Doctors in the West

A western town was blessed to have a doctor in the early years, but 1880 Town did. His office and living quarters were above the emporium. One took the steep outside stairs to get there, and a small sign above and to one side of the door announced Dr. Adam's practice. I don't suppose he had to worry about advertising his business. If someone needed a doctor, they would find him. 

If a man was brought there badly injured, it might be difficult to get him up those narrow steps. However, the doctor would be called out to visit most patients. Early doctors went to people's homes and rarely treated patients in their offices. Yet, they had that capability should it be needed, and victims of saloon or street fights could end up there.

The rooms were small but adequate. The doctor had his office, an examining room, and a bedroom. His hat and medical bag sat nearby, ready to be grabbed at a moment's notice. Dr. Adams must have been single because a family would have required more space.

I have a novel, Beckett's Brides, featuring a doctor as the main character. Beckett Steele is the doctor in Deadwood, South Dakota. In fact, I was going to Deadwood to do research for this book and attend a writer's festival when I toured 1880 Town in Midland, South Dakota. In the book, Beckett can't believe it when his aunt sends him twins who have no place to go, and he's supposed to provide a chaperone and choose which one he wants to marry.

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