Rush Medical College - Pulse Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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VVhat forethought could have enabled Dr. Brainard to see in a small frontier town. poverty stricken. and ready to sink into the mud of its own sloughs. the beginning of the great western metropolis. it is impossible to say. Chicago at that time certainly seemed an unpromising location for a college. not only on account of the small number of inhabit- ants, but also on account of thelack of improvements. There were no railroads entering the city not even a good wagon- road. But two bridges. small and shaky. spanned the then narrow creek. and sloughs and quatginires were common in different parts of the town. The unpaved streets were knee deep in sand and mud. and uneven wooden sidewalks. sinking in the water. tailed to protect the feet of pedestrians. Two stages a week arrived lrom the eitst with passengers and mail, and as many departed. At long intervals vessels entered the little harbor. The tirst newspaper had just been established fthe Chicago Democrat. Go back with me in fancy to Dec. 4. IHQLEI. to the practical beginning of our college. In a small clapboard building on Clark street. near the center of the little city. fzfvffziff-ttro students gathered to hear the tirst introductory lecture in the new school which then had but four professors. Though the building was but the rude one occupied as an oftice by Dr. Rrainard: though the students were but poorly prepared for the complex study of medicine: though the location was but a little frontier town built on a low prairie. those men had faith in themselves and in the location that titty years has shown was not misplaced. ' YVith no hospital, clinics. laboratory. or apparatus. the work of teaching. as well as of learning. must have been ex- ceedingly difticult. The students were advised to bring at text-book on the subjects taught in the college. and from these they were supposed to study and learn what they did not learn from the lecturers, The tirst prospectus contained these words: The superior facilities for medical instruction in Chicago cannot, be denied by anyone acquainted with the towns in this region. The Trustees have determined to lay the foundations of at medical college which shall be per- manent. and will not fail to carry out these objects to the utmost of their ability. Prof. Brainard said in his closing words at the introductory lecture: lYe believe that the school we this day open is destined to be ranked among the permanent institutions of the state. lt will pass in time into other and better handsg it will live on, identitied with the interests of a great and prosperous city. How prophetic of the future as time has revealed it! The Faculty consisted of Daniel Brainard. Professor oi' Anatomy and Surgery: J. V. Z. Blaney. Professor ol' Chem- istry and Materia Medica: .Tohn McLean: Professor of Theory and Practice of Medicine: Dr. Knapp. Professor of Ob- stetrics and Diseases ol' Women and Children. Dr. Davisson was Prosector to the Professor ol' Anatomy, This. though appearing to us a very nieagre teaching force. was the largest. and indeed the only corps ol' medical It-acliers then in Chicago. One degree was conferred at the close of the tirst session, that on William lluttertield. 18

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In the summer ol' the following year. 1H44. acollege building was ereeted at the southeast corner of Indiana Street and Dearborn Avenue. on a lot donated to the new institution by some publieeniinded Citizens of the North Side. Here were held the tirst elinies. and as time passed. apparatus. In the third announcement this was presented as an extra Those who intend to study medicine are inforined that during the past term one nasal polypus. three tuniors. and tonsils were removed: four operations for strabisnius, one ope instruments. and means of illustration were procured. inducement for students to eonie to the new college: tlVO ration on the lid. and one on the laehrynial apparatus. were performed before the elass. With these advantages. the Medieal College at Cliieago offers. it is believed. induce- ment s to western students equal to those of any other school. There was. even then. a very keen competition from rival institutions. and we hear of free transportation being ottered students by a La Porte institution to draw students from Rush Media-al College. This competition. however. soon subsided. To the students of the present day. these words from a very early circular may prove interesting: Hood boarding. with rootn. fuel. lights and attendance may be obtained at prires varying from Hljlll to 52.25 a weekf In the same eireularwe also tind this statement: The I+'aeultiy will reeeive promissory notes in payment, of fees. Those who pay eash will be favored by a discount of twenty per vent. Students. at their option, Could take tielcets for work in practical anatomy. and for clinical instruction in the l'C' oently opened hospital. Two years ol' praetiee were c-onsidered equivalent to one term of the two required for grad' uation. By .looking over the troin the state of Illinois. some from the territories of Wisconsin and Iowa. The inode of travel was by horse-baek. by wagon, or on loot, no rail-roads having entered Cliieago at that time. roads were ahnosti impassable and travelers found no small dittieulty in going from place to place in wet. seasons of the year. The Faculty arranged the time ot' opening and 4-losing' the term so. as they announced. old eatalogue. it may be seen that the greater number of the students of those days e H1110 The the tne students should have the benetit ot good roads when they came to Chicago in the tall. and when they returned home in the spring. For some years the hope was indulged in by the Trustees. of having' l'ree tuition to the students of medicine. and with this end in View the price ot' the general tic-lcet was redueed from Slit l. lo 523. It was hoped at the time tnat the i'll1ll1f U would enable the Faeult ' to seeure more regular attendant-e of the students for the full term of sixteen weeks. 5 1 . and would enable them to take the praetieal courses also. Alter a trial ol' two years the plan was abandoned. and the fees, as well as the requirements l'or graduation. were inereased. The tirst student to sign the list ol' matrieulates was Allred C. Ames. Ile graduated in lH4T+. and became an Army Hurggeoii at Fort Snelling. Loeating a elaim ol' eighty aeres where Minneapolis now stands, he praetieed in that city until 19