Hailey Tran
The concept of hospitals has evolved over centuries, from ancient Greek temples dedicated to the sick to the medical institutions we know today. The Old West, a romanticized era of American history, presents an intriguing case study in the evolution of healthcare. During this period, the Wild West physician faced unique challenges and often worked in isolated, rugged conditions. This paragraph introduces the topic of doctors and hospitals in the Old West, setting the stage for an exploration of the medical practices, treatments, and the day-to-day lives of these frontier doctors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical qualifications | Most doctors lacked medical degrees. |
| Medical treatments | Treatments included drinking sulfur, applying leeches, bloodletting, and folk remedies. |
| Payment | Doctors were paid very little; a typical fee was 25-50 cents per visit or $1 if they stayed overnight. Payment was often made in goods, services, or promises rather than cash. |
| Risk | Doctors risked their lives treating patients with contagious diseases. |
| Working conditions | Doctors set up their offices wherever they could, including in saloons. |
| Surgery | Surgeries were often performed in front of a crowd of onlookers. |
| Diagnostic methods | Diagnosis was based on guesswork, and the cure was unreliable. |
| Sanitation | Doctors were indifferent to cleanliness during surgeries, and their instruments were often not rust-free. |
| Vaccines and cures | Vaccines for cholera, plague, rabies, and typhoid existed in the 19th century but were not widely used until after 1900. |
| Medication | Painkillers like laudanum and morphine were available but could easily lead to overdose. Whiskey and cannabis were used as anesthetics. |
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What You'll Learn
Anyone could pretend to be a doctor
In the Old West, anyone could pretend to be a doctor. The frontier was a dangerous place, and the majority of frontier doctors lacked a medical degree. In the Wild West, anyone could hang a shingle, call themselves a doctor, and promote treatments. These treatments could be dangerous, such as drinking sulfur or applying leeches. Other "doctors" prescribed secret Native American herbs, strange diets, or baths as a cure-all. Many advised removing "bad blood" from sick patients through bleeding or leeches, and many pioneers believed that the most effective medicines were the most disgusting-tasting.
The history of hospitals and medical licensing shows how the Old West's lack of medical regulation was an extreme version of a wider historical phenomenon. Public hospitals did not exist until the Christian period, and the first Christian hospital was founded in the Byzantine Empire in the 5th century. By the 12th century, Constantinople had two well-organized hospitals, staffed by male and female doctors. However, the licensing of medical professionals is a more recent development. In Paris, an examination system was created in 1803, which was required for the licensing of all medical professions. This law also created another class of health professionals who did not need to go through the licensing process but went through a shorter training process.
The situation in the Old West was more extreme, as there was no licensing or standardized training for doctors. In the 1800s, there were three methods to become a doctor, and by 1850, there were approximately 40 medical schools in the United States. However, these schools were not very selective, and the cost to attend was very affordable. Students were required to attend two four-month-long sessions a year apart, and anyone who could pay the tuition and complete both sessions would be given a diploma. These newly graduated doctors often went on to apprentice under a more established physician, but this practice began to fall out of favor by the early 1870s. By the turn of the century, medical schools began to improve, with more selective admissions and longer coursework.
The lack of regulation in the Old West meant that untrained doctors could promote strange and harmful treatments. For example, in 1827, a former janitor performed the first successful Caesarean section in the West. John Richmond, who had listened in on medical lectures, called himself a doctor and performed the C-section without ever having seen one before. While the mother survived, the child did not, and the patient reportedly begged Richmond to stop due to the pain. Even trained doctors in the 19th century relied on dangerous treatments, such as bleeding or blister treatments that involved peeling off patients' skin.
The Old West was a time and place where anyone could pretend to be a doctor, and the lack of regulation and standardized medical education led to strange and harmful treatments. It was not until the early 20th century that true standards of medical education were created, and many Western medical schools had to close as they could not comply with the new standards.
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Superstition and folk remedies
Other superstitions included the belief that placing a cowboy hat on a bed would bring arguments and harm, and the practice of throwing salt over one's shoulder to ward off the Devil. Folk remedies, though often rooted in practicality, were also prevalent. For example, a woman who had just given birth was advised to wear a thimble when drawing her first bucket of water to ensure the baby's health. It was also believed that leg cramps could be prevented by turning one's shoes upside down before bed, and that a pan of kerosene under the bed helped rheumatism.
In terms of medicine, the Old West saw the use of various folk cures and remedies. Opium, for instance, was a common ingredient in cough syrup, and cocaine was used to numb toothaches and other mouth pains. Mercury was also a popular treatment for syphilis and other venereal diseases, believed to be related to leprosy. Folk medicines also targeted vague "female complaints," with products like Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound gaining popularity.
The line between superstition and medicine was often blurred, with folk beliefs influencing the creation of remedies. For example, the belief in the protective powers of iron led to the use of iron rings to treat ailments, and the idea that a shock could cure hiccups inspired folk cures that involved startling the afflicted person. While some of these practices may seem quaint or ineffective today, they were a significant part of the cultural landscape of the Old West, shaping the beliefs and behaviours of those who braved its frontiers.
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Dangerous treatments
Life in the Old West was risky, with dangers such as saloon fights, shootings, bandits, robberies, stagecoaches, and mining accidents. The medical care available was often limited and sometimes more dangerous than the diseases themselves.
Doctors in the Old West treated a variety of conditions, from common illnesses like the flu to more serious ailments like tuberculosis and smallpox. They also tended to wounds, particularly those sustained in horse-related accidents, such as broken legs, concussions, and dislocated shoulders. However, the treatments they offered were often questionable.
One common practice was bloodletting, which involved removing a patient's blood to purge the disease from their system. This was often done through bleeding or the use of leeches. Doctors also prescribed mercury compounds, such as calomel, which was so strong that it weakened patients' gums and caused tooth loss. Other dangerous treatments included the administration of massive doses of ipecac to induce vomiting, and the use of gunpowder on bullet wounds.
Surgeries were often performed without anesthesia, causing immense pain to the patient. One account describes a woman undergoing surgery for a large ovarian tumor without any pain relief. A crowd gathered outside the doctor's office, accusing him of "butchering a woman".
In addition to these questionable medical practices, the Old West also had its fair share of untrained doctors. Anyone could call themselves a doctor, and many promoted strange treatments that were often harmful. These included the use of secret Native American herbs, unusual diets, and baths as a cure-all. Some advised removing "bad blood" through bloodletting, and many promoted alcohol as a painkiller.
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Lack of hospitals and doctors
The Old West was a time of great uncertainty when it came to healthcare. While doctors existed, they were few and far between, and often lacked formal medical training. The Wild West was a place where anyone could call themselves a doctor, and as a result, many untrained "doctors" promoted strange and harmful treatments. These included bloodletting by laceration or leeches, which could lead to dangerous levels of blood loss, and the overuse of deadly painkillers like laudanum or morphine. Some treatments were based on superstition, and patients' recovery was often a matter of luck.
The lack of hospitals and trained doctors in the Old West meant that healthcare was often provided by settlers who had learned to treat the sick out of necessity. These frontier doctors travelled long distances to treat patients, often risking their lives to visit those with contagious diseases. Their efforts were hindered by low pay and a lack of resources, as well as the danger posed by outlaws and the elements.
The Old West was a time of medical innovation, with the creation of patent medicines that are still used today, such as Listerine and Milk of Magnesia. However, it was also a time of questionable medical practices, especially when it came to children. Common treatments for teething included "bleeding, blistering, and placing leeches on the gums," and even burning the back of the child's head.
Doctors in the Old West faced unique challenges and often had to be resourceful in their treatments. They set up their offices wherever they could, including in saloons or breweries. They also had to deal with public perceptions of their work, with some superstitious people believing they were performing the devil's work. Despite these challenges, some doctors in the Old West gained recognition for their skill and dedication, such as Dr. Benjamin Dudley, who taught at the West's first medical school.
In conclusion, the lack of hospitals and doctors in the Old West led to a reliance on frontier doctors, who often lacked formal training but provided essential healthcare to pioneers. This period of medical history was characterised by innovation and questionable practices, and the development of treatments that would become staples of modern medicine.
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Medical breakthroughs
Medicine in the Old West was a varied and dangerous business. The doctors of the time treated a wide range of conditions, from accidents and STDs to epidemics. However, the majority of these frontier doctors lacked a medical degree, and often, their treatments were more dangerous than the conditions they were treating.
One of the most notable medical breakthroughs of the time was the successful performance of a Caesarean section. In 1827, John Richmond, a former janitor who had listened in on medical lectures, became the first person in the West to perform the procedure. Although the mother survived, the child did not, and Richmond's account of the procedure has been debated.
Frontier doctors also had to deal with superstitious beliefs and practices. In one instance, a doctor performed surgery on a Sunday morning to remove a 22-pound ovarian tumour from a patient without the use of anaesthetics. A crowd gathered outside, accusing the doctor of "butchering a woman". Despite the challenges, the surgeon successfully removed the tumour, and the patient survived.
Another aspect of medical practice in the Old West was the use of unconventional treatments. Doctors prescribed a variety of remedies, including mercury compounds that caused tooth loss, sulphur, leeches, secret Native American herbs, and unusual diets. Some doctors promoted baths as a cure-all, and the concept of "bad blood" led to practices such as bleeding and leech therapy.
Despite the lack of formal training among many Old West doctors, there were also some notable advancements in medical knowledge and practice during this period. For example, in the 1850s, doctors treated coughs with onion syrup or paregoric, a mixture of opium and camphor. They also used coal tar derivatives to induce sleep and sassafras tea to treat fevers. In 1866, a doctor recommended a liniment made from sulphuric ether, aqua ammonia, and muriate of ammonia to be applied to the scalp every 2 to 3 hours to alleviate pain.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospitals in the Old West were quite different from what we know today. Doctors were few and far between, and many people had to rely on folk remedies and patent medicines, which were often ineffective and sometimes dangerous.
No, anyone could pretend to be a doctor in the Old West. As a result, many untrained "doctors" promoted strange and harmful treatments.
Old West doctors used a variety of treatments, including bloodletting, leeches, and herbal remedies. They also prescribed painkillers like laudanum and morphine, which could be deadly if overdosed. Some effective medicines were also invented during this time, such as Listerine and Milk of Magnesia.
Being a doctor in the Old West was challenging and dangerous. Doctors often rode from one lonely dwelling to another, treating patients with highly contagious diseases for very little money. They also faced the threat of violence, as the West was a lawless and unpredictable place.
Yes, despite the challenges, there were some skilled and dedicated doctors in the Old West. Dr. Benjamin Dudley, for example, taught anatomy and surgery at Transylvania University, the West's first medical school.
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