Early Medical History

Early Medical History. Settled 1852. , Lancaster's first physician, Dr. Samuel T. Bledsoe, a Peters colonist emigrating here prior to 1848, set up practice in the Moffett Hotel. Dr. James H. Swindells began practice in 1850. In 1852, Dr. Henry Jackson Moffett served Lancaster as a pharmacist in his drug store on town square after many years practice in Kentucky. Dr. J.M. Briceland established here in 1856 but left his practice to Dr. Thomas Briceland McCurdy in 1859. Dr J.A. Lindsay, 1869, appears to also have been Justice of the Peace for several terms with only limited practice. In 1881, Dr. George Clayton was here. Dr. Thomas Little had a successful general practice until his death in 1880's. During this decade three hometown boys returned from Eastern medical schools to begin practice Dr. R.E. (Gene) Taylor, Dr. George Parks, and Dr. B.F. Lyon. Doctors Taylor and Parks were partners for several years., The first qualified dental surgeon was Dr. Edwin G. Stuart, although Dr. McCurdy had done dental work earlier as his general surgery practice. After the Civil War, Drs. McCurdy and Swindells opened a general surgery office. Dr. McCurdy, well educated and a constant student in surgery advances, drew patients from all over the state. With the discovery of germs as the cause of infection and development of medical asepsis, Dr. McCurdy performed appendectomies, skin grafts, and other operations, the patient often laid out on a table in his own home., Willard Fisk, a graduate of Nourse Seminary in Sparta, worked as a store clerk and school teacher in this area after his arrival in 1875. He returned to Tennessee to receive a medical education. Returning in 1884 to set up practice, he became Lancaster's most beloved citizen. Never married, his patients were his concern. Dr. Fisk, kept no books, never sent a bill, cared absolutely nothing for money, took nothing from the poor and constantly exasperated the affluent with only nominal fees for services. As a cook no one could equal him. He fished and hunted whenever possible. Each year he raised the sweetest biggest watermelons on someone's vacant lot and gave all them away. He as an excellent doctor and his death in 1934 evoked universal mourning that one was gone whose like would never be seen again.