New York University School of Medicine - Medical Yearbook (New York, NY)

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i i'iiI '-ffii3igLLEvTuE xTloLETl-4.1.--.losi Anafomy. In I907 he held fhe chair of Anafomy af Syracuse Universify. and in I9lO he was called fo Bellevue. as Professor of Anafomy. fo perform fhe fask of reorganizing fhe Anafomy sfaff on a laborafory and research basis. The gross and microscopical anafomy deparfmenfs in I9IO were, fo be more fhan charifable, rafher casual in 'rheir insfrucfion. The sfaff in fhe gross anafomy laborafory consisfed of young surgeons whose inferesf in fhe sfudenfs was a less conspicuous feafure fhan fheir desire fo review fheir Anafomy. The microscopical anafomy deparfmenf required fhe use of ifs insfrumenfs af fimes fo defecf evidences of ifs imporfance in fhe curriculum. Whaf 'reaching fhere was fook place in fhe pafhology laborafory. Wirh characferisfic energy and fhoroughness, Dr. Senior proceeded fo renovafe fhis musfy and sfafic deparfmenf. From fhe presenf mike anafomy lab were removed fwo small amphifheafres used for demonsfrafions and quizzing, and in fheir place were insfalled fhe flaf fables sfill in use. The sfaff. as if fhen exisfed. was sef fo work making fhe beginnings of a permanenf sef of microscopic preparafions in hisfology and embryology. The bacferiology deparfmenf was evicfed from fhe fiffh floor of fhe Carnegie Building, and if was made over info a preparafion room, a library, and privafe research room for fhe sfaff. Lafer fhe denfal school sfaff fook up quarfers here. also on a research basis. A large series of fhoracic abdominal and pelvic casfs were prepared fo supplemenf fhe knowledge derived from dissec- fion of fhe so-called human specimens. These proved of value nof only here, buf in ofher schools in fhis counfry and abroad, fo which many models were disfribufed. To bring abouf fhese improvemenfs in maferials, facilifies, equipmenf, course of sfudy, and esfablishmenf of fhe sfaff on a research basis required a vasf amounf of efforffand fhe fruifs of fhis labor are well depicfed, if one considers fhe various Professors of Anafomy af differenf insfifufions who began as humble assisfanfs under Dr. Senior's fufelage. To be a good feacher, one musf also be a masfer in fhe field: and in recognizing his abilify in organizafion, we musf nof overlook his achievemenfs in his own special field, fhe vascular sysfem of fhe human body. ln recognifion of his work, he was awarded an honorary Sc. D. from Syracuse Universify. Dr. Senior nexf furned his affenfion foward resurrecfion of fhe college library. The bundles of papyri 'rhen fhen were presided over by an Egypfian deify named O'ReiIly, who was affempfing fo converf himself gradually info a mummy by fhe use of a very pofenf embalming fluid. Firsf, fhe deify was removed and The cafacombs dusfed ouf. Alfhough fhe granf from fhe will of Egberf Le Fevre was greafly responsi- ble for fhe library's developmenf, Dr. Senior's insfrumenfalify in inferesfing ofhers in ifs welfare has resulfed in ifs progressively increasing value fo fhe school. His inferesf in fhe welfare of fhe sfudenfs has never achieved open recognifion because his efforfs along fhese lines were nof fhe sorf fhaf lend fhemselves well fo publicizing. Neverfheless, fo cife an insfance, as a resulf of his affiliafion wifh fhe curriculum commiffee. remarkable progress has been made, characferized chiefly by changes which have kepf pace closely wifh advancemenf in science and increase in facilifies. This may represenf his academic inferesf. His social inferesf in sfudenfs is affesfed by his connecfions wifh fhe Medical Sfudenfs Club. He has been Presidenf of fhe American Sociefy of Anafomisfs, one of fhe edifors of fhe Journal of Anafomy, and Confribufor fo our familiar Morris' Anafomy. And here lef us pause in fhis discourse of a man's achievemenfs. These affribufes are impressive. buf fhey do nof endear. To accomplish fhe quife insurmounfable fask of gaining more fhan mere approbafion from a large group of deferminedly cynical youfh requires, among ofhers. a cerfain charm of manner: if requires, nof only fhe capacify fo undersfand fheir vagaries, buf above all, a sympafhefic under- sfanding. The fribulafions of fhe beginner in medicine necessifafe no commenf here: and whosoever eases fhem, nof by lighfening fhe burden, buf by making fhaf burden Twelffh Page

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lgggi-l--'ffiBlguLEvuE VIQ-LET- '1l93l circumsfance fhaf decide. lfs mosf consfanf feafure is absence of a 'rriumph of innafe desires over circumsfancesg buf peace of mind comes only wifh gracious accepfance of 'rhe inevifable. ln I892. young Senior became a licenfiafe of fhe College of Physicians of London, and member of fhe College of Surgeons of England. One wenf sfraighi' info medicine from school in fhose days, alfhough fhe schools of Europe included prac- fically 'rhe firsf fwo years of an American college. Readers of previous yearbooks do nof require fo be informed once again fhaf fhe sfudy of medicine in fhose days was considerably differenf fhan if is now. The frue universify spirif prevailed: one worked or loafed as one wished. The fierce compefifion fhaf exisfs foday was fhen unknown. All fhe school expecfed was suffi- cienf preparafion before 'raking fhe licensing examinafion. As a resulf of fhis loose sysfem, many a youngsfer wenf fo pieces-exfremes of liberfy and oppression being equally dangerous fo moral welfare. l-le spenf his 'rwo years of inferneship af Charing Cross l-lospifal, and fhis was followed by a year af Durham. l-lere he became a bachelor of medicine. The requiremenfs for an M. D. in England differ from fhose in America. One graduafes from school as a bachelor, and fo obfain The docforafe, from one fo fwo years musi' elapse, and a graduafe fhesis musf be presenfed. One year was fhe requiremenf af Durham, buf a good many more passed before if was confirmed- fo be exacf, in l9I8, while he was on leave from Bellevue fo do war work af 'rhe Middlesex War l-lospifal. l-lis fhesis was Anomalies of The Arferies of fhe Leg and Foo1', for which he was presenfed 'rhe gold medal for fhe besf fhesis of fhe year. ln I894 he refurned fo Charing Cross as demonsfrafor in Anafomy, lafer becom- ing medical regisfrar. Alfhough he fook and passed fhe examinafion for an ERCS, Dr. Senior had no infenfion of becoming a surgeon. l-le did plan 'ro pracfice infernal medicine in London, and fo be connecfed wih his old hospifal as a member of fhe honorary sfaff. Unforfunafely, fhe regisfrarship he held af 'rhe firne was fenable for only fwo years: and fhe nexf age of refiremenf on 'rhe sfaff was fhree long years off. A fime comes in every young man's life when opporfunify furns away wifhouf knocking-when fhe fufure lies plainly before a dull exisfence. l-le casfs around for a clear field, noi' necessarily a cleared one. for hardships are no defermenf. If he lives in a counfry like England, which presenfs innumerable examples of men in similar predicamenfs, who have gone fo fhe four corners of fhe earfh and become greai' successes and empire builders, his course is inevifable. This is 'rhe general sifuafion. The specific one was more depressing. The uncer- fainfy of geffing 'rhe appoinfmenf evenfually, fhe difficulfy of making a living in London wifhouf going info general pracfice. which would disqualify him for a fufure posifion in consulfing pracfice-fhese drove him oui' of London. Buf pracfice in fhe counfry was equally disfasfeful, when all good cases find fheir way fo fhe big cenfers. Rebellion againsf fhese circumsfances drove him fo a far-off Brifish Columbia mining camp in l897, as fhe prodromes of gold fever were breaking ouf. Life in fhe fown of Rossland in fhe upper Koofenai Valley musf have provided some sfrange confrasfs +o fhe young docfor. buf nofhing is sfranger fhan fhe miracu- lous power of fhe English fo adapf fheir environrnenf fo fhemselves, which is fhe basis of fheir colonial success. Amidsf fhese crude surroundings, affer fen years of clinical work, Dr. Senior's inferesf became crysfallized ouf in Anafomy. Nosfalgia for fhe laborafory, perhaps surfeifed wifh a fronfier exisfence, and an opporfunify fo mingle once more wifh 'rhe sfreams of scienfific fhoughf fhaf were flowing so swiffly as discovery followed discovery, are probable facfors which led him +o accepi' fhe posf of demonsfrafor of Anafomy af 'rhe now defuncf lvledico Chirurgical College af Philadelphia. Two years were spenf here, and in l904 he wenf fo 'rhe Wisfar lnsfifule of Eleven1h Page

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,l.i.-- -1 1-11-1 n ..- . easier fo bear, is deserving of efernal regard. And now, when we have achieved a modicum of confidence in our abilify. and leave fhe halls where we have been cloisfered from worldly confacf, fo fake our places in sociefy as responsible members fhereof, may we ever fhink kindly of fhe man who more fhan any ofher led young feef along .fheir firsf sfumbling sfeps in fhe pafh of medicine. Tl-IE NOVICE Breafhless he sfands, and sidelong glances Af brofher candidafes befrays The frembling awe, scarce hidden 'Neafh fhe smiling mask of nonchalance. The long whife coaf, fhe shiny knife, Emblems, now as in fhose disfanf days When darkesf nighfs and ufmosf secrecy Were wonf fo hide from profane eyes The search for Trufh in Man- Are his, and his fhe well-earned righ+ To enfer in fhe sacred Mysferies l-lis preparafions arduous. never-ceasing work, Are naughf in fhese few momenfs When. wifh awkward hands he cufs fhe skin From occipuf 'ro Lumbar Two lOh! famous words, +radifion's formulall Friend and Brofherl You are one Wifh all fhaf earnesf band . From dire anfiquify sfill seekinq Life in Deafh. Vesalius' companions, remember evermore Your vows unspoken! Nigh+ and day Press on-fhe Healing Rod your goal! Iliirleenfh Page