Education, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Homeopathy; Libraries, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Medicine
Besides the few worthies spoken of, and others whose names I have not
space to record, we must remember that there were many clergymen who
took charge of the bodies as well as the souls of their patients, among
them two Presidents of Harvard College, Charles Chauncy and Leonard
Hoar,--and Thomas Thacher, first minister of the “Old South,” author of
the earliest medical treatises printed in the country, [A Brief Rule to
Guide the Common People in Small pox and Measles. 1674.] whose epitaph
in Latin and Greek, said to have been written by Eleazer, an “Indian
Youth” and a member of the Senior Class of Harvard College, may be found
in the “Magnalia.” I miss this noble savage's name in our triennial
catalogue; and as there is many a slip between the cup and lip, one is
tempted to guess that he may have lost his degree by some display of his
native instinct,--possibly a flourish of the tomahawk or scalping-knife.
However this may have been, the good man he celebrated was a notable
instance of the Angelical Conjunction, as the author of the “Magnalia”
calls it, of the offices of clergyman and medical practitioner.
Michael Wigglesworth, author of the “Day of Doom,” attended the sick,
“not only as a Pastor, but as a Physician too, and this, not only in
his own town, but also in all those of the vicinity.” Mather says of the
sons of Charles Chauncy, “All of these did, while they had Opportunity,
Preach the Gospel; and most, if not all of them, like their excellent
Father before them, had an eminent skill in physick added unto their
other accomplishments,” etc. Roger Williams is said to have saved many
in a kind of pestilence which swept away many Indians.
To these names must be added, as sustaining a certain relation to the
healing art, that of the first Governor Winthrop, who is said by John
Cotton to have been “Help for our Bodies by Physick [and] for our
Estates by Law,” and that of his son, the Governor of Connecticut, who,
as we shall see, was as much physician as magistrate.
I had submitted to me for examination, in 1862, a manuscript found among
the Winthrop Papers, marked with the superscription, “For my worthy
friend Mr. Wintrop,” dated in 1643, London, signed Edward Stafford, and
containing medical directions and prescriptions. It may be remembered by
some present that I wrote a report on this paper, which was published
in the “Proceedings” of this Society. Whether the paper was written for
Governor John Winthrop of Massachusetts, or for his son, Governor John
of Connecticut, there is no positive evidence that I have been able
to obtain. It is very interesting, however, as giving short and simple
practical directions, such as would be most like to be wanted and most
useful, in the opinion of a physician in repute of that day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account