title: The first career of William Alexander Hammond.
abstract: Neurology in its modern sense was first studied in the well-known neurological institutions of France and England. In America, however, this new field of medicine was developed by a physician in a private practice, Dr. William Alexander Hammond. This article addresses the question how Hammond was able to limit his practice to neurology. It is argued that Hammond was a famous military physician before becoming the first practitioner of clinical neurology in America. This fame translated into a large referral base.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Freemon
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000266:history*; D009462:Neurology / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States