Dr. John Croghan
Dr. John Croghan was born on April 23rd, 1790 and died on January 11th, 1849. What originally caused Dr. John Croghan to be interested in the Caves was the Cave's air. He had heard about the preservative qualities of the caves. For example, 30 year old wood had not begun to rot and bodies of dead bats and Indians were intact and not decayed. He purchased the cave from Gorin in 1839 for $10,000 (slaves too).
Croghan specialized in "pulmonary consumption", aka. tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of tubercles in the tissues, especially the lungs. He had 16 patients in his care. As no cure had been found yet, Croghan called for desperate measures. He sent his slaves into the cave to construct buildings. These buildings were to function as sanitariums, where his patients could "take the airs". The patients remained in the buildings for a few weeks.
Tours would pass strange scenes of pale figures walking around in dressing gowns. At first, the patients claimed to be improves. Croghan, anticipating success, began to make plans for a hotel. However, as time passed, the patients' conditions became worse. Some even asked to return to the surface, but Croghan persuaded them to stay. By this time, the deaths had begun. A total of 5 people died underground. Croghan admitted his plan had failed and brought the other patients to the surface. Croghan died 6 years later battling tuberculosis himself.
Croghan specialized in "pulmonary consumption", aka. tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of tubercles in the tissues, especially the lungs. He had 16 patients in his care. As no cure had been found yet, Croghan called for desperate measures. He sent his slaves into the cave to construct buildings. These buildings were to function as sanitariums, where his patients could "take the airs". The patients remained in the buildings for a few weeks.
Tours would pass strange scenes of pale figures walking around in dressing gowns. At first, the patients claimed to be improves. Croghan, anticipating success, began to make plans for a hotel. However, as time passed, the patients' conditions became worse. Some even asked to return to the surface, but Croghan persuaded them to stay. By this time, the deaths had begun. A total of 5 people died underground. Croghan admitted his plan had failed and brought the other patients to the surface. Croghan died 6 years later battling tuberculosis himself.