The times., 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 inhabi-
tants OF northern localities.
In the wear 1927 a citizen OF Washing
ton was debarred from policy In any Of
the New York or Philadelphia life insur-
snce companies, the prejudice in the north
against regions as far south as the Potomac
River amounting at that era to an almost
positive dread.
In 1927 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. 4qS2: Boston. 4145; Baltimore.
IS 90. New York. S7.12, Philadelphia. 5lS9.
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
a. the Potomac River.
The credit OF improving the sanitary I
conditions Of Washington. as well as that |
OF ministering TO the sick is due In no 4
small degree TO the excellent resident I
physicians which this city appears always /
10 have had. The process Of vaccination /
was introduced here as early as the sum
rner Of 1901, the President receiving some /
aura vacciua from Dr. Waterhouss. OF .
Cambridge Mass with a view to having 4
fits effects tried. This first virus was Civ
en- 10 Dr. Grant. o. 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 T.
1901. Or. Tongue announced in the news
paper. that he practiced physic and par
ticularly surgery. The advertisement fur
ther stated that he had been a private pu-
piI Of Dir. Rush 10 whom ne referred
The first dentist to minister 10 suffering
Washingtonians was Or. T. Bruf, man
celebrated in his profession. and the in
venior Of the perpendicular extracting in
strumeuts. on December IS. iSo7, fhe an
noancement WAS publicly made that Dr.
Brun had arrived in Georgetown. and that
he offered his services 10 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 IL would perhaps
be rather lficult 20 locale some Of the
places mentioned without q map OF the
cisy al that period of their eXis enc. Tn
der date OF October 2 1868. DIT. Tens % an
nounced that he had removed TO the house
opposite Mr.. Mgrin's tavern. On April y,
1906 it is learned that Or. Startling Arch 4
er late Of the Navy. died on accosnt OF
q wound received in duel on the 18th OF
the same month. He was 10 is ssid- uni Z
versally esteemed. and his death lame ted
by al who llncR him.
Dr. BIiscoc. IN 1906 was located a few
doors west OF The Seven Build ngs In {
Pennsylvania Avenue. and kept at his d
house q supply Of useful medicines and
other articles needed by physicians. IN +
January 1908. the announcement vas j.
made that Dr. Lancaster had located iu a
Washington, in Pennsylvania avenue, and }
that he had several years eNpe iCuCe IN .
September OF 1S0S the celebrated Dr.. Will u
lam GrsysOn began the pragtirC Of wedi- I
cine In Washington. locating two doors {
from Semmes tavern. in Georgetown. Or. G.
Robert French. an eminent surgeon be- u
gan the practice Of his p.ofes sior in a
May /, 1Soe and had his O
shop in the house then lately occupied
by Or. John Weems. deceased. q
One OF the mos, prominent practitioners G
Of medicine IN this city ir the wear 1913 3
was Dr.. George a. Carroll. VINO resided iu "a
the corner house next door TO tire Van "
Ness mansion. The newspapers for the d
year 1915 are largely occupied by the ad- a
refreshments Of Dr. William Gardner. W. a
professed TO cure cancers. tuuors etc. Or. q
John OFT. OF Georgetown. died April s. e
ISIS He was spoken Of al the tine as Q
having had no superior "in every relation v
OF life" He was 81 was said, a father b
to the poor a friend TO the dstr- sed. and q
sn example 10 others in the pc fo.manca .
Of every civil and social duty. D
Dr. John Sinnott A. NJ. very celebrat- o
ed physician. commenced the practice Of n
medicine and surgery in Washington in q
December 1895. with his Office at Mrs.
Sinnou's Academy, in Varnum's Row, in j
D Street. II was stated in his advertise q
ment that he had fifteen years experience G
in the various branches OF his profession. h
Or. Sinnott advertised in French as well a
as IN English. u
An Early Century Health Board. q
In 1894 the members Of the Board Of
Health were Drs. Thomas Sim Henry
HUNT Thomas Seyyall Frederick May and
E. b Hamilton. In January lS2S there
was reported a case OF vsrioloid AZ Green
leafs Point in The city. The Board Of
Health Instantly took measurts 10 pre- =
vent the spread Of Tho disease. and issued i
rules and regulations in the nos spapcrs /.
'or the conduct Of The people iu respect to :,
he case. Citizens were instructed not TO ~
have any Intercourse with the patient and /.
he doctors and others attending on the
infected person were not TO miurlC iu SOC -
,iety until an danger was passed. Nacci-
nation was urged upon am who had not
been vaccinsted The poor to be vaocinated W
'ree OF expense by calling upon the ply q"
sician Of their ward. Or Henry hunt -
was al this time the President OF the i'
5oard Of Health and Andrew CoyIe secre- O.
AIRY. There is no record that the disease ii
% the instance above described extended / a
,eyond the one case mentioned The FIRST
great necessity that came upon the board =
or the exercise Of what appears to have a
,een thought by many extraordinary pow -
.rs was in connection with the cholera -
pidemic in 1892. The first death from :,
holsra reported in Washington is de -
.cribed under date Of August lo 1882. 4
several deaths occurred before this time a
which were popularity supposed 10 have -
Deen due 10 cholera. but which the physi- !,
ians aFcribed TO other causes. The case -
Z point was that OF a printer about -
wenty-one years Of age. who after having ."
ieen afflicted with dvsenterv for several I