Lake Forest College - Forester Yearbook (Lake Forest, IL)

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19 Rush Medical College. A HISTORICAL sKE'rcH. 'I' IS almost an invariable rule that great enterprises are of small beginnings, albeit of great conceptions. Rush Medical School is no exception, having advanced from obscurity to great renown. In 1837, Dr. Brainard and Dr. J. C. Goodhue sought new means of increasing the facilities for medical education. During that year they obtained a charter from the State of Illinois for the organization of Rush Medical College. This was the first chartered educational institution in the state, and the Hrst medical school in the Northwest. Lectures were not given until 1843 on account of the depression and stagnation of trade following the crisis of '37, and the resultant dissolution of the Bank of Illinois, in February, 1842. On December 4, 1843, the first course of lectures was commenced in two small rooms on Clark Street, by a Faculty of four professors, Drs. Daniel Brainard, I. V. Z. Blaney, Ino. McLean, and Knapp. The course was of sixteen weeks' duration, the number of students attending the lectures was twenty-two. Of this number only one, William Butterfield, presented himself for graduation. Late in tl1e following year liberal citizens saw the prospective good of the institution and donated a lot on the southeast corner of Dearborn Avenue and Indiana Street, upon which a 253,500 building was erected. Upon entering tl1e new building the Faculty was greatly strengthened by the addition of several new members, the entire staff is here given: President, Daniel Brainard, Professor of Surgery, Austin Flint, Professor of the Institutes and Practice of Medicineg G. N. Fitch, Professor of Obstetrics and of Diseases

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20 of Women and Children, V. Z. Blaney, Professor of Chemistry and Pharmacy, John McLean, Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, W. B. Herrick, Professor of Anatomy. In 1855 the building was enlarged to accommodate 250 students, at a cost of 5I5,000. During the increasing prosperity trouble was brewing among members of the Faculty. For some time the graded system of medical education was under deep discussion. The several members of the Faculty took part in the controversy--some strenuously advocating the new theory, the rest as ardently adhering to the old principles. As a result, in 1856, a number of the Faculty seceded, organizing a new school, the Chicago Medical College. From this shock the College rapidly recovered and advanced with fresh impetus towards its now enviable reputation. Again the Faculty was enlarged. Adams Allen, M. D., was given the Chair of Principles and Practice of Medicine and Clinical Medicine, De Laskie Miller, M. D., Pro- fessor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women, Ephraim Ingals, M. D., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, R. L. Rea, M. D., Professor of Anatomy, A. S. Hudson, M. D., Professor of Physiology and Pathology, but on his resignation, shortly afte1', was succeeded by I. W. Freer, M. D. Each succeeding year brought new needs, and to meet these demands new facilities were provided. In the midst of this prosperity, Professor Brainard came to an untimely death from Asiatic cholera in 1867. To fill the vacancy caused by his death the late Dr. Gunn, our revered Professor of Surgery, was called to fill the same chair which he held in the University of Michigan, the Professorship of Surgery and Clinical Surgery, Professor Blaney, as senior member of the Faculty, was elected successor to the presidency. Two years later, once more the demands of the increasing classes required new addi- tions to the Faculty. Dr. J. P. Ross and Dr. E. L. Holmes were called to the Chairs of Clinical Medicine and Diseases of the Chest, and Diseases of the Eye and Ear, respectively. In the depth of the sorrow attending the death of Prof. Brainard, the building of an addition was completed at an expense of S7o,ooo. This structure was complete in every detail, the two lecture rooms had a seating capacity of over 7oo, the large laboratories were replete with improved apparatus required for demonstation. What a seemingly useless expense! Within two short years the work of a genera- tion, the monument to earnest men, disappeared in flames. Nothing remained but the bare walls.