The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

The health Of the people of Washington,
even in the early period of the city s
growth. has never been neglected through
lack of proper medical attendance. The
natural conditions and of climate of this
region were at one time forever the subject
OF considerable prejudice among inhaol-
tants of northern localities.
In the year 1927 citizen of Washing
ton was debarred from a policy in any Of
the New York or Philadelphia life insur-
ance companies the prejudice in the north
against regions as far south as the Potomac
River amounting at that era 10 an almost
positive dread.
In 1927 a table was prepared by the peo-
pie of Washington, showing the percentage
of the death rates of that city in com
parison with those of Boston, Baltimore,
New York, and Philadelphia. The average
rates in these cities for the seven years
ending with 1926, were as follows: Wash
ington. 4aS2; Boston, 41.45; Baltimore,
1892; New York, S7.12; Philadelphia, S1-S9.
From the facts shown in this table it was
suggested to the Philadelphia and New
York insurers of lives that it would be
advisable for them TO omit from their poll
cies the stipulation that the persons in
sured by them should not go so far south
as the Potomac River.
The credit of improving the sanitary
conditions of Washington. as well as that
of ministering to the sick is due in no
small degree to the excellent resident
physicians which this city appears always
10 have had. The process of vaccination
was introduced here as early as the sum-
mer of 1901, the President receiving some
aura vaccina from DR.. Waterhouss, OF
Cambridge. Mass. with a view to having
fits effects tried This first virus was Civ
en TO DR.. Grant, Of Georgetown, and was
originally used by him.
When Physicians Advertised.
II was the custom in these primitive
days of Washington for all physicians TO
publicly advertise Thus on December Il,
1901, DR.. Tongue announced in the news
paper, that he practiced physic and par
ticularly surgery. The advertisement fur
Their stated that he had been private pu-
pill of Dr. Rush. 10 whom he referred.
The first dentist to minister TO suffering
Washingtonians was DR.. T. Bruff. man
celebrated in his profession, and the in
ventor of the perpendicular extracting in
struments. On December IS 1897 the an
nouneement was publicly made that DR..
BrufT had arrived in Georgetown, and that
he offered his services TO the ladies and
gentlemen of the District.
Through the early files of the new pa
pers can be traced the growth of medical
practice in the city. but it would perhaps
be rather difficult TO locate some of the
places mentioned without map of the
city at that period OF their exis enc. Tn
der date of October ?. 1909, Dr. Eens an
nounced that he had removed 10 the house
opposite M Nerin's tavern. On April y,
1906. It is learned that Dr. Startling Arch
er late OF the Navy, died on account of
a wound received in a duel on the 18th of
the same month. He was, it is said. uni
versally esteemed. and his death lame ted
by all who knew him /
Dr. Briscce. in 1906. was located few
doors west OF the Seven Buildings in
Pennsylvania Avenue, and kept at his
house supply Of useful medicines and
other articles needed by physicians. In
January. 1905, the announcement was
made that DR.. Lancaster had located in
Washington. in Pennsylvania Avenue, and
that he had several years expeI fence. In
September of 1908 the celebrated Dr.. Will /
lam Grayson began the practice OF medi
cine in Washington, locating two doors
from Semmes tavern. in Georgetown. Dr.. !
Robert French. an eminent surgeon be-
gan the practice of his Profession in
Georgetown May l. 1909. and had his
shop in the house then lately occupied
by Dr. John Weems deceased.
One of the most prominent practitioners
of medicine in this city In the year 1913
was DR.. George A. Carroll VINO resided in
the corner house next door TO the Van
Ness mansion. The newspapers for the
year 1916 are largely occupied by the ad-
veTtisements Of DR.. William Gardner, WI
professed to cure cancers, tumors, etc. DR..
John Oft, of Georgetown. died April s, .
1878. He was spoken of at the time as
having had no superior lin every relation .
of life" He was. It was said, "a father
to the poor. a friend TO the distrss sed and
an example to others in the performance /
of every civil and social duty"
DR.. John Sinnott. A. NJ, very celebrat- !
ed physician. commenced the practice of /
medicine and surgery in Washington in |
December. 1925, with his Office at Mrs |
Sinnott's Academy, in Varnum's Row, in
ID Street. II was stated in his advertise
ment that he had fifteen years experience
in the various branches of his profession.
DR.. Sinnott advertised in French as well
as in English.
An Early Century Health hoard.
In 1924 the members of the Board of
Health were Drs Thomas Sim. Henry |
HUNT. Thomas SewalI. Frederick May. and !
c. B. Hamilton. In January. 1925, there |
was reported a case OF varioloid at Green
leafs Point. in the city. The Board of /
Health instantly took measures TO pre-
vent the spread OF The disease. and issued |
rules and regulations in the newspapers /
for the conduct of the people in respect TO
the case. Citizens were instructed not to
have any intercourse with the patient. and
the doctors and others attending on the
infected person were not to mingle in So
ciety until all danger was passed. Vacci-
nation was urged upon all who had not
been vaccinated, the poor to be vaccinated
free of expense by calling upon the ply
stefan OF their ward. Dr. Henry HUNT
was at this time the President of the
Board of Health and Andrew Coyle secre-
tary. There is no record that the disease
in the instance above described extended
beyond the one case mentioned The first
great necessity that came upon the board
for the exercise of what appears to have
been thought By many extraordinary pow
ers was in connection with the cholera
epidemic in 1892. The first death from
cholera reported in Washington is de-
scribed under date of August To- 1882
Several deaths occurred before this time
which were popularity supposed to have
been due to cholera, but which the physi-
clans sscribed to other causes The case
in point was that OF a printer. about
twenty-one years of age. who, after having
been afflicted with dVSeufarV for |