MINUTEMAN T H E S O N S O F T H E A M E R I C A N R E V O L U T I O N

VOLUME XXVII : NUMBER 7 N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 8

Dr. Bowdish offers to demonstrate bloodletting to Secretary Renouf President’s Notes president, and it is time for another volunteer to step forward to lead the hose of us in attendance at chapter. This request is not new. Give T the October meeting received some real thought on how you could an excellent presentation on the health contribute to the success of the chapter. history of George Washington. I learned We have begun sending some new information, and had the old questionnaires to new applicants to find story of George’s wooden teeth replaced out if any are interested in helping with with factual information. Medical the various youth programs SAR has to knowledge has increased greatly since recognize the work of young people. the days of Washington, and I hope it Ideally, we should have a separate continues. member supporting each of these We are still looking for volunteers programs. Please consider volunteering to step forward to fill the leadership to help support one of the SAR youth opportunities in the chapter. The more programs – essay contest, orations volunteers, the more the work of contest, eagle scout contest, ROTC producing a successful chapter can be awards, poster contest, and brochure shared. This results in a lower time contest. Also consider having your requirement for everyone. I am children, nephews, cousins, etc. completing my second year as chapter participate in the SAR youth programs Thomas Jefferson Chapter from Humboldt State University with Officers for 2018 a BS in cellular-molecular biology, and minors in chemistry and political Timothy L. Ernst, President 32 Monivea Place though the Thomas Jefferson science. He graduated from Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-2518 (925) 937-0526 Chapter. Northeastern Ohio University’s [email protected] We voted to change our College of Medicine with an MD meeting date to the Third Saturday degree. He completed his training in Vice President/ Knight Essay Chairman of the month. This is being done to allergy and clinical immunology from vacant reduce conflicts with other Yale University School of Medicine.

Stephen R. Renouf, Secretary/Editor identified activities, and allow for He has published on the subjects of 16123 Paseo del Campo greater participation in the chapter allergy, asthma, HIV immunology, San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2311 (510) 276-8946 meetings. immunodeficiency, and cancer gene [email protected] The Wreaths Across America therapy in a number of scientific

William E. Rood, Treasurer program is entering its activity journals and textbooks. He is a 2107 Dunblane Court period. This is a national program to member of over 65 hereditary Walnut Creek, CA 94598-3325 (925) 937-8659 place a wreath on each veteran’s societies, including the Society of grave during the Holiday period. the Cincinnati, Sons of the Donald H. Gurley, Registrar 2921 Encina Camino Check the Internet for activities in Revolution, and Society of Colonial Walnut Creek, CA 94598-3503 your area and donation information. Wars. Dr. Bowdish presented a (925) 943-1960 [email protected] — Timothy Ernst, President program on the health of George Secretary’s Notes Washington. Dr. Bowdish stated Charles E. Doolin, Chaplain that as a physician, he was very 1700 Broadway Street #132 Concord, CA 94520-2609 he Thomas Jefferson interested in the medical history of (925) 228-3494 Chapter had 23 members his ancestors, since many diseases T Ryan T. Prindiville, Historian and guests at its October 27, 2018 run in families. He researched the 20 Saint Tropez Court regular meeting at the Old Spaghetti causes of death as part of his family Danville, CA 94506-6161 (925) 408-2176 Factory in Concord, California. history and genealogy research. [email protected] President Tim Ernst called the Dr. Bowdish started the

Sergeant at Arms meeting to order, and introduced program by asking the audience vacant CASSAR President Derek Brown; what are the physical characteristics

Jeffrey H. Brown, Eagle Scout Chairman CASSAR Vice President North Don of George Washington. People (925) 360-3647 Littlefield (from the Sacramento responded that he was tall (he was 6 [email protected] Chapter); CASSAR Surgeon and guest feet, 2 inches tall), had false teeth, Derek J. Brown, Awards Chairman speaker Dr. Matthew Bowdish (from was very robust, was a skilled (925) 672-2055 [email protected] the Sacramento Chapter); Past Vice horseman and dancer, and was Presidents General Bob Ebert and athletic. Dr. Bowdish stated that Stephen A. Tucker, Past President Stephen Renouf; applicants Steve you could learn a lot from the 5261 Crystyl Ranch Drive Concord, CA 94521-5444 Main, Jeffrey Nibert, and Robert portraits of George Washington. He (925) 586-5977 Vernagallo (and wife Regina displayed a picture of the William [email protected] Wegener). Joseph Williams portrait of George Following lunch, President Washington in 1794 that is displayed The Thomas Jefferson Chapter Minuteman is the official newsletter of the Thomas Jefferson Tim Ernst introduced our special in the Masonic Temple in Chapter of the California Society Sons of the guest speaker, Dr. Matthew Stiles Alexandria, Virginia. The Masons American Revolution. The opinions expressed herein are the opinions of the authors, and not Bowdish, an allergist and clinical requested a very detailed and necessarily those of the Chapter or the SAR, unless specifically stated. immunologist from Rocklin, accurate picture of George CIVIS AMERICANUS SUM California. Dr. Bowdish graduated Washington, and it was considered scandalous at the time because first responder of the family. There George Washington was not were very few medical professionals depicted in an idealized manner. at the time, and most doctors Since it was a harshly accurate provided in the home by the mother trained from reading textbooks picture of Washington, Dr. Bowdish – nutrition and herbal remedies. written by Hippocrates of Kos (who asked the audience what they Gervase Markham published a book died around 370 BC), known as the noticed about his face. His cheeks in 1615: The English Hus-wife, “father of medicine,” and by Galen were red (possible rosacea), he had Contayning, The inward and of Pergamum (who died around AD a receding hairline, he had a mole outward vertues which ought to be 210), a physician in the Roman (possible basal cell carcinoma) under in a compleat woman. As, her skill in Empire. Galen taught that there his right ear, he had a scar on his left Physicke, Cookery, Banqueting- were four humors – black bile, cheek (from an operation to drain a stuffe, Distillation, Perfumes, Wool, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood – dental abscess), he had small scars Hemp, Flax, Dayries, Brewing, which corresponded to the four on his face from smallpox, he had Baking, and all other things elements – air/dry, fire/hot, earth/ sun damage on his forehead, his jaw belonging to a Houshould. A Work cold, and water/wet. Galen believed and mouth look like there were very profitable and necessarie, that disease was caused by an some serious dental issues, and he gathered for the generall good of imbalance in the humors of the had 5 o’clock shadow. the kingdome. The book went body, and could be cured by Dr. Bowdish discussed through nine editions by 1683. The rebalancing them. Medical health care delivery in the 17th and book had many herbal remedies for treatments consisted of cupping/ 18th century. Most health care was the housewife, who was the medical blistering (cupping is still done today by swimmer Mike Phelps and other famous athletes), purgatives/ emetics, poultice/cataplasm, and venesection (bloodletting) to rebalance the humors. Dr. Bowdish passed around a fleam (bloodletting lancet) from 1810. He said the patient’s arm would be placed in a bowl of warm water to dilate the blood vessels, and then the lancet would cut the skin to bleed the body. Life back then was “short, nasty and brutish.” There was high mortality, especially among children. In the 17th century, the English life expectancy was 35 years, and in Virginia, it was only 25 years. In New England, about 40% of children died before reaching adulthood. Despite that, some people lived into their 100’s. Dr. Bowdish discussed the Washington family medical history. George Washington’s great William Joseph Williams Portrait of George Washington grandfather, the immigrant ancestor, settled in Virginia, and human history, smallpox killed about died at age 46 from respiratory 20% of the human population, and it ailments. His paternal great was a scourge in colonial times, with grandmother Anne Pope died at age for Colonel William Gooch’s a 40-95% mortality rate. After four 33 of unknown causes. His Regiment of Foot, and served in the weeks, George Washington survived grandfather Lawrence Washington war. Later, he was appointed his bout with smallpox, and they died at age 37 from respiratory “Captain of the Soldiers acting as returned to Virginia. Smallpox left ailments. His paternal grandmother Marines” on Admiral Edward him with scars on his face, but gave Mildred Warner died at age 30 of Vernon’s flagship, the HMS Caroline. him immunity against the disease. unknown causes. His father After the war, Lawrence Washington Lawrence Washington finally Augustine Washington died at age was granted land in the Colony of succumbed to tuberculosis in 1752. 48 from “gout of the stomach.” His Virginia, and he named his After the deaths of Lawrence’s wife mother Mary Washington died of plantation “Mount Vernon” in honor and daughter, George Washington breast cancer at the advanced age of of his commanding officer, Admiral inherited the Mount Vernon 81 years. By the age of 15, George Edward Vernon. Lawrence was plantation. Washington had suffered from elected to the Virginia House of George Washington was measles, mumps, and “black Burgesses in 1744 as a afflicted by chronic diseases and canker” (diphtheria). While he was representative for Fairfax County. bouts of depression. In 1751-52, he surveying the swamps around Lawrence Washington contracted had tubercular pleurisy; in 1754, he Alexandria, Virginia, in 1749, George tuberculosis in Virginia in 1749, and had malaria again; and in 1755, he Washington contracted the he went to England for medical had influenza. During the French “ague” (malaria). Because he was advice. In 1751, George Washington and Indian War, Washington served from a wealthy family, George took him to Barbados because it was under Major General Edward Washington was treated with believed the warm, tropical climate Braddock in the campaign to capture Peruvian Jesuit Bark (cinchona), would help Lawrence in his struggle French Fort Duquesne in 1755. He which contained quinine. In later with tuberculosis. While visiting developed “bloody flux” (dysentery), life, Washington had severe hearing Barbados, George Washington and was treated with “Dr. James loss, which was likely caused by the contracted smallpox. Throughout Powders,” which contained salt, cinchona he received as a treatment mercury, and bark. He recovered, for malaria. and fought in the Battle of George Washington’s father Monongahela. General Braddock Augustine Washington died when was killed, and Washington George Washington was eleven recovered his body under fire. After years old. George’s older half- the war, Washington’s health brother, Lawrence Washington problems continued: in 1757-58, he (1718-1752), took the young George was afflicted with the “flux with Washington under his wing as a pleurisy and fever;” in 1761, he had father figure. malaria again; and in 1767, he had In 1731, Spanish Captain dysentery again. Because of his Juan de León Fandiño cut an ear off chronic illnesses, Washington was of British Captain Robert Jenkins ridiculed for his inability to serve in when Jenkins was caught smuggling the military. While running Mount goods illegally into Spanish Florida, Vernon, Washington provided which eventually precipitated the medical care for his family and War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1742). slaves. He set up infirmaries, Lawrence Washington volunteered Lawrence Washington learned venesection (bloodletting), and inoculated his family and slaves this point, half of Washington’s for smallpox. blood had been removed. With no George Washington’s health improvement, Martha sent for more during the American Revolution is chills, cramps, and had a carbuncle physicians. At 3 PM, Dr. Elisha Dick not known as it was a state secret. on his leg. His surgery to remove and Dr. Gustavius Brown arrived at The British had a greater immunity the carbuncle required six weeks to Mount Vernon, and he was bled of to smallpox than the Continentals, recover. Washington developed another quart of blood, over Dr. so in 1777, General Washington conjunctivitis and pneumonia. He Dick’s objection. Dr. Dick wanted to ordered the first military mass was unable to perform his duties for perform a tracheotomy to improve inoculations. 109 days. In 1797, George Washington’s breathing, but the At Valley Forge, 10,000 Washington retired to Mount procedure had not yet been troops arrived in December 1777, Vernon. performed in the New World. and 30% contracted diseases there – Dr. Bowdish recounted Washington probably had acute frostbite, gangrene, smallpox, George Washington’s final illness. epiglottitis, which was restricting his pneumonia, typhoid, typhus, and On Thursday, December 12, 1799, airway. The older doctors overruled dysentery. One quarter of the Washington was inspecting his lands Dr. Dick, and prevented him from soldiers died at Valley Forge. in the snow, hail and freezing rain. trying the experimental procedure. George Washington’s dental He returned home late and did not With only 1½ quarts of blood left in hygiene was bad, which he change out of his clothes before his body, Washington was very attributed to cracking nuts with his dinner. He developed a sore throat, weak. At 4:30 PM, he called for Lear teeth in his youth, but the reason and dysphonia, and retired early so he could review his two wills. He was probably more complicated. He thinking he had a cold. On Friday, tossed one into the fire, and signed had his first tooth pulled at age 22, December 13, 1799, Washington the other one. At 5 PM, he changed and only had one tooth remaining woke up at 2 AM with a sore neck, into his bedclothes realizing he was by the time he was president. One stridor (harsh noise caused by about to die. Cataplasms and more of his dentures was made by Paul obstruction of the windpipe), and blisters were employed. Revere. They were made of human fever. Martha Washington called for In the early evening, teeth, whalebone, and his personal secretary, Tobias Lear, Washington requested that all hippopotamus teeth. He saved who recorded Washington’s final treatments stop. He stated, “Doctor some of his extracted teeth for the moments, and last words in his I die hard, but I am not afraid to go. dentures, and bought some teeth journal. At 7 AM, Washington called I believed from my first attack that I from slaves (he paid 122 shillings for for overseer George Rawlings to should not survive. My breath 9 teeth). His dentures were ill-fitting perform bloodletting and apply cannot last long.” Washington and clicked, so he never smiled and blisters, over Martha’s objections. uttered his last words – “Tis well” – never gave long speeches. In 1781, He took ½ quart of blood, and gave and died at 10:22 PM on December Washington’s letters were Washington a formula of molasses, 13, 1799. On Monday, December intercepted by the British, and butter, and vinegar, but there was 16, 1799, Dr. William Thornton sent among them was a request for teeth no improvement. At 9 AM, Surgeon a message to Martha Washington scrapers. General Clinton read the General Dr. James Craik came to offering to perform a postmortem letters, and decided not to reinforce Mount Vernon and bled a quart of tracheotomy in an attempt to revive Yorktown, which contributed to the blood from Washington, but there the deceased Washington, but American victory. was still no improvement. At 11 Martha declined. There was an When Washington was AM, Dr, Craik bled another quart of inquest into Washington’s death, president, his health problems blood, applied blisters to the neck, and the inquest found that although continued. Six months after his gave him a gargle of sage tea and the older doctors did nothing wrong, inauguration, he developed fever, vinegar, and gave him an enema. At they probably should have permitted Dr. Dick to try the District Attorney Anne Marie experimental tracheotomy. Dr. Schubert to speak at the luncheon. Bowdish stated that doctors should She had a role in the identification of be humble, and be open to new the fourth Saturday of the month in the Golden State Killer/East Area procedures. Had Dr. Dick prevented 2019, so Secretary Renouf made a Rapist with DNA evidence. the last quart bloodletting, and been motion (seconded by Past President President Tim Ernst allowed to perform the Brown) to have the chapter meet on announced that the next meeting tracheotomy, Washington may have the third Saturday of the month in will be on November 17, 2018 at the survived his illness. The 2019, which was unanimously Old Spaghetti Factory. The chapter combination of a restricted airway, approved. will hold elections for 2019 officers. and the severe loss of blood assured CASSAR President Derek We are looking for a volunteer to his demise. The fascinating Brown noted that he recently went serve as chapter president. Tim has presentation resulted in many to Southern California to review the served for the past two years, and is questions, and a strong ovation. hotel and event sites for the 2019 looking for a successor. Please President Tim Ernst presented Dr. SAR Congress in Costa Mesa. contact President Tim Ernst if you Mathew Bowdish with the SAR CASSAR Vice President North Don are interested in volunteering to be Certificate of Appreciation for the Littlefield invited all members to president, or any other office. entertaining and informative history attend the Friday Luncheon during President Tim Ernst of George Washington’s health. the upcoming CASSAR Meeting in adjourned the meeting, and the President Tim Ernst noted Folsom, California. They have chapter sang God Bless America. that there were many conflicts with arranged for Sacramento County — Stephen Renouf, Secretary

President Ernst presents the SAR Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Matthew Bowdish NOVEMBER 2018

ANNUAL ELECTION MEETING Saturday, November 17, 2018 the old spaghetti factory

1955 Mount Diablo Street, Concord, CA

11:30AM—Pre-Meeting Noon to 2:30PM—Meeting Social

Programme: Sergeant Steven Burchik, (USA-Ret.). Compass and a Camera, A Year in Vietnam. Steven Burchik enlisted in the US Army at the height of the Vietnam War. Sergeant Burchik spent a year in the rice paddies northeast of Saigon as a forward observer with the First Infantry Division. He will discuss using a compass to guide him, and a camera to document his experiences in the most challenging year of his life. Come join us for a great meeting! MENU

Spaghetti with Mushroom Sauce, Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, or Baked Lasagna $20 per person

Deadline: 14 November 2018 Questions? Contact Stephen Renouf at [email protected] Please make check payable to THOMAS JEFFERSON CHAPTER, enclose this reservation slip, and mail to: Secretary Stephen Renouf, 16123 Paseo del Campo, San Lorenzo. CA 94580 Name: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna

Guest: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna

Guest2: Entrée choice: Spaghetti Fettuccini Chicken Lasagna Quote of the Month “A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.”

THOMAS JEFFERSON — Hippocrates CHAPTER

SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Timothy L. Ernst President Visit us on the web:

Stephen R. Renouf TJSAR.ORG Secretary

William Rood Treasurer

You can download the full version of the Minuteman at http://www.tjsar.org/index.php/minuteman/minuteman-archive

The Thomas Jefferson Chapter MINUTEMAN Stephen R. Renouf, Editor 16123 Paseo del Campo San Lorenzo, CA 94580-2311