Santa Barbara County History

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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Source:
A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara,
San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California
by Yda Addis Storke
Published in 1891 in Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Co.


THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. 

In the early days the care of the sick was of lay origin; that is, by domestic remedies, 
mainly herbal, and in not a few instances borrowed from the superstitious rites of the 
aborigines. Surgical operations, too, were performed mostly after a rough and amateurish 
fashion. As late as June, 1846, Francisco de la Guerra wrote to the Governor that for the 
want of good medical men in the country he had been under the necessity of employing
 the surgeon of a British man-of-war. 

William A. Streeter, as stated elsewhere, practiced here as a physician, albeit not 
regularly qualified, from 1845 forward. 

Dr. Nicholas A. Den had arrived here as early as 1836, but it would appear from Don 
Francisco's expressed want that Dr. Den did not at once begin to practice, nor is the date 
of his embarking in this profession obtainable by the present writer. 

Dr. Samuel Bevier Brinkerhoff, who arrived here in 1852, soon became a general 
favorite practitioner, and when he died he probably knew as many family histories and 
family secrets of the section as a father confessor, besides having opened or closed the 
gates of life to a vast number of the community. Up to the time of his death he was a 
successful practitioner. 

Among the earlier physicians who came to Santa Barbara were: Drs. Alexander Perry; 
Wallace, who came in 1850; Shaw, who practiced with Dr. Burr is, who came hither 
from Mexico; English, Freeman, Ord (a direct descendant of George IV. of England 
and Mrs. Fitzherbert), Biggs and Bates (in partnership about 1873), Winchester (came 
about 1873), S. B. P. Knox, Logando (came about 1875), etc. 

There are at present about twelve regular practicing physicians in the city of Santa 
Barbara, and five practitioners of the homeopathic school. In the outside towns there 
are ten practicing physicians, as follows: At Carpenteria, three; at Santa Maria, two; at 
Santa Ynez, one; at Los Alamos, one; at Lompoc, two; at Los Olivos, one; all these 
being of the allopathic school, save one homeopath at Carpenteria. Most of the 
physicians in the city belong to the State Medical Association, but there is no county 
association, although various efforts have been made to establish one.