The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-09-12
FRAGMENTS OF the EARLY HISTORY
or OHIO COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXI.
ny n. d. TAYLOR.

We have no tradition OF OUT h"l"S
any regularly -bred 81. D's. in the early
settlement of the country, and the peo-
pie seemed TO have but little use for
them; in fact nature. when let alone
will frequently perform as many cures as
the doctors. Every neighborhoOd, ho">
ever, had it's old lady or gentleman who
was always ready, without fee or reward,
to prescribe the proper compound OF roots
and banks for every disease. Wild
ipecac tea was the principal emetic, and
white walnut and May apple pills were
the principal cathartics Of the times.
The first one dubbed doctor, now recol-
lected, was a Dutch root doctor, called
IIouseman. His kettle, ia which he
compounded his medicines, WAS as great
a medley as the boiling cauldron OF the
witches of Macbeth. Like all humbuSs,
he performed wonders for awhile. Old
John Barnes, a noted character in his
,lay, used To tell the following story OF
the doctors practice in his family: Mrs.
Barnes, like Sarah OF old, was afflicted
with sterility. The doctor undertook her
ease, aud was several days in compound
ing large jug OF medicine, and wa-
about TO leave when neiGhbor called IN
aud requested some medicine for his sick
child, which. after describing its symp-
toms, the doctor pronounced worms, and
turning TO Ms. Barnes, requested the
loan Of bottle OF her medicine to cure
the sick child. This so displeased Big
Johnny, as he was usually called, that
he paid the bill, discharged the doctor,
and broke the jug
DIR. Charles McCreery settled in Hart
ford ne carly, perhaps. as 1907 or lS0S
lie Was a young man Of fine personal APP
pearance, of social and convivial habits.
volatile in his manners, and eccentric
and frequently original in his ideas and
notions OF matters and things. lie, for
a number of years, enjoyed very high
reputation, not only as a physician but
for his surgical skill. having performed
several bold and then considered hazurd-
Gus operations, many years ahead of the
surgical science OF the times. Ii will
now I've thought incredible to state thai
HE practice extended into Muhlenberg,
Mclean. Davies and parts oil Brecken-
ridge, Grayson and Butler counties.
What reflects the highest honor on his
memory Was the fact that he never neg
lected poor patients, but visited them ~
readily ms he did the rich. II he had q
lazy. ablc-bodied patient, the first time
he met him after he WAS well, he would,
good humOredly, curse him, and tell him
il he did not go to work and pay him he
might die the next time he took sick
but he was never known TO carry out his
threat lie was remarkably excitable
and sympathetic in his feelings. During
the war Of 1912, day of thanksgiving
was appointed, aud old Thomas Taylor
WAS requested to preach on the occasion.
II usual manner was to talk right
on" in plain, simple style, preaching
practical piety and morality flashing
with unsparing hand the fashions, follies
and vices Of the day. But this day he
was said TO have risen 10 the sublime of
patriotic eloquence. During the opening
prayer McCreery had become so excited
that he started to leave the house, and
bluLbering like whipped child, was mel
by friend at the door. and asked what
was the matter, and replied: "Why,
(using a big oathl if eyer heard such a
prayer in all my life. j"
The following incident he was heard to
relate as occurring in his early practice :
lie was called to see an old lady. swollen
to a most enormous size with dropsy. 1t
was impossible TO afford her any imme>
date relief or even prOlong her life for
short period. except only by tapping
and drawing Oft the immense accumula-
ton of water. This he undertook with
fear and trembling The old lady and
all her friends and relatives seemed to
look to a fatal termination. and tears and
sobs were seen and heard all over the
room. The young doctor was fast giving
away TO the same feelings, and losing his
nerve and presence Of mind, something
must he done to change the current OF
thought and feeling. At this moment a
lady approached to remove the vessel
which was partly full OF the dropsical
fluid. Now was the doctors chance to
relieve his feelings and perpetrats joke.
"Don't throw it away" said be. 1T will
make the best Of vinegar" lie gained
his poiat The mEltered curses Of the