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=The Health and Wealth of the City of Wheeling:===including its physical and medical topography:====also, general remarks on the natural resources of West Virginia==
by JAMES E. REEVES, M. D.
2nd Edition, 1871
(excerpt of p. 122-132; full report available here)
FYI: Other Medical information on Historic Wheeling:
Kate Quinn on Dr. James Reeves
Kate Quinn on WV's First Female Doctors
Kate Quinn on The Effects of the 1918 Flu Epidemic on Wheeling
Descriptions of Wheeling Hospitals
===PHYSICIANS===
THERE are in Wheeling nineteen regular physicians and surgeons. Besides these, there are three persons who practice Homoeopathy — that " negation oi physics as well as in medicine; " three so-called '' Eclectics," and one "Water Doctor." There are also five dentists in the city, who are well skilled in their profession.
Dr. — Forsythe was probably among the first physicians who took up permanent residence in Wheeling, if not the first doctor who put out a shingle; and up to the year 1819, when the population of the town numbered 1,500, ten other medical men had come in to help possess the field. These were : Dr. Downey, Dr. Ralf, Dr. Zane, Dr. Martin Todd, Dr. Joshua Morton, Dr. John Eoff, Dr. D. J. H. Kiefer, Dr. J. W. Clemens, Dr. Townsend, and Dr. A. S. Todd, who is still living.
During the next thirty years, or up to 1850, several other gentlemen were added to the list, the majority of whom are still living.
The present status of the regular profession in Wheeling is of the most respectable character ; and in no other city of the same size have all classes of people greater cause of thankful boasting in their supply of well educated, skillful and successful physicians. These gentlemen are generally au courant in the different departments of their profession, and, at the same time, are expert and appreciative manipulators of the valuable implements and aids which science and art have placed at their command for the investigation and treatment of disease.
The only institution set apart for professional improvement is the Wheeling and Ohio County Medical Society, which was established in 1868 to cover an unfortunate blank that had previously existed for several years. This organization is auxiliary to the State Society, and is doing lasting good in the way of leveling up and leveling down, as the individual case requires.
In Wheeling there are no specialists ; all are general practitioners in the true sense of the term; but such distinction, no doubt, will come after a while.
Accidents requiring surgical aid are becoming more and more common ; but considering the large number of persons who are daily exposed about the different railroads, in the numerous manufactories and machine shops, coal mines, and to like dangerous occupations, the number of such occurrences is, indeed, surprisingly small. The coal mines, in which hundreds of laborers are constantly employed, are well protected from the accumulation of suffocating gasses, by large aspiratingyf?/<fj- or headings through the hill, and thus all danger from damps is prevented; but occasionally serious injury results to miners from the falling of the arches, blasting, etc. The explosion of coal oil lamps is a prolific source of horrible death — principally from careless handling of dangerous kerosene. From this cause several deaths annually occur.
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==BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD==
"Life and death work hand in hand. If death Ues at the door, it is always to proclaim the Gospel of resurrection."
===DR. DANIEL JOHN HENRY KIEFER===
Was born in Central Pennsylvania about the year 1795. He was
of German parentage, received a liberal education, studied
theology, and was ordained a minister in the German Lutheran
Church. He was a fluent speaker, and highly and very justly
esteemed as a minister. After a few years' engagement in the
ministry, he determined to study medicine, and went into the office
of Dr. Alexander Hiram Baker, of Baltimore, and graduated at the
medical department of the University of Maryland.
He began practice at Somerset, Pa., and after remaining there
a short while, removed to West Newton, Pa. From West Newton
he came to Wheeling in 1837, where he soon enjoyed the con-
fidence of all who made his acquaintance, and succeeded to a
large and lucrative practice. After ten years' labor in Wheeling —
having liberally provided for his family during his hfe — he died
poor, of consumption, in 1847, aged 52 years.
===DR. JAMES WOLF CLEMENS===
Was born in Washington County, Pa., May 26, 1796, graduated at
Washington College, Pa., under the presidency of Dr. Wylie, in
1818, and immediately went into the office of Dr. James Stevens,
in the town of Washington, where he began the study of medicine.
After two years' study with Dr. Stevens he opened an office at
Florence, Washington County, and advertised for practice. Six
months later he came to Wheeling, and at once entered upon a
respectable business. In 1822 he graduated in medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania, and returned to Wheeling, where he
spent the remainder of his life, or twenty-six years, in the practice
of his profession. He died of peritonitis, November 26, 1846,
aged 50 years and 6 months.
His health had been gradually failing for a year preceding his
death. Ten or fifteen days before his decease he went on a visit
to his old home in Washington County to rest and recruit. He
started back to Wheeling after several days' sojourn in the country,
was overtaken on the way with sickness at Mrs. Beagle's, and there
ended his life after two or three days' confinement.
Dr. Clemens had a large reputation, and, as a physician, occupied
the front rank in the profession. He was the first physician in all
this region of country to practice orthopsedic surgery, and he could
count many successful operations for relief of deformities of the
feet, when such operations were regarded as novelties in the Eastern
cities.
As an obstetrician, besides possessing consummate skill, his kind
and gentle manner always made him a favorite with females, and
was the secret of his great popularity in this department of prac-
tice. But his beautiful character as a physician was never so well
shown as during the fearful epidemic of cholera in 1832 and 1833,
and he is still remembered by many of our older citizens for his
devotion, his self-sacrificing labors to the sick and dying during
these two never-to-be-forgotten years in the history of Wheeling.
He was fond of literature, and took a lively interest in all sub-
jects of scientific importance. He superintended the opening of
the Grave Creek Mound, examined and took casts of all the relics
there exhumed, made a record of the same, and furnished a
description of the skeletons found there buried for Morton's Crania
Americana. His paper occupies an honorable place in that
great American contribution to Archaeological science.
As a graceful and effective speaker Dr. Clemens possessed not
less remarkable powers. He was a warm advocate of temperance,
and during the earliest agitation of the subject in this country, he
was one of its warmest and most impressive advocates — a mighty
captain of the Washingtonians in Wheeling. In private life his
virtues were as bright and shining as his professional life was
superior and a blessing to his race ; and thus every position in life
he filled he honored. He was both a Mason and Odd-Fellow,
and for nine years a member of the City Council.
His widow is still living. His children were three sons and two
daughters. The eldest son, Hon. Sherard Clemens, is now engaged
in the practice of law in St. Louis, at which place, also, the second
son, Dr. J W. Clemens, Jr., resides, and occupies a professor's chair
in one of the Medical Colleges of that city. For several years
preceding his college engagement Dr. Clemens, Jr., was Health
Officer of St. Louis, and made for himself many creditable marks
in sanitary science. The third son. Dr. J. Breckenridge Clemens,
after graduating at the medical department of the University of
Pennsylvania, located at Easton, Pa., and began practice. He was
a man of science, and was highly esteemed for his integrity and
honor. He died a few years since, and his loss is yet severely felt
by the citizens of Easton.
Dr. Clemens' father, William Clemens, was one of the pioneer
settlers of Western Pennsylvania. His mother's name was Wolfe,
the sister of the wife of the celebrated Judge Breckenridge, of
Pennsylvania. It is related by the descendants of Judge Breck-
enridge that, when a young man, he made an accidental visit to
Mr. Wolfe's house, and became at once enamored of Miss Wolfe,
from witnessing her surprising agility in leaping and jumping, and
that the wedding match was made before his departure from her
home.
Of Dr Clemens' daughters, the eldest. Miss Mary Cornelia, is
dead; the other, Mrs. A, C. Jones, resides with her aged mother
in Wheeling.
===DR. JAMES BARRY TANNER===
Was born in the city of Baltimore, August 26th, 1796. He
received a liberal education, studied medicine, and graduated at
the University of Maryland in 1823.
Immediately after receiving his degree he removed to Wheeling
and com.menced the practice of his profession. Within a year
thereafter he married Miss Deborah Graham, a lady not less
remarkable for her personal beauty, amiable and attractive
manner, than for her superior intellectual accomplishments. She
was his constant and faithful companion, proved a valuable help-
mate in all the relations of life, and was spared to minister to him
in the trying hours of suffering and death.
Dr. Tanner was identified with Wheeling for thirty-five years.
He came when it did not cover one-fifth part of its present area,
and not having, perhaps, one-tenth the number of its present
population. He grew with its growth, was a prominent partici-
pator in all its struggles from a village to a prosperous city, and
occupied many positions of trust and honor. He served the
people many successive years in the City Councils, and was once
or twice elected to the Mayoralty.
As a physician. Dr. Tanner ranked among the first in his
profession, and worthily enjoyed the confidence of his wide circle
of patrons. To the poor he was always ready to lend a hstening
ear and extend a ready hand, and when they were overtaken by
sickness he was their faithful friend.
During the terrible epidemic of cholera in 1832 and 1833, he
was unremitting in his services to the sick and dying, and with his
heroic, self-sacrificing companions in toil, Drs. Clemens, Town-
send, and others, he labored night and day, without regard to his
own safety.
Dr. Tanner always had a penchant for military life. When but
sixteen years of age he was made captain of artillery in the war
of 1812, and gallantly fought in defense of his native city. He
was promoted to the rank of major in the 52d regiment of Mary-
land militia. After his removal to Wheeling he was made captain
of the 3d regiment of artillery of Virginia militia, and again pro-
moted to the rank of major. His commanding person and the
pride with which he commanded his company of " Greeks " is still
remembered by many of the older citizens.
In his domestic relations Dr. Tanner was most happy. He
returned the faithful devotions of his excellent wife, and was an
affectionate father. He had but two children — a son and a daughter.
The son, a promising youth, and the pride of his parents, died at
the age of 17 years, of erysipelas of the head and face. The
daughter, Loraine, is the accomphshed wife of the Hon. A. I.
Boreman, U. S. Senator from West Virginia, and resides at
Parkersburg.
Dr. Tanner died on 27th of December, 1858, of inflammation
of the bladder. He had suffered for many years from enlarge-
ment of the prostate gland, but was not confined to bed until a
few weeks immediately preceding his death, during which short
time he suffered a degree of pain rarely witnessed, in point of sever-
ity. In his last illness he was regularly attended by his warm
personal friend. Dr. R. H. Cummins.
Dr. Tanner died lamented by the entire community, and his
memory is yet held in affectionate remembrance by persons of all
classes throughout the city and country round about.
===DR. THOMAS TOWNSEND===
Was a practising physician in Wheeling for fifteen or twenty years.
He came from Ohio, and is supposed to have been a native of that
State. He has no surviving relatives or friends in the city
to give the particulars of the history of his early life. A knov/ledge
of his character and peculiar habits is, however, possessed by many
of our citizens, and from this source the following brief record is
made:
Dr. Townsend was truly a self-made man, never having enjoyed
the advantages of a collegiate education, neither was he a graduate
in medicinq^^ He had an in-born love for science, and by an
indomitable energy and singleness of purpose, he mastered many
abstruse subjects. In medicine and its collateral branches he was
well informed. Botany, conchology, geology and mineralogy were
his favorite and familiar studies. He was very decided, even
obstinate in his opinions, firm in his convictions, and generally
correct in his judgements. He had great professional pride ; was
a man of high sense of honor, and unquestioned integrity. He
was always a student, and his habits in this respect made his hfe
somewhat isolated. He had not a large circle of friends and
patrons, and hence did not enjoy a lucrative practice ; but his few
friends were well chosen, and they were warm and appreciative in
return.
He died in poverty on the 29th of March, 185 1. The medical
faculty of the city, feeling a sincere respect for his character, and
profound sorrow at his loss, followed his remains to the grave, and
paid the expenses of his funeral,
===. JOHN EOFF===
Was born in Shepherdstown, Virginia, October the 2d, 1789. He
began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Potter, of Wheel-
ing, and subsequently attended medical lectures in Philadelphia.
From Philadelphia he returned to Wheeling and engaged in
practice. He soon, however, concluded to change his residence,
and removed to the Valley of the Kanawha. In 1816 he returned
to Wheeling, where he spent the remainder of his life. After his
return from Kanawha, he did not pay very great attention to his
profession, which, up to that time, he had practised so successfully,
but engaged in other pursuits more to his Hking; although, when
called on, he never refused to lend his services to the sick.
Dr. Eoff accumulated wealth, reared a large family, and was
esteemed as one of the most respectable and useful citizens of Wheel-
ing. He died suddenly of disease of the heart, on the 28th of
January, 1859. His widow, though now over 70 years of age, is
still able to walk a mile or two every day, when the state of the
weather will permit, and she is not less remarkable for her mental
activity. Her children, residents of Baltimore, Steubenville, Kan-
awha, and Wheeling, occupy the highest rank in society, and are
thus worthily perpetuating the name of their honored father. Mrs.
Eoff resides in Wheehng with her son, Mr. Beverly M. Eoff.
===DR. E. A. WEHRMAN===
A learned and most skillful German physician and surgeon, came
from Hanover to Wheeling about the year 1840. He died in
1851, greatly regretted by all who knew him. He was an accom-
plished accoucherj and, being entirely familiar with the literature of
his native country, he was the first man in Wheehng to advocate
and practice successfully the turning of the child by external
manipulation, according, no doubt, to the precepts laid down by
the great German accoucher and physician, Dr. Justus H.Wigand^
of Hamburg, who published his new practice between the years
1812 and 1820, and enjoyed such general confidence that all
Europe accepted,, without question, whatever came from his pen.
===SIMON PETER HULLIHEN===
Was born in Northumberland county, Pa., on the loth day of
December, 1810, and died in Wheeling March the 27th, 1857, of
typhoid pneumonia. He was of Irish extraction, and descended
from one of the oldest and most respectable families in that part of
the State in which he was born.
In his eighth or ninth year, young Hullihen met with a serious
accident, by which both feet were so severely bruised that he was
crippled for life. His early educational advantages were not great,
being only such as were afforded by the district school. At a very
early age, he manifested a love for medicine and surgery, and the
diligence with which he pursued these studies was shown by his
success in after life. He received the degree of Doctor of Medi-
cine from the Washington Medical College, Baltimore, Md., and
in 1832 commenced practice, combining dentistry with general
surgery, at Canton, Stark county, Ohio. In 1835 he married and
removed to Wheeling, and began his successful career. In 1845
he established a private infirmary, and several years later, assisted
by Dr. M. H. Houston, formerly of this city, but now of Rich-
mond, Va., and the Rt. Rev. Whelan, he succeeded in establishing
the Wheeling Hospital, which has since been under the .good
management of the Sisters of St. Joseph,
"Dr. Hullihen was a member of the Ohio County Medical Society,,
and the author of several valuable papers connected with his specialty,.
some of which were published in different medical journals. He
was also the inventor of many really valuable instruments to
surgeons and dentists. His death caused profound sorrow through-
out the city, and the whole population turned out to attend his
funeral. Resolutions of respect were adopted by the medical
faculty of the city, by the members of the Hospital Association,
by the City Councils, and by a public meeting of the citizens at
the Court House. At the citizens' meeting it was resolved to erect
a suitable monument to his memory. The monument was long
ago erected, and, with the following inscription, it marks his resting
place in Mt. Wood Cemetery: " Erected by the citizens of Wheel-
mg to the memory of one who had so lived among them, that they
mourned his death as a public calamity."
===DR. JOSEPH THOBURN===
A citizen of Wheeling for twelve years, studied his profession in
Ohio, and graduated at Starling Medical College, Columbus.
He possessed more than ordinary intellectual power, was an indus-
trious student, and deservedly occupied a high rank as a physician
in this community. His manner was most happy, and he was
rapidly rising in business Avhen he abandoned its bright prospects
for what he considered a higher duty. In 1861 he entered the
army as surgeon of the ist Regiment of Virginia Volunteers, and
after a short service in this capacity, he was transferred from the
medica] staff to the rank of colonel of the same regiment. In this
more military position he continued until the time of his death,
and was regarded a leader of true bravery, of wise discretion, and
of great boldness of execution. On the field, his presence invariably
inspired his soldiers, and he gave the highest promise of greatness
as a commander. He was killed at the battle of Cedar Creek,
Va., October 19th, 1864.
In Wheeling, the greatest respect was paid his memory. His
body laid in state, and was followed to the grave by an immense
concourse of people, who sincerely lamented his untimely death.
Dr. Thoburn was born in the north of Ireland, and was brought
to America by his parents when he was but three months old.
In 1853 he married the eldest daughter of Rev. Benj. Mitchell,
of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio. His widow resides, at present, in Wheeling.
Dr. Thoburn died in his fortieth year, and has left a memory
honorable as a citizen, as a physician, and as a military chieftain.
Since the above record was made, death has invaded the ranks of the Wheeling and Ohio
County Medical Society, and taken from among us Dr. D. J. McGinnis, a poor stranger with
a family, who came to this city about three years ago and engaged in the practice of medicine.
He was born at Indianapolis, January 28th, 1S36, and from that place, when he was eight or
nine years of age, his parents removed to Hagerstown, Md. At twenty years of age, he
was ordained in the ministry of the M. E. Church, and was a preacher in the Baltimore Con-
ference. Several years ago he removed to West Virgmia, and studied medicine in the office of
Dr. Thomas Kennedy, of Grafton, and further prosecuted his studies, without graduating, at
the University of New Yoik. Prior to his removal to Wheeling, he was engaged in the
practice of medicine in Preston county.
Dr. McGinnis was recognized by the Medical Faculty of Wheeling as a worthy member, and
by the community, an honorable, upright man. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis, the 21st
of December, 1870, sincerely lamented by all who knew him.
DRUG HOUSES
THERE are in the city three wholesale drug houses and
thirteen prescription stores. The entire amount of drugs
consumed annually is very considerable, and no doubt
gradually increasing. Patent or proprietary medicines,
however, according to the testimony of one of the largest whole-
sale dealers, have greatly lost favor with the masses during the last
few years. The Wheeling wholesale drug market supplies a wide
district of country in West Virginia and Eastern Ohio, and the
spirit of therapeutics within its realm has very much altered and
improved in ten years. Now, few orders, when compared with
their frequency in former years, are received for calomel, jalap,
scammony, rhubarb, ipecac, tartar emetic and other time-honored
heroic remedies; but in their stead, come demands for tonics and
stimulants — the preparations of iron, quinine, strychnia or these
combined; and particularly for those of another class, iodide and
bromide of potash, etc.
Within the last year or two, many really excellent pharmaceutical
preparations have been introduced, some of which have become
deservedly popular with physicians. The elegant elixirs and other
beautiful preparations manufactured by John Wyeth & Brother,
Philadelphia, have been found perfectly reliable, and are, therefore,
worthy of the confidence they enjoy.
TOXICOLOGY.
Pathological conditions produced by poisonous agents are com-
paratively of rare occurrence. In the year 1868 there was one
death from opium eating, and one attempt at suicide by swallowing
a teacupful of venice turpentine into which the broken ends of a
dozen or two hicifer matches were stirred. Under the influence of
a prompt emetic, the remarkable mixture was gotten rid of, and the
patient suffered nothing except from slight irritation of the urinary
passages for the next few days. Thus far this year, two attempts
at self-destruction, by means of laudanum, have been discovered;
and one case of poisoning in a child two years old, produced by
Costar's cock-roach poison, has occurred. Fortunately the poison
in the latter case was immediately gotten rid of by spontaneous
vomiting; but serious sickness at the stomach and nervous sinking
followed for the next few hours.
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