Knox County TN Archives History - Books .....Medical History - Chapter XIX 1900
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Book Title: Standard History Of Knoxville

CHAPTER XIX.

MEDICAL HISTORY.



Knoxville's Medical Men Have Honored Their Profession—Dr. J. C. Strong—Fathers

Followed by Sons in the Profession—Ramsey the Historian—Sketches of Knoxville

Physicians. Past and Present— Some Disastrous Epidemics—Cholera in

1854—Organization of Medical Societies.



THE medical fraternity of Knoxville has always had among its members a large

proportion of skillful and conscientious practitioners. At this late clay,

however, it is quite difficult to adequately present a complete and accurate

account of the professional careers of the earliest among them; for the reasons

that many valuable records were destroyed during the Civil war, and the memories

of those now living do not extend far enough back into the past. Such data and

dates as could be collected are briefly presented in the chapter which is to

follow, and it should be understood that the omissions which may be noticed are

in reality those that were unavoidable, and are regretted more by the writer

than they can be by the general reader.



  One of the first and at the same time one of the most prominent of the

physicians of Knoxville was Dr. Joseph Churchill Strong, who was born in Bolton,

Conn., October 3, 1775. His education was obtained from a private tutor, and

after being educated in the profession of medicine, whether at a medical school

or with a private teacher could not be ascertained, he entered the United States

navy as assistant surgeon, which fact of itself would seem to indicate that his

medical knowledge and skill were ample. This was during the Presidency of John

Adams, and he was called, in the language of the service, a "surgeon's mate." He

continued in that capacity until President Jefferson sold the navy, at which

time he was on the old frigate Trumbull, and he was often heard to say that he

came near being sold when the Trumbull was sold, as the auctioneer offered her

together with her contents, to the highest bidder.



  In 1804 he came to Knoxville, and here became eminent in his profession, which

he continued to follow until his death in 1844. He was one of the founders of

the First Presbyterian Church, became a member of it in 1816, and was afterward

an elder. He was a man of strong character, was unusually earnest in all that he

did, and was a man of deep religious convictions. For several, if not for many

years of his professional career it was his custom to give to charitable

purposes all his fees for Sunday practice. Besides being a most eminent

physician he was a most estimable manf and left to posterity a splendid

reputation and a most honorable family, many of his descendants being among the

best citizens of this and other states. The residence he erected for himself has

been used for years as the Knoxville Hospital. His three sons, Robert Nelson,

Joseph Churchill, Jr., and Benjamin Rush, were all educated as physicians,

Joseph C., Jr., practicing for many years in the vicinity of McMillan station.

Benjamin Rush is the only one of the three now living, his home being at

Marietta, Ga.



  Dr. Donald McIntosh was another of the early and distinguished physicians of

Knoxville. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1797, and was a son of William

McIntosh. He graduated in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, in 1818, and

almost immediately afterward came to the United States, locating in Knoxville,

where he married Miss Marjorie Campbell, who, with her father, James Campbell,

had preceded him to this city. Dr. McIntosh practiced in Knoxville and in the

surrounding country, going as far away as Kentucky, the remainder of his life,

dying, in 1837, a victim to the epidemic which prevailed in that and the

preceding year, and which, as stated elsewhere, some called yellow fever. He was

a most skillful physician, was very successful and immensely popular. For a

short time he was in partnership with a Dr. Wyatt, who left this city for

Missouri, Dr. McIntosh then having most of the practice previously belonging to

the firm.



  Dr. James C. McIntosh, son of the above, was born in 1825, graduated from the

University of Pennsylvania in 1846, and then studied medicine in France for two

years. Returning to Knoxville he here established himself in the practice of the

profession, was for some years a partner of Dr. Frank A. Ramsey, and was held in

very high esteem as a physician for some twenty years, since which time he has

not been engaged in regular practice. He is still living at the age of

seventy-four years.



  Dr. John Paxton, also one of the earlier physicians of Knoxville, came here

some time previous to 1820. He established a high reputation as a physician, and

was one of the most scientific men of his class. He continued to practice here

until after the war, and died at a ripe old age, being more than eighty at the

time of his death. His son, John W. Paxton, took a course of medicine at each of

two medical colleges, but did not to any great extent put into practice the

knowledge thus acquired.



  Dr. William J. Baker, another of the early physicians, came here about 1830.

He was a graduate of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., and came here from

that state. Besides being a successful physician he was one of the most skillful

of surgeons, performing in 1857 one of the first three successful operations of

the removal of the womb in the history of the world. He was assisted in this

operation by Dr. James Rodgers and Dr. John M. Boyd, both of whom are elsewhere

mentioned in this work, the latter being the only one of the three now living.

In 1859 Dr. Baker removed to a farm about seventeen miles below Knoxville, there

following his profession and also farming until 1863, when he returned to

Knoxville, dying in 1866. He was a man of great force of character, and a good

man as well as a good physician and most skillful surgeon.



  Dr. King, also one of the early physicians, had a fine medical education,

secured a large practice, was a man of great dignity, possessed a good character

and was of excellent family and social position. He died about 1844.



  Dr. J. Morrow came to Knoxville some time before 1840. He was a fine

physician, and was noted for surgical skill. He was of excellent family, and was

an excellent man. He died about 1845.



  Dr. Parmenio Fatio, who came to Knoxville in 1853, was born in one of the

French cantons of Switzerland. He was well educated in Germany, and spoke French

and German fluently upon arriving in this city. Here he devoted the first year

or two to the acquisition of English, after which he followed the profession of

medicine until his death, in 1868. He was a man of fine accomplishments, of

splendid professional acumen, accurate diagnosis, exceptionally correct

treatment of disease, and withal was a strikingly handsome man. His professional

reputation was unusually high, and his scholarly attainments were far above

those of the average scholar.



  Dr. O. F. Hill came to Knoxville about 1855, from the state of Maine, was a

graduate of a medical college and practiced in Knoxville and vicinity until his

death in 1879. He was possessed of a very earnest and self-sacrificing spirit,

was a clean, pure man, a gentleman in every way, and had a very large practice

so long as his health remained, which it did until a few years before his death.

He was associated with E. J. Sanford in business for some years, and, dying,

left a most excellent name.



  Dr. Frank A. Ramsey was a half-brother of Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey. He became a

practitioner of medicine about 1840, and continued in the profession the rest of

his life. When the war came on he joined the Confederate army, and was made

medical director for Southwestern Virginia and Tennessee. After the close of the

war he practiced in Memphis three or four years, returned to Knoxville, where he

lived until his death, which occurred in 1888. He was a most scholarly man, and

was the best medical literarian in East. Tennessee. But he was somewhat

eccentric in his views, often denying the existence of disease when all other

physicians and everyone else knew it to exist.   On one occasion, when the

cholera was present in Knoxville, he posted up a notice to this effect:



  "A disease very much resembling cholera prevails in the city, and I would

advise every one to be very prudent in his manner of living and in his diet."



  His memory was wonderful, and he retained knowledge gained from reading in an

extraordinary degree. He was a man of many happy traits. He was not only

learned, but also unusually broad-minded in his views and tolerant of every

one's opinions, no matter how divergent from his own, whether in scientific

matters, politics or religion. In fact he seemed to enjoy the society of those

whose opinions were different from and even contradictory to his own. While some

other physicians did not wholly respect his judgment, yet they did respect his

learning. He was of elegant deportment and majestic bearing, and once seen could

never be forgotten. About a year before his death he requested Colonel John L.

Moses, if within reach, to make at his funeral any remarks that might seem to

him appropriate, with which request Colonel Moses, when the time came, complied,

closing his remarks with that famous poem, "Abou Ben Adhem," the last stanza, as

follows, being particularly appropriate:



  "The angel wrote and vanished. The next night

  It came again, with a great wakening light.

  And showed the names whom love of God had blest.

  And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest."



  James Gettys McGready Ramsey, M. D., one of the successful practitioners of

medicine of Knox county and in later life of Knoxville, and the most

distinguished native historian of Tennessee, was born in Knox county. March 25,

1797. Reynolds Ramsey, grandfather of Dr. Ramsey, came from Scotland when a

child with his parents, the mother being drowned, however, during the voyage.

Francis A. Ramsey, father of Dr. Ramsey, was born May 31, 1764, removed from New

Castle, Del., early in life, and located in Washington county, N. C., soon

afterward moving still further west into Tennessee. April 7, 1789, he married

Miss Peggy Alexander of Mecklenburg county, N. C., and settled on Little Loudon

creek, where their first son, William B. A., was born, March 26, 1791. They then

removed to Knox county, and settled six miles east of Knoxville, where three

other sons were born, of these three Dr. J. G. M. Ramsey being the youngest. He

remained upon the farm until old enough to attend school, receiving in the

meantime the rudiments of an education from a private teacher, and in 1809,

together with his brother William B. A. Ramsey, was sent to Ebenezer Academy,

where he remained until 1814. Both were next sent to Washington College, at

which institution they graduated in 1816. In 1817 young James began the study of

medicine with Dr. Joseph C. Strong of Knoxville, and in 1819 entered the

University of Pennsylvania, and on August 1, 1820, opened an office for the

practice of medicine in Knoxville, remaining there thus engaged until 1823. This

year he removed to the forks of the French Broad and Holston rivers, naming his

home "Mecklenburg Place," and from that time until the war he was actively

engaged in the practice of medicine, in railroad enterprises and in banking, and

from 1840 to 1853 was engaged in writing his celebrated work, "'Ramsey's Annals

of Tennessee," the most authentic work covering the period treated of so far

produced. Upon the Federal occupation of East Tennessee his house, together with

all its contents, including much valuable manuscript history, was burned, and he

was compelled to take refuge within the Confederate lines, and with his wife he

remained in North Carolina until 1870, when he returned to Knoxville, opening an

office here again on August 1, 1872. His residence and office were near the

eastern junction of Main and Cumberland streets, and here he lived until the

time of his death, which occurred in 1884.



  Dr. James Rodgers, formerly one of the most prominent physicians of Knoxville,

was born in this city July 2, 1818. He was a son of Thomas and Annie (Patton)

Rodgers, both natives of East Tennessee. Having completed his education at the

University of Tennessee, young Rodgers began the study of medicine with Dr. J.

Morrow of Knoxville in 1840, and during the years 1842 and 1843 listened to

lectures at Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky. Then returning to

Knoxville he began the practice of his profession and continued it during the

remainder of his life, and for many years enjoyed a very large practice because

of his unusual success. His practice in the country was also very large, as well

as in the city, and his career both as a man and as a physician was a most

honorable one. Dr. Rodgers served for several years as president of the East

Tennessee Medical society, which is now the Knox County Medical society, and he

was a member of the American Medical association and of the American Public

Health association. Besides being a prominent physician he was noteworthy in

other respects. Through the influence of W. G. Brownlow and Horace Maynard he

was appointed by President Grant postmaster of Knoxville in 1869, holding the

office one term, this being the only public office he ever held. At the time of

his death, which occurred February 25, 1898, he was the oldest member of the

Second Presbyterian church, having united therewith in 1832. and he had been a

deacon in the church from 1847 and afterward an elder. He was also one of the

oldest members of the order of Odd Fellows in the state of Tennessee.



  Dr. John M. Boyd, at the present time the oldest continuous practitioner of

medicine in Knoxville, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1856,

and immediately began the practice of medicine in Knoxville, where he has ever

since enjoyed the confidence of the people, both professionally and otherwise,

to an eminent degree.



  Dr. John M. Kennedy was born in Knoxville in 1847, and was educated at what is

now Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va. Afterward he studied

medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1870, since which time

he has been engaged in the practice of his profession with unusual success in

Knoxville.



  Dr. John M. Gass was born in Jefferson county, Tenn., April 7, 1836, and is a

son of Ewing and Parmelia (Scruggs) Gass. Dr. Gass was reared on the farm, and

obtained his literary education at Greeneville and at Lebanon, Tenn., and began

the study of medicine at the former place with Dr. John R. Boyd. After

graduating at the medical department of the University of Nashville, he began

the practice of medicine at Greeneville, removing thence to Morristown, and

finally in August, 1883, located at Knoxville, where he was one of the most

successful among the physicians of the place. He is a member of the Knox County

Medical society, and has a fine practice and excellent reputation.



  Dr. Samuel P. Hood was born November 9, 1834, at Newport, Cocke county, Tenn.,

and is a son of Rev. Nathaniel and Isabella W. (Edgar) Hood, both natives of

Tennessee, the former of whom was born February 14, 1804, was a minister of the

Presbyterian church, and died in 1874; the latter was born April 28, 1807 and

died in 1848. Dr. Hood was reared in Jefferson county, and graduated from

Maryville College in 1855. He began the study of medicine the next year in

Knoxville under Dr. Beriah Frazier, and in 1858 entered Nashville Medical

College, was never a graduate. He had served in the Confederate army as

assistant surgeon at Knoxville and at Bean Station. Tenn. He also served as

surgeon of Rucker's Legion and of Col. James Carter's First regiment of

Tennessee Confederate cavalry. The war having come to an end, he located at

Mossy Creek, Jefferson county, where he practiced his profession until 1885,

when he removed to Knoxville, where he continued to practice his profession for

several years. He was a member of the Jefferson and Knox County Medical

societies, and was recognized as one of the most successful practitioners of the

city.



  Dr. John H. Carriger, formerly a physician of Knoxville, was born in Carter

county, Tenn., August 18, 1825, and was a son of John and Margaret (Elliott)

Carriger, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania in 1776, and the latter in

1786 in Ireland. John Carriger moved to Tennessee about 1779 and in this state

followed farming until his death, in 1848. Mrs. Carriger dying in 1854. Dr.

Carriger was reared in Carter county, attended the schools of his immediate

neighborhood, then at Elizabethton, next at Jonesboro, and finally went to

Washington College in Washington county. April 3, 1846, he began the study of

medicine at Tazewell, Tenn., under Dr. Michael Carriger, and in 1848 attended

medical lectures at Transylvania University at Lexington, Ky., and afterward

graduated from the Jefferson College at Philadelphia, Pa., in 1851. Beginning

the practice of his profession in Tazewell, Tenn., he removed thence in 1852 to

Columbus, Ohio, where he remained until 1874, locating in Knoxville in December

of that year. From that time on until his death, which occurred in ____, he was

engaged in the practice of medicine in this place. He was a member of the Knox

County Medical society and of the State Medical association.



  J. Sterling Carriger,. son of the above, began the study of medicine with his

father in 1882, attended medical lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College,

New York, from 1883 to 1886, and then located in Knoxville, where he began the

practice of medicine.



  Dr. J. C. Hudgings, formerly one of the most successful medical practitioners

of Knoxville, was born in Monroe county, Tenn., September 6, 1849, and was a son

of Edward and Mary (Carter) Hudgings, the former of whom, born in Virginia in

1823, removed to Monroe county, this state, and there followed farming the

remainder of his life, and the latter was born in Tennessee in 1832, and died in

1886. Dr. J. C. Hudgings acquired his education in Hiwasse College, which was

within half a mile of his home, and for some years after graduating from this

institution followed farming, in order to accumulate funds with which to pay his

way through a medical college. In 1874 he graduated from Jefferson Medical

College at Philadelphia, and began the practice of medicine at Strawberry

Plains, Jefferson county, Tenn, where he remained until January, 1876, when he

removed to Knoxville. In the fall of 1878 he went to Texas, but returned to

Knoxville in the spring of 1879, and here followed his profession until ___. In

1881 he was elected city physician, and was re-elected in 1882 and 1883, having

charge of all the city smallpox patients during the latter two years. He was a

member of the Knox County and the State Medical societies, and was one of the

most highly esteemed members of the medical profession in Knoxville.



  Dr. Thomas H. Kearney, formerly one of the most successful and prominent

physicians of Knoxville, was born November 23, 1832, in Ireland, and was a son

of Patrick and Sophia (Apjohn) Kearney, both natives of Ireland. Dr. Kearney,

when he came with his parents to the United States, was nearly seventeen years

of age, and in 1855 began his medical studies at Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated

from the Ohio Medical College, located there, in 1858. After serving for a year

as house physician at the Commercial hospital in the same city, he began the

practice of medicine in Cincinnati, remaining there until the spring of 1861,

when he entered the medical service of the Union army on one of the gunboats of

the Western flotilla. After one year's service on a gunboat he was commissioned

surgeon of the Forty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, holding this position until

the close of the war, when he returned to Cincinnati and there began again the

practice of medicine. After serving for some time as assistant physician of

Longview Asylum for the Insane at Cincinnati, he was elected to the chair of

principles of surgery in the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati in 1872, and

some years later, upon the death of Prof. Mussey, was made professor of the

principles and practice of surgery in that institution, holding the place until

1884, when he removed to Knoxville. Here he remained in practice until ____. He

was a member and president of the Knox County Medical society, and was highly

regarded both as a physician and as a citizen.



  Dr. James H. Keeling, formerly one of the successful physicians of Knoxville,

was born in Shelbyville, Tenn., in 1849, and was a son of James L. and Charlotte

(McGrew) Keeling, the former born in Virginia in 1800, and the latter in South

Carolina in 1802. Dr. Keeling, reared in Pulaski, Giles county, Tenn., attended

the Pulaski High School and also Giles College. In 1869 he began the study of

medicine at Elkton, Giles county, under Drs. Bealy & Bowers, attended medical

lectures at the Maryland University at Baltimore, graduating from this

institution in 1871. In 1872 he graduated from the University of Louisville,

Ky., and after spending a few months in hospitals, returned to Pulaski, and

there practiced his profession until 1882, when he removed to Knoxville, where

he continued his practice until his death, which occurred in _____. In this city

his professional standing was among the best, and he was highly esteemed.



  Dr. James S. McDonough, a physician of Knoxville, was born in Knox county,

Tenn., October 24, 1830, and is a son of John and Araminta (Scott) McDonough,

the former of whom was born in Baltimore, Md., May 12, 1803, and the latter in

Buckingham county, Va., August 24. 1803, and died in March, 1875. Dr. McDonough

attended Ewing and Jefferson College in Blount county, Tenn., began the study of

medicine in 1856 under B. B. Lenoir, at Lenoir Station, attended the University

of Nashville, and graduated from the Atlanta (Ga.) Medical College in 1860. He

began the practice of medicine at Concord, Tenn., but soon afterward entered the

Confederate army as surgeon of the Sixty-third Tennessee volunteer infantry, in

which capacity he served until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, April 9,

1865. After practicing his profession a few weeks in Knoxville he removed to

Memphis, where he remained about eighteen months, and then returned to

Knoxville, where he continued the practice of his profession until the present
time.



  Dr. John Willard Hill, one of the most prominent of the later class of

physicians in Knoxville, was born in Falmouth, Maine, October 15, 1853, and was

the third child and oldest son of Dr. Otis F. Hill, who died in Knoxville in

January, 1881. When yet a child Dr. John Willard Hill came to Knoxville with his

father, and in this city he lived the remainder of his life. Having attended for

a time a preparatory school in the town of Gais, Switzerland, he afterward

entered the miiitary academy at St. Gall, that countrv, remaining there some

time, and was later a member of the artillery in that country. Being honorably

discharged, lie became a student at the French academy at Neufchatel.



  Having at length decided to become a physician, he matriculated in Emperor

William's University at Strassburg, in Alsace, graduating from this institution

with the highest honors in July, 1878. For a short time he was employed in a

hospital, but in December of the same year he paid a visit to Knoxville, and at

the solicitation of friends determined to locate here, established an office and

entered upon the practice of his profession. After three years of successful

practice, having in the meantime established an enviable reputation as a

physician, he went to Glasgow. Scotland, and there attended lectures in the

Western and Royal infirmaries. Returning to Knoxville, he here resumed his

practice, which he continued until the time of his death, December 4, 1898. In

addition to being one of the most accomplished physicians in the state of

Tennessee, he was one of the finest scholars in literature and in science,

possessed an intellect of rare brilliancy, and was familiar with most of the

languages in use in Europe at the present day. He was buried from St. John's

Episcopal church on Monday, December 5, 1898, his death being widely and

sincerely mourned, as he was yet only in the prime of life, and with apparently

many years of usefulness in store.



  Samuel B. Boyd, M. D., was born in Knoxville, March 24, 1853, and is a son of

Samuel B. and Susan H. (Mason) Boyd, both natives of Virginia. The former, who

died in 1855, was a prominent member of the Knoxville bar, and occupied a

position on the bench of the chancery court. Dr. Boyd was reared in Knoxville,

entered the preparatory department of the University of Tennessee in 1866,

graduating from that institution in 1873. For a short time he studied medicine

with his brother. Dr. John M. Boyd, in Knoxville, and then entered the

University of Pennsylvania, attending there during the years 1873-75, graduating

in the latter year. Returning to Knoxville, he at once began the practice of his

profession and has so continued until the present time. He has served as

secretary, treasurer and president of the Knox County Medical society, and as

secretary of the Knoxville board of health, and is considered one of the most

successful of the physicians of the place.



  Dr. J. L. Price was born at St. Clair, Pa., in 1856, and when twelve years of

age was apprenticed to a druggist at Catasauqua, Pa. In 1871 he removed to

Knoxville and afterward received an appointment from Hon. L. C. Houk to the East

Tennessee University. Still later he received from Hon. Horace Maynard an

appointment to the Hospital College at Louisville, Ky., and in 1877 he graduated

from this institution with first honors in the special hospital course, and

second honors in the collegiate course. At Coal Creek he practiced his

profession about a year, and then after a three years' sojourn in the North he

returned to Knoxville. Soon afterward, however, he went to Texas, whence he

returned to Coal Creek, and remained in this place engaged in the practice of

his profession about six years. By President Arthur he was appointed United

States examining surgeon, but was retired by President Cleveland and restored by

President Harrison, becoming secretary of the board of examining surgeons.



  Dr. Charles E. Ristine, a prominent physician of Knoxville, was born in

December, 1845, in Abingdon, Va., and is a son of J. C. and Susan (Elliott)

Ristine, the former being a native of New Jersey and the latter of Virginia. Dr.

Ristine was reared in Knoxville and obtained his early education at the East

Tennessee University. In 1866 he began the study of medicine with Dr. L. L.

Coleman of Nashville, and in 1867 and 1868 attended the University of Nashville.

After attending the University of Pennsylvania a couple of years he graduated

from that institution in 1870. In 1880 he established an office for the practice

of medicine at Coal Creek, Anderson county, remained there one year, and then

removed to Nashville, where he was engaged in practice eleven years, during

three years of which time he was professor of physiology in the medical

department of the University of Nashville. Then removing to Knoxville, he has

been engaged in the practice of his profession here up to the present time.



  Dr. F. K. Bailey, who was one of the prominent physicians of Knoxville for

some years prior to his death, was born at Rutland, Vt. February 16, 18__.

Having studied medicine with Dr. Horace Green of New York, he went to Michigan

in 1837, when that was a new state, and sadly afflicted with malarial diseases.

From Michigan he went to Quincy and Joliet, Ill., and in 1862 became surgeon in

the United States army under Grant, serving in West Tennessee and North

Mississippi. In 1867 he located in Knoxville, where he continued the practice of

medicine the remainder of his life, and was quite successful and popular. During

the cholera season of 1873 he was health officer of the city, and performed his

duties well. His death occurred June 18. 1876, funeral services being held in

the Second Presbyterian church, and the interment taking place on June 19, 1876,

in Gray cemetery.



  Dr. A. D. Scruggs was born in Monroe county, Tenn., May 29, 1842, was educated

at Mossy Creek College, Jefferson county. Tenn., graduating in 1861, and

afterward attended Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia. Pa., graduating

in March, 1876. Locating then at Mouse Creek, McMinn county, Tenn., he practiced

there seven years. Then removing to Cleveland, Tenn., he remained there engaged

in practice fifteen years, and then removed to Knoxville, where he has been ever

since. He is a member and secretary of the Knox County Medical society, of the

East Tennessee Medical society and of the American Medical association.



  Dr. Herman G. Bayless, one of the successful medical practitioners of

Knoxville, was born in Covington, Ky., March 23, 1854. His parents were John C.

and Rosa (Lewis) Bayless, the former of whom was born in Louisville. Ky., and

was a prominent preacher in the Presbyterian church. Dr. Bayless received his

education at Center college, Danville, Ky., and in 1873 entered the Ohio Medical

College at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating therefrom in 1878. Then passing a year

at the Good Samaritan hospital, Cincinnati, he located at Augusta. Ky., and

followed there the practice of his profession until 1883, when he went to

Europe, spending two years in the hospitals of Vienna and London. Returning to

the United States, he located in Knoxville in 1886, and he continued the

practice of his profession with abundant success until 1890.



  Dr. Charles M. Cawood, formerly a physician of Knoxville, was born in

Jefferson county. Tenn., in 1863, and was a graduate of the University of

Tennessee. He was a son of Dr. J. C. Cawood, and no sooner had he graduated from

the university than he determined to adopt the profession of his father, and by

1894 had acquired an extensive practice. Dr. Cawood was at one time city

physician, but resigned because he had removed from within the corporate limits

of the city. He died at his residence. No. 157 Scott street, from the effects of

the administration of chloroform to mitigate the pain of an operation on his

ankle about to be performed, on April 7, 1894, to the great regret of family,

friends and all that knew him.



  Dr. Chalmers Deaderick, one of the most prominent and successful physicians of

Knoxville, was born in this city August 22, 1847, and is a son of David and

Elizabeth J. (Crozier) Deaderick, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, the

former of whom was born in 1797 and died in 1873, and the latter was born in

1804 and died April 14, 1887. Dr. Deaderick was educated first at the Tennessee

University and graduated from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Va., in

1869. In this same year he began the study of medicine with Dr. John M. Boyd in

Knoxville and in the fall entered the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in

1871. Immediately beginning the practice of medicine in his native city, he has

continued to practice here ever since. He is a member of the Knox County Medical

society, of the State Medical society, and of the American Medical association,

and in 1886 was appointed examining surgeon of the United States Pension office

at Knoxville without solicitation on his part. Dr. Deaderick is still engaged in

the practice of medicine in Knoxville.



  Dr. Charles M. Drake, formerly of Knoxville, was born in Greene county, Tenn.,

December 20, 1854, and was a son of Dr. W. W. and Amanda (Evans) Drake, the

former of whom was born in Rockbridge county, Va., in 1818, and the latter near

Russellville, Tenn., in 1824. Dr. Charles M. Drake attended Tusculum College in

Greene -county, and in 1872 began the study of medicine, entering Jefferson

Medical College that year and graduating in 1875. After serving a short time as

assistant surgeon of the Philadelphia Charity College, he came to Knoxville and

practiced medicine here two years. The next six years he spent as assistant to

Profs. Joseph and William H. Pancoast, visiting Europe in the meantime and being

assistant demonstrator of anatomy at Jefferson Medical College from 1877 to

1880, and removing to Knoxville in 1883, and here continued to practice medicine

until 1896. He was a member of the Knox County Medical society and of the State

Medical society, and was a contributor to medical journals. For some years he

was chief surgeon of the Southern Railway company and in the spring of 1898 was

appointed brigade surgeon in the United States volunteer army, engaged in the

war with Spain. He is now with the army in the Philippines.



  Among the Knoxville physicians who have honored themselves and their

profession is Dr. A. B. Tadlock, who has not been in active practice for a score

of years, chiefly on account of impaired health. After retiring he made a trip

around the world accompanied by his talented wife, an authoress of note. Ever

since that time he has spent his winters in Southern climates. Recently his

eyesight failed him, which to one who loves books so well is a great affliction.

Dr. Tadlock served as a surgeon in the Union army during the Civil war and won

distinction. Since the war he was for some time a member of the Pension

Examining Board of Knoxville, and he also served a term as city physician. He is

a painstaking, conscientious practitioner and has always been a close student,

applying himself assiduously to the study of the branches of science relating to

his chosen profession. He has delivered a number of notable addresses and has

also been an able contributor to medical publications.



  Dr. H. P. Coile, city physician of Knoxville, was born in Jefferson county,

Tenn., and is a son of John Leonard and Mary E. (Bettis) Coile. He was educated

at Maury Academy, Dandridge, Tenn., and at Jefferson Medical College.

Philadelphia, graduating from this institution in 1875. Afterward for twelve

years he practiced his profession in Jefferson county, in Dandridge and other

towns, and in the fall of 1887 removed to Knoxville, where he has since

remained. He is a member of the East Tennessee Medical society and of the

Knoxville Academy of Medicine. In 1882 he was appointed by President Arthur a

member of the pension examining board, serving until he removed to Knoxville. In

1884 he was appointed a member of the special examining board by the pension

department and served with the assistant referee of the pension bureau, who

examined some 400 pensioners at one sitting. His third appointment was by

President Harrison, and he served throughout Harrison's administration. In 1897

he was elected city physician of West Knoxville, serving until the consolidation

of the three boroughs, and was then elected city physician of Knoxville, in

which position he still remains. In 1898 he was elected professor of clinical

medicine in the Tennessee Medical College, which position he still holds, and

during the collegiate year beginning in 1898 he delivered clinical lectures in

the Knoxville hospital, the first ever delivered in that institution. In 1898 he

was elected secretary of the Knoxville Board of Health, and is still in that

office. Dr. Coile was elected City Physician of Knoxville in 1898, for the term

of two years.



  Dr. Walter S. Nash was born in McComb county, Ill., December 15, 1865, and was

educated first at a high school in Winchester, Ky., then at Transylvania

University, and later at the University of Michigan, graduating from the medical

department of this institution in 1889, after having taken a special course in

biology, chemistry and anthropology under Professor Alexander R. Winchell. Later

he took a course of study at the New York Post-Graduate school and also in the

New York Clinic, and immediately afterward came to Knoxville, and for the last

ten years, since 1889, has been engaged here in the practice of medicine. He

became a member of the Knox County Medical society in 1890, of the American

Medical association in 1893, and is also a member of the East Tennessee Medical

society. He is now serving his second term as president of the Tennessee Health

Officers' association, and has been connected with the public health service of

the state since 1894. From 1895 to the latter part of 1898 he was health officer

of the city. He is now lecturer and professor of regional and surgical anatomy

in the Tennessee Medical College, the only professor of the kind in the Southern

states.



  Dr. R. P. Oppenheimer is a native of Virginia, born in 1868, and received his

literary education at Virginia Midland College, University School and Richmond

College. In 1887 he began the study of medicine and graduated from the Richmond

Medical College in 1890, and took a post-graduate course in New York, serving

two years in the New York Post-Graduate hospital.



  He also practiced in the New York hospital and was in private practice in New

York city. In the fall of 1894 he came to Knoxville and has since enjoyed a

lucrative general practice.



  He is a member of the New York County Medical association. East Tennessee

Medical society and Knox County Medical society, is physician for the Knoxville

Traction company, Knox County Industrial school and examiner for the Prudential

Life Insurance company, the Indemnity company and the Covenant Mutual of St. Louis.



  J. L. Howell, M. D., is a native of Morristown, Tenn., was born in 1854 and

received his early education at Morris-town and Mossy Creek. In January, 1875,

he began the study of medicine under Dr. Green T. McGee, and graduated from the

medical department of the University of Louisville in 1877. He began practice at

Alpha, Tenn., where he, remained two years, and then spent one year at

Brownsville, Oregon. Returning to Tennessee, he practiced his profession five

years at Morristown, and in January, 1885, moved to California and was surgeon

for the Southern Pacific railway until 1890, when he located at Knoxville, and

has for four years filled the chair of principles and practice of surgery in the

Tennessee Medical College. He is a member of the American Medical association,

the East Tennessee Medical society and the Knox County Medical society.



  Dr. J. H. Morgan, for years one of the most prominent physicians of Knoxville,

was born in Manlius, N. Y., September 21, 1834. After attending several medical

colleges he graduated in the city of Chicago, and at the breaking out of the war

of the Rebellion enlisted at St. Louis, Mo., in the Union army, fighting until

the close of hostilities. In 1866 he removed from Michigan to Knoxville, where

he continued to reside until his death, which occurred February 16, 1886. Having

been educated as an old school physician he practiced in accordance with the

principles of that school for some years, but at length turning his attention to

homeopathy he made a study of that system and adopted it in his practice and was

the first to practice it in Knoxville. Afterward he made a specialty of electric

treatment of disease. Dr. Morgan was a member of the State Homeopathic

association and of several fraternal orders.



  W. W. Tydeman, M. D., a successful and prominent physician of Knoxville, and

one of the first to practice homeopathy in this city, was born in England in

1824. He located in Knoxville in 1872, and immediately began practicing his

profession, homeopathy being then almost unknown in the place. He at once

succeeded in establishing himself in practice, and for some years has been the

senior member of the firm of Tydeman & Caulkins, the latter member being Douglas

Caulkins, who was born in Duchess county, N. Y., December 15, 1857, and began

the study of medicine in Athens, Tenn., in 1879. Having attended Rush Medical

College at Chicago in 1882-83, he then attended and graduated from Harmemann

Medical College, Philadelphia, locating in Knoxville in the practice of his

profession in 1886. Dr. Tydeman died in 1897 and Dr. Caulkins is still in practice.



  Dr. W. L. McCreary, homeopathic physician of Knoxville, was born in Butler

county, Ohio, in 1850, and was educated at Wittenberg University, Springfield,

Ohio, graduating in 1871. Then attending the Cleveland (Ohio) Homeopathic

College, he graduated from that institution in 1873, and immediately located in

Greenfield, Ohio, in the practice of his profession, remaining there until 1886,

when he came to Knoxville, and has been here ever since. He is a member of the

Southern Homeopathic Medical association and of the Tennessee State Medical

association, and since 1890 has been a member of the state medical examining board.



  Dr. Daniel T. Boynton was born at Athens, in the state of Maine, on the 8th

day of February, 1837, and died at his home in Knoxville, Tenn., in 1887, in the

51st year of his age. His parents removed to Ohio when he was a boy, and he was

educated in the public schools at Elyria, in that state. He attended the Western

Reserve University at Cleveland, from which he graduated and from which he also

received his diploma as a doctor of medicine. During the Civil war he was

surgeon of the One Hundred and Fourth Ohio infantry, with which he came to

Knoxville in the fall of 1863. About the close of the war he was married to Mrs.

Sue Brownlow Sawyers, eldest daughter of Governor William G. Brownlow. His home

was here from that time to the date of his death. During Governor Brownlow's

incumbency in the office of governor of Tennessee, Dr. Boynton was with him in a

confidential position. In 1869 he was appointed United States pension agent at.

Knoxville by President Grant, which office he continued to hold through

successive administrations until 1883. He was an invalid in the later years of

his life, not very actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He was a

brilliant man, skillful physician and estimable gentleman, popular with his

profession and with all who knew him. He was thoughtful, progressive and

conscientious, and stood in the front rank of his profession.



  Dr. John Fouche, "the first and original" dentist of Knoxville, was born in

Loudon county, Va., in 1817. He was of both French and English descent, his

great-grandfather, a Frenchman, having married an English woman in England,

afterward emigrating to America and settling in Virginia on a grant of land made

to him by King George III.



  Dr. John Fouche (Fou-che, with the accent on the second syllable) took a

course of lectures at a dental college in Philadelphia in 1839, went to Little

Rock, Ark., where he practiced his profession about two years, at the same time

studying with a competent dentist, and came to Knoxville in 1841, practicing his

profession in this city down to 1880, and died in 1898. Upon his arrival in

Knoxville he found the town yet quite small and labored with other enterprising

citizens to build it up. In his professional work he was far ahead of his time.

He was unusually skillful and his work was so well done that it bore an

individuality of its own. After some years other dentists, no matter where they

might be, who saw his work, recognized it as "Fouche's dentistry." It is even

now said by some that there has never been a finer dentist in the state. He was

capable, conscientious and conservative, and apparently very desirous of an

extended reputation for the excellence of his work, which he certainly achieved,

for he placed his work and his reputation among the highest in the land. He

performed the first bridge-work in the city, which did much to extend his

reputation in Tennessee, and after he gave up traveling to the surrounding

country towns, people came to Knoxville from as far away as Abingdon, Va., to

have dental work done by him.



  Dr. Horine, one of the ante-bellum dentists of Knoxville, came here from St.

Louis, Mo., in 1855, and remained in practice until 1860. He was a very fine

dentist, second only, if second, to Dr. John Fouche, by whom his work was highly

praised. He was a man of pleasing address, elegant manners, one of the most

courteous gentlemen to be met with anywhere. In 1860 he returned to St. Louis,

where he for some years occupied a high position in his profession.



  Dr. Buckwell, another of the early dentists of this city, came here also in

1855. He was an Englishman by birth, and was educated in his profession in

Philadelphia. After coming to Knoxville he married here, and later entered the

Confederate army in the quartermaster's department, and was killed in the battle

of Murfreesboro. He was also an excellent dentist, and for some time was in

partnership with Dr. Horine.



  Dr. A. P. White, formerly a dentist of Knoxville, is a son of George M. White,

who for several years was recorder and treasurer of Knoxville. He began the

practice of dentistry about 1869, and was in practice about thirteen years,

since which time he has been engaged in the real estate business.



  William H. Richards, D. D. S.. was born in Salem, Roanoke county, Va., and is

a son of Dr. Wm. M. and Sarah M. Harvey Richards, the former of whom was a

highly educated and skillful physician and dentist, and his mother was one of

the old, aristocratic family of Burwell, who were prominent people of Virginia.



  Dr. William H. Richards was a student at Roanoke and the Blacksburg

Agricultural Colleges of Virginia, and began the study of dentistry at the old

Baltimore College of Dental Surgery in 1873. In 1875 he located in Knoxville and

began the practice of his specialty. In 1878 he was graduated from the Baltimore

Dental College and has since been continuously engaged in the practice of his

profession in this city.



  He has been for many years an active member of the dental societies. In 1895

he was made president of the Tennessee State Dental Association, and in 1897

held the highest office which the Southern dentists could bestow, that of

president. He was the last president of the Southern Dental association: its

first president having been from Memphis and its last from Knoxville. It was

during Dr. Richards' administration as president that the American Dental

association and the Southern Dental association resolved themselves into a

national organization, laying aside on the soil of Virginia, at Old Point

Comfort, sectional lines incident to the war.



  Dr. Richards was instrumental in organizing the dental department of the

Tennessee Medical College of Knoxville and held the position of professor of

principles and practice of dental science, dental surgery and mechanism. His

contributions to the literature of the profession along original lines of

special investigation are worthy of mention, particularly his mode of studying

the anatomy of the pulps, which is being introduced in the dental colleges.



  Dr. Richards was one of the appointed clinicians at the International Medical

and Dental congress, held in Washington, D. C., in 1887, and also a clinician at

the Columbian Dental congress during the World's Fair in Chicago, holding the

distinction of being the only clinician from Tennessee.



  Dr. John Thomas Cazier, dentist, was born in 1833 in Cecil county, Md., and

was educated at Elkton Academy in that county. He studied dentistry about five

years in Philadelphia with Dr. J. G. White, leaving that city in the spring of

1852. He received a diploma from the St. Louis Dental College, and after

traveling two years in the practice of his profession, settled down, in the

spring of 1854, to the practice of his profession in Jonesboro, Tenn., where he

remained most of the time, with the exception of a few years during the Civil

war, until 1878, when he removed to Knoxville and has been here ever since.



  B. D. Brabson, D. D. S., was born in Sevier county, Tenn., in 1860, and was

educated at the University of Tennessee, taking the academic course. His

professional education was received at the dental department of Vanderbilt

University, Nashville, Tenn., from which department he graduated in 1887. After

practicing for a short time in Greenville, Texas, he removed to Chattanooga, and

there practiced eight months in partnership with Dr. S. B. Cook. Then coming to

Knoxville in October, 1889, he has been engaged in practice here ever since.



  Dr. A. R. Melendy, dentist, was born near Brattleboro, Vt., and moved to

Hawkins county, Tenn., with his parents in the fall of 1869. He was educated at

the local schools, at McMinn Academy, Rogersville, Tenn., and at the University

of Tennessee. He was a student of dentistry with R. R. Freeman of Nashville,

attending lectures at Vanderbilt University (Dental College), and leaving

college in the spring of 1884, he began practice associated with Dr. S. B. Cook,

now of Chattanooga, at Sweetwater, Tenn., under the firm name of Cook & Melendy.

In 1890 this firm was dissolved, and in May of that year Dr. Melendy removed to

Knoxville, where he opened an office and has been engaged here ever since, and

since September, 1893, in the Deaderick building. In 1895 he was elected

president of the East Tennessee Dental association, and in 1896 vice-president

of the Tennessee State Dental association. At present he is a member of the East

Tennessee Dental association, of the Tennessee State Dental association, and of

the National Dental association. He is a member of the executive committee of

the Southern branch of the National Dental association, and also of the

executive committee of the Tennessee State Dental association.



  Dr. S. A. Willis, dentist, of Knoxville, was born in Greenville, Tenn., in

1865. He was educated at the University of Tennessee, leaving that institution

in 1889. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Newport, Tenn.,

remaining there one year, going thence to Pana, Ill, in 1890, and remaining

there until 1897, when he came to Knoxville and formed a partnership with Dr.

William H. Richards, this partnership continuing to the present time.



  Among the other dentists of Knoxville may be mentioned Dr. R. Neil Kesterson.

Dr. A. A. Francis, Dr. A. J. Cottrell, Dr. J. S. Clements, Dr. S. P. Sharp and

Dr. B. R. McBath.



  In 1836 and 1837 there was more malaria in the town and more sickness in

consequence of this malaria than usual, but not enough of either to cause alarm.

In 1838, however, the case was different. Knoxville suffered severely from

malarial fever, not yellow fever, as some writers have stated, for the elevation

above the sea of the site of Knoxville is sufficient to prevent this disease

from originating here, and as the disease is not contagious, it would be

impossible for it to spread even if a case or several cases were imported. So

safe do the people feel in their security against this disease that they have

never quarantined against it, and all sufferers or refugees are welcome to come

at any time.



  The reason for the prevalence of malarial fever in Knoxville in 1838 was that

the mill ponds on the creeks adjoining the town contained large deposits of

decomposing matter, which, on account of the long-continued dry weather and the

heat of the sun's rays, became much more than ever before exposed to the open

air, and freely and fully developed their baneful influences. The fever appeared

first in June, reached its height in September, and did not disappear until cold

weather came in the fall. It prevailed throughout the town. Very few, if any,

families escaped. Country people were afraid to come into the city and even

travelers shunned it as far as was practicable. The number of deaths during the

season from this calamity could not be ascertained, but one result was that the

city council was induced thereby to declare the dams in the creeks to be

nuisances and had them abated.



  In 1854 the cholera paid Knoxville a visit, the result being that a number of

people died therefrom. Among the first to fall a victim to this disease was Col.

John McClellan (a brother of Gen. George B. McClellan), of the United States

army, who was in Knoxville in charge of some river improvements. It was he who

superintended the construction of the retaining dam which extends from the south

side of the river just above the bridge at the foot of Gay street, down to the

low islands below it, and which raises the water sufficiently to enable boats to

traverse the river at low water. Col. McClellan died at the Mansion House on

August 30, 1838. After the death of Col. McClellan the Sevier family was

attacked, they living on Main street, where the residence of Samuel McKinney now

is. Mrs. John White came next on the same street. Hon. James Welckers home was

next visited, and then that of Mr. Van Meter, who died at the Mansion House. The

people then began to leave the city in great numbers. "Uncle Lem," the driver of

the water tank, then Knoxville's only water works, left the city, but many

others remained from a sense of duty and nobly performed such duty to the sick

as came to hand from day to day. Prominent among these was Parson Brownlow, and

Col. E. J. Sanford, who had resided in the city only a few months. Samuel

Newman, then one of the three undertakers in the place, filled orders for

seventy-two coffins in six weeks, and it was estimated that there were one

hundred deaths in all. As a sanitary measure the streets were covered all over

with lime in all directions. The greatest number of deaths in any one day was on

Sunday, September 2, when thirteen died.



  On November 6, 1848, the physicians of Knoxville were requested to investigate

the question as to whether a certain case of sickness in the town was one of

smallpox, and they reported that it was not a case of smallpox, but that in

their opinion it was a case of varioloid, and the family was requested not to

remove from their residence for two weeks.



  On January 13, 1849, it being apprehended that Asiatic cholera was soon again

to visit the shores of the United States, the citizens were ordered by the board

of aldermen to clean up their premises. Two inspectors were on that day

appointed for each ward to look after the condition of their respective wards,

and it was deemed important that a board of health be appointed, which was done,

as follows: Drs. James W. Paxton, William S. Baker and F. A. Ramsey, and Gen. S.

D. Jacobs and William G. Givan. The two inspectors in each ward were as follows:

First ward, James M. Welcher and William Palmer: second ward, James H. Cowan and

Jacob Newman, and third ward, Isaac B. Havely and I. E. S. Blackwell.



  On February 10, 1849, the board of aldermen purchased 5,000 bushels of lime

for free distribution among the citizens, to be used by them as a disinfectant,

and the citizens were required to remove from their premises by the first of

March all nuisances, such as manure and filth of every description, decaying

vegetable matter and all other material prejudicial to health, and also to

cleanse their cellars of all impurities.



  But the cholera throughout the country continued to grow worse and by the

latter part of July had become quite alarming, so much so that the President of

the United States issued a proclamation setting aside a day of fasting and

prayer and humiliation, and urged the people to observe it as generally as

possible. On the 27th of the month the board of aldermen received a letter from

pastors of several of the churches in Knoxville, viz.: Thomas W. Humes, rector

of the Protestant Episcopal church; J. H. Myers, pastor of the Second

Presbyterian church; E. F. Sevier, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church; R.

B. McMullen, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and H. Lewis, pastor of

the First Baptist church, to the effect that inasmuch as the President of the

United States had recommended to the people of the United States, in view of the

judgments of God, that were then abroad in the land, that Friday, August 3, be

observed as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, they were desirous that as

general a compliance as possible be had by the people. They urged that so far as

practicable with secular occupations that the people assemble in their

respective houses of worship and acknowledge the infinite goodness which had

watched over our existence as a nation, and to implore the Almighty in full and

good time to stay the destroying hand which was then lifted up against this

country. On July 30 the board of aldermen urged upon the citizens the

recommendations of the ministers.



  In June, 1873, because of the existence of cholera in various parts of the

United States, there began to be felt considerable uneasiness in Knoxville.

Numerous remedies were advertised as sure cures for the disease. A board of

health was appointed, consisting of Drs. John M. Boyd, D. T. Boynton, M. L.

Rogers, James Rodgers, F. K. Bailey and C. Deaderick, to have charge of sanitary

matters and measures, and this board recommended that in view of the existence

of cholera in Nashville, a rigid system of policing the city of Knoxville be

carried out, that ponds of standing water be not drained, that mill dams and

races be kept as full as practicable, and that as disinfectants dry clay, dry

ashes (from mineral coal) and chloride of lime be used.



  Dr. Frank A. Ramsey gave to the public a prescription which he said was an

almost certain cure for cholera if taken in time:



  "Aromatic sulphuric acid, one ounce; laudanum, one-half ounce; compound

tincture cardamon, four and a half ounces. Dose, a tablespoonful in water after

each movement of the bowels."



  The doctor also made the statement that there was then no epidemic cholera in

the United States, referring to his letter of 1855 on the subject to the board

of mayor and aldermen, and also to the dictionaries.



  On June 24 the public prints stated that then there was no cholera in

Knoxville, but in view of the possibility of its coming to the city the

ministers of eight of the churches of the city, together with a considerable

number of the members of each of these eight churches, asked that a day of

fasting, humiliation and prayer to Almighty God be set apart, on which day

thanks might be offered to the Deity for sparing the city thus far and asking

for a continuance of His goodness to Knoxville and for His favor to such cities

as were afflicted, believing that the community should recognize the hand of the

Lord in the affliction that had come upon other cities, and also in the

blessings that had been vouchsafed to all. Mayor Rule thereupon fixed upon May

26 as such day of thanksgiving:, humiliation and prayer. Services were held in

most of the churches of the city, in accordance with the proclamation of the

mayor, and they were in keeping with the spirit of the petition.



  The policy of the press through the succeeding seven or eight weeks, during

which the cholera afflicted a considerable number of the citizens of Knoxville,

was to encourage the people as much as possible, and to minimize the

difficulties with which the medical profession had to contend; that is, to make

it appear that the disease was as little prevalent as it really was, and that

those suffering and dying therefrom were themselves largely if not wholly to

blame. This was on the correct principle that the mind has much to do with the

health of the body, and it is certainly true that in some cases imprudence had

much to do with bringing on the disease. One of the precautionary measures taken

was the prohibition by the mayor of the sale of melons within the city limits,

though this prohibition was in several cases disregarded, and melons smuggled

in. Reports were made from day to day as to the number of cases of cholera in

the city and of the number of deaths that had occurred. Up to June 27, the

statement was made that there had been but one case, that of Mr. Robert H.

Brown, his death having occurred on the 25th of the month. Each case as it

occurred was commented upon, the cause of death being shown in many instances to

have been imprudence either in eating or drinking, especially in the use of

certain vegetables, and in the use of intoxicating drinks.



  The deaths as they occurred during the summer were as follows, succeeding that

of Mr. Brown: Jacob Easterday, July 1: Mrs. Nancy S. Rutherford, 3: Mrs. Hodge,

5; Mrs. Harris, 5: A. W. Johnson, 12; Mrs. Nelson, 15; Pauline Contourier, 15:

Spence Eaton, colored, 16; Caroline Hollihan, 17; Elvina Eaton, colored, 19:

George Pearson, 22: Ham Shetterly, colored, 28: Anderson Day, 29: Mrs. Provost,

August 3: Ellen Donohue. 4: Miss Floyd, 5; Mrs. Defreese, 18: colored child, 18:

Henry White, 22: Hon. T. A. R. Nelson, 24; Joseph Roth, 26. There were also a

few other deaths occurring, three of them as late as September 8, these three

being of Mrs. Karns and Mrs. Welton, both colored, and Samuel Roberts, white.



  During the prevalence of the disease Dr. Frank A. Ramsey suggested to the

public that if each person would take from two to five grains of quinine each

day, he would be less susceptible to an attack.



  In 1897, at a time when there was much suffering in different parts of the

South, especially in Memphis, from yellow fever, there were two well developed

cases in Knoxville. But the disease did not spread, and the mayor of the city,

S. G. Heiskell, the city council and the majority of the citizens took the

ground that even if a case of yellow fever should develop here among the

natives, there would be no further danger because the city was in fact free from

attack, as has been previously explained. Yet it was in that year that the state

quarantine was strictly enforced by Dr. W. S. Nash and Dr. S. R. Miller, which

fact becoming known had the effect of preventing people who were fleeing from

the plague from stopping in the city. Only two persons ventured to brave the

violation of the quarantine, and they were promptly imprisoned in a box car

until they could be isolated in a house on Black Oak ridge.



  On March 9, 1883, Dr. Hudgings, city physician, reported to the council that

during the year ending March 1, 1883, he had visited 29 patients suffering with

smallpox, of which cases 27 came directly under his care. Of the white persons

afflicted 9 were males and 8 females, and of the colored persons, 4 were males

and 6 females. Of the white persons that died, 3 were males and 2 females, and

of the colored persons, 2 were males and 4 females. Of those that died 5 had

been vaccinated, 3 whites and 2 colored. There were 13 persons afflicted with

the disease that had never been vaccinated, 3 of whom died, and taking

everything into consideration, Dr. Hudgings thought that Knoxville ought to be

thankful that this dread disease had been kept so well under control. Eight

cases had been visited by him outside the city limits, making, 35 cases in all,

and there had been in all 12 deaths, 6 white persons and 6 colored.



  Another epidemic of smallpox occurred in Knoxville, remarkable particularly

because of the success with which it was treated by the city physician. The

first case was recognized January 29, 1898, and the last one on or about July 4,

that year. During the prevalence of the disease there were in Knoxville eighty

cases, only one of which, that of Louis Ninnie, a colored man, proved fatal. In

Knox county, outside of Knoxville, there were nine cases, all of which were

successfully treated.



  During the winter of 1898-9 a peculiar but not widely extended epidemic

occurred in Knoxville, which though not necessarily confined to persons of any

particular age, was yet really confined mostly to people under middle age. This

disease carried off one person, David E. Keegan, in December, 1898, quite a

large number in January, 1899, and a few in February, 1899. It was called by the

physician cerebro-spinal meningitis. The names of those who died in January

together with their ages, were as follows:



  Maggie Buchanan, on the 2d, age, 12: on the 3d, Horace Murphy, age, 19; Horace

King, age, 21; George Mable, age, 2; 6th, Mary Leming, age, 20; 7th, James B.

Sedden, age, 16: E. B. Lane, age, 45; 8th, Kimber Watton, age, 16: John Jett,

age, 1 month; 9th, Katie Glasscock, age, 26: 11th, Ralph Simpson, age, 8: 12th,

Mrs. W. P. Mitchell, age, 38: Roscoe Shields, age, 13; 13th, Frank Sheets, age,

16: 14th, Robert Crowell, age not reported; 15th. Bessie Bayless, age, 14; Simon

Smith, age, 29; 18th, Mes Moore, age, 14; _______ Maxwell, age, 3 months; 19th,

Stella Young, age, 18; Albert Storey, age, 2; 29th, Lee Wilson, age, 20;

Galloway Proffitt, age, 10; 30th, Edward Tedford, age, 5: 31st, L. G. Roth, age,

31; Fredda May Jett, age, 2; February 5, Henry Wilson, age, 20: 10th, Morse

Burnett, age, 14 months; 17th, Eliza Smith, age, 13; John Roddy, age not

reported: ______ Smoker, age, 5 months: 18th, George Hackney, age, 7. and 22d,

O. V. Monday, age, 49.



  This is an infectious disease, and as a rule there was but one case in a

family, the only exception during this epidemic being in the family of Mr. and

Mrs. John Jett. But the mortality among those affected was very great, about 75

per cent.



  The East Tennessee Medical society was organized in 1847 or 1848. The meetings

were held at Knoxville, Jonesborough, Athens and Chattanooga. This was before

the day of railroads and members traveled to the meetings on horseback.

Prominent among the members were Doctors Frank A. Ramsey, J. G. M. Ramsey, B. B.

Lenoir and William Baker, of Knoxville. A medical journal, the organ of the

society, was published by Dr. Frank A. Ramsey. A public address was delivered at

each meeting and the meetings were held every year until interrupted by the

Civil war.



  The East Tennessee Medical society was reorganized about 1890, with a

membership of 150 physicians scattered throughout East Tennessee. This society

holds semi-annual meetings in different towns in this part of the state, from

Bristol to Chattanooga. Its president is Dr. M. B. Pearce of Bean's Station; it

has a vice-president from each county; its secretary is Dr. R. C. Smith of

Newport, and its treasurer Dr. Snoddy of Newport. It is a very active society,

and has among its members some distinguished physicians and surgeons, and is

doing a vast amount of good.



  The Knox county branch of the East Tennessee Medical society was organized in

1874, and was in existence ten years. In 1884 the Knox County Medical society

was organized under the authority of the constitution of the Medical Society of

the State- of Tennessee, and held their meetings by authority of that

constitution and the by-laws of the state organization. At first there were but

few members, but as this was the official medical society of Knox county, the

membership steadily grew, until at the present time there are forty-eight

members, most of whom are physicians of the city of Knoxville. Their names are

as follows: William Bowen, John M. Boyd, S. B. Boyd, F. H. Braymer, C. M. Capps,

Michael Campbell, J. C. Cawood, B. B. Cates, W. R. Cochrane, C. Deaderick, C. C.

DeArmond, L. W. Davis, W. Delpeuch, H. T. Fisher, J. M. Gass, J. L. Howell, A.

R. Horseley, H. A. Ijams, S. L. Jones, H. J. Kelso, J. H. Kincaid, C. E. Lones,

M. H. Lee, C. B. Lee, B. B. Lenoir, S. M. Miller, J. M. Masters, W. H. Moore, C.

P. McNabb, S. R. Miller, W. A. McCallie, J. A. Mourfield, W. S. Nash, J. W.

Norton, R. P. Oppenheimer, C. E. Ristine, E. L. Randall, W. F. Ross, J. F.

Scott, A. D. Scruggs, J. Smith, A. B. Tadlock, J. H. Taylor, D. H. Williams, H.

K. Wingert, B. F. Young, E. Zion and E. R. Zemp. The officers of this society at

this time are as follows: S. M. Miller, president; C. C. DeArmond,

vice-president; A. D. Scruggs, secretary, and M. H. Lee, treasurer.



  The Knoxville Academy of Medicine was organized January 8, 1896, with the

following members: H. P. Coile, John M. Kennedy, John M. Boyd, C. M. Drake, F.

B. Bowers, Thomas R. Jones, Benjamin D. Bosworth, J. M. Black, J. W. Hill, J. M.

Masters, S. R. Miller, H. W. Bright, S. L. Tillery, E. R. Zemp and William

Delpeuch. The first officers were: John M. Kennedy, president; secretary,

Benjamin D. Bosworth, and treasurer, H. P. Coile. The object of this society is

to promote the progress of medicine and surgery and good fellowship among

physicians. It has had a successful career and has accomplished much good.

Weekly meetings are held from September to June, on Tuesday nights. The present

officers are: H. P. Coile, president: C. M. Capps. vice-president; J. H.

Kincaid, secretary, and John M. Kennedy, treasurer. The other members at the

present time are as follows: John M. Boyd. S. B. Boyd, Benjamin D. Bosworth, J.

M. Black, W. R. Cochrane, William Delpeuch, Thomas R. Jones, J. M. Masters, S.

R. Miller, E. R. Zemp, S. L. Tillery and A. G. Matthews.



Additional Comments:
From:



STANDARD HISTORY

OF

KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE



WITH FULL OUTLINE OF THE NATURAL ADVANTAGES, EARLY SETTLEMENT, TERRITORIAL

GOVERNMENT, INDIAN TROUBLES, AND GENERAL AND PARTICULAR HISTORY OF THE CITY DOWN

TO THE PRESENT TIME



EDITED BY

WILLIAM RULE

GEORGE F. MELLEN, PH. D., AND J. WOOLDRIDGE COLLABORATORS



PUBLISHED BY

THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY

CHICAGO 1900

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