Many believe that Bulloch got its first real doctor in 1838. He was Dr. George Ross, who lived by Black Creek – first doctor. There is a story that one of his trips to resupply himself with medicine in Savannah, Dr. Ross put all of his powders in bags and then packed them in a barrel. He arrived home, only to find out most of the bags had been jostled open.
Ross, never one to waste anything, decided to just mix them all together rather than throw them away. He then found a mangy cur dog that was near dead and started experimenting with his concoction. The dog recovered so then he went out and found a stray sick cat. He gave the same mixture to the cat, which also recovered.
By this time, he was pretty sure of its recuperative powers, so he gave the mixture to Old Man Beasley, who the legend goes was his very best patient. The next time Dr. Ross saw Beasley, he was astonished to find him completely recovered from mall of his ailments. Unfortunately, when it was gone there was no way to recreate what he had done, so a cure-all may have been lost to all of humanity.
Ross, according to some, was also Bulloch’s first surgeon, An old Negro patient came to Ross with an injured leg that was so infected as to require amputation. He grabbed a butcher’s knife from his kitchen, took the old man outside, put him on a large table set up in the shade of a large tree, and proceeded to cut the leg off, with no anesthesia. The Negro recovered completely, and lived a good many more years.
According to local newspapers, more doctors soon followed: Drs. T.T. Seibles and Coleman arrived in 1850; Drs. Lloyd Carleton Belt and Jones arrived in 1855; Dr. Alfred Iverson Hendry set up shop in 1860; Drs. J.F. Brow, Kiebler, and Matthew Hodges established their practices in 1865; Dr. George Stotsebury arrived in 1869.
In 1870, four more doctors arrived: Dr. Thomas Roach, Dr. Rodney Burke, Dr. John I. Lane, and Dr. Dan L. Kennedy. Five years later, in 1875, Drs. I.S.L. Miller, Dr. Foss, and Montague Boyd set up their practices. Dr. G.W. Sease arrived in 1876, and two more doctors came to the area in 1878: Dr. Tom Headley and Dr. M.W. Eason. In 1879, Dr. J.W. Daniel moved to the county, followed in 1885 by two more physicians: Dr. M.M. Holland and Dr. Gay. Bulloch County now had nearly twenty-five physicians to care for its residents.
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look at Bulloch County's historical past. E-mail Roger at roger dodger53@hotmail.com
Ross, never one to waste anything, decided to just mix them all together rather than throw them away. He then found a mangy cur dog that was near dead and started experimenting with his concoction. The dog recovered so then he went out and found a stray sick cat. He gave the same mixture to the cat, which also recovered.
By this time, he was pretty sure of its recuperative powers, so he gave the mixture to Old Man Beasley, who the legend goes was his very best patient. The next time Dr. Ross saw Beasley, he was astonished to find him completely recovered from mall of his ailments. Unfortunately, when it was gone there was no way to recreate what he had done, so a cure-all may have been lost to all of humanity.
Ross, according to some, was also Bulloch’s first surgeon, An old Negro patient came to Ross with an injured leg that was so infected as to require amputation. He grabbed a butcher’s knife from his kitchen, took the old man outside, put him on a large table set up in the shade of a large tree, and proceeded to cut the leg off, with no anesthesia. The Negro recovered completely, and lived a good many more years.
According to local newspapers, more doctors soon followed: Drs. T.T. Seibles and Coleman arrived in 1850; Drs. Lloyd Carleton Belt and Jones arrived in 1855; Dr. Alfred Iverson Hendry set up shop in 1860; Drs. J.F. Brow, Kiebler, and Matthew Hodges established their practices in 1865; Dr. George Stotsebury arrived in 1869.
In 1870, four more doctors arrived: Dr. Thomas Roach, Dr. Rodney Burke, Dr. John I. Lane, and Dr. Dan L. Kennedy. Five years later, in 1875, Drs. I.S.L. Miller, Dr. Foss, and Montague Boyd set up their practices. Dr. G.W. Sease arrived in 1876, and two more doctors came to the area in 1878: Dr. Tom Headley and Dr. M.W. Eason. In 1879, Dr. J.W. Daniel moved to the county, followed in 1885 by two more physicians: Dr. M.M. Holland and Dr. Gay. Bulloch County now had nearly twenty-five physicians to care for its residents.
Roger Allen is a local lover of history. Allen provides a brief look at Bulloch County's historical past. E-mail Roger at roger dodger53@hotmail.com