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 ROTHROCK

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ROTHROCK

was returning from a long call and noting the light in a farm house stopped in to warm himself. He found the young lad lying on the floor in front of the huge old fire place and studying by its light an English grammar. The doctor asked him if he understood it and receiving an affirmative, gave him a sentence to parse and being pleased with his ability to do so he cpiestioned him further concerning his work.

The outcome was that he asked him to come and make his home with him in Lewistown and become his office boy. After a consultation with his parents the offer was accepted and he worked for the doctor and went to school. In 1826 he studied under Dr. Patterson remaining with him until his death, when he continued his medical work under Dr. James Cidbertson. In the winter of 1S28-29 he attended a course of lectures at the l^niversity of Penn- sylvania and then, owing to a lack of the necessary funds, returned to Mifflin County. At this time the canal, which for many years served as the great artery of traffic till the railroad rendered it obsolete, was in process of construction and the young student served for a couple of years as a sort of contract surgeon for the workmen, earning in this way the money for the continuance of his medical education. He then re-entered the University of Pennsyl- vania and in 1835 graduated and started in on his life work in Mifflin County, settling down to a general practice in McVeytown where he continued almost to the day of his death, on September 9, 1894.

Two years after coming to McVey- town, in 1837, the doctor married Phoebe Brinton, daughter of Joseph and Jane Trimble, of Concord, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and had three children, two daughters, Ann Amanda and Mary, and one son. Dr. Joseph Trimble Roth- rock, who rendered great service, not only in medical but also in scientific work.

Dr. Rothrock was in the habit of Vol. 11-22

sending his cases of incipient tuberculosis to the "Coalings," as the coal hearths were called, where the charcoal was burned. Anyone who has seen the most jirimitive of cabins occupied by the char- coal burners, can readily see that it must have been the life in the open air far more than the smoke of the smoldering char- coal that elTected the cure. Built either round or square at their base and with the roof running to a single point, like an Indian wigwam, they were constructed of a layer of logs covered over with leaves and dirt as a thatch with one side left open for the huge stone fireplace and with a door resting up against another side. Within, a crude platform served as bed; table and chairs, windows there were none and the only other articles of furni- ture were the cooking utensils and the tools of the occupants. An excellent shelter they made for snakes, too, and the custom of the wood choppers was to leave a toad in the caliin when they left. If on their return the little tenant was at home it was a good sign, but if he was not to lie seen a careful search was next in order to get rid of the snake that had killed it. It can readily be seen that jiatients sent to such sanatoria were apt to take the fresh air cure most faithfully and many cures were the result, though they were in those days generally supposed to he due to some particular virtue of the smoke from the burning pits.

Of magnificent health and unusual muscular strength, he worked with a ])ersistance and energy that would have killed or broken down the average indi- vidual. And this life he continued to lead, until death called him as he was nearing his eighty-ninth year. A most devout member of his chosen church (the Presbyterian) it was remarkable to see how so busy a man found time to go there regularly.

He was a member of the State Medical Society, holding the position of first vice- president of this latter organization in 1878.

A. M. R.