medical essays-第51章

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Higginson；　himself　a　dyspeptic；　〃continually　in　physic；〃　as　he　says；　and　accustomed　to　dress　in　thick　clothing；　and　to　comfort　his　stomach　with　drink　that　was　〃both　strong　and　stale；〃the　〃jolly　good　ale　and　old；〃　I　suppose；　of　free　and　easy　Bishop　Still's　song；found　that　he　both　could　and　did　oftentimes　drink　New　England　water　very　well；　which　he　seems　to　look　upon　as　a　remarkable　feat。　　He　could　go　as　lightclad　as　any；　too；　with　only　a　light　stuff　cassock　upon　his　shirt；　and　stuff　breeches　without　linings。　　Two　of　his　children　were　sickly：　one；little　misshapen　Mary；died　on　the　passage；　and；　in　her　father's　words；　〃was　the　first　in　our　ship　that　was　buried　in　the　bowels　of　the　great　Atlantic　sea；〃　the　other；　who　had　been　〃most　lamentably　handled〃　by　disease；　recovered　almost　entirely　〃by　the　very　wholesomeness　of　the　air；　altering；　digesting；　and　drying　up　the　cold　and　crude　humors　of　the　body。〃　　Wherefore；　he　thinks　it　a　wise　course　for　all　cold　complexions　to　come　to　take　physic　in　New　England；　and　ends　with　those　often　quoted　words；　that　〃a　sup　of　New　England's　air　is　better　than　a　whole　draught　of　Old　England's　ale。〃　Mr。　Higginson　died；　however；　〃of　a　hectic　fever；〃　a　little　more　than　a　year　after　his　arrival。

The　medical　records　which　I　shall　cite　show　that　the　colonists　were　not　exempt　from　the　complaints　of　the　Old　World。　　Besides　the　common　diseases　to　which　their　descendants　are　subject；　there　were　two　others；　to　say　nothing　of　the　dreaded　small…pox；　which　later　medical　science　has　disarmed；little　known　among　us　at　the　present　day；　but　frequent　among　the　first　settlers。　　The　first　of　these　was　the　scurvy；　already　mentioned；　of　which　Winthrop　speaks　in　1630；　saying；　that　it　proved　fatal　to　those　who　fell　into　discontent；　and　lingered　after　their　former　conditions　in　England；　the　poor　homesick　creatures　in　fact；　whom　we　so　forget　in　our　florid　pictures　of　the　early　times　of　the　little　band　in　the　wilderness。　　Many　who　were　suffering　from　scurvy　got　well　when　the　Lyon　arrived　from　England；　bringing　store　of　juice　of　lemons。　　The　Governor　speaks　of　another　case　in　1644；　and　it　seems　probable　that　the　disease　was　not　of　rare　occurrence。

The　other　complaint　from　which　they　suffered；　but　which　has　nearly　disappeared　from　among　us；　was　intermittent　fever；　or　fever　and　ague。　I　investigated　the　question　as　to　the　prevalence　of　this　disease　in　New　England；　in　a　dissertation；　which　was　published　in　a　volume　with　other　papers；　in　the　year　1838。　　I　can　add　little　to　the　facts　there　recorded。　　One　which　escaped　me　was；　that　Joshua　Scottow；　in　〃Old　Men's　Tears；〃　dated　1691；　speaks　of　〃shaking　agues；〃　as　among　the　trials　to　which　they　had　been　subjected。　　The　outline　map　of　New　England；　accompanying　the　dissertation　above　referred　to；　indicates　all　the　places　where　I　had　evidence　that　the　disease　had　originated。　It　was　plain　enough　that　it　used　to　be　known　in　many　localities　where　it　has　long　ceased　to　be　feared。　　Still　it　was　and　is　remarkable　to　see　what　a　clean　bill　of　health　in　this　particular　respect　our　barren　soil　inherited　with　its　sterility。　　There　are　some　malarious　spots　on　the　edge　of　Lake　Champlain；　arid　there　have　been　some　temporary　centres　of　malaria；　within　the　memory　of　man；　on　one　or　more　of　our　Massachusetts　rivers；　but　these　are　harmless　enough；　for　the　most　part；　unless　the　millers　dam　them；　when　they　are　apt　to　retaliate　with　a　whiff　from　their　meadows；　that　sets　the　whole　neighborhood　shaking　with　fever　and　ague。


The　Pilgrims　of　the　Mayflower　had　with　them　a　good　physician；　a　man　of　standing；　a　deacon　of　their　church；　one　whom　they　loved　and　trusted；　Dr。　Samuel　Fuller。　　But　no　medical　skill　could　keep　cold　and　hunger　and　bad　food；　and；　probably　enough；　desperate　homesickness　in　some　of　the　feebler　sort；　from　doing　their　work。　　No　detailed　record　remains　of　what　they　suffered　or　what　was　attempted　for　their　relief　during　the　first　sad　winter。　　The　graves　of　those　who　died　were　levelled　and　sowed　with　grain　that　the　losses　of　the　little　band　might　not　be　suspected　by　the　savage　tenants　of　the　wilderness；　and　their　story　remains　untold。

Of　Dr。　Fuller's　practice；　at　a　later　period；　we　have　an　account　in　a　letter　of　his　to　Governor　Bradford；　dated　June；　1630。　　〃I　have　been　to　Matapan〃　（now　Dorchester）；　he　says；　〃and　let　some　twenty　of　those　people　blood。〃　　Such　wholesale　depletion　as　this；　except　with　avowed　homicidal　intent；　is　quite　unknown　in　these　days；　though　I　once　saw　the　noted　French　surgeon；　Lisfranc；　in　a　fine　phlebotomizing　frenzy；　order　some　ten　or　fifteen　patients；　taken　almost　indiscriminately；　to　be　bled　in　a　single　morning。

Dr。　Fuller's　two　visits　to　Salem；　at　the　request　of　Governor　Endicott；　seem　to　have　been　very　satisfactory　to　that　gentleman。　Morton；　the　wild　fellow　of　Merry　Mount；　gives　a　rather　questionable　reason　for　the　Governor's　being　so　well　pleased　with　the　physician's　doings。　　The　names　under　which　he　mentions　the　two　personages；　it　will　be　seen；　are　not　intended　to　be　complimentary。　　〃Dr。　Noddy　did　a　great　cure　for　Captain　Littleworth。　　He　cured　him　of　a　disease　called　a　wife。〃　　　William　Gager；　who　came　out　with　Winthrop；　is　spoken　of　as　〃a　right　godly　man　and　skilful　chyrurgeon；〃　but　died　of　a　malignant　fever　not　very　long　after　his　arrival。〃

Two　practitioners　of　the　ancient　town　of　Newbury　are　entitled　to　special　notice；　for　different　reasons。　　The　first　is　Dr。　John　Clark；　who　is　said　by　tradition　to　have　been　the　first　regularly　educated　physician　who　resided　in　New　England。　　His　portrait；　in　close…fitting　skull…cap；　with　long　locks　and　venerable　flowing　beard；　is　familiar　to　our　eyes　on　the　wall　of　our　Society's　antechamber。　　His　left　hand　rests　upon　a　skull；　his　right　hand　holds　an　instrument　which　deserves　a　passing　comment。　　It　is　a　trephine；　a　surgical　implement　for　cutting　round　pieces　out　of　broken　skulls；　so　as　to　get　at　the　fragments　which　have　been　driven　in；　and　lift　them　up。　　It　has　a　handle　like　that　of　a　gimlet；　with　a　claw　like　a　hammer；　to　lift　with；　I　suppose；　which　last　contrivance　I　do　not　see　figured　in　my　books。　　But　the　point　I　refer　to　is　this：　the　old　instrument；　the　trepan；　had　a　handle　like　a　wimble；　what　we　call　a　brace　or　bit…　stock。　　The　trephine　is　not　mentioned　at　all　in　Peter　Lowe's　book；　London；　1634；　nor　in　Wiseman's　great　work　on　Surgery；　London；　1676；　nor　in　the　translation　of　Dionis；　published　by　Jacob　Tonson；　in　1710。　In　fact　it　was　only　brought　into　more　general　use　by　Cheselden　and　Sharpe　so　late　as　the　beginning　of　the　last　century。　　As　John　Clark　died　in　1661；　it　is　remarkable　to　see　the　last　fashion　in　the　way　of　skull…sawing　contrivances　in　his　hands；to　say　nothing　of　the　claw　on　the　handle；　and　a　Hey's　saw；　so　called　in　England；　lying　on　the　table　by　him；　and　painted　there　more　than　a　hundred　years　before　Hey　was　born。　　This　saw　is　an　old　invention；　perhaps　as　old　as　Hippocrates；　and　may　be　seen　figured　in　the　〃Armamentarium　Chirurgicum〃　of　Scultetus；　or　in　the　Works　of　Ambroise　Pare。

Dr。　Clark　is　said　to　have　received　a　diploma　before　be　came；　for　skill　in　lithotomy。　　He　loved　horses；　as　a　good　many　doctors　do；　and　left　a　good　property；　as　they　all　ought　to　do。　　His　grave　and　noble　presence；　with　the　few　facts　concerning　him；　told　with　more　or　less　traditional　authority；　give　us　the　feeling　that　the　people　of　Newbury；　and　afterwards　of　Boston；　had　a　wise　and　skilful　medical　adviser　and　surgeon　in　Dr。　John　Clark。

The　venerable　town　of　Newbury　had　another　physician　who　was　less　fortunate。　　The　following　is　a　court　record　of　1652：

〃This　is　to　certify　whom　it　may　concern；　that　we　the　subscribers；　being　called　upon　to　testify　against　doctor　William　Snelling　for　words　by　him　uttered；　affirm　that　being　in　way　of　merry　discourse；　a　health　being　drank　to　all　friends；　he　answered；

　　　　〃I'll　pledge　my　friends；　　　　　　And　for　my　foes　　　　　　A　plague　for　their　heels　　　　　　And；'…

＇a　similar　malediction　on　the　other　extremity　of　their　feet。＇

〃Since　when　he　hath　affirmed　that　he　only　intended　the　proverb　used　in　the　west　country；　nor　do　we　believe　he　intended　otherwise。

＇Signed＇　WILLIAM　THOMAS。　THOMAS　MILWARD。

〃March　12th　1651；　All　which　I　acknowledge；　and　am　sorry　I　did　not　expresse　my　intent；　or　that　I　was　so　weak　as　to　use　so　foolish　a　proverb。

＇Signed＇　GULIELMUS　SNELLING。〃


Notwithstanding　this　confession　and　apology；　the　record　tells　us　that　〃William　Snelling　in　his　presentment　for　cursing　is　fined　ten　shillings　and　the　fees　of　court。〃

I　will　mention　one　other　name　among　those　of　the　Fathers　of　the　medical　profession　in　New　England。　　The　〃apostle〃　Eliot　says；　writing　in　1647；　〃We　never　had　but　one　anatomy　in　the　country；　which　Mr。　Giles　Firman；　now　in　England；　did　make　and　read　upon　very　well。〃

Giles　Firmin；　as　the　name　is　commonly　spelled；　practised　physic　in　this　country　for　a　time。　　He　seems　to　have　found　it　a　poor　business；　for；　in　a　letter　to　Governor　Winthrop；　he　says；　〃I　am　strongly　sett　upon　to　studye　divinitie：　my　studyes　else　must　be　lost；　for　physick　is　but　a　meene　helpe。〃

Giles　Firmin's　Lectures　on　Anatomy　were　the　first　scientific　teachings　of　the　New　World。　　While　the　Fathers　were　enlightened　enough　to　permit　such　instructions；　they　were　severe　in　dealing　with　quackery；　for；　in　1631；　our　court　records　show　that　one　Nicholas　Knopp；　or　Knapp；　was　sentenced　to　be　fined　or　whipped　〃for　taking　upon　him　to　cure　the　scurvey　by　a　water　of　noe　worth　nor　value；　which　he　solde　att　a　very　deare　rate。〃　　Empty　purses　or　sore　backs　would　be　common　with　us　to…day　if　such　a　rule　were　enforced。

Besides　the　few　worthies　spoken　of；　and　others　whose　names　I　have　not　space　to　record；　we　must　remember　that　there　were　many　clergymen　who　took　charge　of　the　bodies　as　well　as　the　souls　of　their　patients；　among　them　two　Presidents　of　Harvard　College；　Charles　Chauncy　and　Leonard　Hoar；and　Thomas　Thacher；　first　minister　of　the　〃Old　South；〃　author　of　the　earliest　medical　treatises　printed　in　the　country；＇A　Brief　Rule　to　Guide　the　Common　People　in　Small　pox　and　Measles。　　1674。＇　whose　epitaph　in　Latin　and　Greek；　said　to　have　been　written　by　Eleazer；　an　〃Indian　Youth〃　and　a　member　of　the　Senior　Class　of　Harvard　College；　may　be　found　in　the　〃Magnalia。〃　　I　miss　this　noble　savage's　name　in　our　triennial　catalogue；　and　as　there　is　many　a　slip　between　the　cup　and　lip；　one　is　tempted　to　guess　that　he　may　have　lost　his　degree　by　some　display　of　his　native　instinct；　possibly　a　flourish　of　the　tomahawk　or　scalping…knife。　　However　this　may　have　been；　the　good　man　he　celebrated　was　a　notable　instance　of　the　Angelical　Conjunction；　as　the　author　of　the　〃Magnalia〃　calls　it；　of　the　offices　of　clergyman　and　medical　practitioner。

Michael　Wigglesworth；　author　of　the　〃Day　of　Doom；〃　attended　the　sick；　〃not　only　as　a　Pastor；　but　as　a　Physician　too；　and　this；　not　only　in　his　own　town；　but　also　in　all　those　of　the　vicinity。〃　　Mather　says　of　the　sons　of　Charles　Chauncy；　〃　All　of　these　did；　while　they　had　Opportunity；　Preach　the　Gospel；　and　most；　if　not　all　of　them；　like　their　excellent　Father　before　them；　had　an　eminent　skill　in　physick　added　unto　their　other　accomplishments；〃　etc。　　Roger　Williams　is　said　to　have　saved　many　in　a　kind　of　pestilence　which　swept　away　many　Indians。

To　these　names　must　be　added；　as　sustaining　a　certain　relation　to　the