Page 41 - 2015_Cabin Days curriculum booklet

(Case to Dr. Levi Bartlett, Kingston, N.H., 2 June 1847, Case Papers, Indiana Historical Society)

Men, women, and children used the doctor's services for a variety of reasons, including child-
birth, ague, colds and other catarrhal affections, inflammatory diseases, scurvy, broken bones,
toothaches, skull fractures, hydrocele, cancer, amputation, cholera, and kidney and bladder
infections. It is likely, however, that most persons waited until illnesses became serious before
approaching the doctor for treatment.

From journals and doctors' account books, information about the various diseases treated by a
physician can be obtained. Bleeding was performed in all cases of inflammation or fever; quinine
was dispensed for ague; blister plasters for pleurisy, catarrhal affections and cholera; and
vermifuges for worms. Catheters were passed in cases of kidney and bladder infections. Analysis
of Dr. Lawrence A. Johnson's account books reveals that during a period of eight months the
Rossville physician dispensed vermifuges 4 times; quinine or ague medicine, 17; toothdrops,
once; febrifuge medicine, 8; and blister plasters, 13. He performed 43 venesections, extracted a
splinter from the cornea of the eye, operated on a man's finger, assisted in 5 accouchement cases
and treated one case of scurvy. Another local doctor cupped or scarified 56 times, performed 33
venesections, pulled 6 teeth, assisted in 33 parturition cases, passed on catheter, set two broken
bones, extracted 3 placentas, and lanced 9 times. During the year 1840, this same physician
dispensed quinine 198 times; vermifuges, 23; rheumatism medicine, once; and cough drops, 13.
Dr. Jabez Percival of Lawrenceburg dispensed over 200 cholera plasters during the cholera
epidemic of 1832. He also treated several kidney and bladder infections. Dr. Lindsay of
Richmond visited persons with broken limbs, skull fractures, hydrocele, cancer, and tetanus;
several of the tetanus and cancer cases resulted in amputation. In addition, most doctors acted as
their own pharmacists, making their own pills and compounding their own medicines to meet the
needs of their patients.

CONCLUSION

Despite relying on medical services, Americans saw their health steadily deteriorate. Health
hazards and the absence of proper sanitation, physicians' lack of accurate medical knowledge,
and the abundance of quacks and domestic "self-help" books all contributed to the fragile
existence of early nineteenth century Americans. By mid century, medicine had entered an age of
"improvement, progress, and reform." Medical institutions were emerging to provide a more
scientific approach to medicine. Physicians were now engaged in clinical teaching and research
in hospitals. New instruments were introduced to assist doctors in their diagnoses. New channels
for communicating between physicians and for disseminating medical information-- journals,
societies--were established. But, as in the case of agriculture and economics, Indiana was
characterized more by conservatism and maintaining the status quo than by the growing reform
movement in American medicine.

Kathy Mandusic McDonnell

Medicine of Jacksonian America Page 7 of 8