One of the many professions represented in the wealth of account books at the Clements Library is that of the country doctor. Here, for example, is a page from the ledger of Dr. Josiah Morse of Stewartstown, New Hampshire, whose patient network extended well beyond the boundaries of his hometown.
The following transcribed excerpt shows interactions between John Lamphier of Canaan, Vermont, and Dr. Morse. Each line or entry in the ledger includes a date or date abbreviation, the medical goods or services rendered, the amount owed by Mr. Lamphier (as Debtor or “Dr” in the right columns), and the value of payments or barter given by Lamphier (as Creditor or “Cr” in the right columns). For example, in the first transaction, Dr. Morse charged Lamphier 75 cents for a call to the Lamphier home on the night of September 13-14, 1851, and the use of paregoric (an anti-diarrheal tincture of opium) and snakeroot (another anti-diarrheal).
The second account entry “S . 29” (September 29, 1851) indicates that Lamphier offset his debt with a 25-cent credit for giving two dozen pumpkins to Dr. Morse! A year of treatments and medicines passed with nary a payment by Lamphier, until “Oct – 26” (October 26, 1852), when the fall harvest brought another pumpkin barter to cover a fraction of the debt.
John Lamphier Accounts, September 13, 1852-October 27, 1853.
Josiah Morse Account Book, 1846-1856: page 36.
Stewartstown Sept – 13 – & 14 – 1851
-. Mr John Lamphier (of Canaan) to J Morse Dr – Cr
to Visit in night, call, Paregoric, Snakeroot, &c .75
S . 29 – Cr by two doz – small Pumpkins – – .25
Dec – 6 – to ℥ii Cough med – for Mrs. Lamphier .25
1852 March 19 – to call, Cough Syrup, & Irish Moss, for wife’s mother .50
July 9 – to paper bitters for your wife – .34
Sept – 1 – to Visit, meds – &c for Allison – .67
2 – to Visit, Paregoric &c for children .67
Oct – 26 – to Pink Root & Senna for Allison – .17
Cr by Pumpkins – – – – .25
1853 – July – 15 – to call, meds – &c for Allsion – .50
Oct – 27 – to Visit, Pink Root, Senna, Ol. Ricini, &c – .67
to Cough Syrup & Paregoric – .25
Cr by ℥iiii Quicksilver – .50
(See Page 148) $4,77 $1,00