Abstract: Ledger (1880-1897) of Kinston, N.C., physician, Dr. Henry Otis Hyatt, containing accounts of patients, medical cures for illnesses, and the constitution, by-laws, and minutes of the Kinston Commercial and Trade Association. A native of Tarboro, N.C., he moved his practice to Kinston, N.C., in 1872 and established Dr. Hyatt's Sanatorium for the Diseases of the Eye and General Surgery in 1891. Dr. Hyatt was one of the best known and skilled physicians in the state, and had one of the first "free clinics" in this country. Dr. Hyatt was also instrumental in the development of the Kinston Commercial and Trade Association, later known as "The Merchants Association."
This collection reflects the daily life of Dr. Henry Otis Hyatt, a Kinston, N.C., physician, who was active in professional and community affairs in Kinston, N.C., and surrounding counties in the late nineteenth century. Dr. Hyatt's specialties seem to be diseases of the eye and general surgery. In 1872, he is said to have performed, successfully, an operation aspirating the stomach through the abdominal wall in a case of laudanum poisoning. This was the first operation of this kind ever performed.
This ledger reflects the activities of a family practitioner and includes patient accounts and carefully noted treatments and cures ranging from mad itch (uticaria), flatulency in old persons, to tapeworms. In addition to records concerning his practice, the ledger contains a detailed article for publication dealing with the use of electricity in uterine diseases written by Dr. Hyatt.
In community activities, Dr. Hyatt was instrumental in the development of the Kinston Commercial and Trade Association, later known as "The Merchants Association." Included in the ledger are the constitution, qualifications for membership, by-laws, duties of officers and members, a list of members, minutes, and a list of objectives of the association.
One item found on page 108, among patient accounts receivable, refers to Dr. Hyatt's agricultural pursuits. Mentioned are business terms with a tenant on one of his farms.
The collection also includes modern prints of two older photographs. The topics of the photographs are an image of the Hyatt children as adults and a drawing (ca. 1890s) of Dr. Hyatt's Sanatorium for the Diseases of the Eye and General Surgery that was probably used in a newspaper advertisement.
Dr. Henry Otis Hyatt (1848-1922), a native of Tarboro, N.C., first studied medicine under Dr. Newsom Jones Pittman (1818-1893) and subsequently graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's school of medicine in 1868. Dr. Hyatt moved his practice to Kinston, N.C., in 1872. Here he was very successful, establishing a private hospital, or Sanatorium for the Diseases of the Eye and General Surgery in 1891. In the same year he established a newspaper in the town, The Herald of Health, that ran until 1893. Dr. Hyatt married Sybil Henry Miller (1858-1933) in February 1877 and they had three children, Delia, Sybil, and Anderson Lawrence Hyatt.
October 1, 1985, 1 volume; Ledger (1880-1897) of Kinston, N.C., physician, containing accounts of patients, medical cures for illnesses, and the constitution, by-laws, and minutes of the Kinston Commercial and Trade Association. Gift of the Elbert Wilson family, Ayden, N.C.
Henry Otis Hyatt Papers (#503), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Folder a Ledger (1880-1897) of Kinston, N.C., physician Henry O. Hyatt containing patient accounts and medical cures, and the constitution & bylaws and minutes for the Kinston Commercial and Trade Association.
Folder b Modern prints of old photographs: 1 photograph is of Henry and Sybil Hyatt's 3 children (Delia Hyatt, Sybil Hyatt, Anderson Lawrence Hyatt) as adults; 1 photograph of a ca. 1890s drawing used in a newspaper ad of Dr. Hyatt's Sanatorium for the Diseases of the Eye and General Surgery in Kinston, N.C.