Alexander_MS218_1_13_06l |
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Object Description
| Title | The medical profession a half century ago |
| Creator | Alexander, J. B. (John Brevard), 1834-1911 |
| Date Created | circa 1890-1900 |
| Digital Collection | John B. Alexander papers, 1855-1911 |
| Description | This seems to be the draft of a speech or of memoirs concerning J. B. Alexander's medical career that spanned about thirty-five years. Some of the material appeared in the author's book "Reminiscences of the Past Sixty Years." The author mentioned that reading Richerand's Physiologie du corps humain helped inspire him to pursue medicine as a career and he gives an account of his training and many experiences both in private practice to whites and "coloreds" and as a surgeon in the Civil War. Alexander acknowledges the changes in treatments, etc., "We did not know of many remedies that are now quite common; the stethoscope was in its infancy; the hypodermic needle and syring [sic] had not made its appearance till after the great war between the states. ... Prior to 1890 there was no fever thermometer - there was no hypodermic syring [sic] - for these two implements we should never cease to be thankful. About the same time chloral hydrate was discovered..." Medical school had apparently changed over the years since Alexander went to the Medical School of South Carolina in 1853-1855. "We were permitted to look on at all Surgical operations, but were never asked to assist. We could see the sick treated, but human life was considered too sacred for a medical student to treat. As to attending a case of midwifery, I never heard of such a thing. That had to be learned in your own private practice at home ...; it is true we could use the maniken [sic], but not the living case. .. We learned but little more in college than the theory of medicine, and in some cases its application to disease." Many of the treatments used "back in the day" were different from our current medicines; for instance, Alexander gives many examples of whiskey used to treat typhoid and other ailments. Turpentine, quinine, muriate [sic] of ammonia, nitric acid, chlorodynte, nitrate of silver, laudanum, blue pills (calomel) and fluid extract of Ergot are also described as commonly used medicines. Alexander references many doctors as mentors and colleagues: W. A. Holt, Wilson, Caldwell, Gaither, J. McWilson, Gibbon, Shaffner, Cambell [sic]. Military men and citizens referenced in his stories were William Patterson, Matthew Armstrong, John Deaton, R. D. Alexander, Maj. G. W. Morris, Maj. Gen. A. P. Hill, Maj. Sam Stowe, Jack Gibbs, Joe Orr, Lee, Pope, Capt. Henry Fite, Wilson Sample, Gen. Leverthrop, and Ezekial Alexander. In the stories of his medical days in the military, Alexander talked about the 18th, 37th, and 28th Regiments. He also talked about the Louisiana Brigade, Jackson's corps, Latham's Battery, Mayo Battery, Chancelorsville [sic], Fredricksburg [sic], events along the Rapahanock River and B. & O. R.R., Midleburg [sic], Buckner Farm Hospital, Richmond, Warrenton, Manssas, Ox Hill, Orleans, Frazier Farm, Malvern Hill, and the Battle of Cedar Run. |
| Subjects--Names |
Alexander, J. B. (John Brevard), 1834-1911 |
| Subjects--Topics |
Physicians--North Carolina Military hygiene War--Relief of sick and wounded |
| Subjects--Locations | North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives; North Carolina--History--Civil War, 1861-1865; Confederate States of America--Armed Forces--Medical care |
| Coverage--Place |
Mecklenburg County (N.C.) |
| Digital Publisher | Charlotte, N.C.: J. Murrey Atkins Library University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Object Type | Text |
| Genre | manuscripts (document genre) |
| Finding Aid | http://library.uncc.edu/manuscript/ms0218 |
| Format | image/tiff |
| Relation | Forms part of : John B. Alexander Papers, 1855-1911 |
| Language | eng |
| Repository | J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Rights | Materials in the Digital Collections at Atkins Library are provided free for educational use under fair use as outlined by current U.S. Copyright law and accompanying guidelines. Written permission from the J. Murrey Atkins Library or the rights holder must be obtained before using an item for publishing or commercial purposes. |
| Location of Original | Manuscript 218, Special Collections Manuscripts--10th Floor, J. Murrey Atkins Library |
| Note | Atkins Library has provided the description and subject analysis for these images. We encourage you to contact us at spec-coll@uncc.edu with your comments and feedback. |
| Identifier | Alexander_MS218_1_13_06 |
| Date Digitized | 2011 |
| Rating |
Description
| Title | Alexander_MS218_1_13_06l |
| Creator | Alexander, J. B. (John Brevard), 1834-1911 |
| Digital Collection | John B. Alexander papers, 1855-1911 |
| Digital Publisher | Charlotte, N.C.: J. Murrey Atkins Library University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Object Type | Text |
| Genre | manuscripts (document genre) |
| Finding Aid | http://library.uncc.edu/manuscript/ms0218 |
| Format | image/tiff |
| Relation | Forms part of : John B. Alexander Papers, 1855-1911 |
| Language | eng |
| Repository | J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections, University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
| Rights | Materials in the Digital Collections at Atkins Library are provided free for educational use under fair use as outlined by current U.S. Copyright law and accompanying guidelines. Written permission from the J. Murrey Atkins Library or the rights holder must be obtained before using an item for publishing or commercial purposes. |
| Location of Original | Manuscript 218, Special Collections Manuscripts--10th Floor, J. Murrey Atkins Library |
| Note | Atkins Library has provided the description and subject analysis for these images. We encourage you to contact us at spec-coll@uncc.edu with your comments and feedback. |
| Date Digitized | 2011 |
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