A Wickford Doctor's Daybook

A remarkable window into the work of a medical practicioner of the early 19th century

The physicians daybook of Dr. Shaw of Wickford runs from 1806 to 1809. It includes the names of the patients, the services he rendered and what he charged.

The daybook was donated to the Museum by Dr. N. Darrell Harvey in 1934.

Note: Please click on the main headline to access the daybook. The daybook is displayed in PDF format, which can only be read with Adobe Reader. If you do not have this free accessory and wish to download it, click here.

[Accession #s: 1934.330 and 2003.041.0038]

Were looking for help...

The picture at the left is of the cover of the incomplete manuscript, "Wickford Doctors Daybook, 1807-1809", held in the archives of South County Museum. The photo at right is of a typical pair of inside pages.

About 35 pages have so far been transcribed; The transcription of the remaining 70-plus pages in the same Excel-spreadsheet format continues and this page will be updated from time to time. I am providing some observations for understanding, in hopes of receiving some help in deciphering the document and interpreting its full significance. — Robert S. Burford, 10/24/2009

Interpreting abbreviations, symbols and notations of bookkeeping, script handwriting, medicine, currency, naming and dating conventions, pharmacopoeia.

• Most entries identify whether the person whose name is on the account is also the patient [noted as self], or wife [often noted as ux from Latin "uxor"], or child or dater [daughter] or girl, etc. Is there a significance to those marked wife instead of ux? Is there significance to the occasional added looping flourish at the end of some words, e.g. childe, wifee?
• Most entries are recorded with payment in U.S. dollars; some are recorded in English shillings & pence (e.g. 7/6, 3/., 6/9), and some entries record both side-by-side. Is the difference significant?
• Entries in dollars are parsed in 3 columns variously as $4..25 or 1 -50 or $1--25. Why the difference?
• Visit (or abbreviations of Visiting) apparently mean a house-call; the occasional attendance is probably a longer visit. Does the very occasional calling [or callg] mean the patient came to the doctors office?

Abbreviations

• The symbol for dram is seen often; for ounce and pound less frequently. These are noted as [dram]4 or [ounce]ii — but is iij the same as iii [3]? And what amount is [ounce]ss or [dram]fs? [Double-S seems to be sometimes old script fs and sometimes not?!]
• And is usually represented by an ampersand (&), but sometimes it is represented by e (and sometimes side-by-side in the same entry).
• The notation of e over y seems to mean "and previously" e.g. "Visg & med sally [e over y] 15th" on the entry for the 17th (March 1808)
• A few entries are for purchases, recorded as Cr. for "creditor", while most of the rest are marked Dr for "debtor".
• Many words are simply chopped short, e.g. var med = various medicines; mixt = mixture; anod = anodyne; aq = water. Also, what is the significance of c? Consult, conference or simply with from Latin cum.

In need of genealogical study of individuals & families.

• Why does this doctor deliver so many babies? [Background: If numerous outside sources are accurate, most babies born in the first half of the 19th Century were delivered by midwives. But were midwives not active near Wickford, Rhode Island, in 1807 and 1808?]
• Can some medical diagnoses be made by studying what medicines are being prescribed? dressg & salve suggests treating burns; elixor of paregoric, pills Opii Camph & Castor, bleeding, Vermis & Spigella, emetics & cathartics & tonics, Vermifuge plaster — each are probably common 19th Century medicines for which a purpose might be easily determined.
• Most medicines appear to be exotics as used by the English medical establishment, but are some native New England herbal remedies?

Identity of locations and family connections:

• Where are Swamp town and Chapmans mills?