Opinion

McCook: Early medical center on the Plains

Monday, July 17, 2006

Doctors and pharmacists were among the first settlers in McCook. Most of these men were reputable and well intentioned, if not particularly well trained. Regardless of their degree of training these early day healers had to perform their craft without the tools of modern medicine -- no X-ray, no penicillin, etc.

They had aspirin, digitalis and morphine In the way of equipment they had microscopes and stethoscopes. Every-thing they had for treatment could be slipped into their "little black bag."

Most of the early doctors' work was housecalls, a large percentage of which was obstetrics. All the babies were born at home. A good bit of surgery was done in the home as well. They did the best they could with what they had.

Lack of proper facilities did not keep early physicians from performing what we now would consider extremely complicated surgery. From the McCook Weekly Tribune, May 13, 1883:

"Last Tuesday at the McCook Hotel, Drs. Willey and Johnson performed an uncommon and difficult surgical operation on John Johnson, of Scandanavia. The operation was that of removing a fibrocartilaginous tumor from the lower extremities of the spinal column -- which tipped the scales at 11 1/2 pounds. The time consumed in the operation was 27 minutes from start to finish. The tumor, put up in alcohol, is now on exhibition at the B & M Pharmacy. On waking up from his stupor the patient said he felt better than he had in six years."

Though medical costs were not high in the early days, doctors never-the-less suffered the age-old problem of medical men -- inability to collect fees from their patients.

Occasionally medical men resorted to extreme measures. From the McCook Tribune, October 1886:

"Don't be afraid if you see Deputy Sheriff Bennett coming after you. Dr. (Z.L.) Kay has placed his ac-counts in the hands of the deputy who is rustling after the doctor's creditors in earnest, that's all."

In the town's early days, McCook envisioned itself as something of a medical center -- indeed some felt that McCook might become "The Excelsior Springs Healing Center for the Plains."

Part of this had to do with the fact that McCook saw its climate as something special, and conducive of good health.

From the McCook Times-Democrat Colum-bian Souvenir, 1893:

(McCook) is noted for the great number of sunshiny days. The catarrhs and rheums, the neuralgia, and the consumption of the east are unknown, except such cases were contracted before coming here. Al-though, in summer, the temperature ranges very high, sultry heat is of course, impossible at such an altitude. To be perfectly comfortable in the hottest weather, it is only necessary to keep out of the direct rays of the sun. The nights are always cool. It must be noted there is a great difference between Dakota and Kansas for instance. But take a medium latitude, such as Southern NE, and there you can find as near a perfect climate as the U. S. affords. As between wintering there or in Florida, there is much in favor of Southern Nebraska."

Another factor in McCook's early venture into the healing business was its location on the Main Line of the Burlington Railroad. Some of the early "doctors" traveled by train and planned to stay in McCook for just a day or so.

A typical announcement from the Sept. 1903 McCook Weekly Tribune:

"The well known eye specialist of Denver, D.S. Schwartz, will be in McCook at the Commercial Hotel Sept. 25-26, 1903. If you are nervous and have head-aches, have your eyes examined free by Dr. Schwartz. Come early and get the benefit of it."

Sometimes there were misunderstandings, or complaints by the patients toward their "commuter doctors" that got reported in the newspapers. One of the physicians who used the train to commute to McCook for a day or more of medical practice was a Dr. Neef, of Hildreth, who "had quite a business in McCook."

From the McCook Tribune, March, 1905:

"Mrs. Crabtree of Haigler said she paid Dr. Neef $87 to treat her daughter for a deformity of the leg, and he had failed to live up to his promises." Mrs. Crabtree came to McCook by train and caught up with Dr. Neef and demanded her money back. Evidently Mrs. Crabtree made a strong case because Dr. Neef, even though short of money, gave her $35 in cash and gave her his watch to hold for security. In a later edition Dr. Neef explained that Mrs. Crabtree had wanted him to come to her home for the child's weekly treatment, which he was unable to do. He said that he was willing to refund a portion of his fee, and that the child could keep the brace. There was no fraud.

Even some of the early local physicians felt that they could improve on the local natural healthful climate and perform miraculous medical cures.

Dr. L.J. Spickelmeir, apparently a respected doctor in McCook, and a member of the City Council, placed the following ad in the Times-Democrat Columbian Souvenir 1893 edition:

Castle Cure Company Institute

McCook, Nebraska

$1000 reward

Will be given for any case of Piles or Hem-orrhoids that can not be cured at this institute by the Dr. A.W. Brinkerhoff system of treatment, and now we come to a malady simple and easy to effectually cure by this method; without pain, danger, or detention from business, which has baffled the skill of nearly every physician and surgeon in the land, from the beginning of the medical science until today. Terms are within reach of all. On application free book furnished, giving a full history of the disease and treatment.

We also give treatment for the Liquor, Opium, Morphene, Tobacco, and Neurasthenia. Our charge for professional service and medicine is $25 per week. Three weeks being necessary to effect a cure in Liquor and Opium cases. Board and room is extra, and costs from $4 to $6 per week, according to inclination and purse. Money must be paid or guaranteed in advance to insure us of good faith on the part of the patient. All letters answered promptly. L.J. Spicklelmeier, Medical Director, McCook, Neb-raska.

As early as 1886 the Republican Valley Medical Society was having meetings in McCook. The "regular" doctors from Furnas, Red Willow, Gosper, Frontier, Hayes, and Chase Counties were meeting regularly to attempt to 1. Bar "non-regular" medical men from practicing in the area, and 2. To learn about medical topics of interest to all. At the December 1886 meeting in McCook the topic was "Membraneous Affections of the Throat." McCook's Dr. B.B. Davis called it "a subject of vital interest just now."

By 1910, the Red Willow County doctors had formed their own association, and in July held an important meeting in McCook for "between 50 and 75 Republican Valley physicians and wives." Dr. B.B. Davis, who had moved on to become a faculty member at the University of Nebraska Medical College, was the featured speaker.

As usual there was discussion about the difference between "regular" and "irregular" doctors in the region, but this time the local physicians were able to report to Dr. Davis that the "irregular doctors," who were giving the medical profession a bad name, were pretty well in check.

Source: McCook Colum-bian Souvenir, 1893; Gazette Centennial Edition, 1882-1982

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