Otselic History

Early Doctors of South Otselic

Frank E. Cox

DeRuyter Gleaner, March 6, 1942

When I was a mere child, there was a Doctor Snow, who lived near Upper Beaver Meadow.  They came to our Baptist church.  I noticed the Mrs. most for she had an abundant head of hair, and it was just as white as snow.  Why! yes it was snow of course, or a part of her at least.  Doctor Nathan Snow, was living in Otselic [Chenango Co., NY] as late as 1869.  I do not know why he was called Doctor, or about his success along that way.

Doctor Frederick S. Sewell was with us along through the 1850s, but finally moved to New York City, where he met with great success as a specialist.

In the olden time of long ago there was a Doctor Scranton, south of us, who relieved the ailing once for many years in Pharsalia, Pitcher and nearby places.

What a difference in the treating of the sick fifty years has wrought.  Now [in 1923] we have conveniences and the R.N.  For over 25 years I put up medicines and prescriptions for Dr. DeWitt Crumb.  I began in the business here in 1878, shortly after he had located here.  Seventy and more years ago, when the Doctor was called, he looked at your tongue, felt your pulse, called for piece of paper to cut in little squares and proceeded to dish out powdered things, with his penknife, onto the little squares of paper, 8 or 10 as a kid I often watched the process, sometimes two or three kinds of powders to each little paper. The Doctors became expert in folding the little squares.  "To be taken in a little water every two hours."  "I will call again soon." and he was gone.  Of course the winter months were the most severe on the Doctors.  No plowed out roads then.  I knew of two instances in the night when DeWitt Crumb had to leave his old white mare (the racker) and she could go where the snow was not too deep, and wade over for miles.  One in Pharsalia.  That man told me about it, and said he always had a warm spot in his heart for Dr. Crumb after that.  Three successive seasons in the 1880s he brought my Elora safely through the insidious diphtheria. 

I remember Dr. Purdy or Purdie (Chenango County history spells it both ways) with horse and two wheeled gig jogging along, just about as fast as a man could walk.  He was at our home professionally many times in 1861 and again in 1870.  My father knew him well for they were boys together in Smyrna.  Father learning the wagon making trade.  Purdie studying medicine.  He attended my brother Fred when he broke his thigh bone, when only 16 months old.  I can remember his screams yet for the doctor had to pull the leg straight.  It had been about 24 hours and the muscles had pulled the splintered bone apart.  It was then bound to a wooden strip to keep in place.  Purdie did not come again for two weeks.  In the mean time he had chickenpox.  During the winter we children, three, had had the whooping cough, and brother and I had had "inflammation on the lungs."  He was a mere skeleton and did not run alone until 18 months old.  I only 8-1/2 years old picked him p from his fall down a few stair steps, he was crying piteously, and I trying to quiet him.  Mother was in the chamber (old house all one room) packing away some maple sugar.  I thought at first that I would stand the baby up upon the table for I was walking the floor, trying to quiet him, and then suppose it should be something the matter with his legs. it would not answer to do it.  However mother soon came and relieved me. 

During the summer of 1870, Dr. Purdie had care of my brother-in-law (Merton M. Tallett's) foot.  Four wounds with one stroke of the axe.  One would scarce believe it could happen. We, I was 14, were in the woods after stove wood, and had started out when he stopped to cut a small sapling.  The axe caught on a twig, glanced and struck his foot, sliced off the tops of three toes and made an ugly gash in top of instep.  The Doctor came to dress the wounds often for all of two months.  Purdie was a well read man and a successful Doctor, but he had one failing.  

Speaking of Mike I believe there were two of the name near the Center, along in the early auto days, a proud purchaser at DeRuyter was trying out the capabilities of his new machine.  It was quite an experience to be able to say you had even rode in an automobile.  They were about to try South Hill.  "All aboard" and Mike jumped in.  There was no wind shield or top to the rig, and it was windy. They made just about 20 m.p.h.  Mike grew white in the face and he was sitting tight holding on with both hands.  At the summit the car slacked up to turn around when Mike quietly stepped out.  The driver says, "wait we are going right back down."  Mike says.  "All right go ahead, I am not in such a devilish hurry but what I can walk back."  

South Otselic, March, 1942 --Frank E. Cox (at 86)