Jefferson Medical College - Clinic Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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associates who had given so much lustre to the history of the College. Famous as a scholar, eloquent lecturer and writer on obstetrical sub- jects, he was at home in the arts of painting and modeling, which he used with great dexterity to illustrate his lectures. At his resignation the faculty made a minute which said in part that they parted from him with intense and enduring regret. Never could anyone have more closely applied himself to the execution of the responsible duties that have devolved upon him. In 1864 the chair of chemistry lost its occupant, Dr. Franklin Bache, the great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin, best known as one of the authors of VVood and Bache's United States Dispensatoryf' His eulogist, Dr. George B. Wood, considered him an extraordinary man, who worked diligently and thus did much for tl1e public good- -presenting to the young n1en an example of all that is morally excellent, lovely and of good report in mankind. He was succeeded by B. Howard Rand, M.D., a practiced lecturer 011 chemistry in different medical institutions. After eight years of his connection with the College Dr. Thomas D. Mitchell died in 1865. In his endeavors for the well-being and the instruction of the students he acted conscientiously and harmoniously with his colleagues, who held him in high esteem. His successor in the chair of materia medica was John B. Biddle, M.D., an accomplished lecturer who had won popularity as professor of that branch in the Pennsylvania Medical College. In the session of 1866-67 the clinical opportunities were much en- larged by the establishment of a daily clinic, the medical cases being allotted to the skillful consideration' of Dr. J. M. DaiCosta as lecturer on clinical medicine. In tl1e same year more extended facilities for learning the specialties of medicine and surgery were provided in a summer course. The work of the faculty was supplemented by Drs. W. H. Pancoast, S. W. Gross, J. Aitken Meigs, R. J. Levis and F. F. Maury. Ill the following year this list was augmented by the names of Drs. J, H. Brinton and W. VV. Keen. ' After filling for twenty-tive years the chair of institutes of medicine and for fourteen the ollice of Dean, in 1868 Dr. Robley Dunglison was compelled to resign by the ill-health wl1icl1 in the next year caused his death. The Trustees accepted his resignation with expressions of re- gret and elected him 0lllf.'l'il'lls prufe.wn'. In him was a rare combina- tio11 of varied culture and vast erudition, made useful by an industry which produced the best medical dictionary of its day, copious con- tributions to journalism and text-books on physiology, hygiene, materia medica and the 'practice of medicine. The honors awarded him at home and abroad gave him a prestige that lent impressiveness to the 26

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other surgeons of equal celebrity. He has the credit of having been the first to introduce into this country the Edinburgh qnizzing system. He was elected Professor of Surgery at twenty-nine years of age, and at once displayed extraordinary talent as a teacher, eloquent, polished and much beloved by his classes. He was equally successful as a clinical lecturer and operator. The surgical clinic, by the associated zeal and efiiciency of Miitter and Pancoast, became so famous that the amphi- theatre was crowded with practitioners from all parts of the country. Always lacking in physical vigor, though abounding in nervous energy, Dr. Miitter was forced by increasing infirmities to bring his labors to a close. His death ensued within a year, at the early age of forty-eight. The extensive Mutter Museum and its liberal endowment under the administration of the College of Physicians, serve to keep his na-me in the grateful minds of the new generations. His place was taken by S. D. Gross, M.D., recently professor in the University of Louisville, a graduate of the Jefferson Medical Col- lege off the class of 1828, who had :made a great reputation as a surgeon, writer and lecturer. The following year Dr. Huston resigned, was made IH'0fl'SNfH' 1'Illl'I'NlI8 and was succeeded by T. D. Mitchell. M.D., professor in the Medical School of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. In 1858 the faculty was bereft of one of its most valued members by the death, in harness, of Dr. J. K. Mitchell. Beginning his scientific career as Professor of Chemistry in the Franklin Institute, he published original researches on osmosis, the solvents for India rubber and the tests for arsenic. Later he was the author of important papers on medical topics such as the spinal origin of rheumatism. His most notable contribution was his persistent advocacy of the view then en- tirely new, but which is now universally accepted. that malarial fevers, yellow fever and cholera are produced by the presence of low vegetable organisms in the body. On his death the professorship of Practice of Medicine was conferred on Samuel H. Dickson. M.D., recently of the University of South Caro-lina. When the Civil War broke out, as two- iifths of the class usually came from the Southern States, it is not surprising that in two years the roll of students shrank from 630 fthe largest class which up to that time had attended any medical college in this eountryj, to only 275. The last course of lectures delivered by Dr. C. D. Meigs was in the session of 1861-62. As 1H'UfffNNOI' f'HIf'l'i1NS for that year he took the place of the new appointee, Professor Keating, whose health would not permit him to take the chair. In the following year the chair of obstetrics was permanently filled by Dr. Ellerslie Wallace, some time demonstrator of anatomy. For twenty years Dr. Meigs had been eminent among the 25

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easy flow and grace of his discourses. In his thirty years of medical teaching this Father of American Physiologyn signed his name to at least five thousand medical diplomas. The chair of institutes. was next occupied 'by J. Aitken Meigs, M.D., a physician and anthropologist of repute. In 1870 the alumni formed an association to promote the interests of the College and medical education. In 1872, Hon. J. R. Burden became President and Dr, I. M. DaCosta received the appointment of Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine, 'made vacant by the demise of Dr. Samuel Henry Dickson. During the fourteen years of Dr. Dickson's connection with the College his courtesy and refinement had made him agreeable to all, while his students reaped the advantage of his wisdom and ripe experience. At this time the hospital and dispensary of the College were treating annually about six thousand free patients, with one thousand surgical operations, in quarters wholly inadequate. At the session of the Legislature of Pennsylvania in 1873, April Qth. an act was passed for the endowment of a new College Hospital, by which the stun of one hundred thousand dollars was appropriated to the Trustees of the Jeiterson Medical College. To the same purpose large private subscriptions were made bythe alumni and others. There was much anxious deliberation on the proposition of removal to a more roomy neighborhood. The present central location was considered most convenient to the patients who were the material for the clinics. A spacious lot near by was purchased for the new hospital. At the same time measures were taken to enlarge and improvethe College buildings, to add a new front and to equip new laboratories. The hos- pital was formally opened September I7tll, 1877, at which time it had cost 'for building and furnishing: For two lots of ground .......... ............... S 53,000 oo For building, heating, plnimlbing, architect, etc... I24.QIQ 83 For outfit, bedding, furniture, etc ........ ....... 8 ,ooo 00 3185.919 83 It was found that mlore money was needed from the State, and after petition, an act appropriating an additional one hundred thousand dol- lars was passed and approved by the Governor, June 17th. 1878. This sum was paid in instalments of ten thousand dollars'each. To en- courage contributions to the endowment fund, the Trustees offered to establish and support one free bed on the donation of five thousand dol- lars, or the annual payment of three hundred dollars. By this authority a perpetual charity became the memorial of various donors, 27