Dr. Henry E. King, early 20th century physician in Greenville. Note his bag and hat. He was ready to make a call. (Author’s collection)
The 1880 Census collected mortality data regarding death rates in each county.
Physicians were asked to complete a specific form indicating the number of deaths and the cause of each death for the previous year (1880).
Throughout the United States that one-year the four top causes of deaths were consumption (tuberculosis), diphtheria, accidents and typhoid fever. Perhaps shootings were considered accidents.
In Hunt County, where I live, physicians recorded 309 deaths for the year, of which 78 deaths were infants one year or younger; an enormous 26 percent of total deaths in the county. The number of cases of death in Hunt County in 1880 showed 31 deaths from pneumonia, 22 from consumption, 21 from stillbirths, 20 from typhoid fever, 13 from heart disease, 8 from childbirth, 3 from croup, 1 from diphtheria, and none from old age. Somehow, I believe several died of old age, but no physician was called. After all there were no death certificates at that time.
The twenty-seven practicing physicians in the county treated 17,239 patients. And the doctors all had limited training. Twelve had entered the medical field as an apprentice to a practicing doctor. Seven had actually attended medical school. Supposedly, medical school was a two-year program with the same lessons taught both years, in case the students slept through class the previous year. No information was found on the other eight doctors.
One social historian observed that 19th century doctors had 10 percent knowledge, 40 percent pseudoscientific surmise, and 50 percent bedside manner. In most cases families waited until they had exhausted all home remedies for illness before seeking a physician.
The Census Bureau noted that the American death rate in 1880 compared favorably with other countries and offered these reasons: “The low death-rate in this country is considered to be due to the comparative absence of overcrowding and to the more general and equable distribution of the means of supporting life, including especially the abundant food supply of good quality for all classes of people.”
Yet it was reported there were three odds for recovery. You might recover after being sick, but it might be in spite of the doctor. You might die, or you might recover or die. Those odds are still with us, though.
Usually when anyone had symptoms of a cold or cough they never went to the doctor. Home remedies abounded. There was the mixture of lemon, honey and cinnamon or sugar. For a more potent remedy the lemon was substituted with a shot of whiskey. Drinking luke-warm water was another option as was that horrid gargling with salt water. Finally, a new one I never tried was honey and brandy. Brandy was known to increase body temperature while honey fought the cough. Whatever works, use it.