Manuscript Group 174, Sweet and Robinson, (physicians) Daybook, 1858-1866
MG 174
Sweet and Robinson, (physicians.)
Daybook, 1858-1866. 1 vol.
Record of visits made and medicines sold by two physicians, Jonathan Sweet and Morton Robinson, whose joint medical practice was located at 207 Mulberry Street in Newark. Morton Robinson, born in Rhode Island in 1825, graduated from Metropolitan Medical College in 1854 and soon thereafter established himself in Newark, NJ. In 1864 he was appointed medical examiner of recruits and served in Trenton. He became 1st Assistant Surgeon of the 37th Regiment New Jersey Volunteers (May 1864).
The daybook contains daily chronological entries made by both doctors which include the name of the patient and/or payee, the notation of “vis” or “med” (abbreviations for visits and medicine, respectively), fees for services and sometimes a brief description of diagnosis or treatment. Sweet and Robinson treated a variety of patients from different social classes, particularly apprentices and workers: “to attend wife”, “to attend workman”, “the man that works at Spicers [sic]”, “the young lady at the port (?)”, “Samuel Marsh, for William Perrine Apprentice”, “Joseph Baldwin for work girl Brigit”.
Typical services included dressing “mashed” fingers, setting broken bones, and prescribing and selling unspecified medications. Individual patients include: Ellen Bernhard, Joseph Bamford, John Gott, Charles Miller, Elliot Condict, Joseph Baldwin (for Brigit), Miss Riley, Joseph Van Cleve (apprentices), Cap. Nichols, George Starbuck, Allen & Brothers (apprentices), and others.
