| Description |
"Pioneering Physicians in Utah, 1847-1900" is an attempt to give the reader perspective on the development of professional medicine in Utah between the time of its settlement in 1847 until the turn of the century. The paper begins with an introductory chapter on the part played by medicine and early physicians in ministering to the physical needs of early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from its organization in 1830 through the exodus to Utah. This chapter emphasizes irregular physicians such as Thomsonian, eclectic, and herbal doctors, as well as midwives, both prior to and following the Mormon arrival in Utah. The second chapter deals with the medical training and practice of professional organizations, health laws, hospitals, and specialization during this early period. The third chapter deals essentially with the same information as the second chapter except that it covers the later period from 1880 until 1900. The last chapter is a prosopographic study of Utah physicians as a group between 1847 and 1900. It covers such material as the number of physicians practicing in various Utah cities, the ratio of physicians to people, and the percentages of Utah physicians in various years in comparison to the rest of the United States. It also covers birth and death rates, education, setting up of a medical practice, church affiliation, and civic activities of the physician. One appendix lists physicians practicing in Nauvoo, Illinois among the Latter-day Saints prior to the exodus; a second appendix lists physicians practicing in Utah between 1847 and 1900 according to date and city; a third appendix lists the members of the Utah State Medical Association at its founding; and the last appendix is a large section which gives biographical information for all physicians where data is available. |
