University of Florida College of Medicine - Retrospectroscope Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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In Dedication SOLACE IN MEDICAL PRACTICE I cared for a child who was dying; She loved me and I loved her well. She loved though her faith was unfounded For I’d heard the vesper knell. She believed that I was Almighty And through me the organ would swell To sound out the great benediction That meant she was sure to get well. ieee aa ee She was sure that she would recover And play with her dollies once more, That daddy would mend broken pieces And mother, the dress that she tore. The parents knew all that was going; They knew that the end was in sight They loved me because I loved their daughter Even though it was time for good-night. I grow old; as I do so, I ponder On the life I’ve been privileged to lead, To be with a child and her parents, Stay near in the hour of their need. Professional knowledge may fail me When the Angel of Death is at hand, And yet I am able to comfort With a solace just love can command. — A. Ashley Weech

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As is clear even from the scant evidence on these two pages, A. Ashley Weech is an indi- vidual truly a cut above the common run of men — a strong man of gentle spirit; a physician whose love for his patients is eternally evident; an educator whose whole life has been dedicated to the advancement of medicine. For these reasons and for an inspiration to aspire to the highest principles of the practice of medicine, we dedicate this book to Dr. Alexander Ashley Weech, the type of man who creates a significant moment in the history of American medicine. The following note is copied from the hospital chart of Dr. Weech’s patient, Katherine Woglom. It documents the first administration of an an- tibiotic to a patient in America. 7-10-35: From the standpoint of positive findings on physical examination there have been no changes or development in the patient’s condition. The neck is still stiff and the Kernig remains positive; these signs have not advanced; may have receded slightly. However, the general status has not im- proved. Loss of weight is becoming more apparent; the bony prominences are more exposed, and the face is thin and pinched. Temperature is showing less tendency to daily remissions and rather remains between 101 and 102. Pt. has complained frequently of pain in back and legs. I can make out no signs of metastatic localization. The disposition is querulous, making difficult the administration of all medicine. This afternoon the patient was given in intravenous injection of 10cc of Prontosil, according to present plans the first of a series of injections. The meaning of this therapy will appear from the following notes: Two days ago Dr. Woglom called my attention to reports in the German literature con- cerning a dye (4-sulphonamide 2’ 4’ diaminoazobenzol hydrochloride) which has been used with success in the treatment of experimental and clinical streptococcus infec- tions. This dye goes by the trade name of Prontosil. Several reports appear in the February 15, 1935 number of the Deutsche med. Wchnschr. Clinical cases treated so far include puerperal sepsis, erysipelas, and septic angina with jugular thrombosis. From these reports one can deduce an adult dos- age of from 1 to 6 gms. daily per os, and in addition from 10 to 30 cc. once or twice a day of a 0.25%o solution by vein. It is planned to give our patient 10 cc. twice a day of this solution by vein. If and when we are able to secure tablets for oral administration it is planned to give more therapy in this way. The continuance of this treatment is of course contingent upon the pt’s. reaction. WEECH Alexander Ashley Weech, born Nov 19, 1895, Baltimore, Maryland, gave the first antibiotic in America to Katherine Woglom on July 10, 1935; he was her primary physician during her long, tragic illness. He received his college and medical degrees from Johns Hopkins. Following postgraduate training there, he was pediatrician-in-chief at the Peiping (China) Union Medical College Hospital for two years. He held several full-time ap- pointments at the Babies Hospital, including director of chemical laboratories for 11 years. In 1942 he became Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati and director of the Childrens Hospital Research Foundation. His fame as a teacher of pediatrics reached international proportions as did the department that he headed. His research includes fundamental knowledge on the permeability of membranes, plasma proteins, edema, and nutrition. He served as President of the American Pediatric Society and was given the Borden and Jacobi Awards as well as a Distinguished Service Medal from the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He was chief editor of The Journal from 1963 through 1972. Dr. Weech is presently teaching at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Am. J. Dis. Child., Vol. 128, Aug. 1974 Alexander Ashley Weech 19