Drexel University College of Medicine - Medic Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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A 1 A A 1 There was a meeting at the house of Dr. Jeanes in Philadelphia where he and Doctors Hering and Williamsoii talked of another venture. The matter was talked of by others in the Homeopathic profession here. There was much scattered opposif This feeling was tion to the project, developed from the fear of another failure. warranted since another upset would have been too discouraging for any further or immediate attempt. The more bold counsels prevailed. The ardor of Dr. Hering was a beacon in the presence of moderate interest. He was eager to advance the cause to which he had devoted his life, He and his intimate friends together make the picture which a biographer depicts- There have been few subjects in the history of medicine more worthy of the artist's pencil than that of those three men, sitting in that council chamber, with the responsibility of the hour pressing upon them. We can almost picture to ourselves their appearance as they sat in that council: Hering, fortyfeight years of age: jeanes, fortyfseveng Willianissoii, thirtyfseveng all past the reckless enthusiasm of youth and in full vigor of ripe and matured manhood: the German scholar, the Philadelphia Quaker, and the descendant of the Pennsyl- vania pioneerz unlike, yet strong, typical, representative, each supporting and supple' menting the other. A petition to legislature was prepared, and in two days it had been signed by eighteen physicians and numerous laymen, asking for an Act incorporating the Homeopathic Medical College of Penn' sylvania with all the rights belonging to other medical colleges in the commonweath, including the right to confer the degree of Doctor of Homeopathic Medicine. The bill passed the House February 12, the Senate April 5, and was signed by the Governor on April 8, 1848. The first meeting of the corporators was held on Hahnef mann's birthday, April 10, 1348, in the Athenaeum Build' ing on the southeast corner of Sixth and Adelphi Streets. opposite Washiiigttiii Square. lt marked the first official organilation of the managing group of the college. Com' mittees were appointed and officers elected. On August 31, 1848, it was decided to open a dis' pensarypand at a meeting a month later the committee voted to seek subscriptions to raise the sum of 31,500.00 for establishing a clinical department and that friends be asked -wxsxx to contribute not less than 37.00 each for that purpose. The first college building was at 229 Arch Street and all meetings were held there. Most conspicuous of the original faculty members, Dr. Hering resigned the first meeting after he was elected. . Other members were Doctors bleanes, Neidhard, Williiinissoii. .'.g i-V-fgj., .jjg . Sims, and Semple. ff, Throughout the summer of 1843, the members of the ,35 :f.QQ'fl,'-Q3 l.'T various committees were very busy. Among the important business was the decision on a location. The rear portion 'P ' ' of a large building at 229 Arch Street was rented at a ' A quarterly rental of 375,011 The present number of the builder I ,L ing is 639 Arch Street and is still standing. ' The day for the formal opening drew near, Fifteen men fl fkil responded to the invitation of the announcement and on October lo, 1848, the introductory lecture was given.. n The purpose of the three enthusiasts had been fulfilled: the Homeopathic Mediczil College of Pennsylvania! was an accomplished fact. A session had been held successfully and ' 'T' ' 'f .1 of the fifteen men who had attended lectures, six, who had Sixteen

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AN EVENT HISTORIC N 1825 Hans Burch came to America with the seed of enthusiasm for Homeopathy, that was later to grow into an established system of medif cine. He was unable to devote himself to a definite and 5 A-gg-Q .A-. ,i useful research for reasons of maintenance. Instead, he apf ff plied the thesis of the new teaching in his active practice. The years brought friends and new enthusiasts. Ten years after his original adventure The New York Homeopathic Society was founded. This organization met with authenticated opposition from the dominant college of the day. Only the spirit and zeal of the initiators transgressed all discourageinent and, in the end, saved from defeat the young cause. With the same order that characterized Hahnemann's personal efforts, the pioneers in America chartered their own scientific lives. Up to this time, the education of a voluntary applicant for homeopathic training had been the task of some appointed preceptor. The final establishment of a school opened the way for a practical didactic experience. The North American Academy of the Homeopathic Healing Art, afterwards referred to as The Allentown Academy, was dedicated in 1836. This was the first Homeopathic Medical College. The enthusiasm and influence of Dr. Constantine Hering was the moving force behind its establishment. Dr. Hcring was the first president. The school was chartered june 17, 1836, and was entitled to confer the degree of Doctor of Homeopathy upon its graduates. The venture did not meet with the expected success. Adequate finances were lacking. There had been no careful preparation. Certain powers had insisted on the use of German in the lecture room. The combination of all these hazards lcd to the dissolution of the college a few years after its dedication. The committees dis- banded and the buildings were sold to liquidate a mortgage on them. So passed away that seed from which all things came. , Later a structure with the same purposes was to rise phoenix' 'A like from the ashes. The cornerstone of the Academy, in which the Qrganon and Hahnemann's picture were laid, held together the hopes of a new school for a brief time. It never relinquished the glory of bearing a new challenge to medical thought. In 1846 a National Medical Convention was organized, meeting annually. In May, 1847, during a convocation, it was resolved that the teaching of Homeopathy should not flourish, and that the organized society was to obstruct such teaching. This was .1 direct blow to the education of the Homeof pathie physician. The attack was from the parent of the American Medical Association and possessed the power of authenticity. It became apparent then, that the only course was distinct segregation in a Homeopathic college. The failure of the Hrst attempt at a separate instructive identity did not deter another group from looking to this goal. Fifteen

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already attended lectures elsewhere, received the degree of Doctor of Homeopathic Mediciiie. Only one course of lectures was given in the building on Arch Street. A meeting of the faculty was held in the College Building and this was their last assembly there. The next record is of a residence in a new building at 1105 Filbert Street. The entrance to this college was almost exactly similar to the one of the college building on Broad Street later. Both, now demolished, have their ghosts and comrade spirits walking up and down stone steps into school, out again, in thc habit of students with perpetual grace. Here they assemble, here they disband. now they read and there they whisper stories, but in their ghost hearts is the old dream of their living and dying. The second session of the new college began under much more favorable circumstances than the first one. It was not too soon for the members of the Homeopathic profession to have a college of their own faith. There were changes in the faculty. The second commencement occurred Mzirch 2, 1350, at the Musical Fund Hall. The degree was conferred upon twenty graduates. The third announcement appeared. In this pamphlet was included among the introductory remarks of explanation: Nor will the student be less deeply grounded in surgery and midwifery, which in their therapeutical part will be entirely reformed or at least greatly modified by the Homeopathic doctrine, so that onefhalf of all the surgical operations may be dispensed with. By means of a judicious treatment of a woman's ailments before labor and by means of strengthening her constitution, the act of parturition will become more and more natural, so that the mechanical and forcible means which have to be resorted to at the present may, in the future, mostly be set aside. But the necessary mechanical proceedings in their most improved form will not be overlooked in the lectures on this subject. This was in the year 1850. Ar a meeting of the faculty this same year, it was decided that 312.00 be the price for attendance at each of the professors lecture courses. During the course of 1S50f51 the lecture room was given to the students on Sunday evening for religious purposes. These meetings were well attended. About this time, the Dean reported a modest balance of 213242.06 in his hands. Evidently the subscribers were rather slow in the payment of their dues. This caused no immediate catastrophe. The financial department ingeniously had decided: First, that sufficient money be retained by the Dean to pay the current expenses of the college. Second, that on the first of December and April whatever money remains in the treasury, after deducting a sufficient sum to meet the expenses of the college, shall be divided among the professors. Seventeen