DOCTORS, HEALERS, and HEALTH
The State of Medicine in the Old West
by Christine Jeffords
"Most physicians charged according to a "fee table" fitted to the economic realities of the specific practise: a country or small-town doctor might make $3000-$4000/yr. as early as 1840 (though some managed no more than $1040--which, at $86 and change a month, was still a good deal better than most nonprofessional workers), an aggressive city physician in the '50's $80,000. Even a Western practise could bring in an annual income of $7000--a very large sum in those days. Typical charges included the following: sterilization and bandaging of a cut (not requiring stitches), 20-50c.; lancing of a carbuncle, 50c.; use of syringe, $1;
bleeding, $1-$2; treatment of a wound made by a bullet that went clean through, the same; removal of a bullet, $1-$5; cleaning, stitching, and bandaging of a wound, $2; cupping, $2-$5; correction of a broken nose, $4; surgical operations, $5-$25 (presumably depending upon difficulty); delivery of a baby, $25-$50 (though most demanded only $10), plus a 50% surcharge by night. Mileage was extra, up to 50c. per (sometimes the first mile was $2 flat), with country visits at night double the day rate, a dollar for the consultation, and medications as needed (usually 25-50c./dose) plus $1-$1.50 prescriptive fee. A single visit in town (or a consultation at the doctor's office) cost $2, two on the same day $3, and a night visit in town $3. If the doctor doubled as a dentist, he might charge from 25c. to $1.50 to pull an infected tooth, 50c.-$2 to fill one (probably varying with the substance employed), $1-$3.50 for dentures, and $47 for complete extraction, including hypodermic, false teeth, and three days' bed and board."
The above excerpt seems to indicate that some bullets were, in fact, removed. If you are interested in that kind of stuff you might want to browse the entire article at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~poindexterfamily/ChristinesPages/Doctors.html and pay particular attention to the level of
formal medical training most MDs had during that era. Makes you wonder how any of our ancestors survived.
My great great grandfather was a well respected frontier doctor, born in MA, married and practiced medicine in Kentucky, moved his family to Gonzales County, Texas in 1857, then to what would become Blanco County, TX in 1860. He practiced medicine in both counties. In 1870 he became the Medical Officer of Company B, Frontier Forces (a Reconstruction era Ranger organization, which immediately preceded the better known Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers). The unit operated in the Fort Griffin area. He died in 1887 after being badly burned when an alcohol mixture he was working with exploded. Try as we might, we have been unable to find any record of his formal medical training. That said, I dont necessarily think those bloody movie scenes of bullets being clumsily (by modern day standards) probed and removed are such a stretch, and only for cinematic effect.
Hamp
