| Chapter IX |
| Medicine - Doctors - Biographies |
| As one might suspect, the earliest of settlers depended on homemade remedies to treat their ills. Herb gardens were of great neccessity. Mullen syrup was sdministered for whooping cough, spearment and pennyroyal tea for stomach distress, and the sames of sassafras and calomel came into focas. For winter colds, mustard plasters and onion syrup were used extensively. Naptha soap sterilized cuts and bruises resulting from accidents. In the very beginning, there were no doctors present to administer to the ills of people in Penobscot, therefore midwives became famous in the treatment of such people in the particular, for the deliveries of babies. Sarah (Staples) Wardwell, of Old York, and wife of one of out earlier settlers, Daniel Wardwell, acted as neighborhood physician and practiced midwifery for many years before a regular doctor settled here. In this capacity she was later succeeded by Lucy Newberry of Vinal Haven, and still much later by Grace Leach of Penobscot. As time progressed, licensed doctors migrated to this territory. There are differences of opinion as to who was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. According to one reference, Dr. Sprague was the first doctor who settled to practice medicine in Penobscot. But, according to another reference, Dr. Nason was "probably" the first doctor. He, at a later date, changed his location to Blue Hill. It is known that Dr. Ferguson, of Deer Isle, came to Penobscot for a short period, but returned to his native town. Dr. Willard Collins, of Castine, practiced medicine in Penobscot many years before enlisting in the army as a surgeon. Dr. Percy Warren, of Bangor, was the next physician, and practiced for a short period. Soon after, Dr. Edwin Sprague arrived from Swan's Island, and practiced until his death in 1895. Dr.George Parsons, of Castine, succeeded him. Then, a native son of Penobscot, Dr Melvin Wardwell, opened his practice before the turn of the century and continued until his death in 1934 . Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell, M.D. (1873 - 1934 ) Dr. Melvin A. Wardwell was born on May 7, 1873, at Penobscot, the son of Albert and Ruth (Perkins) Wardwell. Raised in Penobscot, hewas graduated from Bucksport Seminary and the Bellevue Medical College of New York. He opened his general practice as a country doctor in 1898, and served the citizens of this town for the rest of his life. Horse and wagon took him to many remote areas in the early days of his practice. Later, the Model A and the Model T Fords allowed him to attend to his patients at a much faster pace. Interested in all civic work, he managed to find time to serve on the school board, and for a short term as Superintendent of Schools. He also served Penobscot as Town Treasurer for many years and was worshipful master of the Rising Star Lodge #177 of Free and accepted Masons. In addition to his ability as a very competent and concerned medical doctor, he will be remembered as a tall, slender, handsome man, always immaculate in appearence, and very reserved and professional at times. But, when most reserved, a warm and reassuring smile would often appear as though to say everything is going to be alright. He was also a very graceful dancer, and he and his wife Belve (Sellers), enjoyed the challenge of a beautiful gliding waltz, or leading the grand march at some of the Town Hall functions. Dr. Wardwell and his wife had two children, Elliot and Albert. Their marriages have produced nine children to carry on the Wardwell ancestery. Even though Dr. Wardwell has been deceased over 50 years, he is still affectionately remembered as a wounderful country doctor. Harold S Babcock, M.D. (1888 - 1973 ) Although Dr. Babcock is more related to Castine, Penobscot also shared his services, as did surrounding towns. Dr. Melvin Wardwell was also a very close associate of Dr. Babcock. He was born in Hampden, Maine on August 1, 1888, the sixth of seven children. He attended the so called "common schools", and graduated from Hampden Academy. Encouraged to be a doctor by his mentor, also a popular physiciarn, he started by serving as an orderly in the Massachusetts General Hospital. Following this experience, he attended Jefferson College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1916 with honors. After serving a one year internship at Eastern Maine General Hospital in Bangor, Maine, he began to establish a general practice in the Castine area. Using Castine as a base, as well as a residence, he soon found that surrounding towns were in need of his skills. As he once said, " In the year 1917, I came down the river to administer to Castine ills. Then, soon after, I found myself deep in the work around the whole countryside". During the first years as a general practitioner he planned to be away for at least two days and nights a week, all night, and would feel lucky to arrive home at dawn. He traversed bad roads to all points north, south and east. For ten years he used the North Castine Ferry to West Brooksville. He then picked up his automobile, which he left there permanently, and drove to other points such as Cape Rosier or North Brooksville. However, at times, in deep snow, the automobile could not function. One of his most memorable experiences was having to walk and carry two packs from West Brooksville to Cape Rosier in deep snow to attend a woman in labor. Her husband's boat was ice-locked in Eggemoggin Reach and he was unable to get home. Dr. Babcock stayed at this humble home from Friday until Tuesday, cooking for the family and caring for the children. The baby finally arrived on Tuesday morning , and as soon as help arrived, he was on his way home. Blessed with a good sense of humor, he learned as a young doctor that a hearty joke and an infectious laugh could soon put a disturbed patient at ease. He was married to Matilda Harris, of Nova Scotia, a registered nurse, whom he met while employed at the Massachusetts General Hospital. They were wed in 1912 and their marriage produced one son, Phillip. Mrs Babcock died shortly after her 100th birthday, and only within the last few years. In addition to his many other contributions he founded the Castine Community Hospital in 1928, and served as a resident physician for four decades. Dr. Babcock was truely one of our country doctors, was well loved and will always be remembered throughout the many towns he served. He died in 1973 and is interred in the family Castine Cemetery plot. |
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