Evening star., 1944-06-11
Washington's First Physicians
BY John Clagett Proctor.

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BY John Clagett Proctor.
The cure of diseases and the science
OF surgery have made great advances
since Washington was first settled and
when there were only few physicians
TO take care of the sick. In those days
doctors usually performed their own
surgery work and dental, compounded
their own medicines. In many cases
they even had side line or two with
which to fill in their spare time, since,
except at periods of epidemics, the few
doctors then practicing here were not
overburdened with work.
One authority mentions the first two
physicians here as DR.. Samuel Brown
and DIR. John Crocker. The former the
writer must pass over for lack of infor-
nation, though there was DR.. William
Brown who was early practicing his
profession in Alexandria, having pre-
viously been Physician General during
the War of the American Revolution.
DIR. John Crocker
DIR. Crccker, who was surgeon IN
the Revolutionary War, was here at
least prior to April Is, 17s4, the GATE
he was appointed physician to attend
the laborers working on the erection
of public buildings. There were 46
of these buildings then and to accom-
modate those who might become i'll
hospital building was erected in Judici-
ary Square. and DR.. Crocker became
physician in charge at salary OF sol
a wear. But even at this seemingly
ridiculously low salary it apparently hao
its attraction, as three years later the
applicants for the job included Drs.
Wrenn, Cant, Frederick May. w. 3.
williams and DR.. Crocker. DR.. May
was chosen.
DIR. Croker was also the publisher
of the washington Advertiser. whlcn
he probably published in the vicinity OF
Ninth and E streets NV, and where ne
later resided at the northwest corner
of this intersection.
When the Government departments
were being moved to the District OF
Columbia there were very poor accom-
modations awaiting them. There were
then in washington 3,210 persons ana
s72 buildings-109 of brick and 263 OF
wood-or about nine persons to each
building So. 1t can be seen, the new
comers did not have an easy time find
ing desirable and satisfactory accomTno-
dations in the city.
When Government Moved Here
There is very little to be found that
was written at the time regarding the
removal of the Government to WASH
ington, but, fortunately, two letters
written by Mr.. Bradley give some IN
teresting information in this connec-
tion. especially as to the Post Once De-
partment. On June 2, 1900, he wrote:
I'VE arrived here on Friday last, hav-
ing had pleasant journey as far as we
travelled by daylight. Capt. Stevenson,
with whom I agreed for house before
my arrival, was not ready to give pos
session, and the house was not con-
venient for us. have, therefore, taken
a large three-story house within few
rods of Blodgett's Hotel, which Will ac-
commodate the ofice and my family,
and the Postmaster's Office, 49,
Nine days later in another letter he
said:
1--WE have not been able to open the
Office and commence business until this
day. I left Philadelphia Wednesday,
May ,27, and arrived on Friday evening,
the 28th. The President left Philadel-
phia the 26th and arrived at George
town June /. The situation of the city
is extremely pleasant, and it will prob
ably become the greatest city in Amer
lea. We have taken DR..
Crocker's house for this office (close by
the Great HoteD and for my family at
$500 year.
DIR. William Thornton
Another pioneer Washington physi-
sian was Dr. William Thornton, grad
uate of the University of Edinburgh,
and possessed of such versatile knowl-
edge as to enable him to practice medl-
cine. design the original Capitol and
many other buildings, and become in
terested in the earlier attempts at
navigation by steam, and notably the
inventions of the Inflated John Fitch.
He was actively employed as a Com
missioner In the first years of the Fed
eral City, and his talents grew around
him nearly all the leading men who were
visible to the Federal district at that
time.
In the diary of Mrs. Anna Maria
Thornton wife of DR.. Thornton, for the
year 1900, she says that although "Dr.
Thornton does not practice physic,"
vet. About sunset while he was look
ing at his horses, cattle, SC, a Mr..
Hammond came, who married niece
of the late Genl. Washington, g. who
is now dangerously ill-Mrs. Wash
ington at Mt. Vernon had mentioned
DR.. T to them, 81 he came to request
him to go to Leesburg thirty miles off
in virginia) to hee lher) they meant
to take her to Mount Vernon, but she
had got that far to her Sisters MRS.
BALD & could not proceed"
First in Georgetown
The first physician believed to have
settled in Georgetown was DR.. Walter
Smith, and DR.. John Weems was prob
ably the second. DR.. Charles A. Beatty
came there in 1882. DR.. Charles Worth
ington, native of Anne Arundel
County Md. settled in Georgetown in
1888. His grandfather, John Worth
ington. was the first of the family to
come to America, and his son, DR.. N. w.