Temple University School of Medicine - Skull Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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WJe pause lo listen w U . AN OLD GRAD REMINISCES by Dr. Granville A. Lawrence What could be more tiresome than the musing of an old man? These are war times, however, and orders ore orders. Your correspondent was ordered to put it down: but you don't have to read it. The Medical School was started by Dr. Con-well os a part of his original idea of providing an education for those who had to earn it. On this basis a night school was started for those who worked by day and could study at night. The courses covered five years—nine and a half months each year, six nights a week from seven until ten p.m. The original physical equipment was not much to be proud of. The dissecting room was located in the old stable that stood in back of the hospital. It was equipped with four pine tables. The bodies were preserved in a pickle vat by the State Anatomical Board until ready for distribution. They were then sent to the school. Our old friend, Emil, was there with his embalming and injecting fluid to prepare the bodies. Dr. John Byers Roxby with his personal help to explain how this blood vessel advances steadily forward, downward, outward, inward, around this and over that to its distribution in the periphery. His reverence and respect for the piles of human flesh and debris—lifeless and stinking—gave us an insight to the warmth within the soul of a physician. No disrespect to our subject was tolerated. I can never forget his talk to us, when as green freshmen, we first entered this room: This is all that remains of a house, in which dwelt a soul, perhaps someone's mother or father. Certainly a son or daughter of some loving parents. If we could know the history of this life, what tales of sorrow, joy, remorse and happiness could be related. Fate kind to some, but more cruel to these, brought them here. Thus were lessons taught, not only of practical anatomy but something which goes into the making of a Physician in its larger sense. Our laboratories were equipped at first largely by the teachers. The school owned one microscope which was available to the students. Dr. Bateman, who taught histology, brought his own and one or two others were loaned for the night. Also, he brought the sections ready cut which we stained, mounted and examined—each man taking his turn at the scope. The classes were small so that instruction was more on an individual basis. Much of the time was taken up in question and answer style. Lessons were assigned and a quiz conducted at the next meeting. The teachers asked the questions and more often than not gave the answers—not from desire but from necessity. Thus, we can see that quiz programs are not new. Somehow, we finally learned what they were after. This fact. I believe, is verified by the results before the State Dr. Gronville A, Lawrence. Sr., rebates mony iolo obout the first gonorotion of Tomplo Medical studonfs. while Granville A. lowronce. Jr„ compares them with his oxporionces of today. Board. There was not a single failure up to and including my class. I do not know when the first failure was recorded. One of my own classmates received the highest mork in the Blockley examinations that year and another was fifth or sixth on the list of over one hundred applicants from many medical schools. Embryology was taught by Dr. Arnold, who was as good a teacher then as he is today. Our own Dr. Robin taught pathology, bacteriology and hygiene. Try and picture one man. with no assistants, teaching all this with limited laboratory facilities! Materia Medica was expounded by Dr. Mer-vyn Ross Taylor with his story of feeding the ten little guinea pigs on Tr. Nux. Vom. instead of vitamins. Chemistry was under Dr. Affix, who could always emphasize the point he was making with an appropriate story. Physiology and Dr. Slifer seemed to fit each other like ham and eggs, corned beef and cabbage or the pork and beans on which he and his wife lived and thrived as an experiment in dietetics, sans calories. Dr. Steel soon appeared, with his pizzacato laugh, an arm full of bandages, minor surgical tools and well-systemized notes. As we progressed to the practical subjects in the upper classes, we began to realize the importance of the fundamentals. It was in the third year that we learned the merits of the correlated system of teaching, which incidentally was originated by Dr. I. Newton Snively, our first Dean. Diseases of the chest, the gastro-intestinal tract, the nervous and circulatory system and so on through the entire realm of disease were each discussed from the standpoint of the various department at the same time.

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Dr. Brown's interests outside the field of medicine ore definitely limited because of the extreme amount of time he spends on medical activities. He is an amateur movie photographer and likes to travel when ever possible. His favorite means of relaxation is to sit at home with a cigar and book. The Class of 1942 is justly proud of having the opportunity of studying under this distinguished physician. Memberships in Scientific Societies: 1. Fellow of the American College of Physicians 2. American Society of Clinical Investigation 3. Central Society for Clinical Research 4. American Association for Advancement of Science 5. American Gastro Enterological Association 6. American Therapeutic Society 7. American Medical Association 8. Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania 9. Philadelphia County Medical Society 10. Massachusetts State Medical Society (nonresident member) I I. College of Physicians of Philadelphia 12. Physiological Society of Philadelphia 13. Sydenham Medical Coterie 14. Revision Committee of the United States Pharmacopeia XI and XII 15. Chairmanship of United States Pharmacopeia XII—Hormone Advisory Board 16. Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Heart Association 17. Board of Directors of the Philadelphia County Medical Society 18. Member of the House Delegate of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania 19. Loennec Society of Philadelphia 20. Medical Club of Philadelphia One of Dr. Brown' chief interest in lifo is hi family. Janet Jamieson, Mr . Brown, Dr. Brown, and Martha Ann in Dr. Brown's study. After coming home, many hour are ipcnt writing and read-his favorite subject—medicine. Dr. Brown presides at the weekly medicine conferences. Dr. Brown in a moment of relaxation with daughter Janet.

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Improvements had been made each year. The Philadelphia Dental College was acquired and became a part of Temple College. Some of our work v as then transferred to the Dental Buildings. Later the college become a university. The Samaritan Hospital was enlarged and some new classrooms were added. Then came word that the State Board of Medical Examiners would no longer recognize the Night School after those already entered had graduated. The Day School was organized with new teachers in some departments. Some of the Night students shifted over to the Day School but for most of us this was financially impossible. It was either finish at night or not at all, so we finished as we started—with the owls. We v ere critical and disappointed at the passing of the Night School. One's vision is limited when standing on the level in midst of the crowd but from the height of the mountain the perspective changes. We had received the best obtainable at that time, a big improvement over the original methods of obtaining a medical education. See THE COUNTRY DOCTOR for details. When we consider the various steps in the development of our School up to what we have today, who can fail to honor those who have taken their responsibilities seriously and acted accordingly? Dr. Babcock, with his inexhaustible energy, his restrained laugh and clear logic, taught us surgery. Dr. Samuel Wolf, from the Pennsylvania Dutch country, mixed his medicine with the accent. Dr. Wilmer Krusen and Dr. Frank Hammond. the Damon and Pythias with gynecology, and Dr. J. C. Applegate, who insisted on Edgar's Obstetrics as a text book, talked about the ladies. There were many others who also contributed their time and talents helping to perpetuate the Oath of Hippocrates. Lack of space prevents us from mentioning them all. The student body was on earnest group. Each had a definite ambition and many were the difficulties which had to be solved. All were employed during the day earning a living and some supporting a family. In those days a ten-hour day and sixty-hour week was the rule for the working man. Some had easy jobs in an office where fifty-five hours usually constituted a week's work. Then three hours of class each night, six nights a week, followed with study after 10:00 p.m. and on trolley cars and at times over the meal table. Four and a half to five hours was the average for sleep. This was the average student's schedule. Preserve these musings of the Old Grad of thirty-five years ago. Take a careful inventory of what you enjoy today and then look back over it in another thirty-five years and wonder how those old timers of 1942 were ever able to make out with such primitive equipment and limited or false views of the subject of health and disease. Physiological chemistry will have solved many of our most stubborn problems of today—perhaps malignant growths, hypertension and cardiac diseases. My chin is out in plain view but why should I worry? Thirty-five years from now who will be so unkind as to dig up my old decoying mandible to take a punch at it? .............and Aoy after reviewing the Jemplc VY}edica( Schoo N ij.edtenj.eary we he jin the iforij of Jentpde YJdJedicad School in 1942 lj predentinj............