Search

Dr. William J. Covington (1852-1917) was a physician based in Cartersville (Bartow County), Georgia. Collection consists of two account books of 200 pages each, with entries specifying his patients' names, race, dates, types of consultations, fees charged, and payments, which included cash as well as services and goods. Covington visited local white and African American persons. Procedures noted include many obstetrical visits, tooth extractions, wounds, minor operations, and at least one explicitly noted abortion for which he gave chloroform. Medicines are rarely named. Two informal notes from patients and a few other laid-in items are included. Acquired as part of the George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana.