In this informed and entertaining essay, John H. Ellis describes the efforts of physicians and laymen to keep illness at bay during Kentucky's first 200 years. Medicine in Kentucky is part of the Kentucky Bicentennial Bookshelf, "a celebration of two centuries of the history and culture of The Commonwealth." John H. Ellis outlines the practice and development of medicine in Kentucky from the state of medical practices during the colonial era and the paucity of trained practitioners, to the frontier doctors of the early days of Westward expansion, to the founding of the first medical school chartered in the West, Transylvania University. Ellis also details some of the commonly encountered diseases, the various types of practitioners (allopaths, herb doctors, Thomsonians, and homeopaths), and the various, generally short-lived publications and medical societies of nineteenth century Kentucky. He highlights two native Kentuckians, Joseph Nathaniel McCormack, principal architect of the current structure of the AMA, and Abraham Flexner, whose "Medical Education in the United States and Canada" is one of the great landmarks in the field, whether one feels that he laid the foundation for modern scientific medical education or merely set in concrete nineteenth century scientism as the basis for medical education. Although dealing principally with Kentucky medicine, it reflects also on the happenings in medicine across the country.

The History of the Medical Department of Transylvania University provides a detailed history of the development of the medical department at Transylvania University in Kentucky. It includes information on the notable individuals who contributed to its success, as well as the curriculum and education provided to students. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from Introductory Lecture Before the Medical Class of the Kentucky School of Medicine, on the Truth of Medicine as Evinced by Its Origin, Progress and Present Condition But even through the period referred to medicine did not retrograde, nor yet stand still. The Asclepiadoc were far above the generality of their time, in education and intelligence, and could not avoid obtaining some medical information and acumen from the experience afforded by the vast number of patients who consulted them; and we find, therefore, that when public opinion forced a change in the system of secresy, which was rigidly oh served in regard to the mysteries pertaining to their religious worship and practice of physio, that the science had'made considerable progress. In the then existing state of the world and society, theconfinement of the practice of medicine to the temples was most propitious forthe science, and greater progress was made there, and less of absurdity and error accumu lated upon the truth, than if it had been open and common to the public. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

The Kentucky Encyclopedia's 2,000-plus entries are the work of more than five hundred writers. Their subjects reflect all areas of the commonwealth and span the time from prehistoric settlement to today's headlines, recording Kentuckians' achievements in art, architecture, business, education, politics, religion, science, and sports. Biographical sketches portray all of Kentucky's governors and U.S. senators, as well as note congressmen and state and local politicians. Kentucky's impact on the national scene is registered in the lives of such figures as Carry Nation, Henry Clay, Louis Brandeis, and Alben Barkley. The commonwealth's high range from writers Harriette Arnow and Jesse Stuart, reformers Laura Clay and Mary Breckinridge, and civil rights leaders Whitney Young, Jr., and Georgia Powers, to sports figures Muhammad Ali and Adolph Rupp and entertainers Loretta Lynn, Merle Travis, and the Everly Brothers. Entries describe each county and county seat and each community with a population above 2,500. Broad overview articles examine such topics as agriculture, segregation, transportation, literature, and folklife. Frequently misunderstood aspects of Kentucky's history and culture are clarified and popular misconceptions corrected. The facts on such subjects as mint juleps, Fort Knox, Boone's coonskin cap, the Kentucky hot brown, and Morgan's Raiders will settle many an argument. For both the researcher and the more casual reader, this collection of facts and fancies about Kentucky and Kentuckians will be an invaluable resource.

Excerpt from An Introductory Lecture Delivered at the Opening of the Kentucky School of Medicine As to the effect upon the medical profession, it is a capital error to assert, that the rapid multiplication of Medical Colle ges is the cause of the great increase of the number of Medi cal Students. The reverse is the fact. The astonishing growth of the population, and the consequent demand for Physicians, with the success which attends the larger number of those who engage in practice, are the chief reasons why so many young men crowd the halls of medical instruction. There is no more respectable and esteemed member of a community, than an eminent Physician or Surgeon; and it is not surprising that the dignity and importance of his character, should fasci nate the youth of our country. Additional Medical Schools, then, are founded, because of the overflowing current setting towards those now in operation. This being the state of the' case, the question to be decided is, whether one set of gentlemen in a particular locality shall receive all the honor and profit accruing from teaching medi cine. Or whether another set, equally deserving, and fully as competent to instruct, shall' be permitted to participate in these emoluments. It is obviously for the interest of both the general community, and the medical profession, that free competition should be tolerated in this as in every other branch of business; and that such is the prevailing opinion is manifest, from the annual granting of acts of incorporation by the Legislatures of the different States of our Union. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from Address Before the Boyle County Medical Society of the State of Kentucky: At Its Third Anniversary Meeting Held at Danville, Kentucky, January 5, 1869 The plain truth is, that those who intrust themselves to our care, have the right to require of us a knowledge of our profession fully up to the advances of the day, and for the lack of the possession of such knowledge, ih volving human life and health as it does, we stand re sponsible before God and in the presence of the law. Ours is not an exact science, but is making regular and rapid progress toward a position in which it may be ranked with the fixed sciences. While this rapid march continues, to cease to advance is to retrograde, and the day the practitioner of medicine ceases to be a student. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.