The John J. Cushing Letters
Dr Cushing's Sanatorium in the late 1800's
This collection of letters was recently acquired by the Medical Historical Librarian with a view on expanding the library's collection profile to archival materials documenting physicians beyond the Yale/Connecticut communities. Dr. John Cushing (d. 1873) was one of California's first homeopathic physicians.
Along with the 34 letters written by Cushing from San Francisco to relatives, the Seller provided a folder with additional information. This entails a brief biography, a description of the letters' contents, and transcripts of selected passages. It appears from this initial overview that the doctor discussed matters related to medicine as well:
"San Francisco abounds in quacks of every variety and hundreds who practice on their feller critters with calomel & quinine have not a shadow of right to do so. A medical society was formed for the purpose of informing the public who were the diploma'd men, and all who were such were urged to join. When the constitution was adopted a debate sprang up about the admission of homeopaths & knowing it would make the society very unpopular if they were not very liberal, they worded the constitution so as to entitle all who had a regular diploma to be admitted as members,. but had an understanding that homeopaths should be excluded at all hazards."
The catalog record to the collection can be found here.
Along with the 34 letters written by Cushing from San Francisco to relatives, the Seller provided a folder with additional information. This entails a brief biography, a description of the letters' contents, and transcripts of selected passages. It appears from this initial overview that the doctor discussed matters related to medicine as well:
"San Francisco abounds in quacks of every variety and hundreds who practice on their feller critters with calomel & quinine have not a shadow of right to do so. A medical society was formed for the purpose of informing the public who were the diploma'd men, and all who were such were urged to join. When the constitution was adopted a debate sprang up about the admission of homeopaths & knowing it would make the society very unpopular if they were not very liberal, they worded the constitution so as to entitle all who had a regular diploma to be admitted as members,. but had an understanding that homeopaths should be excluded at all hazards."
The catalog record to the collection can be found here.