Kentucky passed an act in 1874 that made it unlawful for
any person, for reward or compensation, to practice or prescribe medicine or perform
surgical operations if they have not graduated from a chartered school of
medicine. A person who had been regularly and honorably engaged in the practice
of medicine for 10 years was deemed to have complied with the provisions of
this act. A person having engaged in medicine for 5 years was allowed one year
to comply with the provisions. Anyone practicing medicine or performing surgery
and did not meet the provisions of this act, if convicted, had to pay a fine. The act, amended and
approved 24 April 1888, stated that, beginning 1 April 1889, any persons
practicing medicine in Kentucky must register in the county clerk’s office
where he practiced medicine.[1]
The following physicians registered with the State Board
of Health in Bowling Green and then with the Webster County court clerk. The
following records can be found in Webster County Medical Register 1888 –
1955 on FamilySearch.
Dr. John O. Dixon, age 28; born Dixon, Webster County;
diploma from Missouri Medical College of St. Louis 2 Mar 1886. Registered 13
Mar 1889. [p. 11]
Jno. P. Campbell, age 35; born Webster County; two diplomas
from Kentucky School of Medicine in Louisville 1876 & Missouri Medical College
in St. Louis 8 Mar 1878. Registered 16 Mar 1889. [p. 12]
Dr. Will M. Thornberry, age 43; born Webster County; diploma
from Univ. of Louisville 2 Mar 1874. Registered 19 Mar 1889. [p. 13]
Dr. R.H. Black, age 27; born Webster County; diploma from Univ. of Louisville 2 Mar 1886. Registered 22 Mar 1889. [p. 14]
Dr. W.M. Henry, age 61; born Lyon County, Ky; diploma from
Univ. of Louisville 28 Mar 1878. Registered 22 Mar 1889. [p. 15]
Dr. David Morehead, age 67; born Union County, Ky; practiced
medicine from 1859 to present time. Registered 22 Mar 1889. [p. 16]
Dr. James Morehead, age 69; born Union County, Ky; practiced
medicine from 1847. Registered 22 Mar 1889.
[p. 17]
Dr. J.T. Bethel, age 48; born Henderson County, Ky; diploma
from Kentucky School of Medicine in Louisville Mar 1867. Registered 23 Mar
1889. [p. 18]
Dr. Chas. M. Smith, age 25; born Webster County; diploma
from Missouri Medical College in St. Louis Mar 1885. Registered 23 Mar 1889. [p. 19]
Dr. G.W. Campbell, age 66; born Sumner County, Tenn; practiced
medicine from 1852 to present. Registered 25 Mar 1889. [p. 20]
Dr. D.H. Cosby, age 42; born Webster County; practiced
medicine since Nov 1865 to present. Registered 25 Mar 1889. [p. 21]
Dr. Jno. A. Bassett, age 48; born Bracken County, Ky; diploma
from Medical Dept of Louisville Mar 1875. Registered 27 Mar 1889. [p. 22]
Dr. R.L. Hardwick, age 26; born Dixon, Webster County;
diploma from Missouri Medical College in St. Louis 2 Mar 1886. Registered 28
Mar 1886. [p. 23]
Dr. A.H. Doris, age 52; born Webster County; practiced
medicine since 1861 in counties of Webster and Union, Ky. Registered 29 Mar
1889. [p. 24]
Dr. A.E. Bentley, age 48; born Wolverhampton, England; practiced
medicine since 1862 in NY City, New Mexico, Maryland and Webster County.
Registered 30 Mar 1889. Remarks: Has moved to Hopkinsville, Christian County.
[p. 25]
Dr. John H. Taylor, age 25; born Providence, Ky, diploma
from Vanderbilt Univ. of Nashville 26 Feb 1889. Registered 30 Mar 1889. [p. 26]
Dr. Chas. Owens, age 63; born London, England; has
practiced medicine since 1862. Practiced in Louisville 22 years; Crittenden County 14 years & Webster
and Union Counties to present. Registered 1 Apr 1889. [p. 27]
Dr. Jno. F. Bunton, age 29; born Dycusburg, Ky; diploma from
Univ. of Louisville 1 Mar 1888. Registered 1 Apr 1889. [p. 28]
Dr. J.L. Burdon, age 46; born Jefferson County, Ky; has
practiced since 1864. Began practice in Jefferson County and since then in
Henderson & Webster Counties and Sullivan County, Ind. Registered 1 Apr
1889. [p. 29]
Dr. P. Taylor, age 64; born Ohio County, Ky; has been practicing
since Mar 1847 – 2 years in Ohio County and since then in Hopkins and Webster
Counties. Registered 1 Apr 1889. [p. 30]
Dr. E.H. Price, age 48; born Hopkins County, Ky; affidavit stating he has practiced since Jan 1866 in Webster County & the certificate of J.L. Cook,
Chrm; J.A. Hodge, Rufus Linthicum, Board of Examiners for 2nd
Judicial Dist. Registered 4 Apr 1889. [p. 31]
Dr. Thomas M. Davis, age 62; born Shelby County, Ky, has
been practicing since 1854 Rochester, Butler County, Ky 2 yrs & at Calhoun, McLane [sic]
County, Ky & in Webster & Henderson Counties to this date. Registered
29 Apr 1889 [p. 32]
[1]
“Kentucky’s Amended Empiricism Law,” Medical Laws of Kentucky, Register of the
United States, Kentucky, p. 457, Google Books.
Published 10 Dec 2020, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
