Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Synapsis Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 22 text:

PHYSIOLOGICAL LAHORATORY f lilOLOf.K l, l, r,(ll! ATOKV . ' J l(i

Page 21 text:

liA( TKKIOI.OIilCAL I.AHOUAl ' OIfY (■I1I:MI 1 lO I.MIOI! ATilin ■4 u h-

Page 23 text:

Historical Sketch of the Qollege r ' lIE history of The Phihuleljjhia Cullrgc of Osteopathy (hitrs Itack to the early part of the year 1898, when Dr. O. J. Snyder and Dr. Mason W. Pre.ssley, in conjunction with a Ir. Riley, met to di.scuss the neces- sity and desirability of estaljlishing an Osteopathic College in the city of Philadelphia, and to lay down j)reliniinary plans for its inception. They gave unsparingly of their time and labor in surmounting the many and difficult problems that confronted them in formulating the necessary plans of organ- ization and personnel. They wisely decided to secure the services of the best instructors obtainable, and likewise to endeavor to obtain a siutable and central location. In the due course of time, the formidation of ])lans having been completefl, a stock company was organized, and the necessary funds secured to put the proposition under way. The new institution was incorporated under the Laws of the State of New Jersey, as the Philadelphia College and Infirmary of Osteopathy, and was formally opened on January 27, 1899. The first college occupied two rooms in the Stephen Cirard Building, Twelfth Street above Chestnut. There the fir.st classes were held. Of that first group of students many are today prominent Osteopathic Physicians. Before the end of the first year it became evident that larger qiuirters must shortly be procured. Conser(uently the College was movel to the Witherspoon Building at Juniper and Walnut Streets. Here the first Chemical and Histological Lal)oratories were installed and equipped to fill the needs of the course at that time. In addition more than three thousand dollars worth of Anatomical equipment was purchased, in the form of manikins, charts, skeletons, etc. It was by the use of these that Dr. Snyder jjlanned to nuike the coTirse as practical as possible, supplementing the didactic work with lat)ora- tory experimentation and the study of anatomical specimens. The rapidly growing project was fiu ' ther strengthened by the additicm to the facidty of a number of instructors, among who were W. B. Keen, M.D.i Charles B. McCurdy, D.O.: II. B. Carter, M.D.: W. M. McCally. D.O. I ' nder the carei ' id tutelage of the.se able men the College received excellent training in the fundamentals of Anatomy, Physiology. Chemistry, Histology, and the Principles of Osteopathy. Due to the increase in the size of the slutlent l)ody the College again found it necessary to move into larger qiuirters; this time into a commodious establishment at the corner of Thirty-third and Arch Streets. It was like- wise necessary to again increa.se the ijersonnel of the faculty l y the addition of Dr. Robert Dunnington and Dr. Charles J. Muttart, the last named later to become the third Dean of the College. Dr. Muttart is still an active mem- ber of the faculty and the Head of the Dejiartment of (Jastro-Enterology. ' I ' he College was originally established by a stock company, the revenue of which was devoted to the b iying of necessary e(|uipment. Dividends were 17 Y-