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Dr. Moses Baker, born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 29, 1823, came with
his parents to Stockwell, Indiana, at the age of eight years and
spent the remainder of his life as a practitioner of medicine and
surgery within its boundaries. His education was obtained in
the public schools of the time. Choosing the medical profession,
he entered the medical college at LaPorte, Indiana, from which he was graduated
in 1848, and in 1852 he completed the prescribed course in medicine and
surgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Baker was
a skilled surgeon as well as physician, and performed many critical operation,
notable among which was one known to the profession as a case of Caesarean
section, which went down in medical journals as most historic. This
operation was undertaken and successfully performed by Dr. Baker who assumed
the entire responsibility, though many other physicians were present.
This miracle in surgical science was successfully performed and both the
mother survived for many years. Afterwards, the latter, a robust
man living today, (1909). This operation was performed November 6,
1880, upon Mrs. Emma Lucas, wife of Luther Lucas of Wild Cat Prairie, near
Stockwell in Tippecanoe County. Dr. Moses Baker died at his home
in Stockwell, August 16, 1888.
Below, in his own words, is an accounting of Dr. Baker's examination of
Mrs. Lucas and the resulting surgery.
"On the third of November 1880, I was called to attend Mrs. Emma Lucas,
a primipara, aged 34, a white woman of English parentage, wife of Luther
Lucas, a farmer living on Wild Cat Prairie, near Stockwell, Tippecanoe
County, Indiana. On examination, I found it necessary to perform
a Caesarean section."
"On the morning of November 6, 1880, I performed the Caesarean operation
in the presence of, and assisted by, Drs. J. Crouse, D.H. Crouse, and L.
Strother, of Dayton; Drs. A.A.Wells and William C. Lambert of Stockwell;
Drs. John Simison and Pike of Romney--all of Tippecanoe county. I
was given to understand the majority of my consulting brothern [sic] that
the patient would probably die during the operation or from the effects
of it; but as there was no other chance for her delivery, they did not
advise me not to operate, as long as I would assume the responsibility,
which I was willing to do. The patient rallied well and soon expressed
herself as much relieved both in body and mind."
"I examined her May 1, 1882, found in perfect health, baby still living,
healthy and well grown. At the time of the present writing (June
10, 1883) both mother and baby in perfect health and good spirits."
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