The Medical History of Kentucky is a chronicle of achievement. For generations the members of the medical profession of Kentucky have been in the foremost ranks of the learned and skilled practitioners of the country, and Kentucky has been one of the chief centers of medical teaching.

Hence the history of medicine in Kentucky centers around Transylvania University. Before Kentucky became a state the General Assembly of Virginia in May, 1770, set aside 8,000 acres of land as a fund for maintaining a public seminary, passing an act granting a charter to Transylvania University. In 1773 the Virginia Legislature passed another act chartering the school under the name of Transylvania Seminary, and increased the land grant to 12,000 acres. This latter act gave the school all the powers and privileges of a university, and for a number of years it was to a considerable extent managed by the Presbyterian Church. In 1789 it was located in Lexington, Kentucky, with Isaac Wilson at its head with only thirteen pupils.

Lexington wishing to establish the seminary within its limits, organized what was called the Transylvania Land Company and this company offered a lot of ground if the Trustees of the Seminary would build. At this time they had no regular place to hold classes and this offer was accepted, the first school building being erected shortly after.

The Trustees of Transylvania University met in Lexington, Kentucky, June 8, 1799, and organized the Medical Department of the

University, calling it the Medical College of Transylvania. The following men composed the medical faculty: James Fishback, Elisha Warfield, Joseph Buchanan, Constantine S. Rafinesque, H. H. Eaton, Samuel Brown, Robert Peter, Benjamin W. Dudley, James Overton, William H. Richardson, Daniel Drake, Charles Caldwell, John Esten Cook, Charles Wilkins Short, Lunsford P. Yandell, Sr., James M. Bush, Ethelbert Dudley, Henry Martyn Skillman, Frederick Ridgely, John Eberlee. Not all of these men were elected at the opening of the school, but the list represents men who were connected with the medical department from first to last. Dr. Samuel Brown was the first medical instructor to qualify, beginning his work October 9, 1799. He taught chemistry, anatomy and surgery. He was one of the first men in this country to use cowpox, having vaccinated as many as 500 as early as 1802. Dr. Ridgely qualified in November, 1799, and taught midwifery, materia medica and physic. After the first session the faculty disbanded because of internal dissensions, Drake going to Cincinnati, and Overton to Nashville.

During the second year the faculty was reorganized. Dr. Dudley was in his former chair and Drs. Richardson and Blythe again. two of his colleagues. Dr. Charles Caldwell took the chair of Institutes of Medicine, Dr. Samuel Brown Theory and Practice of Medicine. An effort was made to transfer the medical department to Louisville in 1837 but failed because of Dr. Dudley's opposition.

Dr. Benjamin Dudley took offense at some remark of Dr. Daniel Drake in a faculty meeting and challenged him to a duel. He did not accept but his next friend Dr. Wm. H. Richardson did and was shot by Dr. Dudley in the leg. which severed an artery. At once Dr. Dudley stopped the hemorrhage and they shook hands, and were forever afterwards the best of friends.

The first botanical garden ever undertaken in this country on a large scale was that started in Lexington, Kentucky, but not completed, by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque who was elected Professor of Botany in the Medical College in 1818.

The medical faculty was reorganized in 1815 and again when Daniel Drake took such an interest and aroused public sentiment for the college in 1819, from this latter reorganization, the pupils increased from 20, with a single graduate, to 200 students and 56 graduates. After the medical faculty was reorganized the following were appointed: Benjamin W. Dudley, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery; Coleman Rogers, Adjunct Anatomy and Surgery; James Overton. Theory and Practice; William H. Richardson, Obstetrics; Thomas Cooper, Chemistry. Some of these refused to serve and resigned without giving a reason, probably personal jealousy. In 1850 the med ical faculty intermitted the winter session in Lexington, Kentucky, so as to establish the Kentucky School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky, as a winter school, retaining the school in Lexington as a summer school.

The Medical Department of the University of Louisville was organized in 1837. The Louisville Medical College was organized in 1850; The Hospital College of Medicine in 1874; Kentucky University Medical Department in 1898. Appreciating the necessity for consolidation of medical colleges in Louisville, a number of attempts were made to bring them together, resulting in the consolidation in 1906, of the University of Louisville and the

Kentucky University under the name of the University of Louisville; and the Louisville Medical College and the Hospital College of Medicine under the name of the Louisville and Hospital College of Medicine. In 1907, these two colleges united with the Kentucky School of Medicine, under the name of the University of Louisville, Medical Department.

The profession of Kentucky has long believed in organized medicine, the organization of the Kentucky State Medical Society being affected in the Senate Chamber at Frankfort in October, 1851. Dr. W. L. Sutton was called to the chair and Dr. Joshua B. Flint introduced resolutions that a State Medical Society be formed with the leading physicians of the state as members. A constitution and the code of ethics of the American Medical Association were adopted. No sessions were held during the Civil War, the first session after the war convening in Louisville in April, 1867. An annual volume of transactions was issued to 1879 and then discontinued, a new series being begun in 1892 which continued until the reorganization of the Society into the State Medical Association, the basis of membership in it being membership in a County Medical Society. From this time the proceedings of the Association have been published in a monthly medical journal edited by the Secretary of the Association under the direction of the council.

The chief medical publication of this section was the "American Practitioner" published formerly under the name of "Western Journal of Medicine." The first number was issued in January, 1870, and edited by Drs. David W. Yandell, Professor of Clinical Surgery in the University of Louisville, and Theophilus Parvin, Professor of the Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women in the Medical College of Indiana, and published by John P. Morton & Co. of Louisville. In 1883 Dr. Parvin retired, removing to Philadelphia, and Dr. Yandell edited the journal alone.

On January 1, 1876, the first issue of a weekly publication appeared, the "Louisville Medical News" edited by Drs. Richard O. Cowling, and William H. Galt. In January, 1878, Dr. Galt retired and was succeeded by Dr. Lunsford P. Yandell, Jr. In 1886 these two journals consolidated under the name of "The American Practitioner and News," with Drs. David W. Yandell and H. A. Cottell as editors. The latter journal has been edited

DR. EPHRAIM MCDOWELL

Grant and Tuley composing the editorial staff. Shortly after the death of Dr. Cartledge, Dr. Mathews withdrew his connection with the journal, Dr. Grant continuing as the business editor, and Dr. Tuley as editor.

Of all the noted medical men of Kentucky it is doubtful if any of them "builded so deeply" in the foundation of fame as Dr. Ephraim McDowell, of Danville. Dr. McDowell, by his originality, skill and courage, opened up a new department in the science of surgery. By his own hand he demonstrated the practicability of the new work his genius had suggested. Recognition is given him throughout the civilized world for suggesting and performing the first ovariotomy. While the rapid progress of scientific surgery has widened the scope of this operation, the credit belongs to Dr. McDowell for first completing the operation.

Dr. McDowell was born November 11, 1771, in Rockbridge county, Virginia. His ancestors came from the northern part of Ireland. His father removed to Danville, Kentucky, having been appointed in 1782 as a land commissioner for the new state. The doctor's early education was obtained at Georgetown and Bardstown, Kentucky. Completing his early education he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Humphreys in Staunton,

In 1892 the first number of "Mathews' Medical Quarterly" was issued, devoted to Diseases of the Rectum and Gastro-Intestinal Tract, edited by Drs. J. M. Mathews and Henry Enos Tuley. This was discontinued in 1898, Dr. Mathews associating himself with Dr. H. H. Grant and publishing the "Louisville Medical Monthly." Drs. Henry Enos Tuley and A. M. Cartledge acquired the "Louisville Medical Monthly," and later these two journals were consolidated under the name of "Louisville Monthly Journal of Medicine and Surgery," with Drs. Mathews. Cartledge,

in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is said that one of his instructors, John Bell, a teacher of anatomy and surgery referred frequently to the possibility of recovery from such an operation as Dr. McDowell afterward carried out. In 1795 Dr. McDowell returned to Danville and at once began the practice of medicine. He did not receive a diploma from the University of Edinburgh, but in 1807 the medical society in Philadelphia conferred upon him a diploma and in 1823 the honorary degree of M. D. was conferred upon him by the University of Maryland. His fame as a surgeon soon spread throughout the western and southern states

and he was recognized as the leading surgeon outside of Philadelphia.

In the winter of 1809 Dr. McDowell was called to see a Mrs. Crawford, residing in Green county, Kentucky. She was found to have an ovarian tumor. He entered into the He entered into the details of the condition and prognosis if it was allowed to run its course. He also explained fully the hazardous nature of the operation for the removal of the tumor. He assured her of his willingness to undertake the operation and his belief that it would be successful.

OFFICE AND OPERATING ROOM OF
DR. MCDOWELL

Mrs. Crawford was a woman of decision and courage and decided to submit to the operation and came to Danville on horseback. Dr. McDowell was assisted by his nephew, Dr. James McDowell in performing the operation, which was followed by prompt recovery. Mrs. Crawford returned to her home at the end of twenty-five days and lived thirty-two years after the operation, dying in her seventy-ninth year. Seven years afterward Dr. McDowell had operated on two additional cases, the three being the subject of a report which was published in a Philadelphia medical journal. He operated thirteen times, of these eight patients recovered. Considering the locality in which these operations were done without general or local anesthetic, without hospital fa

cilities one cannot but admire the courage and skill of the surgeon.

Dr. McDowell was nearly six feet tall, cheerful, full of good humor, kind hearted, affable, dignified and unassuming. He was charitable and public-spirited. He was active in the foundation of Centre College at Danville and one of its original incorporators. He was an Episcopalian, and the site of Trinity church, in Danville, was contributed by him.

He was married in 1802 to a daughter of Gov. Isaac Shelby. There were two sons and four daughters, only three of whom survived him. He died on the 20th of June, 1830, after a brief illness. He was buried in the Shelby family burying ground, six miles south of Danville. In 1873 Dr. John Davies Jackson, of Danville, inaugurated an effort to suitably mark his resting place. The matter was brought to the attention of the State Medical Society and Dr. Jackson was made chairman of a committee to endeavor to accomplish the worthy purpose. In 1875 Dr. Jackson died and the accomplishment of the plan of. Dr. Jackson was due to Dr. Lewis S. McMurtry who organized the campaign which ended in the erection of the monument seventy years after Dr. McDowell had performed the operation of ovariotomy. By the subscriptions of the members of the State Medical Society and many surgeons a sum was raised with which a neat granite shaft was erected to the memory of McDowell. His remains and those of his wife were removed from the old family ground and re-interred in Danville, upon a square donated by the citizens of Danville which is called "McDowell Park." The State Medical Society met at Danville April 13 and 14, 1879, and was attended by the Governor of the State, Dr. Stevens of Ohio, Dr. Kimball from the "Granite State," Dr. Sayre, and Dr. S. D. Gross, then acknowledged the most eminent surgeon in America, who delivered the memorial oration. During the ses

sion Dr. Cowling presented Dr. Gross with Dr. McDowell's door knocker. On the front face of the monument is a medallion of McDowell and beneath it a tablet with the inscription:

"A Grateful Profession Reveres His Memory and Treasures His Example.'

On the remaining tablets, on the different sides, are further inscriptions as follows:

"Beneath this Shaft Rest the Remains of Ephraim McDowell, M. D., the Father of Ovariotomy. By Originating a Great Surgical Operation He Became a Benefactor of His Race, Known and Honored Throughout the Civilized World."

"Born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, 1771; Attended the University of Edinburgh, 1793; Located at Danville, Ky., 1795; Performed the First Ovariotomy, 1809; Died, 1830."

"Erected by the Kentucky State Medical Society, -1879."

Few are aware that a doctor was one of the first explorers who entered Kentucky. Dr. Thomas Walker who was born in Virginia in 1715, was one of the first who emigrated to Kentucky. He was of a restless, roving disposition and employed most of his time in surveying and outdoor sport. He was married in 1741, at the age of 26, and his wife bore him sixteen children. He built the first house within the present bounds of Kentucky near the town of Barboursville.

Coleman Rogers was a private pupil of Brown and Caldwell, partner of Dr. McDowell and colleague of Drs. Dudley, Richardson and Drake. He was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, on March 6, 1781. He was the seventh of twelve children and when six years old moved to Fayette county, Kentucky. At the age of 21 he entered on the study of medicine at Lexington under Dr. Samuel Brown, the first professor of medicine in Transylvania. Dr. Brown was just back from Edin

burgh. From his office young Rogers went to Philadelphia in 1803 to attend lectures in the University of Pennsylvania, but had to leave before he completed his course because of lack of funds. He returned to Kentucky and located in Danville asociated with Dr. McDowell who had already acquired some reputation as a surgeon. Soon after he opened his office in the adjoining county (Lincoln) which Rogers attended on appointed days of the week. He married Miss Jane Farrar on November 3, 1805. In 1810 he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, and in 1816 returned to Philadelphia for the third course of lectures and had the degree of M. D. conferred upon him. When Transylvania faculty was formed he was made Adjunct Professor of Anatomy. Other members of the faculty were Drs. Drake, Dudley, Richardson, Blythe, and Overton. Dr. Rogers retired from the faculty as relations were not entirely cordial and he was especially dissatisfied that Dr. Dudley had Anatomy and Surgery. In 1817 Dr. Rogers moved to Cincinnati. Later with Daniel Drake he formed the Ohio Medical College and was vice-president and Professor of Surgery. Later, he dissolved the partnership and left the college. In 1823, Dr. Rogers removed to Louisville and was a surgeon in the Marine Hospital. In 1832 with Professor Powell he formed the Louisville Medical Institute and took the chair of anatomy but no session was held. He died in Louisville on February 16, 1855 in his 75th year.