University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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v E R s I T y O F PITTSBURGH Professor of Diseases of the Nose and Throat; l)r. James McCann, Professor of Principles and Practice of Surgery; Dr. K. A. Mundorf. Professor of Pathology and Histology; Dr. T. M. 'I'. McKennan, Professor of Anatomy; Dr. Whitmore Snivel)’. Professor of Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine; Hon. J. F. Slagle, Professor of Legal Medicine; Dr. J. I). Thomas. Professor of Diseases of Gcnito-l.rinary System; Dr. K. A. Wood. Professor of Dietetics. The trustees of the college were: Dr. C. B. King, President; Dr. J. B. Murdock. Vice-President; Dr. W. J. Asdalc, Secretary; Dr. |. Chris Lang.-, Treasurer; Dr. James McCann. Dr. W. Snivel)', Dr. J. I). Thomas, Dr. J. 1!. Connell. Dr. John M. Duff, Dr. J. C. Dunn. Dr. J. P . Murdock was the first Dean. The first catalogue of the school contains within an “Announcement,” the following interesting points. “The Western Pennsylvania Medical College is located on Brereton Avenue and Thirtieth Street. Pittsburgh, on ground adjoining the Western Pennsylvania Hospital. The site is an elevated one overlooking the valley of the Allegheny, pleasant and healthful and while the college is retired from the busy |»ortion of the city it is within a few minutes walk of its marts. “The College Building ready for occupancy October 1, 1886. is but part of an extended plan, which when completed will provide one of the largest, most commodious and perfect medical college buildings in the United States. That part which will be completed this year contains an amphitheatre having a capacity of nearly 30.000 square feet, amply lighted, heated, and ventilated, and will seat 250 persons. The college building also contains a Second Lecture Room provided with chairs and having an area equal to the first. The Anatomical Laboratory is on the fourth floor (top) and encloses an area of over 3,000 square feet. Chemical, Pathology and Physiology Laboratories and Rooms for Microscopic work. Dispensaries and-Clinics were also described. The preliminary requirements of the students were “the jmsscssion of an education sufficiently comprehensive, to enable them to pursue the study of medicine to advantage. Preliminary examinations were not required for college graduates, or High School graduates or Normal School graduates or those “holding Certificates of F.xamination from the examiners of any County Medical Society, covering the requirements of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society.” The curriculum was composed of didactic and clinical lectures, fourteen in each week respectively, recitations, demonstrations, laboratory work and practice in diagnosis. Clinical facilities were found in the College Dispensary- and the W estern Pennsylvania Hospital, which had a daily average of about 200 important cases; and other hospitals and dispensaries of the city. The course of study covered three years, including two full Winter terms of lectures, but the faculty advised three years of graded courses and encouraged it by requiring merely a matriculation fee for the third year. Kach term was six months in length. A Spring course was given for special work. The fees were: tuition $100, matriculation $5.00, Practical Anatomy $10.00. and Graduation $25.00. There were fifty-seven in the first class. The first Alumni Association, 1887. had the following officers: Dr. R. M. Jones, President; Dr. R. K. Warner, Vice-President; Dr. R. B. Ferree, Corre- 29

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MEDICAL SCHOOL Dr. |. Chris Lange. an internist and a very conservative practitioner; Dr. Whitmore Snively. an eloquent diagnostician who was called KI” by his friends Itccausc of his preference of this drug for various chronic diseases; Dr. Cyrus B. King, an orthopedic surgeon and a general surgeon as well; and Dr. William J. Asdalc, a medical man and a gynecologist. Among themselves and their friends in the medical profession enough stock in the school was sold to provide a working capital for the venture. This was necessary because there was no endowment for the school. By means of this fund the original building which housed the medical school was erected on Brereton Avenue, adjoining the W estern Pennsylvania Hospital. Originally the Dissecting room was to have been in the old building of the Pittsburgh Free Dispensary, built by the “Turners”. But this plan was changed and the scope of the college was enlarged by an operating pavilion built at the south end of the surgical wards of the Western Pennsylvania Hospital and by a dispensary building and women's clinic, “The Emma Kaufmatin Clinic.” donated by Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Kaufmann. These are the original buildings of the college. The original faculty had the following members: Dr. Samuel Ayers, professor of Nervous and Mental Disorders; Dr. Win. J. Asdalc, Professor of Diseases of Women; Dr. X. W. Brown, Professor of Hygiene; Dr. Hugo Blanck, Professor of Chemistry; Dr. Austin (I. Case. Professor of Diseases of Children; Dr. J. Connell, Professor of Botany, Materia Medica and TherajK-utics; Dr. J. C. Dunn, Professor of Diseases of Skin: Dr. John Miller Duff, Professor of Obstetrics; Dr. W. T. English, Professor of Physical Diagnosis; Dr. Herman W. Hechelman. Professor of Diseases of Eye and Ear; Dr. Thomas I.. Hazzard, Professor of Physiology; Dr. Cyrus B. King, Professor of Orthojiedic Surgery; Dr. J. Chris Lange, Professor of Principles and Practice of Medicine; Dr. James B. Murdock. Professor of Practical and Operative Surgery; Dr. John J. Mabon. 28

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M E D I C A L SCHOOL sponding Secretary; Dr. J. F. Moore, Recording Secretary; Dr. G. I. Peters, Treasurer; and Dr. R. L. Ferrell. Orator. The Committee on Laws was com-|N scd of Drs. R. F. Warner, I. I. Breurer and C. I. Hoffman. There are at the present time 1.400 members. From this auspicious beginning the school has grown until it today occupies a secure position as a Class A Medical School. There have been many changes in faculty, equipment, requirements for admission, requirements for graduation, and in tuition, but the essential features remain the same. Some of the steps in the growth and development of the school will Ik- traced below. In 1892 “by joint action of the Board of Trustees of the Western University of Pennsylvania and the Trustees and Stockholders of the Western Pennsylvania Medical College—the Western Pennsylvania Medical College has become the Medical Department of the University.” The management of the college nevertheless remained vested in a separate board of trustees. In 1908 it became an integral part by purchase of the Western University of Pennsylvania which at about the same time changed its name to that of the University of Pittsburgh. In 1900 the Western Pennsylvania Medical College became affiliated with other hospitals than the Western Pennsylvania Hospital; at this time, with the Mercy, South Side and St. John’s. At various times it has been associated with almost every hospital in the city Passavant, St. Joseph's, Presbyterian. St. Francis. Allegheny General. Pittsburgh. Magee. Tulwrculosis League. Eye and Ear. and Children's Hospitals. The physical equipment of the college was augmented in 189.? by the gift of the Kcincman Maternity Hospital; in 1897 by an addition to the college building. In 1910, after becoming a part of the University of Pittsburgh, it moved to its present site in Pennsylvania Hall on the campus of the University. On April 1. 191.?, the Kaufmann Clinic was abandoned and the dispensaries of 30