Medicine in NC before the Nineteenth Century
"The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632)"
Before Dr. Alexander practiced medicine in North Carolina, there were three ways to seek a medical education. Women were generally excluded in this. One way was to be an apprentice for three to seven years. The other two ways are by studying in a medical school in the U.S.A. or in Europe. If the students studied by apprenticeship, his level of education and learning varied depending on the physician they are following (Roberson, 2010). “For both the apprentice and medical school student, training varied greatly in substance and philosophy. No standardization existed for the medical degree and schools set their own requirements. Furthermore, the State of North Carolina and most other states did not license the practice of medicine. Consequently, the competence of physicians varied widely” (Roberson, 2010). In the 18th century, outbreaks of disease or infections were fairly common. Since there were not many license practitioners, most people resorted to home remedies (NC Museum of History). Even for Dr. Alexander, it is important to know the background history of one’s profession and field of work. Knowing the history can lead to a better understanding of what they do.