Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1900-01-18
the MEDICAL PROFESSION OF MASON COUNTY

From the days OF DR.. Daniel Drake, the famous
author Of Diseases Of the Mississippi Valley"
down to the present time, the Medical Profession
Of Mason County has been composed in the main,
Of physicians who, n every essential respect have
been quite equal to their metropolitan contempt
raries in all that relates to the actual practice Of
the medical art.
The county OF Mason was settled chiefly by to-
baceo-planters from Maryland and Virginia, who
swarmed into Kentucky even before Indian hos
lities had ceased. The fertile lands of this region
between the Licking and the ohio-were found
to be peculiarly adapted to the culture Of tobacco
and, as ready market was found for the product
n the city of New Orleans, the cultivation Of the
weed yielded rich return in Spanish gold, to the
skilled and patient labor of African slaves. As
natural result Of the rapid accumulation of wealth,
in community which had brought with it them.
telectual culture of the Older states, the learned
professions were soon represented by men of more
than average capacity, Of high character, and Of
commanding personal qualities, that fitted them
to lead, as well as u heal and teach, They were
conspicuous and useful in all the walks of life.
Even in pioneer days the medical men Of this
county were IN every respect equo' 20 the best in
the state, and the mere mention lhelr names
would recall to many Of our ,a traditions
agreeably seasoned with the Ma, .urial life In
the older communities Of the Atlantic coast. 1t is
enough TO say Of these pioneer physicians that
they were worthy contemporaries Of Dudley,
Drake, and Mcdowell.
The generation which Immediately followed,
was remarkable for brlliancy Of accomplishment.
1t was a constellation Of medical scholars whose
personal accomplishments gave a peculiar attrac-
tveness to the social life OF that day. During the
flush times of the early "fortes" in thesouth and
West many Of the more ambitious aud enterprs-
ing OF these young professional men were tempted
to a career OF adventure in other fields some Of
these were splenddy successtul; the names ~
others barely survive in the family records al
1.-The old home"
The school Of physicians that followed was.
largely, Of a more solid and practical cast, many
Of them carefully educated and starting life with
the best social and professional advan tages but In
no sense men Of originality or scholarship, or
Of high intellectual gifts. With occasional digni.
fed excursions into local politics, they chung with
sort Of stolid tenacity TO the duties OF profes-
sional lfe and creditably sustained the honorable
traditions which gave character and usefulness to
the schools Of the past.
At a later day, the rapid and spectacular growth
Of "specislism" in the great cities seemed for
time to threaten the opportunities of the general
practitioner for useful service In his modest pro-
vncial field. But happily, this apprehension has
not been realized. In fact, there is no necessary
conflict between the two. In every field, the "all-
round" Doctor has held and Will continue 20 hold
his own. The specialist too, will continue to
maintain his acknowledged supremacy in his cho-
sen field. But, wherever humanity breathes, the
services OF the general practitioner In perpet-
ual request; and wherever he goes, he must be
amply equipped for the varied emergencies OF pro-
fesslonal life;-thoroughly furnished with diagnos-
tic methods, processes Of investg alton, and prin.
ciples OF therapeutics;-in short, with all that
complex equipment Of theory and device which
the legitimate and successful practice OF medicine
now demands. AS a rule, the surgery and medical
ton Of the city specialist can todp; the emergen-
cles which confront the general practitioner re.
quire the immediate Intervention of his art. He
must be prepared tsemper paratusl 10 honor all
drafts at sight;-to meet the most varied and I'M
expected demands not only upon his judgment
and practical skill but upon his GOODNESS self conf
dence, patience, endurance, steadiness, and per-
sonal resource.
In these respectsw we may confidently afirm that
our educated country practitioner is on q level
with the best. He may lack the hne mechanical
skill with which dental specialist fashions per-
feetly adjusted and artistic set Of teeth Or in OPP
Technology. the deft manipulation which pours
light into cataractous eye; OF the exact knowl-
edge Of abdominal surgery which has made ovari-