A Ghoul, a Ghost and a Grisly Murder: The Legend of Dr. Joseph McDowell

[@chrisnorman9980]

When you first showed a picture of McDowell, my immediate reaction was, “He looks like Andrew Jackson with that mane of hair.” Turns out it was deliberate on his part. Always informative and enjoyable.

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

I thought it was Jackson!

[@peterhughes1460]

I want to hear about the history of the history guy! That also deserves to be remembered!

[@isaace436]

The image of a bear lazily walking out of a cage toward a screaming crowed only for it to just walk up, probably sniff or lick someone and yawn and lay down is just hilarious to me.

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

You're the first to accurately define the word "ghoul." Kudos on your narratives so strong on causation.

[@hatuletoh]

I loved picturing the cinnamon colored bear being released on the mob, but ambling out, yawning, and looking perplexed. Although it wasn't nearly so amusing when I thought about the conditions the bear was likely kept in at most other times.

[@goodun2974]

Oh, I'm sure McDowell threw the bear a bone from time to time....😳

[@hatuletoh]

@@goodun2974 True. And he probably didn't torture him to death in a bear baiting fight, so that's...good? Whenever I start buying into the lie that things are worse than ever, and people are more immoral than they used to be, I just remember that 150-200+ years ago wild bears were captured and killed for public sport, and pit bulls were bred in the hopes of creating a breed of dog that could go one on one with a bull, because it was too hard for the bookies to handicap fights between bulls and bulldogs when the number of bulldogs per fight had to be negotiated on a case by case basis depending on the size of the bull. Humanity is far from perfect, but we've made some progress.

[@markhonea2461]

@@hatuletoh some

[@gregraines1599]

@@hatuletoh Now if we could just stop cockfighting and dogfighting.

[@fredcloud9668]

It is a pleasure listening to you.

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!!

[@rob-v1y]

The yawning and confused "attack bear" is the best part.

[@marknc9616]

That part was unbearable.

[@reefsroost696]

It was paws-able.

[@goodun2974]

Don't all good stories involve bears, and cannon?

[@DonP_is_lostagain]

@@goodun2974 and pirates!

[@sharonwhiteley6510]

Don't forget the excess body parts.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Patient: "Doctor. I'm not feeling well." Dr. McDowell: "Take two of these, and I'll dig you up early in the morning."

[@johnstevenson9956]

I'd been through "Mark Twain's Cave" in Hannibal but had no idea of its odd history. (Amanda never showed herself.)

[@travisrainey1171]

"People of Color and Catholics would cross the road rather than walk near the college." I was thinking that I would've done the same at this point in the story.

[@jimreilly917]

🤣

[@chuckkottke]

Yes, one wouldn't want to be part of the wagon loads of bones later hauled out of the basement!

[@VarangianGuard13]

While he would likely try the same with me, being uninterested in his crazy levels of self-aggrandizement I do not favor his murderous and hateful tendencies against ohh.. my vast knowledge of horror movies, CQB training and the little boost that comes from hating all defilers of the honored dead... Yes, invite me to your basement, we shall play Rock, Paper, Shotgun. He's that special flavor of crazy that you normally only see in that century, or a couple of previous centuries.. that, or "Doctor" Mengelae

[@Malbeefance]

"People of color and catholics..." I never knew Catholics didn't include people.of color. I didn't know catholics were all albinos, the only people who aren't people of color.

[@travisrainey1171]

@@Malbeefance I quoted exactly what was said in the video and then made a statement that I would do the same. Did you watch the video? Not sure what you're trying to say.

[@paulhunt598]

Living most of my life in the St. Louis region, I was aware of Joseph, but THG has given more life to his story!

[@TheOdieD3]

OK! This is a favorite episode!

[@chaosdweller]

🤔..................

[@TheKulu42]

I enjoyed that episode of the semi-forgotten. I had never heard of Dr. McDowell until now. A man like that shouldn't fade away.

[@wholeNwon]

The portrait of the surgeon operating on the boy's leg is that of Samuel David Gross, M.D., Professor of Surgery at The Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. That Chair is still named after him and the portrait is by Eakins. Dr. Gross succeeded Dr. Mutter of museum and plastic surgery fame. Dr. Gross's son also became a Professor of Surgery. One of the founders of the school was George McClellan, M.D., father of the eponymous Civil War General.

[@christyluvs80sXo]

You always make “snippets” of history so enjoyable! I always loved history class in school, and still enjoy as an adult. I thought I knew quite a bit, but more times than not, I learn something new from you!

[@MrDmitriRavenoff]

He is what I used to love about the Discovery and History channels. Now they are trash and this is how I get my history fix.

[@kennyhagan5781]

My favorite history channel on KZbin.

[@mjf3810]

As a Missouri native, I found this particularly interesting!

[@kdrapertrucker]

The body snatching was common among medical professors in the day. As donating your body to science was not yet a thing, so bodies were snatched to teach medical students anatomy, and surgery.

[@jeanneratterman4174]

Burke & Hare film is about body snatching for medical school in Scotland. It is made comedic with Simon Pegg as Burke, but based on true story. Burke’s own skeleton is featured in the Edinburgh School of Medicine. Ah, Irony!

[@davidbarrass]

@@jeanneratterman4174 I've seen his skeleton, as a hanged criminal Burke was dissected by his greatest customer, Dr Knox. All of the cemeteries in Edinburgh, and most in Scotland, have a tower built overlooking them so families of the deceased could watch over the grave

[@winstonchurchill3597]

Well can't really blame them - how else were they going to teach students?

[@jamesrogers47]

"Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief, Knox's the boy who buys the beef."

[@mikemorris1512]

REMEMBER this didn't happen hundreds of years ago. History has a way of meeting us at the door. Where was your cell phone just 15 year ago. Sir, you are a hero. Thank you

[@halletts1171]

1 Million Subs! Congrats!

[@goldgeologist5320]

It is always good when a pirate reference gets worked into the presentation! Excellent job history guy!

[@chaosdweller]

Hahaha ....?

[@poohbear9795]

A butt pirate

[@orbyfan]

"When most people die, the last person to see them alive is usually a doctor." -- Les Nessman

[@JH-ji6cj]

Random WKRP quotes are always appreciated!

[@lordgarion514]

Had an electrician, that did work for my company, come up walking funny with both legs swollen one day. I mentioned he should go to the hospital, and he straight up said they kill you at the hospital. I was like no, they die there, because people keep going when they get screwed up, and they can't always save you. Not the same as killing you. He died not long after.

[@whiplash8277]

“It’s like...like they were organized...” - Les Nessman

[@retriever19golden55]

The corollary: the cause of death for research animals is research.

[@bubbercakes528]

Wow! Les Nessman is such a blast from the past! WKRP was a great show!

[@timothyurton5407]

Thank you Lance for making historical learning, both enjoyable and fascinating.

[@kurtdunbar912]

The Lattimer Massacre deserves to be remembered.

[@simonrisley2177]

You really couldn't make it up! Here in England we have always tolerated eccentrics. One who particularly comes to mind -- and whom I often saw -- was Stanley Green, the well-known "Human Billboard", who patrolled the area around London's Oxford Street for over 25 years; his billboard displaying the remarkable announcement "Less passion with less protein: meat, fish, bird, egg and nuts. And sitting". He became something of a 'National Treasure', with The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph all printing his obituary when he died. -- Wonderful! (In fact possibly deserving of treatment by The History Guy...)

[@joedearinger9239]

A fitting tidbit of hostory for the Halloween season. Lol thank you THG! I can not even begin to tell you how much I enjoy and love your channel.

[@Farweasel]

Halloween - Check. Ghouls - Check. Demons - Missing And that is a very great shame because ......... As the song & the adage both tell us .......... *Demons* are a *Ghoul's* *best* *Friend*

[@jbos5107]

@@Farweasel As sung by Marilyn. Manson not Monroe!

[@theoutlook55]

Love the holiday intro!👍🏿

[@mrskitkatlady]

I love this one! I enjoy hearing history of my hometown! Thank you!

[@chaosdweller]

I could imagine...I'm close.

[@revan9173]

You mentioned Ephraim McDowell. I live five minutes from the museum. I have been there several times over the years. It is interesting

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!!

[@charlesclager6808]

It is said that there is a thin line between genius and idiocy. The good doctor straddled that line. Excellent video. I was fascinated from beginning to end. Thank you so much.

[@RonSparks2112]

It is very possible to be both a genius and an idiot.

[@leviwarren6222]

A couple of months ago, I suggested in a comment that you do a video on the real historical places and events in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I suppose history has a way of being told.

[@raydunakin]

What a fascinating story, and what an interesting character! It's amazing to me how far medical science has come, and how primitive it was such a short time ago.

[@hisgracedwaynedibley7443]

Thank you History Guy, I always wondered who the Ephraim Mcdowell medical center was named after. Love hearing Kentucky history.

[@hhuggman1]

Mr. History Guy is...LEGEND!!

[@lloydknighten5071]

History Guy, thanks for this tidbit of Saint Louis history. This is the first time that I have heard of the "Mad" Doctor Ms Dowell.

[@chaosdweller]

Hello Lyold .... never heard of her.

[@SHAd0Eheart]

Great video! I love history and have sought it out where ever I could find it and yet I had never heard of Dr McDowell. Thank you!

[@morganosborne9258]

Eccentricity definitely makes things interesting. Thank you for the entertaining history narration

[@monday8895]

As we honor people of wealth and notoriety, I hope we will remember stories like these about people. They're not pure. Our perspective should always be thought of as just that "a perspective" not fact.

[@annvictor9627]

Loved the jack o' lanterns. Interesting story.

[@WayfarerTechnologies]

I am proudly alumni with this man. I long for such days when our professors kept cannons on the roof. "The mobs are upon us. Release the bears!"

[@orbyfan]

I'd never heard of Transylvania University until this video, and was surprised to find that it's in Kentucky, and an appropriate school for someone of Dr. McDowell's reputation.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Transylvania University was actually founded by a company that Transported goods through the Appalachians. Only 4 years ago, the university adopted a Bat logo. Mary Todd (Lincoln) also attended the school.

[@Fillardmillmore]

I've never snorted so often when watching a video. I'd love to read the book written by his nephew. This man is obnoxious and fascinating. Imagine having Henry Clay as your professor and just years later you're imitating all of Andrew Jackson's likeness.

[@keithweiss7899]

Consider doing one on Dr. Geo Seib. His mother was a famous St. Louis Spiritualist leader. He was a teacher at Washington University School of medicine and my family doctor. For years he averaged delivering one baby per day as well as running his practice.

[@chiefpontiac1800]

Another fine story HG. Perhaps if Dr. McDowell would have armed his Ursus arctos, only then could he "Bear arms" against those mean townsfolk.

[@jimreilly917]

Groooooaan.🥴🤣

[@AndrewVelonis]

He had the right to arm bears.

[@jpkalishek4586]

he coulda used some of the limbs he had in the basement, and stitched them on with gut. 5 or 6 extra and it would be a well armed bear

[@catherinecrawford2289]

Uuugghh.....😅

[@In_Our_Timeline]

"Now, whenever you read any historical document, you always evaluate it in light of the historical context" --Josh McDowell

[@aguerra41]

Love your program. You always have snippets of history I’ve never heard about.

[@Svartalf14]

Thanks so much sir, this one was very instructive... I certainly never expected the resurrection men to have been active so recently as you show, and even less an important professor to have personally gone on specimen gathering outings.

[@Ammo08]

When we were actually taught Missouri History in school, Dr. McDowell was one of my favorite weird people of our great state.

[@SMichaelDeHart]

Between you ('THG') and Dr Mark Felton the Halloween Specials and History is almost as fun as Trick or Treating as a 8yo kid...many many moons ago. Thank you THG!!

[@Soundbrigade]

Throw in MrBallen and you don’t dare turn off your bedside lamp ...💀🎃👽

[@tm502010]

I need to give you a big SHOUT OUT for your title sequences. They are often quite different, and “creatively specific.” Wonderful! ❤️

[@Niinsa62]

Great story, and I like the Mark Twain connection! Another great storyteller!

[@RhettyforHistory]

Great story for Halloween! The cemetery in St. Louis has some fascinating history!

[@jimreilly917]

The main 2 do, and several other cemeteries in the county.

[@kelsey4540]

What an interesting and quite a colorful family member I have.

[@mwhyte1979]

Like how you managed to work Pirates in there. LOL

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

They called it the “Lafitte cannon.” I couldn’t find a record of what happened to it- his weapons seem to have been dispersed during the war. I wonder if it is still around somewhere.

[@euansmith3699]

13:51 I thought that the reveal was going to be, that the locals were breaking in to the cave, to get at the alcohol surrounding the coffin.

[@goodun2974]

Favorite drink of cannon-wielding, body-snatching, corpse-preserving vivisectionists: Cannon-ade. 🤣

[@izzywatashi371]

Paranoia runs deep, into McDowell it did creep. An interesting and timeless social phenomenon.

[@004Black]

As gruesome as it was, autopsy was a necessary and powerful way to advance the study of medicine.

[@zaphodbeatlebrox4906]

Informative and entertaining as always!

[@chaosdweller]

I'm new but I thoroughly enjoyed the show , luv how he makes it funny, but without it taking away from the message.

[@patriciadean5320]

Thank you sir for many interesting history stories-love the stories and your voice and bow tie

[@jimwright8379]

I am related to Joseph McDowell. It's cool to learn a little family history.

[@chaosdweller]

🤔

[@TomDLuv777]

Love ya History Guy, you always make my day much better!

[@dkompres6889]

Great Missouri story.

[@gregoryullrich6686]

At 9:44 that's a portrait of Dr. Samuel Gross painted by Thomas Eakins titled "The Gross Clinic."

[@zerozero9085]

Thanks!

[@rickieoakes5267]

My family lives just outside of Danville Kentucky and I've been passed that hospital on numerous occasions but I never knew where the name came from thank you history guy

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!!

[@dinascharnhorst6590]

Dr. Daniel Drake, Dr. McDowell's FIL, was in turn a highly regarded phsician in Cincinnati. A hospital was named for Dr. Drake, and it stands today...although no longer operating as the County hospital. Due to the activities of the so-called "Angel of Death" (Donald Harvey), its focus has turned toward long-term care, rehab, and hospice.

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!

[@geoben1810]

Thanks for the Halloween season ghost and horror stories HG. Perfectly timed and very appropriate entertainment! 🎃👻💀🕸🕷

[@patmcstuff671]

Mark Twain cave is worth a visit, really cool and this story is told by tour guide

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!!

[@trj1442]

Another excellent episode. Thankyou THG crew.

[@fredherfst8148]

A whole new definition of eccentric!

[@graceamerican3558]

The word 'eccentric' is KIND. lol

[@chaosdweller]

@@graceamerican3558 haha! true in some circles yes, .... but then like he said in the video, other sources say completely different haha, so it seems we all have to make his overall place in history, as that I guess? haha.... overall, but yes I was actually quite surprised by all the good reviews when I googled him haha shocking ....; I learned about him in, Barnes and noble when I stumbled across the book he mentioned in the video surprisingly haha, then saw a guy with that last name run by and realized what I wanted to look up while I was still aloud internet haha, .... yeah that's what the book was about actually as u could imagine in the title haha, I can't remember what the gruesome and sinister title was though haha, guess I'll have to rewind it and see , but yes ....so it seems..... from this video.

[@bryantsemenza9703]

Excellent facts and history, I am never disappointed by the history you present. Perfect timing for Halloween. Another great show History Guy.

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!

[@peterloohunt]

One of the things I really like about your videos is you don't use needless and annoying background music.

[@BA-gn3qb]

Transylvania University was actually founded by a company that Transported goods through the Appalachians. Only 4 years ago, the university adopted a Bat logo. Mary Todd (Lincoln) also attended the school.

[@djrdjr8888]

halloween tie...nice touch sir

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Ohh I see a Coen brothers movie here with John Malkovich as the good Dr!

[@joanbowden3448]

YES!

[@jimreilly917]

That NEEDS TO HAPPEN 🤣🤣.

[@brt-jn7kg]

My wife is the 5th great granddaughter of Hugh Glass the pirate and mountain man. High Glass and Jean Lafitte were best friends and pirates together.

[@zach7193]

This is truly something. Happy Halloween.

[@chaosdweller]

🤔

[@pamelamays4186]

I see that The Creature From The Black Lagoon has found a spot on the History Shelf. The black shirt and orange tie were right on spot for this Halloween Eve.🎃👻

[@kenthawley5990]

I did not know this. I love learning about our region's history.

[@joebykaeby]

He’s got the perfect look for a mad scientist, too - would’ve made a great Dr. Frankenstein.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

Also looked like John C. Calhoun, and somewhat: Andrew Jackson (he wanted to look like Jackson.)

[@michaellee1905]

Their college mascot should be a bear firing a cannon. And their motto should recite ”Whilst Bearing arms we arm bears! lol

[@_spacegoat_]

Lookin' sharp, HG! Rockin' the orange-on-black....slick

[@davidfriedman4979]

Great episode!

[@HistorySkills]

There is always something new to learn. Thank you.

[@TheRiverPirate13]

What a great story. Perfect for Halloween! I wonder what ever became of Lafitte's cannon?

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I could not find a record. McDowell reportedly managed to transfer four cannon to the Confederacy, but the rest were taken by the Union. What happened to that actual cannon is unclear, although it seems unlikely that a cannon of that age would have found action in the Civil War.

[@matthewpoplawski8740]

AS ALWAYS THE HISTORY GUY, AN EXCELLENT VIDEO!! Had Burke and Hare survived the the hangman's noose in Edinburgh, they would have made a killing in St.Louis(pun intended). To be able to own your own private fort and arsenal...Ah, those were the days. Lance, remember this when fact and fiction become muddled:.WHEN THE LEGEND BECOMES FACT, PRINT THE LEGEND (Quoted from THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE).🌞🌞🌞😄😄😄✌✌✌✌

[@SDZ675]

Just realized Transylvania University is real. It's all tying together now

[@markhonea2461]

Being a 'renowned physician' in 1894 is much like being a famous magician.

[@sterfry8502]

Crazy episode!! Love the show!

[@johngregg5735]

I read in the paper that Dr. McDowell kept extensive journals about his activities, but they were interred with him. Only recently were they decrypted.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

I had not seen that. I read that most of his records were destroyed when the school was converted to a prison during the war.

[@johngregg5735]

My bad. I guess I should add a smiley face or something on my rather lame jokes. I was making a joke out of 'crypt'. The other joke I was thinking of was: The good doctor installed the first walk in refrigerator in the US. When asked why he did it, he replied, "It's for the students' bodies"...

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

@@johngregg5735 LOL, I actually did miss the decrypted pun. Guess it is too early in the morning…

[@graceamerican3558]

@@TheHistoryGuyChannel 😂😂

[@goodun2974]

John Gregg, well done! Nice pun! You pulled the wool over the eyes of The History Guy!

[@73challenger5031]

If you haven't done so already and I missed it, could you look into the History of Fort Stevens, OR. It holds the only record of a shelling by Japan of mainland USA during WWII. I love your channel, BTW!

[@LarkinJackson]

I subscribed when you were at 20k subs so great to see you at 1 million. Congratulations 👏 Great History Vids

[@michaeltorres638]

This would make a great dark comedy movie if performed well. I already know what two actors would be prefect for the lead role.

[@kellysmith5873]

I'd like to see a couple of episodes about Virginia City, and Goldfield in Nevada, and Yorktown Memorial Hospital in Yorktown, Texas.

[@memathews]

You had me at "Hannibal, Missouri." Tom Sawyer's cave was a part of the doctor's crazy holdings? So that's two connections to pirates, a crazy doctor, a ghoulish family burial plan, attempting to marry a first cousin, a castle, and connections to U.S. presidents-history doesn't get any better than this! What's next? A treasure map on the back of the constitution? 😂😉

[@mauricedavis8261]

You and your crew are awesome!!!🙏👍😷

[@chaosdweller]

🤔

[@gnored]

One of your best!

[@ginamaria2579]

I’m west of Saint Louis a lot of History and ghosts in the Lou 🤗

[@kennyhagan5781]

A very happy Halloween to you and yours,sir. This is an appropriate story for the season.🎃🦇💀👻🤡 P.S. Thanks, I didn't have to wait too long for the pirate....

[@genebodjtb]

always appreciate your professional work and fullfilling content

[@amytaylor8910]

Hello there 👋👋how are you doing today?hope you had a better day?💕💕!!!

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Thanks for sharing the interesting medical history!