Struggles & Triumphs

Our lives are made of story: stories of the past, stories of work and experiences, stories of family and friends, stories of struggles, and stories of triumphs. The story of doctors and the Tarrant County Medical Society is such a story. It is a story of doctors sharing a special bond to provide medical services to patients and the community.

It is my hope that the story will provide provocative reading, but more than that, one owes it to oneself to know the history. Today the doctors of Tarrant County Medical Society are experiencing many changes in the way health care is delivered. History is relevant! History provides an insight to present and future struggles, choices, and decisions.

Beginnings and Birth-1853 -1903

In 1853 the first civilian doctor, Dr. Carroll Peak, started a general practice of medicine as the only doctor in a 30-mile radius of Fort Worth. He made his own pills and solutions. His calls were made on horseback as he watched out for panthers. In 1858, Dr. W. P. Burts became the second doctor to locate in Fort Worth. Dr. Burts was elected the first mayor on April 3, 1873. According to records, the White Elephant Saloon was on one side of the mayor’s office and a gambling house was on the other.

At the turn of the century, most of the doctors’ offices were located on Main Street within eight blocks south of the courthouse. They were above drug stores, and the rent was either nothing or very little. Office visits were $1 and horse and buggy house calls were $2. Doctors riding in buggies sometimes found themselves stuck in the muddy streets and finished their rounds astride the buggy horse. Most of the doctors did general practice but a few were known as specialists. The specialists were Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat men and Surgeons. Patients needing hospitalization were cared for at the only hospital, St. Joseph Infirmary.

Fort Worth doctors occasionally met to discuss problems. On the evening of April 14, 1902, a meeting was held for the physicians interested and the Fort Worth Medical Association was founded. Dr. Julian Field was elected president, and 29 physicians are recorded as being present. The records show that this organization held 17 regular meetings, the last being on July 27, 1903. It was then that the Tarrant County Medical Society was born. At that July meeting, Dr. I.L. Van Zandt introduced the following resolution: “Whereas, Representation in the State and National Medical Association is dependent on membership in a County Medical Association, Resolved: That the Secretary of the Association be instructed to notify every regular physician in the county that on Thursday, the sixth of August, 1903, at 8:30 p.m., all physicians of the county are requested to meet to organize the Tarrant County Medical Society.” This motion prevailed and the secretary was instructed to invite Dr. C. E. Cantrell, organizer for the State Medical Association, to be present and assist with re-organization. The organization was perfected and officers elected. Dr. I. L. Van Zandt was chosen as the first president with 36 charter members.

The constitution and bylaws of the Tarrant County Medical Society began by saying that “it is designed to bring into one organization the physicians of the community, so that by frequent meetings and full and frank interchange of views, they may secure such intelligent unity and harmony in every phase of their labor as will elevate and make effectual the opinions of the profession in all scientific, legislative, public health, material and social affairs, to the end that the profession may receive the respect and support within its own ranks and from the community in which its honorable history and great achievements entitle it.”

The work of this new organization of physicians included public health issues, educational programs for physicians, and difficulties in policing the professional—equally a part of the work of organized medicine today.