Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons - P and S Yearbook (New York, NY)

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f 1 YW. ff Ie' 1 . 1 l Presbyterian Hospital - 70th Street and Madison Avenue The first commencement was held on May 16. 1769 with two students receiving M.B.'s. In May 1770 Robert Tucker received his Doctorate, thus establishing King's College as the first colonial school to award the M.D. in course, The College of Philadelphia awarded the M.B. in 1768, but did not award its first M.D. until 1771. The first honorary M.D, to be awarded in the colonies had been conferred by Yale on one Daniel Tucker, a generous benefactor of the school, in 1723. Detractors of the action suggested that M.D. stood for Multum Donavit. Eighteen individuals received M.D.'s at King's College up until April 1776 when the college property was taken over for military purposes and the students dispersed. Of the faculty, only Drs. Jones and Smith served with the Continental Army during the Revolution: the others remained loyal to the Crown. In 1784 the remnants of King's College were resurrected as Columbia College under the authority of the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Bard was the only original faculty member 20 remaining. One of the newcomers, Dr. Nicholas Romayne. would later exert a major influence on the development of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Columbia, at least in part due to its history of strong ties to the Crown, had a very difficult time obtaining any support. and the members of the medical faculty received no salary from the College. Bard and Romayne soon left Columbia, and there were no medical graduates from 1784-1791. For all practical purposes the school ceased to exist. The Doctor's Riot of 1788 is. perhaps. the most notable event in the medical history of this time period Dr. Richard Bayley, who later was affiliated with Columbia College and New York Hospital. was using one of the rooms of the vacant hospital to conduct private instruction in anatomy. An account of the events which ensued appeared in the New York Packet of April 25. On Sunday the 13th inst. a number of boys. we are informed, who were playing in the

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Q g 1- -x ..'i :' I Y ' 7 5 V' ,bi . . ,ff 9 lf ,. ' ' 1 . -' ff I YQ-'ff ? .T 4-me . 'U-I ii-. I .ll I... ' 'I' .II E . 1. l i is 1-' 35 1 ,,-1 -0-5. 1-L ...A ' I , 1 ...,.4:. C College of Physicians and Surgeons. 1856 - 1887 Midwifery. Jones, Middleton. and Clossy were all established. respectable New York City physicians. Jones was the foremost surgeon in the province. Clossy already held the Chair of Natural Philosophy ta field which included anatomyl. and Middleton was a highly respected practitioner. The other three men were all recent medical graduates. Of the six. Samuel Bard had perhaps been best prepared for a teaching role. His father was Dr. John Bard who. in 1750, with the aforementioned Dr. Middleton. conducted the tirst instruction of anatomy through dissection in the colonies. Dr. Bard had originally come to New York City at the urging of Benjamin Franklin. and quickly came to be one of the most respected members of the medical profession. Samuel was apprenticed to his father for a time. then enrolled at Kings College where. in his spare time. he received lessons in Greek and Latin. In 1762. at the completion of his third year. Samuel sailed to Europe to attend Edinburgh. He was a diligent student. took private lessons in mathematics and drawing and. over one summer. compiled a botanical collection which won the annual botanical prize. It is apparent that during his stay at Edinburgh he discussed the need for a medical school in the colonies with other American students. including John Morgan. who went on to found the medical department of the College of Philadelphia in 1765. Samuel realized his education entailed considerable expense: but I hope I shall never repent it. and that it will some day be returned with interest. Bard's graduation thesis was a report of observations of the effects of opium on himself and his roommate. He concluded that opium was a sedative. not a stimulant. After receiving his M.D. in 1765. Samuel returned to New York to join practice with his father. A degree in Arts or satisfactory knowledge of Latin and natural philosophy was required for admission to the medical school. In order to receive a degree each student was required to have completed one course of lectures in each field and to have been enrolled for three years. although a three year apprenticeship would reduce this requirement to two years. At the completion of three years. the Bachelor of Medicine was conferred. Another year of study with the preparation and defense of a thesis was needed to acquire the M.D.. 19

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'TRIP 1 i fd, ff-4 gl ,N gg .. , ,gfjfjqx if 45' N I N mf -f -6- From Left to Right - Vanderbilt Clinic. Sloane Hospital for College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1887 - 1928 Women. P845 Dissecting Room. 1887 - 1928