The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-03-18
A Physicians Life in the
Copper Country's Early Days
BY baush Of Calumet Before the kswee'
Association.

Will again repeat that ! have never
regretted IT, as some of the dearest
and most agreeable friendships endur-
ing for nearly half n century were
made here.
As expressed 10y one of my early
friends. We lived there AS one family.
not only as neighbors, but brothers.
Catholic and Protestant. all national
tiles the same, no distinction as tn
social standing, standing by one
another in sickness, sorrow and death.
eeping with our friends In their sor-
row and laughing with them In their
hours of Joy.
My first general Introduction was on
the nh of July, 1871. II day or So aft
er | began my work at the mine. The
occasion was celebrated by "A general
picnic of the whole community. EV-
erS one being present from the boss"
To the lowest laborer, women and
children of all classes. was here
introduced as the new doctor" and
my reception was most cordial. In
spite of this introduction "A number of
people afterwards when ! was max
.ng my round OF visiting, wondered
what new peddler has struck the To-
cation, they making this remark from
the fact Of my entering II number of
houses carrying IA satchel, as this was
an innovation from the manner Of
their former medical attendants. They
soon became accustomed 10 this ana
the carrying of satchel was not en-
tirely associated with the idea or
peddlinr.
! found many things Ia contend
with in contrast Ia what | had been
accustomed To in my my hospital work.
The people had been accustomed to
only the simple methods of medical
treatmen; and in surgery the most
crude. would, however, remark wha;
was then considered as scientific
methods i'm medical centers in contrast
To todays methods. it would also be-
called crude. Even the men at the
great c. & II. had none OF the newer
methods or ways, nor some of the in
strpments of precision for examination
and for treatment of diseased condi-
tons. ] will simply mention "A few,
such as the thermometer and stetho-
scope for diagnosis and hypodermic
syringe for treatment. The micro.
scope was entirely unknown. The
people, however, soon recognized thar
there was more i'm the practice OF
obi afn a aitatS tt.lf ton a.f
salts. SIENNA and castor oil. and a few
other drugs. and the giving of these
without any reason of the why and
wherefore of such administration. IL
took some line and explanation for
such altered course, but results proved
To them the logic for doing 50. Espe-
cially was this true in surgical meth
DDS. Nothing i'm the way of surgery
was being done by the members "a
the profession in the copper country,
except amputations ana treatment OF
fractured bones. No excelsior of IN
mors or the remedying of diseased
conditions. except with drugs, had
practiced and patients who might
have been relieved and life saved by
proper operations, were dllbNtu w
die. AZ said before. such unheard
Of proceedings AZ ! advised in sucn
cases required at first much argu-
ment and sometimes | was fearful
that i'm case OF failure ! would have
done irreparable damage Ia the future
progress. But, fortunately, or as some
of my brethren said, good luck" the
people became convinced that there
was more in the practice Of medicine
than they had been having in time
past. | will give an instance To make
this more clear.
The son Of one of the mine officials
had q tumor of the race which was Of
several years standing, and had be-
come of size which was causing n
Disagreement Of his face. None of
my predecessors had advised and in
fact had discouraged and meddling
whit the growth The parents were
very anxious To have something done,
and after explanation. decided as they
put IL ito run the risk" Practically the
only risk was the anesthetiC, and