than the vote cast at the presidential election in 1880. There were 45 counties that gave majorities for the amendment, 23 counties against it, and one, Van Buren county, which was a tie. Polk county gave the largest majority for the amendment, 2,111, and Dubuque the largest against, 5,060. Audubon gave the smallest majority for, 28, and Davis the smallest against, 4.

CHAPTER VI. -PART 4.

MEDICAL AND MISCELLANEOUS.

MEDICAL HISTORY--County Physicians, Medical Societies, etc.

MISCELLANEOUS-Notes in 1840-41--Trowbridge's County History-The Gov. Lucas Homestead-Ex-Gov. Kirkwood as Road Supervisor--Jim Hamilton's "Gunpowder Plot "-A Benevolent Crank--Confusion of Names--Bible Society.

THE FIRST COUNTY PHYSICIAN.

The following proceedings of the county board, October 9, 1841, wil be both amusing and interesting, at least to medical gentlemen:

It having been made known to the physicians of Iowa City that proposals would be received on this day by the board of commissioners on what terms the medical attendance on all paupers should be given for one year, by either physician for one year, and furnish their own medicines, on this day, to-wit: October 9, at 3 o'clock P. M., the following proposals were received to-wit:

To the honorable board of county commissioners of Johnson county, Iowa territory:

GENTLEMEN: I, in accordance to your wishes, as physician for all the paupers of Johnson county, Iowa territory, do hereby obligate myself to attend professionally, and furnish all necessary medicines for them, for the sum of seventy-five dollars annually.

Yours, gentlemen, with respect,

Iowa City, October 9, 1841.

HENRY MURRAY, M. D."

To the honorable board of county commissioners of Johnson county: We whose names are hereunto subscribed (physicians of Johnson county), make a joint application for rendering medical services to, and medicines to the paupers of this county, from this date to the 1st of October, 1842, under the direction of the board of county commissioners or their agent, for the sum of twenty-five dollars each.

JESSE BOWEN.
EZRA BLISS.

S. M. BALLARD.

These proposals being in effect of equal amounts, it was motioned by Mr. Parrott, one of the board, "Shall we select from the proposals which shall be accepted?" Mr. Cavanagh and Mr. Clark were opposed to the acceptance of either proposal as they now stand. Mr. Parrott votes for

selecting, and Mr. Cavanagh objects because the word each was added to the last recorded proposal after the same was delivered and opened by the board, so Mr. Parrott's motion was lost.

Mr. Cavanagh then motions that the services mentioned in the aforesaid recorded proposals be let to the lowest bidding physician or physicians, which motion was agreed to by Mr. Clark and dissented from by Mr. Parrott. So the motion of Mr. Cavanagh was carried, and the same being set up at public outcry, Dr. Henry Murray, being the lowest bidder, at the sum of six dollars, became the physician as employed by the board according to the proposals and the actions on them aforesaid.

THE COUNTY PHYSICIAN PROBLEM AGAIN.

October 6, 1842, the county board appointed Doctors Murray and Bliss to be county physicians, to furnish all medicines themselves for pauper patients, make out their separate bills, and at the end of the year the county board would allow them a pro rata compensation out of a total fund of $100 for the whole year. October 8th Dr. H. Murray wrote a note to the board, emphatically saying, "I will have nothing to do with the partnership affair of doctors for the paupers of Johnson county."

It seems that Dr. Bliss went on acting under the "partnership aflair,” but somehow or other things did not go smoothly, for on January 6, 1843, the following further proceedings were had on the pauper doctor difficulty:

The object of this meeting being at this time to take into consideration the propriety of letting out medical attendance to paupers for one year from the October term of this board, 1842, to the lowest bidder. One of the physicians appointed at that time having refused to accept the appointment.

On consideration of the premises, it is ordered that the order made on yesterday on this subject, be expunged from the record.

And it is also ordered that Dr. Ezra Bliss be allowed the sum of thirtyseven dollars and fifty cents in full compensation for his medical services to paupers since the October session, 1842, and that order and contract entered and made at that time, be mutually and is hereby rescinded.

And now, on this day, to-wit, January 6, 1843, it is ordered and agreed on the part of the commissioners, that the sum of one hundred dollars shall be appropriated out of the county treasury, for the payment of physicians for their medical attendance and services rendered to paupers in this county for one year from this date. It is understood by the board that sick paupers shall have their choice of physicians in this county, and that the sum above named shall be paid to the physicians so employed, in proportion to actual services rendered by them respectively, and it is further understood that each physician shall furnish his own medicine, and present the bills to be adjusted at the January term of this board in the year 1844.

That expression by the board, "that sick paupers shall have their choice of physicians in this county," seems to have been a direct resentment of the assumption of the allopathic class or school of doctors that they alone were "regular" and entitled to public recognition as physicians. Whether they wanted an allopathic, a homeopathic, a botanic or an eclectic doctor,

they might take their choice; the county board would treat all schools of doctors as on the same footing.

PHYSICIANS' BILLS.

The following from county record of January 7, 1856, will be interesting to the doctors:

Ordered, that Dr. L. M. Ballard be allowed sixty-five dollars for his medical bill to paupers since January 1, 1845.

Ordered, that Dr. Ezra Bliss be allowed seven dollars for his medical bill to paupers since January, 1845.

Ordered, that Dr. S. R. Crummey be allowed his medical bill to paupers since January, 1845.

There being twelve dollars not yet appropriated and Dr. Murray's bill of $20 not being satisfactory to this board, and $6 of Dr. Crummey's bill being also unsatisfactory it is ordered, that if Dr. Murray and Dr. Crummey shall hereafter establish their bills as being properly chargeable to the paupers, that the said sum of twelve dollars shall be allowed and divided in proper proportion between them.

The county seems to have had a good deal of trouble with its pauper doctor business. January 7, 1847, this record appears:

Dr. Henry Murray presented his medical bill for services rendered by Murray, McCormick and Swan to paupers during 1846, amounting to $47.00; which being investigated by the board, it is ordered, that the said Murray, McCormick and Swan, be allowed the sum of $38.50 on said bill out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

Dr. Enos Metcalf presents his bill for medical services to paupers in 1846, amounting to $25.00; which being fully investigated by the board, it is ordered, that he be allowed fifteen dollars on said bill, provided, that the amount of the taxes due this county by him, shall be paid the treasurer of this county out of the above amount of fifteen dollars.

MEDICAL SOCIETIES.

The first mention found of a medical organization was a notice dated May 10, 1843, and published in the Iowa City papers, stating that "the adjourned meeting of the Iowa Medical Society will be held on Monday, the 5th day of June next, in Iowa City." It is signed "by order of the president; Ezra Bliss, secretary." Dr. Bliss was then of the firm of Ballard & Bliss, physicians and surgeons.

The next record found in this line was the following:

BOTANIC MEDICAL MEETINGS.

At a meeting of the friends of the botanic medical practice, in Iowa City, on the 3d of June, 1843, a society was organized to be known by the name of the "Medical Botanic Society of Johnson county, Iowa territory," and the following officers were chosen for the year ensuing, viz:James Robinson, Esq., president; B. S. Holmes, vice president; J. A. Miller, recording secretary; J. N. Ball, corresponding secretary. Censors, E. Metcalf, J. L. Frost, Rev. Wm. Patterson, S. H. Bonham, Esq., and J. Heberson.

The published report at the time says:

An address was delivered by Dr. Metcalf, in which it was clearly

demonstrated that the present state of things call loudly for a reform in the practice of medicine-that such reform has been introduced; and notwithstanding it has waded through an opposition paralleled only by that arrayed against the Christian religion, yet it begins to stand forth preeminent, wearing a wreath of truth and reason, and bearing in triumph the laurels of victory, until it has overcome the prejudices of more than three and a half millions of the inhabitants of these United States: and that it only needs an investigation to be adopted by every candid, thinking mind. On motion,

Resolved, that the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the president and secretary, and published in both the papers printed in this city. On motion,

Resolved, that this meeting adjourn to the first Saturday in July next, at one o'clock P. M. All friends of the botonic practice are respectfully invited to attend. A public address may be expected in the evening at half past seven o'clock.

J. A. MILLER, Secretary.

JAMES ROBINSON, President.

The sanguine expectations of these "reformers" have not been met; yet their views and "resolves" make a part of the medical history of the county, and as such have a rightful place here.

On Friday evening, May 17, 1867, a meeting was held, at which the following was adopted:

Resolved, That the Johnson County Medical Society (a quorum of whose members is now here present), which was organized on the 27th of May, 1856, and the last meeting of which, as appears from the minutes now before us, was held December 31, 1859, is hereby re-organized and revived by this meeting.

The medical gentlemen reported present at this re-organization meeting were: Drs. Sanford W. Huff, Frederick Lloyd, T. S. Mahan, A. C. Moon, Henry Murray, J. C. Shrader, J. H. Ealy, Wm. Ott.

On May 25 another meeting was held, and the following officers elected: President, Dr. Huff; vice-president, Dr. Ealy; secretary, Dr. Lloyd; treasurer, Dr. Ott; librarian, Dr. Mahan; committee on ethics and admissions, Drs. Henry Murray, J. C. Shrader, and J. J. Sanders.

Drs. C. A. White and O. Heinsins, of Iowa City; David Stewart, of North Liberty, and F. C. Stewart, of Solon, were made members. During the remainder of that year, 1867, some very good meetings were held, valuable reports made and discussions had. Dr. White was the State Geologist. Dr. Shrader seems to have been the leading surgeon at that time.

Drs. George Mitchell, M. J. Morsman, C. C. McGovern, Robert M. Paddock and Wm. Vogt, of Iowa City, were afterward members. The society continued to exist under the above name with varying fortunes for nineteen years the first organization having occurred May 27, 1856, and the last recorded meeting on December 16, 1875. It does not appear that they ever sent a delegate to the national association.

"The Iowa City Medical Society was a direct successor of the last mentioned one, and was organized Jan. 10, 1876. Its first officers were: Drs. E. F. Clapp, president; R. W. Pryce, vice-president; E. H. Sheaffer, secretary; N. H. Tulloss, treasurer. Censors, Drs. Gustavus Hinrichs, J. C. Shrader.

Its present officers are: J. C. Shrader, president; Elizabeth Hess, vice president; S. S. Lytle, secretary; N. H. Truloss, treasurer. Censors, Drs. C. M. Hobby, J. C. Shrader, and Gustavus Hinrichs. The total membership is twelve.

The following members have been delegates to the National Medical Association: Dr. Clapp in 1876, Philadelphia; 1877, Chicago; 1878, Buffalo. Dr. Shrader, 1877, Chicago.

As matters of general interest to the people, and information which they ought to have, we present the following additional points:

The objects of this society shall be the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of professional character, the protection of the interests of its members, and the promotion of all measures adapted to the improvement of the health and the protection of the lives of the community.

The article on membership specifies that "None shall be admitted to membership except those who are regular graduates in medicine and surgery, having diplomas procured in a regular manner from medical institutions recognized by the American Medical Association."

The code of ethics followed is that of the American Medical Association.

This sub-chapter is devoted as a sort of scrap-bag, to include a variety of historical items which were collected in the course of our work at preparing this volume, but which did not seem to quite exactly fit in any

where else.

NOTES IN 1840-41.

The first book ever printed in regard to Iowa was compiled by John B. Newhall, of Burlington, and published by J. H. Colton,the great map publisher of New York city. The title of the book was "Sketches of Iowa, or the Emigrant's Guide," and Mr. Newhall's preface is dated February 2, 1841, hence the material must have been gathered chiefly in 1840. It . was a well prepared and very valuable little book for the time, and being the first publication on Iowa, we copy what it gives in regard to Johnson county, as it was regarded at that time:

This county borders upon the Indian country, the principal part of it being embraced in the purchase of 1837. It was organized in 1839, and is attached to the second judicial district. It is bounded on the north by Linn, east by Cedar and Muscatine, south by Washington and Louisa, and contains an area of about 610 square miles. As a whole, Johnson may