Chapter 17 begins: CHAPTER XVII. THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. THE PIONEER PHYSICIANS OF SCOTT COUNTY - THEIR HARDSHIPS AND SELF-RELIANCE - MANY OF THEM PRACTICAL MEN OF GREAT FORCE OF CHARACTER - MINUTES OF THE BYGONE MEETINGS - THE SOCIETY HAS TAKEN ADVANCED GROUND WHILE CONSERVATIVE IN CHARACTER - DR. PRESTON WRITES. (Pictures included with this chapter are:  James Thorington, Mayor, Congressman, First District School Teacher, Harvey Leonard, Mayor and Long Time Sheriff, Dr. E. S. Barrows - When he began to practice medicine in Scott County, the nearest physician on the south was at Burlington, on the north at Dubuque, Judge W. L. Cook, Judge of the County Court in early days.) The pioneers of the healing art in Davenport and Scott county were the guardians of a widely dispersed population.  Aside from their professional duties they contributed their full share to the material development of a newly opened country.  Some were men of culture who had gained their medical education in college; the great number were of limited educational attainment whose professional knowledge had been acquired in the offices of established practitioners of more more less ability in the sections from which they emigrated.  Of either class almost without exception they were practical men of great force of character who gave cheerful and efficacious assistance to the suffering, daily journeying on horseback scores of miles over a country almost destitute of roads and encountering swollen, unbridged streams, without waterproof garments or other now common protection against water.  Out of necessity the pioneer physician developed rare quickness of perception and self-reliance.  A specialist was then unknown and he was called upon to treat every phase of bodily ailment, serving as physician, surgeon, oculist and dentist.  His books were few and there were no practitioners of more ability than himself with whom he might consult.  His medicines were simple and carried on his person, and every preparation of pill or solution was the work of his own hands.  The services of the pioneer physician were fittingly recognized in the following reminiscent article, written by Dr. E. S. Barrows, which appears in an early history of Scott county, and follows below: Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L