Table of Contents
Scope and Contents of the Collection
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Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | Merrick, Constant. |
| Title: | Constant Merrick Physician's Account Book |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1796-1814 |
| Quantity: | 1 folder (SC) |
| Abstract: | Medical account book recording details of Dr. Merrick's practice, patients, and personal life. Dr. Merrick lived and practiced in Longmeadow, Massachusetts; Franklin, Connecticut; and Lebanon, New York (Madison County). |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center |
Biographical History
Dr. Constant Merrick lived and practiced medicine in Longmeadow, Massachusetts (1796-1797) and Franklin, Connecticut (1797-1800). In 1802 he moved with his family to Madison County, New York, near Hamilton and in 1807 he was present at the meeting that selected the site for the new village of Lebanon. He became deeply involved in his adopted community, being a founding member of the county medical society, a member of the first school commission, and an election inspector among other public services. He remained in Lebanon, New York until his death in 1828.
Scope and Contents of the Collection
The Constant Merrick Physician's Account Book details not only Dr. Merrick's treatment of hundreds of named patients but also his relocations to Connecticut and New York. Since Madison County was not formed until 1806 and Lebanon not formed until 1807, Dr. Merrick's entries include the names of numerous Madison County pioneers. Not infrequently an individual's military rank is noted, many of the early settlers being veterans of the Revolutionary War who migrated from various New England states to take up pension lands in New York. Dr. Merrick visited his patients in their homes (as witnessed by his documented travel expenses, which sometimes exceeded his medical fee) and extracted teeth, set broken bones, prescribed elixirs and medicines, opened abscesses and performed abortions.
The account book also gives details of Dr Merrick's own life, including an epidemic that killed his son, his purchase of foodstuffs and liquor, and his acquisition of farmland. Other entries testify to his importance in the community. Seldom does a single individual's ledger contain as much information on the founding years of a community as does this volume. Happily, Dr. Merrick possessed a clear, neat hand and the book is easily legible.
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Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Related Material
See also Lowell Holbrook Physician's Account Book and David M. Benson Physician's Account Book.
Subject Headings
Persons
Subjects
Places
Genres and Forms
Occupations
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Constant Merrick Physician's Account Book,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
Purchased with funds from Library Associates, 2006.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: MRR
Date: 14 Jul 2006
Revision history: 3 May 2010 - corrected related materials link (MRC);
18 Nov 2011 - minor format corrections (MRC)