational privileges. His early life was spent upon a farm, receiving the foundation of his subsequent education in the common schools. When 19 years of age, he entered Oxford University, where he received a literary education. He afterwards read medicine in Pleasant Valley, Madison County, Ohio, and graduated from the old Jefferson Medical University in 1843. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession in LaFayette, Jackson township, this county. At an early date his rides extended many miles, the first settlements being scarce and practitioners correspondingly so. With the increase of population the call for his services also advanced and for months at a time he prescribed for as many as 40 or 50 patients a day, and could not possibly visit them oftener than once in two days. At times it was quite difficult to obtain supplies. This being a malarious district, and the supply at one time both in Lima and Kenton having been exhausted, the Doctor was obliged to go to Piqua to make his purchases of medicines. As the demand for new remedies and drugs increased, his stock eventually developed into a drugstore, which he managed for several years in connection with his professional duties. He several times served as township treasurer and was a leader of the Democratic party in his section. He was also liberal in the support of religious institutions, though he was not identified with any denomination. He joined the Masonic order at Lima, soon after the organization of the lodge at that place, and was a charter member of Sager Lodge at LaFayette, Ohio, which lodge he was instrumental in having established, and which was named in his honor. The Doctor came to this county a widower, having been previousely married to Hannah Custard, daughter of Daniel Custard, of Lima. Mrs. Sager died in 1840, leaving a daughter, Araneta, since deceased. The Doctor was married, on the second occasion, to Bethia Gilbert, of Vermont, born in 1824. This union was blessed with six children, who grew to maturity, namely: Newton, Jr., Norval, Annetta, Lovina, Norton and Mary Bell. Perhaps no man did more for the development of the eastern section of Allen County than Dr. Sager, and to his efforts was due the locating, in a direct line, of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway from Upper Sandusky to Lima.

Dr. C. A. Evans was born at Hillsboro, Ohio, July 29, 1828. He came of a family which furnished a fair share of medical talent in the West. On the paternal side, his ancestors came to this country about 1775, located in Kentucky and removed to Ohio about 1802. On the maternal side, the Duckwalls came from the Rhine provinces in connection with Methodist mission work there, early in the 18th century. The subject of this sketch began the study of medicine at 19 years of age, and at 22 graduated from the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in the class of 1849-5®- In June of 1850, he came to Delphos, where for many years he was identified with the practice of medicine. He was married on April 4, 1855, in Columbia City, Indiana, to Katie Ensler| a highly-educated lady and an ardent worker in church and social interests. Upon the organization of the Toledo, Cincinnati & S't. Louis Railway Company, Dr. Evans took up railway work with that corporation, with which he was actively identified till it ceased to be a Delphos enterprise. He organized the Delphos & Kokomo Railway Company and remained its president till 1878. In the following year he organized the Cleveland, Delphos & St. Louis Railway Company, serving as president till 1881, when he resigned and accepted the vice-presidency of a construction company and was connected with the establishment of other lines. The Doctor served the city as mayor four successive terms, and filled other civic official positions.

received a collegiate classical course at the Miami University, graduating in the class of 1868. His brother Robert was his preceptor in the study of medicine and after two courses -of lectures at the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, he began the practice of his profession at Paddy's Run, Butler County, Ohio, in 1872. In 1877 he came to Lima, where for a number of years he was one of the leading physicians. He was a member of the Northwestern Medical Society and was widely known and highly respected. He died in 1899.

Dr. Brice Blair was born June 22, 1813, in Pennsylvania. He read medicine with Dr. McPherson, of Tuscarawas County, having come to Ohio in 1835. He practiced near New Albany till 1854, when he came to Allen County and settled in Jackson township, where he bought 60 acres of land. He owned 240 acres in Auglaize township and 160 in Stark County, Indiana. Dr. Blair was a wideawake, active, industrious, enterprising man, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a great worker in the Sunday-school. The following children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Blair: John; Edward; Martin, who died in

1876; Nathan P. ; Brice, Jr.; William F. ; James H. deceased; Nancy, who married Isaac Hefner; Clara, wife of Harrison Hefner; Jennie, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Medill Fisher; Mary, wife of David Applas ; and Jessie Allen, deceased. Dr. Blair died March 10, 1876.

Dr. John Davis was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 31, 1837. He came to Gomer in 1854 and at the age of 22 began the study of medicine with Dr. R. E. Jones. Later he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the medical college in 1863. Returning to Gomer he entered into partnership with Dr. Jones, their friendship, like that of David and Jonathan, remaining until death claimed Dr. Davis, December 3, 1904. A friend gives the following estimate of him as a man : "In most communities are found those who tower above their fellows, in stature sometimes, oftener by virtue of position, ability and influence. Such was the late Dr. John Davis. He was a man of fine physique, of commanding appearance, moving with the bearing and tread of a general; dignified and stern somewhat to the casual observer, but most courteous and affable on nearer acquaintance. A practicing physician in the same place for over 40 years, what a mighty influence he exerted in a thickly settled community and within a radius of eight or ten miles! Next to his chosen profession he was pre-eminently a musician. As choir master and leader of congregational singing for 15 years, he threw his whole soul into the work, believing that the ministry of music is not an entertainment merely, but a means of grace to further deepen the impression made by the minister's words. He was thoroughly conversant in literature, his well selected and used library indicating the trend of his mind. A master of Welsh and English, he was much sought as literary adjudicator in Eisteddfods, his work always showing him a critic of no ordinary ability." December 12, 1895, Dr. Davis was married to Mary Griffith, of Cincinnati. Mrs. Davis being a musician, she not only efficiently seconded all her husband's efforts in that line, but was in hearty sympathy with all of his professional and social labors. After a most impressive funeral, those who loved him laid him to rest in Tawelfan cemetery.

Physicians Of Today

Dr. L. F. Laudick graduated from the Medical College of Ohio (now the medical department of the University of Cincinnati) in 1890 and began practicing in Lima in the same year.

Dr. J. J. Murphy graduated from the medical department of the University of Michigan in the class of 1881 and began practicing at once in Lima.

Dr. Thomas E. Williams is a graduate of the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and of the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelpia (class of 1905).

Dr. Monroe Davison graduated in 1882 from the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, and in 1891 from the Starling Medical College, Columbus, Ohio.