Paducah in McCracken County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Dr. Reuben Saunders

Photographed by Shane Oliver, May 1, 2021

1. Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker

Inscription.

On this site stood the office of Reuben Saunders, M.D., credited with discovering that hypodermic use of morphine~atropine halted cholera during epidemic here in 1873. Telegraphed prescription to other plague~stricken areas. Accepted by Materia Medica, world over. Honored by Am. Medical Assn. and in Europe.

Born, Frankfort, Ky. Sept. 6, 1808. Outstanding pioneer physician in Western Kentucky for 50 years. Discovered treatment for cholera. First to advocate fresh air for pneumonia and tuberculosis. First Pres., West Ky. Medical Assn. Grandfather of Irvin S. Cobb. Died, Paducah, Dec. 13, 1891 Marker presented by McCracken County Medical Society

Erected 1967 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1057.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 6, 1808.

Location. 37° 5.229′ N, 88° 35.829′ W. Marker is in Paducah, Kentucky, in McCracken County. It is on Broadway Street west of 3rd Street (Business U.S. 60), on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Broadway St, Paducah KY 42001, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Jackson Purchase.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the South,

in the Upper South,

and in the Ohio River Valley.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: American Red Cross (a few steps from this marker); Col. Hicks' Hdqrs. (within shouting distance of this marker); Irvin S. Cobb Said: / Alben W. Barkley Said: (within shouting distance of this marker); Hank Bros and Jones Hardware (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Gunsmith Ferd Hummel (about 400 feet away); $5 Bought Paducah (about 500 feet away); General William Clark Public Market (about 500 feet away); Paducah's Indian Name (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paducah.

Also see . . .
1. Dr. Reuben Saunders - Find a Grave. (Submitted on September 18, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)
2. Dr. Reuben Saunders (ExploreKYHistory.gov). More information about Dr. Saunders (Submitted on September 8, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Shane Oliver, May 1, 2021

2. Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

3. Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

4. Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker

Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker is on right side of street image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, September 14, 2011

5. Dr. Reuben Saunders Marker is on right side of street

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 17, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 872 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 17, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.