Background on Cyrus Morton
On January 14, 1797, Cyrus Morton was born into a notable medical family from Plymouth County, Mass. His father Nathaniel and son Thomas were both physicians, and his sister-in-law, Julia A.W. (Drew) Winslow was one of the first female medical doctors in the Commonwealth. Mortons second wife, Lydia Hall (Drew) Morton, was one of the first teachers at the Perkins School for the Blind, and a member of the first graduating class of the Lexington Normal School.
After receiving his medical degree from Brown University in 1820, Morton practiced for many years in Halifax. A generalist, Morton visited patients in wide area including not only Halifax, but Plymouth, Middleboro, Hanson, Bridgewater, and Duxbury. He continued to practice up until his death in Halifax on May 18, 1873.
Scope of collection
Dating from the years 1828-1838, Cyrus Morton's account book is the third of several kept by the physician. It includes careful records of visits to his numerous patients, sometimes every day in times of need, and records of dispensing medicine. Tucked inside the book is a prayer in Morton's hand asking, "Is the love of God the governing principle of my life?"
The volume records the dates and fees for visits for each patient, but rarely specifies the illness treated or medicine dispensed, with only a few exceptions (e.g., extracting teeth, "delivering your wife"). Payment frequently came in the form of goods and services: pigs, fish, beef, hay, wood, the use of a horse, spinning done by widows or wives, digging a well, carpentry, etc. Among Morton's patients were Timothy Wood, Stafford Sturtevant, Jacob Thompson, Capts. Knapp and Cushman, and Cyrus Munroe.
Administrative information
Search terms
Subjects
- Halifax (Mass.)--Social life and customs--19th century.
- Morton, Cyrus, 1797-1873.
- Physicians--Massachusetts--19th century.
Contributors
- Morton, Cyrus [main entry]
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