George Humphrey Tichenor (April 12, 1837 - January 14, 1923) was a Kentucky-born physician who introduced antiseptic surgery while in the service of the Confederate States of America. Thereafter, in private practice in Canton (Madison County), Mississippi, he developed the formula that became "Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic."
Tichenor was born in Ohio County in western Kentucky to Rolla Tichenor and the former Elizabeth Hymphrey. He was educated in pr...
more
George Humphrey Tichenor (April 12, 1837 - January 14, 1923) was a Kentucky-born physician who introduced antiseptic surgery while in the service of the Confederate States of America. Thereafter, in private practice in Canton (Madison County), Mississippi, he developed the formula that became "Dr. Tichenor's Antiseptic."
Tichenor was born in Ohio County in western Kentucky to Rolla Tichenor and the former Elizabeth Hymphrey. He was educated in private schools. He was a businessman in Franklin (Williamson County), Tennessee when the American Civil War began. He entered military service in 1861 with the 22nd Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. He became an enrolling Confederate officer in 1863, and thereafter an assistant surgeon, during which time he was believed to have been the first in the Confederacy to have used antiseptic surgery.
Tichenor experimented with the use of alcohol as an antiseptic on wounds. He was badly wounded in the leg in 1863, and amputation was recommended. He insisted...
less
