Doctor Willard Bliss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doctor Willard Bliss
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| Born | August 18, 1825 Brutus, New York, United States
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| Died | February 21, 1889 (aged 63) |
| Education | Cleveland Medical College |
| Known for | Attending physician to President Garfield |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Physician |
| Sub-specialties | Ballistic trauma |
Doctor Willard Bliss (born August 18, 1825 – died February 21, 1889) was an American doctor. His first name was actually Doctor. He became well-known for treating President James A. Garfield after he was shot in July 1881. Dr. Bliss cared for the President for about two and a half months until his death.
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Who Was Doctor Willard Bliss?
Doctor Willard Bliss was born in Brutus, New York. His parents were Obediah Bliss and Marilla Pool. His unique first name, Doctor, was inspired by a surgeon named Samuel Willard.
Early Life and Medical Training
As a young man, Bliss's family lived in Savoy, Massachusetts. He later studied medicine at Cleveland Medical College. He wrote a paper about false joints in 1849.
Bliss once treated Zachary Taylor for malaria in Louisiana in 1844. Taylor later became a U.S. President.
Challenges in His Career
Dr. Bliss faced some difficulties in his medical career. He sold a product called cundurango, claiming it could cure many serious illnesses. Because of these claims, he was removed from the Washington, D.C. Medical Society in 1853.
During the American Civil War, Bliss served as a surgeon. He worked with the 3rd Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He later became the head of Armory Square Hospital in Washington D.C. He continued to practice medicine in the city after the war.
Bliss was also removed from the District of Columbia Medical Society for supporting homeopathy. This was a new way of treating illnesses at the time. He also disagreed with the society's rule against having Black members.
Dr. Bliss was mentioned by the famous poet Walt Whitman. Whitman said that Bliss believed he had done a lot of good for soldiers during the war.
Treating President James A. Garfield
On July 2, 1881, President James A. Garfield was shot at a train station. Dr. Bliss was called to help. He examined Garfield's bullet wounds with his fingers and tools. He thought the bullet was in the President's liver.
Taking Charge of the President's Care
Dr. Bliss took over as President Garfield's main doctor. He wanted to improve his own reputation. He kept the President isolated in a room at the White House.
Garfield's personal doctor arrived the next day. After a disagreement, Bliss sent him away. He also asked other doctors not to see the President. Since trained nurses were not common then, Bliss used the wives of Cabinet members to help. They did not have medical training.
Challenges and New Ideas
Over the next few weeks, Dr. Bliss often checked Garfield's wound. He used his fingers and tools that were not clean. This made Garfield's condition worse.
Bliss also invited Alexander Graham Bell to help. Bell had invented a metal detector. Bliss hoped it would find the bullet. The device's signal seemed to be affected by the metal springs in the President's bed. Later, it was found that the detector worked well. It would have found the bullet if Bliss had let Bell use it on both sides of Garfield's body.
After President Garfield died, Dr. Bliss asked for a large payment for his services. He was offered a smaller amount, which he did not accept. Some people at the time believed that Bliss had made mistakes in treating the President.
Personal Life
Doctor Willard Bliss married Sophia Prentiss in Ohio in 1849. They had four children together. Their children were Elliss Baker, Clara Bliss Hinds, Willie Prentiss, and Eugenie Prentiss. The family lived in a house in Washington D.C. that was once owned by John Quincy Adams.
Sophia died in January 1888. Dr. Bliss passed away in the same city on February 21, 1889. His death was caused by heart failure.
Images for kids
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Doctor Willard Bliss and his brother Zenas E. Bliss in 1861
