James Thacher and his influence on American medicine / Henry R. Viets.

  • Henry Viets
Date:
[1949]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: James Thacher and his influence on American medicine / Henry R. Viets. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    By January, 1776, the Army was reduced to a very critical situation, being obliged to substitute new troops and militia in place of those who had been in service five or six months, and this exchange was made within musket shot of the enemy’s lines. During part of this period Thacher wrote, “our numbers were not sufficient to man the lines, nor was there powder enough in camp to furnish four rounds a man.” The troops captured some cannon from the army in Boston but these were old and many of them unserviceable; and Thacher felt that, “had the enemy been acquainted with our situation, the consequences might have been exceedingly dis¬ tressing.” In February, 1776, John Morgan of Philadelphia was appointed Director General of the hospitals, replacing Church. After Morgan ar¬ rived in Cambridge a new and systematic arrange¬ ment of the medical departments took place. Thacher was subjected to another examination by Morgan and received from him the appointment of physi¬ cian’s mate to David Townsend in the regiment commanded by Colonel Asa Whitcomb stationed in the barracks on Prospect Hill. Young Thacher was glad to exchange his hospital job for that of a regi¬ mental surgeon, particularly under the command of such an outstanding figure as Whitcomb, with his friend Townsend, a survivor of Bunker Hill and a former pupil of Joseph Warren, as the regimental surgeon. The regiment was soon ordered to march to Roxbury, where they occupied the house formerly belonging to Governor Shirley, and all the troops were alerted for a general attack on the heights at Dorchester which occurred in March of 1776. Thacher describes the assault in some detail and noted that Washington was present, “animating and encouraging the soldiers and they, in return, mani¬ fested their joy.” On March a flag of truce came out from Boston acquainting Washington that Gen¬ eral Howe had come to the determination to evacu¬ ate the town, and the fleet with the evacuating troops sailed on March 17. The larger part of the army under Washington was then ordered to New York, but those that remained, including Thacher, entered Boston on the 20th. Thacher wrote, “while marching through the streets, the inhabitants ap¬ peared at their doors and windows; though they manifested a lively joy on being liberated from a long imprisonment, they were not altogether free from a melancholy gloom which ten tedious months’ seige had spread over their countenances. The streets and buildings presented a scene, which reflects dis¬ grace on their late occupants, exhibiting a deplor¬ able desolation and wretchedness.” Townsend, the regimental surgeon, found his parents and sister in Boston, and young Thacher took up his abode in their house. He mentions the Old South Church and notes that the inside was entirely destroyed by the British, “the sacred building occupied as a rid¬ ing school for Burgoyne’s regiment of dragoons.” The North Church had been entirely demolished and consumed for fuel. Always a physician, Thacher was delighted to record that one of his soldiers found in Boston a human skeleton in complete preparation, left by a British surgeon, “which I received as an acceptable present.” On July 3 orders were given for an in¬ oculation for the smallpox of all soldiers and in¬ habitants of the town, as a general infection of this disease was apprehended. Townsend and young Thacher were constantly engaged in this work. By August 5 his entire regiment, consisting of 500 men, had gone through the smallpox by inoculation, and all except one Negro recovered. This, of course, was direct inoculation with smallpox matter before the discovery of vaccination with cow-pox by Jen- ner, the same method that had proved so valuable in the hands of Zabdiel Boylston in 1721 in Boston. After the inoculations were finished the regiment prepared to march from Boston to Ticonderoga and, on August 7, they marched out of town with colors displayed and drums beating. Thacher was some¬ what indisposed and he was permitted to remain in town to take charge of the sick soldiers until he recovered his health. This he did on August 20, when he said good-bye to the town of Boston, where he had resided very pleasantly for five months. “I am destined,” he wrote, “to a distant part of our country, and know not what sufferings and hazards I shall be called to encounter while in the discharge of my military duties.” He commenced his journey in company with an¬ other officer and fourteen men. His route led through Worcester, Springfield, $nd over the Green Moun¬ tains to Skeensbury,3 the place of rendezvous for the Continental troops and militia destined for Ticonderoga. Here they embarked upon a boat to cross Lake Champlain. Soon after arriving in Ticonderoga one of the soldiers was bitten in the hand by a rattlesnake.
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