Thomsonian, Hydropathic and Others

Thomsoman,Hydropathic,and Others

With the passage of years, offbeat medical establishments popped up. On April 16,1850, a Dr. Davis announced the opening ofhis Thomsonian Hospital and Botanic Medicine Store, located on K Street between 2nd and 3rd, and offeredtosupplyphysiciansforthemines. Hisratesranfrom $5 to $25 per day. The Thomsonians ofthat era believed in "natural remedies, notchemical.” The advertisementstated

Pacific Water Cure Establishment, 1860s and 1870s, from History of Sacramento County by Thompson and West, republished by Howell-North, Berkeley, in 1960. Drawing by John Howell.

that“many doctorshavelearnedjustenough to knowhow to deceive people, andkeepthemin ignoranceby coveringtheir doings under a language unknown to their patients.31 The Thomsonians later became part of the Eclectics, another botanic medical sect.

Ahydropathic (water-cure) institution was openedby a Dr. Davis, perhaps the former Thomsonian, at 5th and K Streets in 1857. Care includingboard and room cost $15 per week for live-in patients, or one could have treatment alone for $10 per week. At 7th and L Streets there was the Pacific Water Cure and Eclectic Health Institute, M.F. Clayton, M.D., proprietor, which advertised Turkish and Russian baths and electric, medicated, and vapor treatments.

Anotableorganizationcalled “TheHowards,"wassetup December21,1857,intheOldPaviliononMStreet,tocarefor thepoorandsick. Itwasfundedwithvoluntarycontributions and donations by the legislature.

Because there was no facility to care for aged women in Sacramento, MargaretE. Crocker presented the Marguerite Home, between 7th and8thf Pand Q, to the City on February 2,1884. Ithad been the residence ofCaptain Wm. Whitney. Inadditiontothe Home, therewas an endowmentof$50,000.

MargueriteHome, 7th and Q, 1885, in *The FestivalofFlowers* p. 48. Courtesy California State Library.