Southern California Medicine

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEDICINE By JOHN W. SHUMAN, M.D. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Part II* Mexican Medicine in California A Politician, Manuel de Alva, m.d.23 (1822-48) When Richard Den first came to the When Spain lost California to Mex province of California, already twenty- ico, that was the twilight of her rule. one years of Mexican-Golden Bear Nevertheless, many Spaniards re medicine had been practiced; and he mained, as did their customs, language was not here long before he knew the and medical practices. Most medical records of those Mexican surgeon-gen historians refer to this quarter of a cen erals. While they may not have been tury as an era of standstill. This is medical giants, some of them deserve wrong, because time did not stand still; more than mere mention. gestation of the Golden Bear Republic Doctor Don Manuel Alva was the took place, ending with its birth and fourth milestone in California medi adoption; and immigration was taking cine, but not so lasting as some of the place rapidly, bringing with it Gringo others. He came to Monterey with Gov or foreign medicine. ernor Figueroa; the latter introduced It is noteworthy that of three doctors printing in California. When this gov who made history during that epoch, ernor died (1835), Doctor Alva was two were foreigners; Bale and Den. chosen to embalm the remains for re Den became the nestor Gringo because turn to Mexico. Alva either used too he was the first foreigner to come here much, too little, or an inferior brand with a bona fide diploma and to con of arsenic because when the coffin was tinue in practice. He raised the stand opened ten years later, there was not a ard of regular medicine and held it so vestige of the gubernatorial remains. until he died, a period of over fifty This surgeon was a politician and years. Commentators state that “Den politics have been the downfall of many never took out naturalization papers”— a good doctor. With a few Mexicans, he adopted the Golden State. he revolted against Governor Alvarado. The following served as surgeon-gen As a consequence, he was arrested and erals in the Mexican period: confined in the San Miguel jail. Not J. Evan Perez de Leon, m.d...........1829-30 long afterwards he escaped and joined Manuel de Alva, m.d...................1831-40 the guerrilla band of Carillo. Later he Manuel Crespo (phlebotomist)......... 1832 Edward T. Bale, m.d.....................1840-43 was captured and this time secured a Faustino Moro, m.d. (hospital pardon upon his oath not to meddle director) ..................................... 1844-64 with politics again. History states that Richard S. Den, m.d.......................1846-48 he learned his lesson. * Part I appeared in the May, 1938, issue of Annals of Medical History, n.s., vol. 10, p. 215. Shortly after these events, Alva efficient services, in the absence of able turned from Catholicism to “free think competition, that either the Governor ing.” It was not long until he suffered or historians promoted him to the rank a severe illness, and after his recovery of surgeon-general. he became ultra-religious. This resulted Edward Bale, the fifth California in his being relieved from duty by the medical milestone, was a colorful char Governor and returned to Mexico, acter and in his short life in California where all government employees were made several pages of history. Bale was deported when they became demented. a young man when he arrived from There was no doctor in Los Angeles England, and soon became the first in 1831, the year in which Governor Gringo-Mexican surgeon-general. But, Victoria was severely wounded in a as it often happens, too much success duel. A visiting English surgeon, name when one is very young often turns the not recorded, saved his Honor’s life by head. It was stated, in brief, that Doc operating upon him in the San Gabriel tor Bale was well educated but quar infirmary. relsome, a reputation which he began Alfred Robinson gives an accurate to earn soon after assuming office. picture of the type of doctoring the Immediately after his arrival, he palefaces received during those two wooed and won Maria Ignacia So- decades, w’hen every foreigner was sup beranes, who was the favorite niece of posed to know something of medicine. General Salvatore Vallejo—and thereby One night Robinson was called to see hangs a tale. It was through his wife’s a neighbor woman, who was suffering uncle that Edward secured his appoint from stomach ache. He gave her a few ment as the surgeon; and the General, drops of laudanum which quieted her who did nothing by halves, gave them pains, and he was hailed “a medico”! as a wedding present a large tract of Robinson, to illustrate how easy it land in the Napa Valley, called the was for a layman to become a doctor Camo Humana (human meat). Bale in those early days, wrote of an Ameri secured his naturalization papers in can sailor who deserted a whaling vessel 1841, and soon after rented space for and began practicing in Santa Barbara. an apothecary shop in Monterey from This tar’s efforts were soon crowned the United States consul, Thomas Oli with success among the ignorant ver Larkin. It was not long, however, classes, because folks said his remedies until this little drugstore became a performed such marvellous cures. grog-shop and the doctor ran afoul of These happenings occurred during the law. Evidently he was either cut the time when the advance guard of ting prices or “spirits.” As a result, that mighty emigration of American Doctor Bale retired to the ranch. settlers began arriving in the southwest, In due time the courtly old General overwhelming and taking possession of decided to pay a visit to his niece and the Golden State. her husband. The doctor became so violently enraged at the attentions paid A Duelist, Edward T. Bale, m.d.24 his wife by her uncle that he challenged Don Manuel Crespo was the regi him to a duel with swords. This was a mental phlebotomist of the army of oc serious error because the old Don was cupation. As there was no regimental a master swordsman, and so thoroughly surgeon, he must have rendered such did he thrash the doctor, with the flat of his sword, that Bale tried to shoot faith, strength) and they did not blem him. The medico was arrested, jailed ish their escutcheon. Nicholas, born in and nearly hanged. The benevolent 1812 and therefore nine years Rich General Vallejo, because of his niece, ard’s senior, came to America directly secured Bale’s pardon. The doctor then after graduating from the Dublin medi went into the lumber business, made cal college to establish himself, but he some money and died in 1851. was sidetracked into stock-raising. Not Faustino Moro, who followed Ed long after Nicholas arrived in the land ward Bale as surgeon-general, arrived of the redskins and padres, he wrote with Governor Micheltorena in Feb home that there were rare opportuni ruary, 1844. He acquired the title of ties here to practice medicine for the “Director of Hospitals” as the result lad who had the nerve to come. He so of handling the 1844 smallpox epi stimulated Richard that the lad began demic and planning the first California studying medicine in the same college public hospital in May of that year. from which his brother had graduated. This hospital was erected on the out The Dublin Medical College was es skirts of Monterey. Government, tablished in 1821, and Robert James church and laity backed it financially. Graves was its prime founder. He was a They called it a “pest-house.” All other grand clinical teacher who published general hospitals experienced such a his impressive life work, “The Clinical beginning. Practice of Medicine,” the year Rich When the Mexican troops were ard Den came to California (1843) • routed out of Monterey by Fremont’s Nicholas and Richard never grew troopers, they came to Los Angeles. tired of reminiscing about their old This was in the latter part of 1846, chief and his tales of pioneering in when Moro resigned and went home. Irish medicine. He was the first doctor It was then that the sixth milestone of to advise and practice feeding the fever California medicine, Richard Den, patient. He often remarked, “I want no made history.25 other epitaph than ‘he fed fevers.’ ” Prior to his teachings, the slogan was, A Dublinite, Richard Den, m.d.26 “Feed a cold and starve a fever.” Graves It was the lure of California that was a pioneer in treating goiter, and brought Richard Somerset Den here his name is given to the disease other and held him for more than a half wise called exophthalmic goiter. century in the practice of medicine. It Nicholas wrote that there was such a yielded experience and happiness, scarcity of able doctors here that even which comes only to those who have he, who had forsaken the profession, enjoyed life to its fullest. With a new was forced to practice, not only on his people, a new language, a new coun vassals but also on his neighbors for try, to w7hich were constantly coming many miles around. He penned about new folks to seek fortune, fame and the mighty nimrod, Jedediah Smith, glory, what more was there for an ad who had crossed the burning sands of venturous soul to seek? the Mojave Desert to establish the first Richard Den and his brother, Nicho land contact between eastern United las A., were born of Norman and Celtic States and Southern California.

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