Dale County AlArchives News.....A Page from Dale Co., Medical History 1983 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Christine Thacker http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00033.html#0008100 April 24, 2004, 12:11 am Southern Star THE SOUTHERN STAR Wednesday, Nov. 23, 1983-8B The History Corner A Page From Dale County's Medical History By Creel Richardson The Medicine Man: Sore Throat-"Inhale through a tunnel the steam of hot vinegar, in which sage leaves have been steeped." Hectic Cough: "Take three yolks of hen's eggs, three spoonfuls of honey and one of tar; beat well together; add one gill of wine. Take a teaspoonful three times a day before eating." The early settler: Cancer- "Bathe the cancer three or four times a day with a solution of brandy and salt." Coughs and colds:"Drink freely of life-everlasting tea- it is excellent." Whooping Cough- "Take a teas-poonful of castor oil, to a tablespoonful of molasses." Gravel- "Drink lime-water frequently." Sore throat- "Chew white pond-lilly root." Weak nerves- "Drink freely of scullcap tea." From the medicine shelf of George B. Keahey at his grist and saw mill on Judea Creek-1838-1843: To George S. Wiggins-1 Ib. of Epsom Salts-1 vial of laudanum and paregoric. To D. McCall-1 bottle Castor Oil. To David Ard-1 doz. Cooks Pills- 1 vial laudanum-1 vial sweet wine and dose tartar. To Daniel Judy- 1 doz. Cooks Pills-1 vial calomel. To Johnston Godwin-1 bottle Castor Oil-1 bottle Opodeldoc. To Roderick Campbell-2 bottles of Castor Oil-1 vial calomel and 1 bottle drops-2 doz. Cooks Pills. To A. Metcalf by wife-1 bottle Castor Oil-1 vial calomel and 1 bottle drops-1 Ib. Epsom salts. To John McFadden-1 dose Cooks Pills-1 vial calomel-1 vial laudanum. From the Mortality Census of Dale County year ending May 31, 1880- Nancy Sheffield, age 71, died Nov. 1879 of Congestive Chills, attended by Dr. T.F. Segler, Mrs. A. Nabers, age 91, died April 1880 of 'Old Age', attended by Dr. H.J. Smisson. William Whaley, age 62, died March 1880 "Dropsy of Heart", attended by Dr. J.W. Lee. Alee McGovern, age 33, died May 1880 of Consumption. Attended by Dr. W.C. Steagall. Exer Borland, age 8 months, died October 1879 of Influenza- attended by Dr. J.W. Payne. John B. Daugherty, age 56, died May 1880 of Paralysis of Brain, attended by Drs. H.J. Smisson, J.C. Holman, R.D. Reynolds, Sr. Notice to Physicians and midwives of Dale County, May 31, 1887- "Every practicing Physician and every midwife in Dale County will please carefully and thoroughly inform himself or herself of what the law requires of them in the discharge of their respective duties, bearing in mind these duties are not optional, but imperative. Every physician is required by law to make to the County Health Officer monthly reports of all the deaths and births that occur in his practice during the month previous giving sex, color, etc. and such reports must be rendered by the 10th of each month and earlier if practicable. I will furnish blanks on application. Each physician is also required to note the cause of death in every instance, and if any infectious disease is prevailing in his locality to report it. If no deaths or births occur during the month that fact must be reported. Every midwife living in the county must report to me her full name and address; must not later than the 10th of each month report to me the ''number of births in their practice during the previous month giving sex, color and presentation in each and date of birth. If no births occur that fact must be reported. Any midwife doing business in this county and living in another county must report all births that occur in their practice in the county. The law is mandatory and has penalties attached for each and every neglect of duty; observe the law and do your full duty and do it promptly. Respectfully, J.C. Holman, M.D. County Health Officer. September 1887-Notice to Physicians-"Physicians of Dale County will please bear in mind we are regularly organized and that we are acting under our charter issued by the Medical Board of the State of Alabama, and that certain duties incident to such organizations are imposed on us by the law. Will you observe them or will you neglect them and let our organization fall in disrepute? Please make your reports regularly. Midwives will please make their reports to the assistant health officer of their beat and not to me direct. Assistant health officers are urgently requested to get up a medical directory of their beat, stating number of males and females, white, and number of males and females, black and number of males and females mullatos regardless of ages and forward to me within a few days. Respectfully, J.C. Holman, County Health officer. From the Newspaper files of Harold Stephens. Scanned and Submitted by Christine G. Thacker. Permission to post any Southern Star article or pictures given by Mr Joseph Adams, Owner, April.23, 2004. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb