ROTHROCK
337
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.
