University Medical College - Scalpel Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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J ',. J 7, . Z f, li A Ex N 2'-ZLHT-4 .7 V f .1 I i , JK V1 - E .i i : fy? i i 1 tiff fr' -2 1 as l ff r 2 l 4 l fl , Q , , . V u l T,'I S11-1'-Cya. . HE task of gathering historical data has proven very difficult, as the Scalpel is the first college publication of its nature issued by the University Medical Col- lege, there was no complete collection of material. The following had to be gleaned from many sources, and as no two persons ever see things alike the differences had to be blended together into one harmonious whole. Yet in order that the hundreds that have gone to every clime and country from her hon- ored walls together with the present trustees, faculty, students, and future generations of friends may have a b-rief yet authentic report of the inception and development of U. M. C., a painstaking effort has been made to incorporate material only from the most reliable sources. Worthy mention must be made of Drs. Tiffany, Davis, Snell, Logan, Jackson, Allen, Punton and James, who are among the contributors to this article. It was in the winter of 1880 a dozen or more years after the organization of Kan- sas City's first medical college that the need of another school became apparent to a number of doctors almost simultaneously. The course of instruction given at that time by the already established school consisted only of two short years of five or six months each. Both classes listened to the same lectures up to Christmas time, when it was said, the juniors were sent home and seniors quizzed till March when they were graduated. Kansas City was booming in those days and the little city at the mouth of the Kaw was fast developing into the metropolis of the West. The rapidly growing city on one hand and the very limited facilities for medical instruction on the other were the most important factors th-at called for the organization of a new and better equipped school of medicine. Several plans were inaugurated but before any of them could be executed something broader, larger and better was presented till in the latter part of the winter of 1880 a, new school was launched with eighteen of the most up-to-date doc- tors of Kansas City as charter members. Among them were Drs. Tiffany, Davis, Snell, J. W. Jackson, J. P. Jackson, Hereford, Lewis, O'Connor, Buxton, Campbell, Elston, Mil- ler, Eggers, Adams, Berger, Jameson and Sawyer. Dr. Buxton is now in New Jersey, Dr. Campbell in Joplin, Mo., Dr. Sawyer in Los Angeles, Cal. Drs. Tiffany and Davis, the only founders who are yet as-sociated with the school, and Dr. Snell remain in Kan- sas City. The rest having passed to the beyond. The above named gentlemen formed themselves into a sort of stock company each one putting S800 into the treasury with which the first building was erected, and an assessment of S5 per month each was made to pay running expenses.

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THE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL COLLEGE

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McGee streets, under the The corner stone was laid July 29, 1881, at Twelfth and auspices of the Masonic Fraternity. The Rev. Dr. C. C. Wood, acting Grand Master for K' P esident of the the state of Missouri, was Master of Ceremonies. D-r. Willis P. ing, r Missouri State Medical Society made an interesting and witty address. Another speak- ' an at- er was Henry P. White, afterwards lecturer of Medical Jurisprudence. There was tendance of three thousand people, and thus under very favorable circumstances the ' 1 1. f d first building, which was completed in December, was begun. Di. Henry F. Here or . J. R. Snell the first dean. The new school was to be named the HUniversity of Kansas City, having literary and other departments as well as medi- cal. Thus it continued until 1888 when it became necessary in order to own and control the property to change the charter to that of a medical school only. The school of law and oratory were discontinued. The first building being sold, a lot at its present site, Tenth and Campbell, was purchased and a part of the present building erected. The re- organized school was christened, University Medical College, the name being sug- gested by one of the trustees who was a graduate -of University Medical College of New York. The first set of officers after the reorganization were: President, J. W. Jackson, Dean, James P. Jackson, Secretary, Emory Lamphear, and Treasurer, Geo. W. Davis. was the first president, Dr The first course of instruction was given during the winter of 1881 and 1882. The first class consisting of twenty-five students, and from the first day to the present time the school has made a constant and material growth, until today she stands high among medical colleges of the West, and well she may, for the more than twelve hundred men that have gone from the h-alls of U. M. C. have proven a success. They have been up to date at the time they have gone forth, they have been practical men, they have been both scientists and artists, they have been an honor to the medical profession and to their Alma Mater, they have been loyal to the school that sent them forth and their success and loyalty have turned the attention of the young men contemplating a medi- cal course to investigate and later to enter University Medical College. On the other hand the men who have been supervising the school during its growth have endeavored to keep the school abreast the times- in medical education. Of these, in addition to its founders, only a few names can be mentioned for lack of space. Among them are J. M. Allen, the second president, Dr. C. A. Ritter, the present treasurer, Dr. S. C. James, dean from 1901 to 19017, Dr. Geo. Halley, professor of surgery, Dr. Jabez Jackson, the present president, Dr. James E. Logan, the present dean, Dr. Walter M. Cross, present curator, and Drs. Albert H. Cordier, J. M. Frankenburger and Jno. Punton trustees. Their works will be mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Dr. C. F. Wainwright, formerly dean, is now professor of clinical diagnosis in the Post Graduate School of New York. Likewise Dr. S. G. Gant, formerly professor of rectal diseases, is now occupying the same chair in the school mentioned above. Dr. Claude Hamilton, professor of chemis- try, was elected city chemist, and owing to his enthusiasm in his special work was in his own laboratory infected by the germs of phthisis, and died- as a result. Dr. Sam Dennett, at one time lecturer on anesthetics, has climbed to the top in his specialty, be- ing employed at fabulous prices by the best surgeons of New York, where he has amassed ErVaJS5biCLr'iI1n.e. llbrs. J. and J. P. Jackson, brothers, former being the father of our Kas, and fi-gr aiescgnfgsisalblgslliieclwlssssgjmitalsf forf-the Missouri Pacific Railway at Garnett, a few of these as an evidence of the kgmd im If at Kgnsas CIW' MO' I only mention and as the primary reason for her succless? afllhoimdauton on Whlchiu C' 15 builded, quantity. As a result of which five or six .ea ew mohto has been quahty Tamer than ting U' M. C.. on an equal Stalidino with Oyh rs aio w en the standard was raised, put- mation in one year nearly one h s er co eges of the American Medical Asso- f undred men, who sought admission without sufficient