Early Recollections and Life of Dr. James Still

Known in the Medford area as "doctor", James Still was not a licensed physician. The title was conferred by grateful patients who welcomed his gentle remedies after the "heroic" treatment prescribed by most nineteenth-century doctors. Purging and blood-letting were common practice and medication was intended to produce violent results. Blisters, cupping, leeches, and tobacco injections were still used. No wonder suffering patients preferred the vegetable preparations and cooling liniments of Dr.