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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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."

[@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.

[@doggedout]

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.

[@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.

[@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."

[@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!"

[@johnstevenson9956]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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?💕💕!!!

[@goldgeologist5320]

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

[@chaosdweller]

Hahaha ....?

[@poohbear9795]

A butt pirate

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@PakBallandSami]

"Now, whenever you read any historical document, you always evaluate it in light of the historical context" --Josh McDowell

[@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.

[@jamesrobiscoe1174]

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

[@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...)

[@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.....😅

[@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!

[@Ammo08]

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

[@timothyurton5407]

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

[@mrskitkatlady]

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

[@chaosdweller]

I could imagine...I'm close.

[@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.

[@ronsparks7887]

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

[@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.

[@hisgracedwaynedibley7443]

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

[@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.

[@morganosborne9258]

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

[@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.

[@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. 🤣

[@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.)

[@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.

[@djrdjr8888]

halloween tie...nice touch sir

[@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!

[@SDZ675]

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

[@SCSuperheavy114]

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

[@joanbowden3448]

YES!

[@jimreilly917]

That NEEDS TO HAPPEN 🤣🤣.

[@hhuggman1]

Mr. History Guy is...LEGEND!!

[@maryfranco3810]

As a Missouri native, I found this particularly interesting!

[@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.

[@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.🎃👻

[@izzywatashi371]

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

[@markhonea2461]

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

[@aguerra41]

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

[@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?💕💕!!

[@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?💕💕!!!

[@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.

[@annvictor9627]

Loved the jack o' lanterns. Interesting story.

[@fredcloud9668]

It is a pleasure listening to you.

[@amytaylor8910]

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

[@Niinsa62]

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

[@michaellee1905]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@tm502010]

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

[@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.

[@peterhughes1460]

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

[@zach7193]

This is truly something. Happy Halloween.

[@chaosdweller]

🤔

[@elitecol69]

Quick Tip: If the used knickers you've been using to sniff have started to lose the smell, just lightly steam over a freshly boiled kettle to reactivate the scent

[@reider0608]

Can I give you a new brain lol

[@joanbowden3448]

Ewww..... Just ewww!

[@geoben1810]

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

[@peterloohunt]

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

[@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 ...💀🎃👽

[@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.

[@kelsey4540]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@_spacegoat_]

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

[@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? 😂😉

[@TheOdieD3]

OK! This is a favorite episode!

[@chaosdweller]

🤔..................

[@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.

[@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?💕💕!!

[@dkompres6889]

Great Missouri story.

[@ieatmemeswithoutmilk1337]

I heard artillery and bear in the same sentence and I immediately thought of Corporal Wojtek... the bear.

[@shawnr771]

Excellent story.

[@patriciadean5320]

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

[@BluBlu777]

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

[@davidfriedman4979]

Great episode!

[@jimwright8379]

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

[@chaosdweller]

🤔

[@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.

[@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).🌞🌞🌞😄😄😄✌✌✌✌

[@ginamaria2579]

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

[@crustycurmudgeon2182]

Well , professor, "My spidey senses are tingling" with a sense of added fervor in your research of this very eccentric individual. Genius? Oh, yes! But also quite mad. And intriguing. Haven't seen his level of Catholic hatred/distrust/paranoia since Henry VIII. And since you obviously so thoroughly enjoyed this research, your usual brilliance had an added verve to it: subtle, but not beyond detection. LOL. Always love your work! Thanks!

[@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.

[@theoutlook55]

Love the holiday intro!👍🏿

[@halletts1171]

1 Million Subs! Congrats!

[@thefockn3831]

I enjoy all of your content but I must say I enjoyed that last story immensely and I will save it as one of my favorites.

[@sterfry8502]

Crazy episode!! Love the show!

[@gregoryullrich6686]

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

[@stephenmoerlein8470]

Thanks for sharing the interesting medical history!

[@larmondoflairallen4705]

This guy was a thousand times more capable than the college professors of today.

[@rickway2419]

First ad break came after the statement about wanting to marry his first cousin. The ad (for a car) started out "Families share a lot together. "

[@kenthawley5990]

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

[@tinkmarshino]

Well said!

[@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!

[@jezebel1955]

I really liked the black shirt and orange tie. So Halloween!

[@kellysmith5873]

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

[@Anubis-hm7ro]

Thank you

[@mauricedavis8261]

You and your crew are awesome!!!🙏👍😷

[@chaosdweller]

🤔