Tulane University School of Medicine - T Wave Yearbook (New Orleans, LA)

Page 11 text:

The Civil War brought a halt to all for- mal medical training in 1862. The Medi- cal College of Louisiana was fortunate to find financial security. A wealthy New Orleans merchant, Paul Tulane, be- queathed $1,250,000 to provide for a new university. In 1884 the various depart- ments of the University of Louisiana were placed under the jurisdiction of the new institution, Tulane University. Tuition fees were costly. In addition to the $150 for tu- ition, there was a matricula- tion fee of $5, and $10 anato- my fee, and a $20 lecture se- ries assessment. The student would also be responsible for his room and board which was $25 per month. In anatomy lab, dissection was a coat and tie affair.

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Hx Of Tulane Medical School On Monday, September 29, 1834, the Bee announced in its editorial columns: ' We are highly gratified to notice the establishment in this city of a medical college. The gentlemen who fill the chairs of the professorship are men of skill and experience. ' Thus formal medical training in Louisiana was begun. The founding of the New Orleans School of Medicine in 1856 introduced another group of physicians and surgeons to the community. It is certain that Charity Hospital, itself a vast clinical laboratory, was an important factor in the development of medical education in New Orleans. An important step forward was taken by Charity Hospital in 1885 when an ambulance service was begun. The first ambulance went into operation on February 2nd and was described as a ' commondious vehicle, weighing 1600 pounds and requires a double team. Although wagon-built to be durable, it has a carriage finish and is mounted on heavy springs . .. ' . According to an undocumented story, it took so long to answer the first call that the patient had recovered and already left the scene. The driver and intern not wishing to return empty-handed, picked up an unsuspecting Negro boy who was not ill and returned triumphantly to the hospital.

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Right: In 1902 a Mr. Alexander Hutchinson bequeathed $800,000 to Tulane University in memory of his wife Josephine. This led to further ex- pansion of the medical facilities. Left: The Richardson Memorial Building on -1 3} the uptown campus housed the School of Medicine in the early 1900 ' s. It was named in honor of Dr. T.G. Richardson, the first and only Louisianian to be president of the American Medical Association. A sketch of Charity Hospital as envisioned by the architects in the late 1930 ' s.