Doc's Medicaine Perked up Miners
(note: this article appeared in October 1977 written by Denice Wheeler--see source below. John Richard Roberts worked at Cumberland located just outside of Kemmerer and Diamondville, Wyoming.) picture from here Cumberland, Wyoming. The medical profession as practiced in isolated mining camps during the late 1800's has little parallel to codes and ethics imposed on modern doctors. In fact, this coal-mining town in southwestern Wyoming would not have had any medical services if a medical degree had been required. F.L. McCarty was appointed camp foreman in 1900 shortly after prospectors had found coal in the area, and the Union Pacific Railroad had indicated an interest in buying all that could be mined. Mine Doctor To Mr. McCarty fell many duties, among which was acting as mine doctor. The mine commissary became the doctor's quarters and hospital. In the midst of the roughest kind of frontier life, lacking adequate tools and training, Mr. McCar...