Daniel Lucius Adams obtained n M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1838, Following his time in college, he joined his father’s medical practice. The pair worked in Mont Vernon, before the younger Adams relocated twice, first to Boston and then to New York City.
In 1839, Dr. Daniel L. Adams began established his practice in New York City and continued there for twenty-seven years. For most of that time he was closely connected with the
New York Dispensary, and was appointed attending physician from 1839 to 1844 and 1848 to 1854.
The New York Dispensaries provided medical care to poor residents. Adams offered his assistance when outbreaks of cholera affected New York City. For providing vaccinations, Adams received yearly pay of $400 for a time. His field of employment gave rise to his nickname of “Doc”, which was given as “Dock” at the time.
The following is a letter that Doc wrote to his father during the cholera outbreak of 1854.
“… Thermometer from 95 to 100. Cholera is upon the increase – new hospitals are being opened. … The mortality… will be great, much exceeding last week… Our District Attorney… died last week…”
An excellent article, “Baseball Rules”, by James S. Distlehorst appeared in the Spring 1999 Harvard Medical Alumni magazine and is extremely accurate. The article summarizes Doc’s base ball life and contributions, and also includes his post-baseball life. An interesting addendum is another article by Distlehorst, “Treating the Knickerbockers”. It describes the medical practices of the time and what Adams’ practice would be like and the care he would provide.
You can read both articles here or within the complete magazine edition on Internet Archive.
Distlehorst quotes two two eminent historians: the late Fred Ivor Campbell who referred to Adams as “the Nuturing Father of Baseball” and John Thorn who calls Doc “first among the Fathers of Baseball”. Distlehorst thanks Thorn, John R. Husman and Kenneth Shouler in providing the profile of Doc Adams.
