Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-02-25

Mayo, later to b.
come world famous as a surgeon.
Matters OF medicine and surgery
were familiar to the youngstsr even
1t the age of thirteen. His father
was Dr. William H. Mayo. one Of the
best surgeons In the West. His ances-
tors had been prominent in the prs-
fession for generations In England,
from which his father came to this
country In 1845.
Young Mayo had been brought ~
In the world OF curing ths Ills Of man
kind. 1t wasn't unnatural that ~
was able. under the circumstances, =
serve a. IN assistant 1t an operation
when he was only thirteen His art
patient recoyered. Since than hN has
cured thousands by tho skill Of hIs
surgery.
The youngster had early ambitions
to be 4 staEecoach driver. He was
born la Le Seur. Minn., In 1851. but
his father moved to Rochester, In the
same state. when William WAS two
years old. Minnesota was In the Wild
West of those days. There were few
highways running across the. rolling
prairies. Indians roamed the plains.
Many OF the pioneers lived In crude
sod huts.
Stagecoach drivers were heroes to
the boys In Rochester. They were
rough characters. but the glamor OK
adventure hung over them In the eyes
OF young VIII and his playmates.
They dashed into the town. pulling
up foam-fiecked horses with flourish
that was highly impressive In juvs-
nile eyes. They we're ! link with the
great world outside the little prairie
settlement
But like most of US, who In our
youth dream OF becoming tiremen. po-
licemen, engineers, cowboys-or stage
coach drivers-young Mayo's ambition
was soon directed into other channels.
His fathers practice covered much II
the southern part OF the state ThA
boy often accompanied him on visits
to patients far out on the lonely
prairie.
The youngster saw Indians living II
wigwams while on such trips He held
the horses when his father made calls
In the sod huts Of the homesteaders.
occasionally assisting In the setting Of
4 broken limb. He witnessed suffering
and fortitude.
His environment tended to direct
him toward the study OF medicine. Ho
made up his mind when he was In
high school to follow In the footsteps
| OF his father and 50 many OF his an
cestors. After being graduated FROM
| the high school in Rochester he at
| tended Niles academy. From there no
went to the University OF Michigan.
| He was graduated in medicine In 1888.
He had hardly returned to the old
| fashioned home which his father had
| built In Rochester and in which h.
spent his boyhood, than he had m
opportunity to show the benefits OF his
training. A tornado, one OF those
wind storms so dreaded In the fat
| prairie country, struck Rochester and
wrecked part OF the village.
His father turned his home Into !
hospital. The elder Mayo. the newly
made DR.. William Mayo and his broth
or, Charles FL. Mayo, then medical
student, treated the injured. The sons
/ assisted their father in several emer-
gency operations.
i DR. William j. Mayo made an ex-
cellent record in college. So did his
brother. Both learned medicine an
they grew up. Doctor Will worked In
q drug store during his vacations.
Doctor Charles did likewise. Further
more they had the direct benefit OF
the deep knowledge and wide expert
ence OF their father.
They had good microscope when
they were In high school. Their IN
Their bought 1t specially for them and
taught them Its use. They studied
with 1t many winter nights when Z
4 blizzard roared outside the comfort
able home OF the Mayos. Such train
ing and advantages were most helpful
when it came time for them to take
up seriously the study OF their chosen
profession.
The first real practical experience
DR.. William ]. Mayo had as prac-
ticing physician In Rochester indi-
rectly brought about the establish
/. ment OF the world famous Mayo clinic
|, Rochester was without hospital Thu
t need for such an institution was en-.
phaslzed after the tornado had left
death and suffering In its wake.
The Sisters OF st. Francis, who had
served as nurses for the Mayos wher
they were administering to the need,
Of the tornado victims. agreed to hels
build hospital II the Mayos would
serve as physicians and surgeons. Doc
tor Wills father donated the land. Tn,
brothers thus began their work to
gether. Out OF that early association
has grown their own world-known In
J, stitution for the relief Of suffering hu