Romantic Tales - Western

"Is There A Doctor in the House?"

The 21st century equivalent of medical assistance out West during the 19th century simply did not exist.  Although a trained physician might be located, it was more likely that families relied on the knowledge obtained through hard experience or from others.  The townspeople might consider it a blessing if a physician decided to set up his medical practice in their town.

The Doctor Comes to Town

If a town was fortunate, a medically trained doctor settled in the area and established a practice.  In some regions, a doctor was required to register with the local county clerk prior to settling in a practice.  However, this was not enforced until late in the century.  

Establishment of a medical practice was straightforward for the doctor.  He simply moved into town, opened an office and hung up his sign.  Sometimes he ran an ad in the local newspaper to announce his arrival.  In a small town, word-of-mouth was likely the best source of advertisement. 

 

Some physicians set up their practice in a drug store or pharmacy owned by another doctor.

Active in Town Jobs

Medically trained doctors were held in higher esteem in the towns of the West.  Their participation in many other responsibilities was common, particularly because they were better educated than some of the citizenry.  The town physician may also own a store, bank, or freighting company.  Whatever their tasks, the physician of the town was an important part of the community.

"That will cost you one pig or two chickens..."

Payment for services rendered was not always in currency.  Often a patient would repay the doctor by labor or tangible goods such as garden produce.  Chickens, cows and horses would be readily accessible in farming communities to give the doctor for medical services. In lieu of cash, an individual or family would utilize whatever was available at the time to pay the doctor for his medical service.

Traveling to the Patient

Enjoying the benefits of having a medically trained doctor in town was one thing.   Getting access to the physician in time of need was another.  Until the telephone was invented, summoning the doctor could be a time consuming or difficult feat depending on distance and time of year.  The person sent to notify the doctor would either run or ride a horse to the doctor's home or office.  In turn, the physician would have to travel to the patient.

In the West, doctors typically rode a horse (if a distance outside of town) to reach their patient.  When it became possible, a doctor utilized a wagon or buggy for transportation.  This form of transport allowed greater comfort and more space to carry medical supplies, lantern, shovel and wire cutters to pass through fencing.

Were all Doctors, Doctors?

One might think that all doctors in the West were medically trained, but this was not always true.  In fact, any person could be a "doctor" whether he received formal medical training or not.  A medical practice law was not established in California until 1866.  The first state to create a board of medical examiners was Texas in 1873.  

Sufficed to say, although a physician might move into town and set up shop, the townspeople would have to hope he was medically trained. 

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