University of Maryland School of Medicine - Terrae Mariae Medicus (Baltimore, MD)

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and professors of the Medical College widi the approval of the Board of Regents and was passed in December, 1812. The word- ing of the bill is unique: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary- land, That the college for the promotion of medical knowledge, by the name of the College of Medicine of Maryland, by and for the same is hereby authorized to constitute, appoint and annex to itself the other three colleges or facul- ties, viz: The Faculty of Divinity, The Faculty of Law and The Faculty of the Arts and Sci- ences; and that the four faculties or colleges, thus united, shall be and they are hereby, con- stituted in University by the name and under the title of the University of Maryland. Thus occurred the only known instance of a university being founded upon a medi- cal school which was already functioning. The original Board of Regents now ceased to exist and a new Board of Regents, com- posed of the Provost and the four faculties, assumed leadership. In January, 1813, the medical college an- nexed the other three faculties. Named as fust provost was Archbishop John Carroll, cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. He declined the position and Robert Smith, former U. S. Secretary of State, took office. Although the other schools did not flour- ish during the 19th century, the medical school continued to expand. A library was begun in 1813 with the purchase of the books of Dr. John Crawford for five hun- dred dollars. Crawford had come to Balti- more at the same time as Davidge, had been a close friend of Benjamin Rush and had developed an extensive practice. His theory of the contagium animatum (that certain diseases were caused by microscopic organ- isms), published in 1800 had been de- nounced by leading medical figures of the day. The war with England touched Baltimore at this time and the faculty of the new school tended the wounded at the Battles of North Point and Fort McHenry. THE HOSPITAL A LACK of patients for the teaching of clini- cal medicine was soon appreciated, so to The first Baltimore Infirmary built in 1823. 13

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lowed and he died shortly after. During the second session, beginning in the Fall of 1808, the students increased to ten and the following year, to eighteen. In April of 1810, the College of Medicine of Maryland graduated five young men with the degree Doctor of Medicine. THE FIRST BUILDING A SUITABLE building for the college had been frequently discussed during these early years. No available structure seemed to suit the purpose adequately, so it was decided to provide a new building which would be both an outstanding piece of archi- tecture and a permanent home for the college. Early in the formation of the college, a lot on the corner of Greene and Lombard Streets had been purchased at a merely nominal amount from Colonel John Eager Howard. The contract with Col. Howard was signed by several of the professors, who made themselves individually responsible. Howard insisted that no stipulated time be established for termination of the debt which was eventually paid to him in full. Funds for the building, however, would be a little harder to come by, for the faculty at this time consisted of young men with little in the way of money. A common means of raising funds for any enterprise was by public lottery so it was decided that this would be appropriate. The first act audiorizing a lottery was passed by the legislature in January, 1808, and it provided a scheme for raising $40,- 000. Returns were slow until Dr. Cooke assumed charge and he is generally held responsible for die financial success. With the needed money at hand, R. Carey Long was commissioned as architect and the cornerstone was laid by Col. Howard in April, 1811. Like most prominent architec- ture of the time, the building was designed to imitate a classic: the Pantheon in Rome. At the time of construction, it was conceded to be the finest structure for medical educa- ion in the New World. Commanding an excellent view of the Patapsco and the Ches- apeake, it stood alone in the Western Pre- cinct overlooking the old Washington Road. For years it was a landmark to travellers from the capital. By November of 1812, the incomplete building was already being used for lectures. THE UNIVERSITY IS BORN Meanwhile, the expense of educating young doctors was proving a heavy burden to the men who were responsible for teach- ing them. In other quarters, the dream of a state university, comprising many schools, had long existed. In 1784, a state university had actually been created by act of legisla- ture, comprising Washington College on the eastern shore and St. John ' s College of An- napolis. Doomed by a top heavy organiza- tion, its endowments were withdrawn by the state in 1806 and the University Act re- pealed. Now spurred by the need for a firmer foundation, an act to create the University of Maryland was presented by the president 12

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satisfy this need the faculty initiated the construction of the Baltimore Infirmary. By means of their own funds, the professors, in 1823, obtained a lot on the southwest corner of Lombard and Greene Streets and had erected a small rectangular hospital. Built to house 50 patients, the Infirmary was divided into four wards, one of which was devoted entirely to diseases of the eye. Attached to the main building was the oper- ating theater, seating several hundred stu- dents. Nursing duties were undertaken by an order of Catliolic nuns, tlie Sisters of Charity. Under the control of the professors, the Infirmary provided ample teaching cases. Three physicians and four surgeons com- prised the staff and with its immediate prox- imity to the school, it gave tlie institution advantages not possessed by any other American school of the day. These facilities were soon overtaxed how- ever, and in 1833, an addition of four more wards was made, raising hospital capacity to 90. YEARS OF CONFLICT Meanwhile, the medical school had en- tered upon a period of strife and instability. By an act of the legislature passed in 1826, the Board of Regents was abolished and a board of 21 trustees established, with the governor ex officio president. This move was said to have been instigated by certain faculty members who were jealous of Dr. Davidge and of his popularity with the stu- dents. Whatever the cause of the act, the result was 13 years of ferment. The faculty and the students bitterly opposed the gov- ernment of the trustees. Duels were fought and ill feeling simmered. The feud reach its climax early in 1837. Professor Potter discovered that liie janitor of the school had been conducting a gam- bling den behind Anatomical Hall, with the sale of whiskey to the students between classes. The janitor then threatened the life of the professor, who protested to the Board of Trustees. No action was taken, the jani- tor continued his activities, and Dr. Potter acquired a pistol for his own protection. The faculty was enraged at this attitude of the trustees and when, shortly thereafter, a new faculty member was appointed against the wishes of the faculty, the break- ing point was reached. At a meeting in the Infirmary on May 2, the old Board of Regents and certain of the faculty voted themselves independent and decided to hold classes in a local hotel. Most of the students attended these classes; the rest either transferred to other schools or left school entirely. A new faculty ap- pointed by the trustees held classes before an almost empty Chemical Hall. For two years this situation existed, flar- ing at intervals into violence such as the incident in which several of the old Faculty, with the aid of a number of the students, ob- tained keys to the University, expelled the janitor, and occupied the grounds for two days. In 1839, the Court of Appeals ruled that the act of the state legislature establishing the Board of Trustees was unconstitutional and tlie government of the university was restored to the Board of Regents. The old faculty was re-installed. THE FACULTY Shortly after the opening of the lectures in the new Me dical School building, Drs. Davidge and Cocke turned the professorship of surgery over to Dr. William Gibson, then 24. Nine years later, in 1821, Dr. Gibson became head of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and in his place appeared one of the colorful figures that marked these 14