Muskingum County, Ohio - Chapter 10: Physicians, 1882

Chapter 10: Physicians

Increase Mathews was the first regular physician to locate in Zanestown. He came in 1801, and began his profession ; but, as the settlement was yet in its infancy, and the pioneers were a hardy set, he could not depend on the practice of medicine, alone, for his support, and, therefore, engaged in merchandising, including in his stock svich drugs as were most likely to be needed. This was "the first drug store in all this region."

In those days the physician was known to ride twenty-five or thirty miles to visit a patient. Dr. Mathews would visit patients in his immedia,te neighborhood, and furnish medicine, at thirty-seven and a half cents a visit !

.In the spring, of 1805, Dr. Richard Hillier arrived in Zanestown, and began the practice of his profession. He had been a Surgeon in the English Army. He remained here until 1809, when he removed to "Beech Bottom," fifteen miles from Mount -Vernon, where he died, March 10, 1815.

In 1807, Dr. Robert Mitchell and wife arrived. He purchased a lot on the southwest corner of Fifth street and Locust alley, and built thereon a two-story log hoixse. i He was also a politician, and, as a JeffersQnian, was elected to the Town Council ; also Brigadier General' of the Third Division of the Ohio State Militia, in 1822, and served several years. He died, November 13, 1848, aged 70; his wife died March 4, 1864, aged 76.

Dr.' John Hamm; a native of the State of Delaware:, and educated in that State, studied with Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated in that city. He came to Ohio in 1808, and settled, first, in Chillicothe, and on the 4th of July, 1809, was the orator of the day ; came to Zanestown soon after, and subsequently mangled Eliza, the fourth daughter of General Van Jlorne. probably no man in' Ohio of that day, except General Lewis Cass, had such a succession of desirable officid positions. In 1812, he was a member of the Legislature and a Presidential elector. In i8i3j he became Surgeon of the 27th United States Infantry, and succeeded General Cass as Marshall of Ohio, a responsible and dangerous position. In 1827, he was State Senator, and again in 1829. In 1830, he was appointed Charge de Affairs to the Republic of Child, by President Jackson, and concluded the first treaty with that Government. He returned to his home and kindred, in Zanesville, and died May 22d, 1861, in the 85th year of his age. His widow died April 20, 1868". They had eight children, one of whom became the wife of W. A. Graham, one the w,ife of Peter Black, and one the wife of Alexander Van Hamm. The daughter not menitonecl, died, in girlhood ; the eldest son, Washington Van, Hamm, died in Chicago, 111., in 1872. , in the summer of 1814. He was a native of Stonington, Connecticut, and studied medicine in the city of Hartford. His first engagement in his profession was an Army Surgeon, which, however, he soon relinquished, for private practice. He died in Zanesville, Saturday, October 16, 1840, and at a meeting of the physicians of that city and vicinity, held at the residence of Dr. Moorehead, October 19, resolutions were passed, as follo'vs'^s :

Whereas, It has pleased the Almighty to remove from among us, and from the sphere of usefulness, our late friend and brother practitioner. Dr. p. W. Rhodes:

Resolved, That we view with deep regret this dispensation of Divine Providence ; ' therefore, in as much as it has borne from us one who has, for many years, stood so deservedly high in his profession, and who has been most indefatigable in his exertions to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow-men :

Resolved, That, in the death of Dr. Rhodes, this community has sustained a loss which will be most sincerely felt by those who, in the hour of their affliction, have so long i-elied upon his skill and judgment :

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented by Dr. Moorehead to the family of the deceased, and that they also be published in the papersof the town :

Resolved, That we adjourn to meet at the late residence of Dr. Rhodes, at the hour appointed for his funeral, and that we attend the same in a body. Robert Mitchell, Chairman.

In 1814, Dr. J. Fowler was a practicing physician in Putnam ; and in 1816, Dr. Moore was here, and gained some notoriety by introducing vaccination, which some physicians opposed.

In 1817, Drs. John J. Brice, Ebenezer Atwater, Calvin Conant, G. B. Maxfield, and Samuel Moulton, were among the physicians. And in 1822, Dr. Isaac Spangler (who studied with Dr. Hamm) was associated with Dr. Robert Mitchell. During tliis year, Wm. Clark, E. S. Phelps, Adam Gage, Benjamin Wait, Nathaniel Wait, Noah Harris, Robert Moore, David Pardy, Sylvanus Seeley, Timothy Burr, Adam Gage, and Elmas Wheaton, were admitted to practice medicine, upon examination under the State law..

The diversity of opinion on important subjects in the profession of Medicine, was such that, for the sake of harmony, and also for the purpose of having a recognized standard of authority, or, better still, a guaranty of qualification, an act was passed by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio authorizing the formation of medical societies, and empowering the incorporator^ to require the members of such bodies to be gradu-

Medical Societies

The First Society. - February 26th, 1824, the following act was passed by the Legislature of the State of Ohio: "An act to Incorporate Medical Societies for the purpose of Regulating the Practice of Physic and Surgery in this State."

To carry out the object of this act, a considerable number of physicians from the Fifteenth Medical District, then composed of the counties of Muskingum, Morgan, Coshocton, Guernsey, Licking ajid Knox, assembled at the Court House, in Zanesville, May 25, 1824, (the time appointed by law,) and organized themselves into a Medical Society. The following were the first officers : John Hamm, M. D. President; John B. Brice, M. D., Vice President; Thomas Flanner, M. D., Secretary ; Robert Mitchell, M. D., Treasurer.

A committee was appointed to draft by-laws for the government of the society. They reported in accordance with instructions, and the by-laws were adopted, but a copy cannot now be found. About this time, Percival H. Pardee and Joel S. Thrall, of Putnam, presented themselves for examination before the censors, and were duly licensed to practice physic and surgery in the State of Ohio.

The foUpwing gentlemen were appointed by the President to deliver Medical dissertations at the semi-annual meeting, to be held the first Tuesday in November, 1824, viz :

It was made the duty of the President at each annual meeting to deliver an address, and to recommend a question for discussion at the semiannual meetings.

The following is a list of the members at the date of organization : John Hamm, John B. Brice, Thomas Flanner, Robert Mitchell, Dudley W. Rhodes, Calvin Conant, Robert SafFord. Wm. S. Richards, Elisha G. Lee, Alfred c! Thompson, Elmas Wheaton, Benjamin Webb, Wm. Clarke, Francis Fowler, Samuel Baldridge, Harry Fassett, Sylvester Spellman, Samuel Martin, Samuel A. Baker, John Baldridge, David McGary, James Kell, Isaac Spangler, Jesse Morris, David A. Bines, John B. Cooley and Nathan Webb.

This society continued to exist until December 12, 1842, when the Muskingum County Medical Society was formed, by the physicians of the county of Muskingum, at a meeting held on {hat day at the Eagle Hotel, in Zanesville, at which Dr. Helmick presided, and Dr. J. G. F.

Resolved, That we constitute ourselves into a medical society, to be called the Muskingum County Medical Society, by signing our names to this resolution. The following gentlemen signed their names, viz :

The following committee on a constitution for the society, was appointed : Dr's. Robert Mitchell, John Watkins and J. G. F. Holston, with instructions to report on the first Tuesday in January, 1843, "at which time the society shall hold its first regular meeting, notice of which will be given in the public "prints."

Art. 2d. The objects of this society shall be the advancement of the interests of the profession ; the promotion of harmony and good feeling, and the elevation of the standard of medical attainment among its members.

Art. 3d. The officers of the society shall be one President, one Vice President, one Secretary,, one Treasurer, one Librarian and five censors,, ^11 of whom shall be elected at the annual-n^eting in May, except the censors, who shall receive their appointment directly by the President.

Art. 4th. This society shall be composed of members, both senior, and junior. Senior members, being regular practitioners of medicine, who, until the next annual meeting, may be admitted to membership, by signing this constitution. After which time they must gain their admission through the board of censors. Junior members shall be students of medicine of the senior members, and shall not be allowed the privilege of voting, speaking, or holding office.

Art. oth. The society shall hold its annual meeting on the first Tuesday in May, at 10 o'clock. A- M., in Zanesville, at which time its officers shall be elected for the ensuing year ; also a semi-annual meeting in November ; also monthly meetings in Zanesville, on the first Tuesday of every month, for the report of cases, the reading of essays, and the discussion of medical or surgical questions.

Art. 6. The President shall direct the order of exercises for the meeting next ensuing', and shall have power to select a memljer to read an essay upon any medical or surgical subject, that he may deem appropriate.

Art. 7. Every senior member of the society shall sign this constitution, which signature shall be considered equivalent on his part to being governed by it.

The full set of officers, elected in 1865, were : President, Z. C. McElroy ; Vice President, A. Ball ; Treasurer, Charles C. Hildreth ; Secretary, T. A. Reamy.

For some time after its organization the society met at the residence of some one of its members ; subsequently in the City Council Chamber.

The charter empowers the Academy to issue certificates of qualification to practice medicine, equivalent to a diploma from a regular medical school, and to charge therefor, including the examination, a fee of $25.00.

To be eligible for membership one must be a practicing physician in good standing, and subscribe for one share of stock, paying five dollars, and an annual assessment of one dollar.

The following list embraces the regular physicians engaged in the practice of their profession in Zanesville. The regularly graduated practicing physicians in Zanesville are :