THE QUALITY of medical care received in the Republic of Texas from 1836 to 1845 reflected the will of the people. The practice of Texas medicine during 1836 represented a microcosm of frontier treatments by marginally trained physicians in the United States.

The sheer strength of Jacksonian democracy had ushered in an era of do-as-you-will — no license needed and no education required. When John Salmon “Rip” Ford arrived in San Augustine in the summer of 1836, he hung an oak shingle over his wagon announcing that he was a doctor. He had little training. Texans, as early as 1835, had advanced their protestations that the quality of care reflected a lack of regulations, a lack of license requirements, and a lack of overall medical training.

THE REPUBLIC of Texas, blessed with a concerned citizenry, a talented politician base, and an activist physician group, formulated regulations before the Battle of San Jacinto. Twenty-eight persons, one of whom was a woman, published a petition in Nacogdoches after the defeat of Santa Anna that demanded the regulation of medical care. These signatories in their supplication expressed their hopes of relief from the openings of Pandora’s boxes and the dispensing of various compounds of mercury, lead and arsenic.

The petition equated doctors to “a species of vermin that infests our country, distinguished by the once august title of Doctor. They appear to prescribe poison for rats and poison for men as beings on an equal footing.” This extraordinary example of healthcare discontent by citizens proved influential because within six months a law was passed that would change the practice of medicine in Texas.

ON DEC. 14, 1837 the enacted law authorized “a board of censors to regulate the practice of medicine in the New Republic.” Three distinguished Texans advocated the passage of this landmark legislation. Dr. Ashbel Smith, a surgeon and scientist; Dr. Alexander Ewing, chief surgeon of the Texas Army and a respected scholar; and Dr. Phillip Anderson, chief surgeon of the Texas Navy who was widely regarded as one of the smartest men in the whole Republic.

The newly empowered board examined all applicants and granted licenses if presented with satisfactory evidence of qualifications.

As a country, Texas remained squarely ahead of the United States in the medical quality received by patients from trained doctors. Texas attracted many accomplished physicians during this period. These men usually participated in local politics and some helped govern the Republic.

DOCTOR Robert Anderson Irion received his medical training at Transylvania University in 1826. After arriving in Texas, he became a confidante of Sam Houston and he treated Houston’s wounds at the Battle of San Jacinto.

He later served as the secretary of state from 1837 through 1838. When Texas became a state in 1845, medical regulations dissolved almost as quickly as the Republic. Licenses to practice — no longer required. Texas would not re-regulate until the early 1900s.

The East Texas Historical Association provides this column as a public service. Cynthia Devlin is an adjunct instructor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University and lives in Zavalla. Scott Sosebee is Executive Director of the Association and can be contacted at sosebeem@sfasu.edu