Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Chapter 44: The Medical Profession, 1918

Chapter 44: The Medical Profession

MEDICINE AMONG THE ANCIENTS - CHINA - EGYPT - THE HEBREWS - INDIA - GREECE - HARVEY AND SYDENHAM - EARLY NORFOLK PHYSICIANS - BRIEF SKETCHES OF PROMINENT DOCTORS - FIRST VACCINATION IN AMERICA - THE NINETEENTH CENTURY - MEDICAL SOCIETIES HOMEOPATHY - DOCTOR MORTON.

The practice of medicine in some form or another is almost as old as the human race. When the first man "felt out of sorts," he doubtless sought for some plant that would relieve his suffering.. If a remedy was discovered, he told his neighbor and in this way was built up a crude materia medica that has been improved upon by the succeeding generations, until the physician has come to be one of the established institutions in all civilized countries.

According to Chinese traditions, a system of medicine was introduced in that country by the Emperor Hwang-ti, about the year 2687 B. C. Although the early Chinese doctor knew nothing of the circulation of the blood, noting the action of the pulse was a part of his elaborate diagnosis. He knew nothing of anatomy and his remedies were compounded with certain spells and incantations to add to their effectiveness. Yet some of the methods employed by the ancient Chinese physician - such as cupping, blistering and the application of plasters - are in use by the doctors of the present day. Missionaries finally introduced modern medicine into the Celestial Empire and the old school has largely passed away.

Egyptian papyri of the period of 1600 B. C, or even earlier, show that theart of healing was not unknown in that country. It was practiced by the priests with many ceremonial rites. Some of these priests were specialists in certain diseases, and Baas, in his History of Medicine, says: "The last six volumes of the Sacred Book contain much information regarding the art of healing, and in completeness and arrangement rival the Hippocratic collection, which they antedate by a thousand years."

Among the Hebrews disease was regarded as a punishment for sin until after the two captivities, when physicians made their appearance. Compared whh modern physicians, they were ignorant of the first principles of medical science, but even they were looked upon by the multitude as men of great wisdom. They knew little or nothing of human anatomy and their system of treatment appealed to the superstition of the patient more than to his good sense.

Records in the Vedas or sacred books of India show that demonology played an important part in the healing of the sick. Before any treatment could be effective, the evil spirit must be expelled from the person who was ill. Physicians among the Brahmins, or highest caste, were given a rigorous course of

Chiron the Centaur was the first to practice medicine in Greece. He was the fabled preceptor of /Esculapius, and the names of Galen and Hippocrates are still held in respect by the members of the medical profession, the latter being known as the "Father of Medicine."

As an example of the opposition the science of medicine has had to overcome, note the discovery of the circulation of the blood by Dr. William Harvey. Doctor Harvey studied in various schools and received his degree in 1602. In 1615 he was made professor of anatomy and surgery in St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, and the next year announced his great discovery. Prior to that time anatomists had taught that the blood was always in motion through the veins, but that the arteries were air passages, because they were always found empty after death. Harvey's theory was received with ridicule by the laity, and even some of the most learned physicians of that period looked upon it with suspicion. Investigation proved the correctness of his theory and the action and functions of the heart became known to the profession for the first time in history.

Another physician about this time - Thomas Sydenham - introduced laudanum into the practice of medicine. The deleterious effects of opium had long been known and the idea of using it in any form as a remedy for disease did not appeal to the practicing physicians. One eminent doctor branded Sydenham as "an agent of the devil." Sydenham also was the first to use cinchona in the treatment of malarial diseases, but this remedy met with less opposition. Because he went with Parliament against King Charles, the College of Physicians refused him a fellowship, but after his death his bust was placed in the hall by the side of Harvey's. The famous Sydenham Society, for the publication of medical works, bears his name.

Voltaire, who wrote as late as the latter Eighteenth Century, defined a physician as "a man who crams drugs of which he knows little into a body of which he knows less." That may have been true of a certain class of empirics in Voltaire's day, but it will hardly apply to the profession of a century later. One by one the obstacles interposed by ignorance and prejudice have been surmounted, step by step the profession has been placd upon a higher plane, until today the physician is usually a man of mark in the community, regarded alike for his professional skill and his. standing as a citizen.

Early Norfolk Physicians

When the first settlers came into Norfolk County, the professional physician was "conspicuous by his absence." Many of the immigrants brought with them from the mother country plants (or seeds of plants) known to have a medicinal value, and these were assiduously cultivated and preserved to be used in remedies in ordinary cases of illness. From the Indians they learned of native plants and almost every household had a supply laid away against the time when they should be needed. Teas, decoctions, poultices and plasters were the most common of these "home-made" remedies and applications.

ticed in the county. Some lived their allotted time and passed away without leaving any record of their doings. Others, after dwelling in one of the pioneer settlements for a few years, removed to other fields of labor and have been forgotten. One of the earliest physicians to follow his calling in the Massachusetts Bay colony was Dr. William Dinely, who practiced both medicine and surgery and was in great demand. He was lost in a snow storm between Boston and Roxbury and perished. About two weeks after his death his widow gave birth to a son, who was named "Fathergone Dinely."

A number of the early clergymen understood the rudiments of medicine and administered simple remedies in cases where the character of the disease was well known. One of these was Rev. Peter Thatcher, who came to Milton in 1681 as the first regular pastor of the Congregational Church. "A man he was of uncommon gifts and acquirements," says Cotton Mather, "spending in medicines, it may be some scores of pounds and a great part of his yearly salary, which he freely bestowed upon the invalids among his people - ay, it may be, on those of all the country round." He died in 1727.

Henry Dengayne, one of the signers of the Dedham Covenant in 1635, was a physician, but there is no evidence to show that he ever resided or practiced his profession within the present* limits of Norfolk County.

Dr. William Avery, another signer of the Dedham Covenant, located in that town as one of the first settlers. An old record gives his occupation as "physician and apothecary." He was a member of the artillery company in 1654; representative to the General Court in 1669; lieutenant of the town's militia company in 1673; and in 1680 gave the town sixty pounds for the purpose of establishing a Latin school. One of the public school buildings in Dedham is still known as the "Avery School." Doctor Avery died in Boston on March 18, 1687, aged about seventy-five years, hence he could not have been more than twenty-three years of age when he first came to Dedham. His son, also named William, was for a long time a deacon in the church and was a member of the board of selectmen for twenty-two years.

Dr. Thomas Boylston, whose father, Thomas Boylston, settled at Watertowrr in 1635, became an eminent surgeon. His son, Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, was born in 1680 and followed the profession of his father. He was one of the first physicians to locate in Brookline and became a Fellow of the Royal Society. In his professional career is seen another instance of opposition to the introduction of new methods of treatment of disease. Boston was scourged by an epidemic of smallpox in the spring of 1721 and Rev. Cotton Mather explained to Doctor Boylston the transaction of the Royal Society respecting the practice of vaccination (or inoculation as it was at first called). Being of a progressive turn of mind, Doctor Boylston immediately acquainted himself with the method of introducing the virus into the human system, after which he broached the subject to some of the Boston physicians. There he met with violent and unexpected opposition, the medical men holding that to introduce the germs of a deadly disease into a patient was a crime which came under the classification of poisoning, while the ministers preached against it and wrote pamphlets to show that the smallpox was "a judgment from God for the sins of the people, and that to try to check its sway would only provoke Him the more." Nevertheless, Doctor Boylston, on June 27, 1721, vaccinated his only son and two negro servants. This was the first time the operation was ever performed in America. The following account of the event is taken from Barber's Historical Collections of Massachusetts :

"Probably there never was greater opposition to any measure of real public utility than was exhibited on this occasion. Doctor Boylston was execrated and persecuted as a murderer, assaulted in the streets and loaded with every species of abuse. His house was attacked with violence, so that neither himself nor his family could feel secure in it. At one time he remained fourteen days in a secret apartment of his own house, unknown to any of his family except his wife. The enraged inhabitants patrolled the town in parties, with halters in their hands, threatening to hang him on the nearest tree, and repeatedly entered his house in search of him during his concealment. Such was the madness of the multitude that, even after the excitement had in some measure subsided, he only ventured to visit his patients at midnight, and then in disguise. He also had to encounter violent opposition from most of the members of his profession, and notwithstanding he invited them all to visit his patients and judge for themselves, received nothing but threats and insults in reply. Indeed, many sober, pious people were deliberately of the opinion, when inoculation was first commenced, that should any of his patients die, the doctor ought to be capitally indicted. He was repeatedly summoned before the selectmen of Boston and received their reprehension. His only friends were Dr. Cotton Mather and other clergymen, most of whom became zealous advocates for the new practice and consequently drew upon themselves much odium from the populace. Some of them received personal injury; others were insulted in the streets and were hardly safe in their own dwellings ; nor were their services acceptable on Sunday to their respective audiences."

A bill for prohibiting the practice of vaccination passed the lower branch of the Massachusetts Legislature, but failed to pass the Council. Now mark the sequel. In 1792, only a long lifetime after the persecution of Doctor Boylston, when another epidemic of smallpox appeared in Boston, "the whole town was inoculated in three days to appease the infatuation of the inhabitants respecting the danger apprehended from this deadly pestilence." It is due to such men as Dr. Zabdiel Boylston that the human race makes progress. His death occurred on March 1, 1766. One of the principal streets in Boston bears his family name. He was the first American to be made a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Special inducements were sometimes made to physicians to locate in a town. At a town meeting in Weymouth on March 14, 1727, it was "voted to grant to Dr. Nathaniel White the five acres of land formerly granted to John Vinson, provided Doctor White continues in the town of Weymouth and in the practice of his profession, and in case he shall remove out of the town, said White to purchase said land or return it to the town again." Doctor White was born in Weymouth in 1701 and graduated at Harvard in 1725. He then studied medicine and began practice in his native town, accepting the grant above mentioned. It is related of him that when anyone called upon him to visit a patient when the weather was inclement, his answer was almost invariably, "It is too bad to go out," yet he always went. For years he resided at the corner of Main and Paul streets, Weymouth. He died on November 23, 1758.

Dr. James Mann was born in Wrentham in 1758 and graduated at Harvard in 1776. He also received the degree of M. D. from Brown University and Yale

College. At the beginning of the Revolution he was practicing in his native town. He entered the army as a surgeon and served for three years. During the War of

1812 he held the post of hospital surgeon of the United States army and was chief of the medical staff on the northern frontier. After the war he was post surgeon for a time and published "Medical Sketches of the Campaigns of 1812,

Dr. Benjamin Richards was born in Weymouth on August 12, 1714. He studied medicine and practiced in North Weymouth for many years, becoming eminent in his profession. His death occurred on January 25, 1755.

Dr. James Torrey was born at Ashford, Connecticut, in 1756. He first learned the trade of tanner and while working at that occupation studied medicine. His first practice was at Lebanon, Connecticut, and next at Nantucket, Massachusetts. During the Revolution he served as surgeon's mate in the Massachusetts militia. In 1783 he located at South Weymouth, where he continued in practice until a short time before his death on December 16, 181 7.

Dr. Daniel French, a native of Hingham, was born about 1720, and practiced in East Weymouth for years. He died suddenly in 1775, while crossing a field to visit a patient. His grandson, Samuel French, later occupied the old homestead on Commercial street.

Another old time physician was Dr. Clifford Belcher, who was practicing in that part of Stoughton now Canton as early as June, 1739, as he was one of the signers of the petition to the General Court, asking for the establishment of a precinct. It is said that he and Rev. Samuel Dunbar, both men of powerful physique, used to indulge in private wrestling matches and other tests of physical strength. He died on April 26, 1773, aged about sixty-three years.

Dr. Samuel Gardner, a son of Rev. John Gardner, graduated at Harvard in 1746, located in Milton about 1752, married Miss Mary Cooper, a granddaughter of William Foye, who was one of the Milton pioneers. He continued to practice in Milton until a short time before his death, which occurred on January 18, 1778. One of his contemporary physicians in Milton was Dr. Eliot Rawson, of whom little can be learned.

About 1759 Dr. Cotton Tufts settled in the northern part of the Town of Weymouth. He was a well educated, progressive man and took great interest in local political affairs and general social conditions. On March 10, 1760, he was chosen as Weymouth's agent to confer with representatives of other towns regarding the formation of a new county. For more than half a century he was one of the most prominent citizens and a physician of recognized ability. Two of his grandchildren - Quincy and Susan Tufts - presented the town of Weymouth with the public library known as the "Tufts Library" in 1879.

Dr. Shadrach Winslow. who located in Foxboro about 1784, was a graduate of Yale College and a physician of fine qualifications. Before coming to Foxboro he had served as surgeon on a privateer, but was captured, carried to England and confined for several months in Dartmoor prison. While in prison his health became impaired to such an extent that he never completely recovered.

Dr. Nathaniel Ames, son of Capt. Nathaniel Ames, was born in the Town of Bridgewater on July 22, 1708. When about twenty-four years of age he located in Dedham, where in September, 1735, he married Mary, daughter of Joshua Fisher. She died on November 11, 1737, and on October 30, 1740, Doctor Ames married Deborah, daughter of Jeremiah Fisher. One son of this union was Fisher Ames, mention of whom is made in another chapter. Shortly after his first marriage, Doctor Ames engaged in business as a tavern keeper and his house was a popular stopping place for many years. For thirty-eight years prior to his death he published an "almanack" annually. He has been described as "a man of acuteness and wit, of great activity and of a cheerful and amiable temper. To his skill in his profession he added a knowledge of natural philosophy, astronomy and mathematics." His death occurred on July n, 1764. His son Nathaniel graduated at Harvard in 1761, at the age of twenty years, studied medicine and practiced in Dedham until his death in 1822. For several years he continued the publication of the "almanacks" started by his father.

Among the other physicians who practiced in the county prior to the beginning of the Ninenteenth Century were: Doctor Jirauld, a Frenchman, who located on a Medfield farm as early as 1729; Dr. George Crossman, who practiced in Canton and was town clerk for many years ; Dr. John Corbett, one of the early physicians of Bellingham; Dr. William Aspinwall of Brookline, who graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1768; Dr. John Pitcher, who wa« in Canton for a few years beginning about 1759. Drs. Moses Baker, Jonathan Stone and Ralph Pope were all well known physicians in their day.

The Nineteenth Century

Probably no physician in the early years of the Nineteenth Century achieved more prominence than Dr. Oliver Dean, who was born in Franklin on February 18, 1783, attended the Framingham Academy and then began the study of medicine with Dr. James Mann, one of the early physicians of Wrentham. He completed his studies under Doctor Ingalls of Boston and in 1809 received the degree of M. D. from the Massachusetts Medical Society. From that time until 1817 he practiced in Boston and Medway, when his health failed and he became superintendent of the Medway Cotton Mills. For the next twenty years he was connected with manufacturing enterprises. Late in life he bought part of the Emmons estate in Franklin and founded the Dean Academy there.

Dr. Ebenezer Alden was born in Randolph on March 17, 1788. His father, who was also a physician, began practice in what is now Randolph about 1781. Dr. Ebenezer Alden graduated at Harvard in 1808 and four years later received the degree of M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania. Returning to his native town, he practiced there until a few years before his death on January 26, 1881.

Dr. Appleton Howe was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, November 26, 1792; was fitted for college at Phillips Andover Academy; graduated at Harvard in 1815; received the degree of M. D. from the medical department of that institution in 1819, and soon afterward located in the Second Parish of Weymouth. For many years he was president of the old Norfolk County Medical Society. He was deeply interested in military matters and in 1839 was commissioned major-general of the First Division, Massachusetts militia. At one time he was captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Besides attending to his professional work, he filled many positions of trust and responsibility. He was for many years president of the Weymouth Savings Bank, and was one of the officers of the Braintree Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1841 he was elected state senator. He died at his Weymouth home on October 10, 1870.

Dr. James A. Stetson was born in Braintree on December 28, 1806, graduated at Columbia College, New York, and received his medical degree from Harvard. He then located in Quincy, where he built up a lucrative practice and took high rank as a physician. At the time of his decease on March 15, 1880, it is said that he was the oldest practicing physician in Norfolk County. At one time he represented the town in the General Court, but preferred to give his attention to his profession rather than to political affairs.

A volume could be filled with the personal sketches of Norfolk County physicians, but from those given the reader can easily judge the type of men who engaged in the practice of the profession during the first, and part of the last, half of the Nineteenth Century. Others of equal skill and prominence were: Dr. Shadrach At wood, who came to Bellingham about 1828 and some nine years later removed to Franklin, where he continued in practice until his death; Dr. Ebenezer Stone, who practiced in Walpole from 1824 to 1869; Dr. Isaac Smith of Foxboro, who was engaged in the ministry for many years, until his voice failed, when, having previously obtained a medical education followed that profession for the remainder of his life with great success, and Dr. George A. Southgate, who came to Dedham in 1863 and practiced there for many years.

Medical Societies

The Massachusetts Medical Society was organized in 1782, "by the better educated physicians to establish a standard of medical education." The Norfolk District Medical Society, one of the subordinate organizations auxiliary to the State Medical Society, was organized in 1850, with the following charter members: Andrew Alexander, Henry Blanchard, Benjamin E. Cotting, Lemuel Dickerman, George Faulkner, John S. Flint, David S. Fogg, Tappan E. Francis, James F. Harlow, Edward Jarvis, George King, Henry A. Martin, John P. Maynard, Horatio G. Morse, Joseph H. Streeter and Benjamin F. Wing.

Homeopathy

It is not certain who was the first homeopathic physician to practice in Norfolk County, but one of the earliest was Dr. Charles Wild of Brookline. He was born in Boston on January 15, 1795, and graduated at Harvard in 1814. Three years later he received the degree of M. D. from the medical department of that famous institution and in the spring of 1818 located in Brookline. For about twenty years he practiced according to the methods of the old allopathic school, becoming a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society in 1828. In 1839 his attention was called to Hahnemann's new theory of medical practice, and after it espoused the system of homeopathic treatment. On February 16, 1841, the few pioneers of homeopathy in Massachusetts held their second meeting at the residence of Doctor Wild, and on that occasion was adopted the constitution and by-laws of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society, of which he was at one time president in after years. He died at North Providence, Rhode Island, February 3, 1864.

Dr. David Thayer, another physician whose experience was similar to that of Doctor Wild's was born in Braintree on July 19, 1813. After attending the schools of his native town he became a student at Weymouth Academy, and in 1833 entered Phillips Andover Academy to fit himself for college. Shortly after that George Thompson, the noted English anti-slavery orator, lectured in Andover and young Thayer was one of his converts. The faculty forbade the formation of an anti-slavery society among the students, or the discussion of the slavery question in the societies. About forty students, among whom was David Thayer, then withdrew from the institution. He then completed his preparations for college in the Appleton Academy at New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and in 1840 graduated at Union College. Flis father died in 1842 and soon after that David entered the medical department of Harvard College, though he had not at that time made up his mind ever to become a practitioner. In 1843 ne received the degree of M. D. from the Berkshire Medical Institute, located at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The next year he began practice and in 1845 opened a dispensary in Boylston Hall, in connection with Dr. C. F. Hofrendahl, a homeopathic physician, for free medical treatment of the poor of Boston. From Dr. Hofrendahl he learned a great deal about the homeopathic theories and in 1847 joined the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society, of which he was elected president in 1870.

In 1873 Doctor Thayer and seven other homeopathic physicians, also members of the "regular" or allopathic school, were expelled from the Massachusetts Medical Society, "for conduct unworthy and unbecoming an honorable physician and member of the society." Their offense was practicing medicine according to homeopathic teachings. When the Boston University was established, Doctor Thayer was active in organizing the medical department on a homeopathic basis. In that department he held the chair of Practice and Institutes of Medicine for eight years.

Although the number of homeopathic physicians in Norfolk County has never been large, when compared with the physicians of the old school, they have shown themselves to be as earnest in their endeavors to check the ravages of disease as their professional allopathic brethren. In fact the physicians of Norfolk County, irrespective of the system which they employ, will compare favorably with those of any county in the Union.

Dr. William T. G. Morton

Dr. William T. G. Morton was born at Charlton, Worcester County, in 1819, studied dentistry and began practice in 1842. While studying medicine with Dr. Charles T. Jackson about two years later he discovered the value of sulphuric ether as a local anesthetic, first using it in dental work. He obtained a patent on his discovery for which he refused $100,000 offered by the United States Congress. Ether was first used in a surgical operation at the Massachusetts General Hospital in October, 1846, in the removal of a facial tumor, though a Dr. C. W. Long of Georgia claimed that he used it as early as 1842. Doctor Morton lived at one time in Medfield, Norfolk County.