Williams County, Ohio - Chapter 12: The Medical Profession, 1905

DURING the early days in Williams county the settlers suffered considerably from illness. Especially was this true of the year 1838, which is remembered throughout the entire Lake region and the Ohio Valley as "the terribly sickly season;" and for many years thereafter the people suffered more or less in the summer and autumn of every year. The settlers of the county, and in particular those that made their homes in the rich bottoms of the various water-courses, were terribly afflicted with fevers and racked with chills.

The fever was so continuous throughout Ohio in those days, and so frightful were its effects, that it is remarkable that the settlers were heroic enough to remain in the new country. They stayed partly through grim determination, partly through the natural indisposition to move backward, partly through love of the beautiful country, and largely through that hope which is said to spring eternal, doubtless with accuracy, for it was necessary for it to spring eternally in the breasts of the pioneers to cheer them in their toil and suffering.

Rich and productive as the lands were, there was a terrible drawback to their attraction in the shape of chills and fevers. So prevalent was this disease in some localities that not a cabin or a family escaped for a single year ; and it sometimes happened that there would not be a single well member to furnish drink to the others. It is told that in such cases buckets would be filled in the morning by those most able and placed in some accessible place so that when the shakes came on each could help himself or herself. Had there been any seemingly possible way of getting back to the old settlements from which these adventurers had come, most, if not all, would have left the rich Maumee bottoms with their shakes and fevers ; but so it was, there were no railroads or even wagon roads, on which they could convey their disheartened skeletons back to their old homesteads with their pure springs and health restoring associations. At the time of the year when a tedious land or water trip could be made, there were enough of each family sick to prevent any preparatory arrangements for such a return ; while in winter there were more obstacles in the way than the sickness of summer. Thus held not only by the charms of the scenery and the productiveness of the soil, but by the sterner realities of shakes and burn- 12 177

These fevers are described at some length by Dr. Daniel Drake, of Cincinnati, in his great work on the Principal Diseases of the Interior Valley of North America, published in 1850. They were called by various names, autumnal, bilious, intermittent, remittent, congestive, miasmatic, malarial, marsh, malignant, chill fever, ague, feverVague, dumb ague, and Dr. Drake himself preferred to call them autumnal fevers. He was disposed to ascribe their origin to what he called a "vegeto-animalcular cause," meaning that the people were infected by organisms that were bred in decaying vegetation, and he pointed out that the disease could not be caused by gases which should have an immediate effect, but must be due to some organism that had a regular period of incubation, because people were not taken with the fevers until some time after the date of supposed infection. This he stated, not in this language, which is more in the line of modern expression, but to the same effect, demonstrating a remarkable insight into the operations of nature. It is believed now that the malarial infection, whatever its original source, is spread by mosquitoes, but this the doctors and sufferers did not suspect, and if they had, it would have done them little good, so numerous were the insect pests, and so expensive would have been any adequate attempt to suppress them. At the time when people were exterminating bears, panthers and vast forests, there was no time to make war on such small and ubiquitous things as mosquitoes.

In combatting the fever and the chills the doctors depended on Peruvian bark, quinine and calomel in heroic doses. Generally the unfortunate victim was first bled, then large doses of calomel were given, and the patient was cautioned to abstain from any acid food or he might loose his teeth, and the calomel was followed by quinine. 'Dr. Drake reported a case in southern practice where a patient was given calomel for malarial fever in increasing doses until he took several ounces a day, and in a short time an entire pound of the drug was put in him. The fate of the unfortunate creature is not mentioned. Another patient was given six hundred grains of compound of aloes, rhubarb and calomel in equal quantities for six days consecutively. There were other remedies. Dr. Joshua Martin, of Xenia, knew of a case where the chills were permanently cured in a small boy by standing him on his head at the access of the fit. "In many cases," said Drake, "the recurrence has been arrested by means which acted entirely on the imagination and feelings. Of this kind are very loathsome potions, which the patients have swallowed with disgust and different charms or incantations, which arouse powerful emotions that change the innervation and destroy the habit of recurrence." There were some very remarkable cases of recurrence of the disease in various forms. One man was subject to monthly attacks of vertigo and loss of consciousness. When medicine had checked this, the trouble soon

The chills and fever, while not so immediately fatal in ordinary years as yellow fever, from which Ohio has fortunately be^n spared, was worse in its effects. If a maa recovered from yellow fever, he was none the worse for it, sometimes better; but the victim of fever and chills often suffered all the rest of his life with neuralgia, liver or spleen disease, dyspepsia or diarrhoea. At times, however, the malarial fevers assumed a malignant form and it was certain death unless the doctor was near at hand and happened to check the paroxysms.

It was this disease, common in every part of Ohio, that the pioneer doctors had to contend with. They battled nobly, some of them falling victims to their antagonist, and it cannot be doubted that they performed a great work in alleviating the sufferings of humanity, and encouraging the pioneers in the work of overcoming the evils of a new country. In time, with drainage and extensive cultivation of the soil, the dangerous conditions passed away and Williams county is now as healthy as any of those older regions to which the settlers longed to return in the days when they were shaking with ague.

Among the early physicians in St. Joseph township were J. S. Stough, who lived just north of the present site of Edgerton and practiced medicine there for a number of years. He afterwards removed to Waterloo, Indiana. Dr. Barkdol was also one of the first physicians and had a fine practice. His prospects were the most flattering, but he became intemperate and lost prestige and practice. Dr. Andrews once practiced in Edgerton. He was a good physician and remarkable for his height, being about six and one-half feet tall. He died of consumption, though he was particularly skillful in the treatment of pulmonary complaints. Dr. Miner came there about i860, but he soon afterward went into the army and died in the service. His son attempted to fill his father's place for a while but never became as eminent. Dr. .Schmidt practiced in Edgerton about the same time, but subsequently removed to Indiana. Dr. Samuel Wood located there about 1861. He entered the army near the close of the war, was commissioned a lieutenant, and later removed to Chicago, where he engaged in the stock business. About the same time, the Drs. Long - George E. and John W. - did a large practice in and around Edgerton. Among the older physicians in point of practice now, is Dr. Hathaway, a biographical sketch of whom appears on another page.

Among the early physicians who practiced at Stryker, were Dr. Blaker, E. P. Willard and'Dr. Hubbard. Later, D. C. Clover, N. B. Stubbs and F. A. Snear. Dr. Clover located there in the early 6o's, and Dr. Stubbs and Snear probably ten years afterward.

The first physician who located in West Unity was Dr. T. W. Hall. This was sometime prior to 1847, and i*1 the latter year he had two companions, G. W. Finch and J. W. Graves. The latter was a pronounced temperance man and a leader in a society known as the Sons of Temperance. In later years Mrs. Dr. G. W. Finch, Dr. J. N. Runnion, Dr. Wm. M. Denman, Dr. A. M. Wilber and Dr. F. O. Hart attended to the needs of the people in that line.

Dr. William D. Stout, who came to the township in about the year 1846, was the first resident practicing physician in Bridgewater. He was a noted deer hunter and was notoriously lazy, an indispensable constitutional element, it is said, in the ''make up" of a successful hunter. If an early settler sent in the morning, in great haste, for him, for the relief of some member of his family, the good doctor would take his rifle, hunt all day and reach the sick person about night. It is humorously stated that he was so inordinately lazy that when he accidentally fell down while hunting in the woods, he would remain down until he had killed four or five deer. Those who know say there is truth as well as humor in this statement, for the best way in the world to hunt deer is to find a spot where they are likely to pass and then sit down and patiently wait for their appearance. If so, the patient hunter would kill the most deer, and in this instance the doctor was most patient; but in the meantime his patients suffered by his neglect. Among the other doctors who resided and practiced their profession in Bridgewater in years gone by, were James Stewart, Dr. Munn, William M. Denman, W. T. Clute, J. W. Williams and Richard F. Lamson. The latter, an excellent man and an experienced and well-read physician, has retired from the practice and now lives in Bryan.

It was many years after white settlers appeared before a physician located in Superior township. In cases of emergency, Dr. Jonas Colby of Defiance, or Dr. Thomas Kent or Dr. John Paul, of Lafayette (Pulaski), would be summoned. Dr. A. L. Snyder, who now resides in Bryan, commenced medical practice in Montpelier, in June, 1854, and his immediate predecessors in the practice there, at that time, were in the order of their coming: Drs. Levi Colby, Draper, DeWolf, A. P. Meng, and a Dr. Barkdol ; but excepting Dr. Colby, the stay of all of these was brief. Then followed, in July, 1859, Dr. Isaac M. Snyder, when the two physicians of the same name, though not united by kindred ties, formed a partnership which continued until the removal of the senior partner to Bryan. The later physicians in the place were S. W. Mercer, Blair Hagerty and J. W. Williams - Dr. Hagerty alone remaining, and he yet attends to a large practice.

Dr. George E. Long - or Judge Long, as he was more familiarly known - was born May 1, 1821, in Donegal county, Ireland. He came with his parents to the United States, and with them moved to Carroll county, Ohio. When about twenty-four years of age, he began the study of medicine, and came to Williams county in 1850, where he began the practice of his profession in Superior township. The winter of 1854-55, he attended the Eclectic Medical Institute of

Dr. Festus A. Snear was graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in the class of 1871-72, previous to which he attended lectures at the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mich., after studying for two years with Drs. Long and Riggs of Bryan. He then located in Stryker for the practice of his profession, became the proprietor of a drug store, built up an extensive practice, and became one of Stryker's most public spirited citizens. He removed to Bryan, where he died a few years ago.

Sixty years ago, Dr. George W. Finch came to West Unity, his worldly possessions consisting of a horse and ten dollars in cash. The cash with the exception of fifty cents he expended for medicines, and immediately began the practice of his profession. He rapidly rose in the confidence and esteem of the people, and ere long had an extensive and lucrative practice. The year following his arrival, he erected an office, and soon after on the same lot constructed what at that time was thought to be a fine residence. Dr. Finch was born in Belmont county, Ohio, was educated at Delaware college, and died at West Unity, July 13, 1879. He was twice married, his second wife being Mrs. Lucy E. Eckis (nee Smith) widow of Dr. Samuel Eckis. This lady was born in Ellsworth, Mahoning county, Ohio, April 17, 1823. She was educated at an academy in Atwater, Ohio, and at the age of twenty-three married Samuel Eckis. They then read medicine together, graduated in the same class at Cincinnati, in 1852, and together practiced the profession for several years in Southern Illinois, where in 1859, Dr. Eckis died. After his death, Mrs. Eckis taught school for several years in Southern Ohio and Indiana. In 1864 she came to West Unity and was employed as the Principal of the High School for three years - until her marriage with Dr. Finch - after which she became almost the constant companion of the doctor in his office and in his practice. At his death she took up and continued the extensive practice left by him and met with marked and unusual success. She was well skilled in her profession, and was a lady of fine literary attainments.

Dr. James N. Runnion was born in, Richland county, Ohio, July 21, 1830; received a good early education, and worked on his father's farm and1 taught school until 1853, when he began reading medicine. He graduated at the Western Reserve Medical College, of Cleveland, in 1856, and after a short practice at Lexington, Johnsville and Shelby, came to West Unity in 1863, and practiced his profession there until his death, March 3, 1892.

Dr. William Knoff was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1834. He attended school in Richland county and afterward studied medicine for three years. In 1863 and 1864 he attended the Homeopathic College at Cleveland, and in the latter year located at Primrose for the practice of his profession. In 1873 he removed to Montpelier, but after an eight years' stay at the latter place, decided to return to

D|r. Isaac M. Snyder was born in Putnam county, Ohio, Sept, n, 1836, and enjoyed good educational advantages in his youth, spending his time in study and teaching. He attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., when eighteen, afterward graduated at Buffalo Medical College in 1859. He began practice at West Unity, but soon after removed to Montpelier, where he spent the remainder of his life, with the exception of one year at Stryker and at Pettisville, in Fulton county. He was associated for one year with Dr. A. L. Snyder - same surname, but not a relative - and after the dissolution of that partnership he remained alone in the practice. He became one of the most successful practitioners of medicine and surgery in Williams county, and was also the most extensive property owner in Montpelier.

Dr. Samuel W. Mercer was born in Crawford county, Ind., October 15, 1832, and his early days were spent in his native state and also in Ohio, engaged in acquiring: an education and teaching. After the district school, he took an academic course at Newville, Ind., and was in attendance at Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1859-60. He graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, and afterward took a post graduate Gourse at the same place. He began the practice of his profession in DeKalb county, Ind., remaining there two years, and in 1863, located in Montpelier, which place was his residence during a long and useful career.

Mention of other Williams county physicians is made in the biographical department of this work and some are also given a place in chapters upon affairs with which they were prominently identified.

The present medical societv of Williams county was organized by a meeting of physicians in the court house at Bryan, in January, 1904. The original members who signed the constitution upon the day of organization were John W. Long, James W. Long, A. E. Snyder, A. L. Snyder, F. H. Pugh, C. M. Barstow, J. U. Riggs, of Bryan ; R. R. Alwood, Albert W. Back, F. M. Frazier, Montpelier; and Albert Hathaway of Edon. The officers elected were : Dr. J. U. Riggs, president ; Dr. J. I. Newcomb, vice president; Dr. Joseph A. Weitz, secretary and treasurer. The organization gives promise of being a permanent one, contributing to the promotion of social fellowship, scientific advancement and the high standing of the profession in Williams county.