[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 5133-5134] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]COMMEMORATING DOCTOR'S DAY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COUNTRY DOCTORS ______ HON. ASA HUTCHINSON of arkansas in the house of representatives Thursday, March 29, 2001 Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate March 30, Doctor's Day, and the essential role that the medical profession plays in our country. Although we all visit doctors regularly, many times we fail to properly recognize their dedication to keeping us healthy. I grew up in rural northwest Arkansas, where small-town doctors have historically played an especially important role in health care. In fact, the community of Lincoln, Arkansas, is home to one of only two museums in the United States dedicated to the country doctor. The Arkansas Country Doctor Museum educates the public about the heroism of country doctors in Arkansas and preserves the history of medical practice in the Ozarks. On this day when we remember the importance of the medical profession, I would like to salute the role that these country doctors have played in the well-being of our nation. We often remember these country doctors for their warm bedside manner and their home visits, but we cannot forget that they were involved in the welfare of entire communities and often sought higher medical education to better serve their patients. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join with me today in honoring the great tradition of country doctors throughout our country. I submit into the Congressional Record a copy of Dr. Anthony DePalma's article ``Y2K: A Legacy of the Country Doctors,'' which appeared in the December 1999 Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society. [From the Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society, Dec. 1999] Y2K: A Legacy of the Country Doctors (By Anthony T. DePalma, MD) On Friday, May 14, 1999, a memorable millennium medical moment celebrating the Y2K legacy of the country doctors occurred in Lincoln. Physician Emeritus of Washington Regional Medical Center of Fayetteville met at the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum. The museum, founded in 1994 by Dr. Harold Boyer, of Las Vegas, is one of two country doctor museums in the United States. Dr. Boyer honored his dad, Dr. Herbert Boyer, who was a country doctor in Lincoln. The museum's mission is eloquently stated: ``The Arkansas Country Doctor Museum is committed to honoring, preserving and educating the public about the history and heroism of the country doctor in Arkansas, the unique history and culture of the Ozark area and the history of medical theory and practice.'' It is in this spirit that Dr. Joe B. Hall ``organized a special event for his colleagues in the Physician Emeritus group.'' The outcome, a symposium, ``Lessons for the New Millennium From the Legacy of the Country Doctors,'' was presented by Physician Emeritus, Washington Regional Medical Foundation and the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum at the Lincoln Community Building. Drs. Herbert Boyer, Edward Forrest Ellis, William Hugh Mock and P.L. Hathcock practiced in Washington County, and were honored at this historic event. Dr. Jack Wood spoke of recollections of his honored dad, Dr. Jesse Wood of Ashley County. The honored country doctors reflect a common concern of a noble, medical profession: commitment, care, conviction and compassion in alleviating mankind's ills and sufferings. Their dedication to patients and profession has been told in years of community service. Dr. Herbert Boyer (Nov. 13, 1886-June 12, 1978) practiced for more than 60 years. Dr. Edward Forrest Ellis (Aug. 18, 1863-Aug. 7, 1957) first practiced in Hindsville. He practiced there for 10 years and in 1896 moved to Springdale where he practiced until 1904 when he moved to Fayetteville. He practiced there until the time of his death. Dr. William Hugh Mock (July 24, 1874-July 18, 1971) practiced a life-time in Prairie Grove. Dr. P.L. Hathcock (Dec. 31, 1878-Aug. 27, 1969) practiced in Harrison in 1901 and moved to Lincoln April 10, 1902. He moved to Fayetteville in 1921 and practiced until he was 83 years old. Dr. Jesse Thomas Wood (Dec. 25, 1878-Sept. 8, 1969) practiced in his hometown of Fountain Hill about 10 years and in Crossett for about 10 years before returning to Fountain Hill in 1943 to resume practice until three years before his death. Additional ``Lessons for the New Millennium From the Legacy of Country Doctors'' are related in the following biographical excerpts: The Lincoln Clinic started by Dr. Lacy Bean in 1936 evolved first as a maternity clinic and later an emergency center. Dr. Bean practiced here 10 years. Dr. Herbert Boyer, who practiced there until the early 1970s, followed him. Through the generosity of Dr. Boyer's son, Dr. Harold Boyer, a dermatologist, his Las Vegas colleagues and others, the Arkansas Country Doctor Museum came to fruition. Thus, the museum establishes continuity with the past, which is so important to the future of medical practice. Dr. P.L. Hathcock followed the advice of his physician father, Dr. Alfred Monroe Hathcock, to settle in a small town and ``work up.'' He practiced a short time with him in Harrison (U.S. Census 1900 population 1,517) after graduating from Vanderbilt University Medical School in 1901. As previously noted, he opened an office to practice in Lincoln (U.S. Census Star township [sic] population 728). Long before continuing medical education became mandatory, the country doctor attended postgraduate sessions at metropolitan medical meccas. They knew the value of education for themselves, family and community. Apropos of medical education for men and women, ``Women finally were accepted as full fledged medical practitioners in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, but not without a struggle.'' Dr. Ellis faced this discriminatory medical dilemma when a daughter declared an interest in becoming a doctor. [[Page 5134]] ``Despite his love of medicine he did not see it as a proper occupation for women and absolutely forbid an older daughter, Martha, to enter medical school. However, by the time Dr. Ruth was ready to decide on a career, the world had changed and he encouraged her.'' She graduated in 1933 from The Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, formerly The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. Legally organized in 1850, the medical school was the first one approved for women in the world. Parallel Lives Two of the honored country doctors, P.L. Hathcock and Jesse Thomas Wood, have significantly parallel lives reflecting the important legacy of family and education. Both were born the same year, 1878, six days apart and were raised in small towns. Both became country doctors and each had two sons who became physicians. Dr. P.L. Hathcock's sons, Preston Loyce and Alfred Hiram, became general practitioners with their father in Fayetteville. A son-in-law, Dr. Ralph E. Weddington, also practiced with them at the Hathcock Clinic. In 1957, Dr. Alfred H. Hathcock moved to Batesville, his wife Mary Louise Barnett Hathcock's hometown, to practice medicine. His son, Alfred Barnett, was an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery at the Holt-Krock Clinic in Fort Smith. Dr. Alfred Barnett Hathcock's son, Stephen, ``Sixth Generation M.D. Blends Conventional Medicine with Alternative Remedies,'' practices in Little Rock. Dr. Jesse Thomas Wood's sons, Julian Deal and Jack Augustus, became general practitioners in Seminole, Okla. Jack left for a general surgery residency. Upon completion of his training, he joined Dr. J. Warren Murry in Fayetteville. Currently, Dr. Jack Wood's son, Stephen Thomas, a third- generation M.D., is following his father's footsteps as a general surgeon in Fayetteville. Dr. P.L. Hathcock and Dr. Jesse Thomas Wood died 12 days apart in the same year, 1969. Educators Among Us Educational and leadership threads were woven in the country doctor's legacy to us. Among those contributing to their profession and community were Drs. Ellis, Mock and P.L. Hathcock. Drs. Ellis and Mock were both members of the Arkansas Board of Medical Examiners and presidents of the Arkansas Medical Society. Drs. Ellis, Mock and P.L. Hathcock were active on school boards. Dr. Ellis served 15 years on Fayetteville's school board and four years as chairman. Dr. Mock was president of the school board that built the first important school structure in the Prairie Grove district. Dr. P.L. Hathcock, at 18, was superintendent and taught at the Silver Rock school he attended as a child. When Dr. P.L. Hathcock practiced in Lincoln, he was a member of the county school board. The venerable country doctor is remembered as having a one- on-one relationship with patients. However, he was also interested in community health and welfare. Dr. Harvey Doak Wood (Jan. 8, 1847-May 13, 1938) organized the Washington County Health Office in 1913 and was public health officer in 1913-1917. The importance of public health can be appreciated in a statement he made. ``May I mention but one instance of the progress in medical practice in the 62 years that has given more comfort and a higher appreciation of the greatest of all professions is the perfection of a diphtheria antitoxin that has saved the lives of millions of human beings.'' Incidentally, Dr. Wood was the 50th president of the Arkansas Medical Society; his patents included the Wood splint, a modification of the Hodgen splint with myodermic traction; and he coined more medical words than anyone else in his time. Dr. P.L. Hathcock also served as Washington County health officer for several years. With respect and deference to Dr. P.L. Hathcock, who did not like his initials spelled out, this author has refrained from doing so. Fayetteville Ordinance 181 established a city board of health in 1906. Dr. Andrew S. Gregg (1857-1938), a country doctor and two term city alderman, was a two-term city health officer at the time of his death. He also served on the Arkansas State Board of Health. Because of a national emergency in 1944 and being without a health officer, Ordinance 877 was passed and approved April 3, 1944, designating the mayor as health officer. Ordinance 881, recreating the separate office of city health officer and repealing Ordinance 877, was passed Aug. 21, 1944. The importance of a public health officer at the city and/or county jurisdictional level cannot be underestimated. ``Continued economic and population growth in Northwest Arkansas is related to the pattern and standards of existing public health practice.'' ``Lessons for the New Millennium From the Legacy of Country Doctors'' fortunately have been recorded in literature, painting, poetry, radio and TV. Examples are: ``Horse and Buggy Doctor,'' a historical account of the times, author Arthur E. Hertzler, M.D. (1870-1946), is the embodiment of a country doctor's life. The story was written in 1938. Milburn Stone, an actor who portrayed Doc Adams in the TV show ``Gunsmoke,'' was asked to write the preface to the edition commemorating the author's 100th birthday: ``. . . For I feel certain that Dr. Hertzler was invited into heaven, where he can spend his time watching baseball games and sharpening his championship skill with a target pistol. Yet, he may have been offered an option. Perhaps, having conquered Kansas winters, he may have challenged hell. Possibly he is riding around that region in a battered old buggy drawn by an unpredictable horse, soothing the fevered inhabitants and calling the attention of Satan and his staff to the stupidity of attempting to standardize everything.'' Sir Samuel Luke Fildes' (1844-1927) painting, ``The Doctor,'' exhibited in 1891 depicts a doctor seated near a sick child lying across two chairs at home. He is attentively observing her while the parents look on. ``The Doctor'' also captures a ``house call'' scene, which ultimately blossomed as a ``home health care'' perennial. ``The Healer,'' a poem by John Greenleaf Whittler (1807- 1892) to a young physician, with Dore's picture of Christ healing the sick, elicits a comment from Sir William Osler (1849-1919): ``A well-trained sensible family doctor is one of the most valuable assets of a community, worth to-day, as in Homer's time, many another man. . . .'' ``Few men, live lives of more devoted self-sacrifice than the family physician.'' ``Dr. Christian,'' airing 1937-1953, was the first radio medical soap later adapted to TV. Actor Jean Hersholt (1886- 1956) played Dr. Christian, a humanitarian. ``The good doctor was aided by his loyal nurse, Judy Price (Rosemary De Camp), who opened each show by picking up her phone with a perky, `Dr. Christian's Office!' '' Summary Succinctly, lessons for the new millennium from the country doctors are embodied in their spirit. ____________________