John Croghan
Encyclopedia
Dr. John Croghan was an American medical doctor who helped establish Louisville Marine Hospital and organized some tuberculosis
medical experiments and tours for Mammoth Cave
, in Kentucky
(U.S.) during 1839-1849.
on April 23, 1790. He attended the College of William and Mary
, starting in 1807 and graduated in 1809. From 1810 to 1813, he was a student at the University of Pennsylvania
's School of Medicine
. He then returned to Kentucky
where he helped establish the Louisville Marine Hospital in 1823, serving as its director until 1832.
that included Mammoth Cave
. He had planned to use the cave for medical purposes, as well as tourist use; he expected that its steady climate
could benefit tuberculosis
patients. Deep within the cave, patients suffering from the disease lived in wooden and stone huts. Visitors during this experiment reported hearing constant cough
ing from the patients who appeared as pale, skeleton-like figures inside the huts. The smoke emitted by large fires, used for cooking and warmth, further harmed the suffering patients. Several patients died, and the rest grew more sickly, causing the experiment to end in failure in 1843. The cool temperatures in the cave harmed rather than helped the patients. Croghan's experiment added much to the medical profession's knowledge of tuberculosis and helped lead the way for control of the disease. Dr. Croghan himself died of the disease in 1849. Today, there are two remaining stone huts out of the original eight that can be found in Mammoth Cave.
He also continued using the cave as a tourist attraction
. Following plans of the owner from the prior year, John Croghan used the services of Stephen Bishop, and other slaves, to conduct extensive mapping of the caves and provide guided tours. Interest in the caves grew. Dr. Croghan's own declining health, due to tuberculosis, led him to spend more time at this family's estate, Locust Grove, but he remained involved in the development of Mammoth Cave. He died on January 11, 1849, and left his estate and Mammoth Cave to his brother, his nieces, and his nephews, who organized cave tours until 1926.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
medical experiments and tours for Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
, in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(U.S.) during 1839-1849.
Early life
John Croghan was born in Jefferson County, KentuckyJefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
on April 23, 1790. He attended the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
, starting in 1807 and graduated in 1809. From 1810 to 1813, he was a student at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
's School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
. He then returned to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
where he helped establish the Louisville Marine Hospital in 1823, serving as its director until 1832.
Work with Mammoth Cave
In October 1839, he bought 2000 acres (8.1 km²) near the Green RiverGreen River (Kentucky)
The Green River is a tributary of the Ohio River that rises in Lincoln County in south-central Kentucky. Tributaries of the Green River include the Barren River, the Nolin River, the Pond River and the Rough River...
that included Mammoth Cave
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park is a U.S. National Park in central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world. The official name of the system is the Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System for the ridge under which the cave has formed. The park was established...
. He had planned to use the cave for medical purposes, as well as tourist use; he expected that its steady climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
could benefit tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
patients. Deep within the cave, patients suffering from the disease lived in wooden and stone huts. Visitors during this experiment reported hearing constant cough
Cough
A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring reflex which helps to clear the large breathing passages from secretions, irritants, foreign particles and microbes...
ing from the patients who appeared as pale, skeleton-like figures inside the huts. The smoke emitted by large fires, used for cooking and warmth, further harmed the suffering patients. Several patients died, and the rest grew more sickly, causing the experiment to end in failure in 1843. The cool temperatures in the cave harmed rather than helped the patients. Croghan's experiment added much to the medical profession's knowledge of tuberculosis and helped lead the way for control of the disease. Dr. Croghan himself died of the disease in 1849. Today, there are two remaining stone huts out of the original eight that can be found in Mammoth Cave.
He also continued using the cave as a tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
. Following plans of the owner from the prior year, John Croghan used the services of Stephen Bishop, and other slaves, to conduct extensive mapping of the caves and provide guided tours. Interest in the caves grew. Dr. Croghan's own declining health, due to tuberculosis, led him to spend more time at this family's estate, Locust Grove, but he remained involved in the development of Mammoth Cave. He died on January 11, 1849, and left his estate and Mammoth Cave to his brother, his nieces, and his nephews, who organized cave tours until 1926.