University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine - Scalpel Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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Q Bepartment iiiaisturp 3 ISTORY implies repetition, hence, parts of this article will be re- , czillpd to the minds of those who have perused the pages of books ff v-1 1 o ormer ears. A The Vieterinary Department of the University of Pennsyl- vania was established in the early months of the year 1884, by AQ Dr. Wfilliam Pepper, due to the suggestions and able assistance of Mr. joshua B. Lippincott, joseph E. Gillingham, Esq., Prof. Fairman Rogers, and a few other noted men. During the month of October, 1884, the original buildings were dedicated. Their construction was of brick and granite. A similarity in architecture and appearance will be seen in the old Medical Building, Hare Laboratory, Hospital Building and College Hall. These structures of one to two stories, and erected at a cost of 362,000.00 were situated between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets, having a frontage of about 500 feet on Pine Street Cnow known as Hamilton Vlfalkj , also about 100 feet on Guardian Avenue, the site of the present New Medical Laboratory. The necessary funds for the completion of these buildings were secured prin- cipally through private contributions, with the aid of State appropriations. Prin- cipal among the benefactors were Mr. joshua Lippincott, father of J. Bertram Lippincott, present trustee of the University, who subscribed S20,000.00, and Mr. joseph Gillingham, whose gift was S'pl0,000.00. Numerous other donations and loans of from one to ten thousand dollars were made by numerous Philadel- phians. 1 The land on which these buildings were erected was donated by the City of Philadelphia to the trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. The site com- prised that now occupied by the Botanical Gardens, also that of the New Med- ical Laboratory. The old plant was somewhat similar in arrangement to that of the Alfort School in Paris, where Dr. Rush Shippen Huidekoper, the first Dean, had received his degree. Far superior to anything in America at the time of erection, they were still beneath the par of a modern veterinary school and hos- pital. A partial reconstruction took place in 1891, provisions being made for administrative ofhces, Dean's office, residents' apartments, and general assembly room. The original Faculty, one of whom -is still a member of the instructing corps, was composed of Rush Shippen Huidekoper, M.D., V.S., Dean and Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and Comparative Anatomy, Dr. 'William Zuill, MD. CU. of PQ, and CV. SJ N. Y., Professor of Surgery and Obstetrics, Alexander Glass, V.S., of McGill University, Demonstrator of Pharmacy and Lecturer on Canine Practice, Robert Meade Smith, M.D., Professor of Com- parative Physiology, Horatio C. Wfood, MD., Professor of Therapeutics, E. Reichert, M.D., and Theodore G. Wformly, M.D., Professors of Chemistry, and Dr. joseph Leidy, Professor of Zoology. The nrst class was matriculated in 1884, graduating in 1887, among whom was the late Dr. Simon bl. I-larger. Frequent changes occurred in the instructing staff during the next year or two. In November of 1889, Dr. Huidekoper resigned, being succeeded in Dean- I2

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ship by Dr. John Marshall, who held the chair until 1895. Dr. Huidelcoper, how- ever, continued his lectures until 1890. In 1891 Dr. Charles VVilliams was ap- pointed lecturer, his successor being Dr. Leonard Pearson, who was called to the chair in October, 1892. In 1893 Dr. John W1 Adams, A.B., V.M.D., was ap- pointed to fill the Chair of Surgery and Obstetrics, inade vacant by the resigna- tion of Dr. Zuill. In 1895 Dr. Leonard Pearson- became Dean of the Veterinary Faculty. ' Previous to the fall of 1891, no free clinics were held, members of Clinical Staff having received remuneration for advice o-r operations. That fall free clinics were established, and the Hospital made rapid growth. During the year ending August 31, 1900, over 4,000 cases were treated in the Hospital, as com- pared to 500 in 1884. - An expenditure Olf 312,000.00 was made in 1893, in the provision of a sepa- rate kennel, laboratory and classroom, located on the second floor. In 1899 the Veterinary Department relinquished its buildings and holdings to the Trustees in their search for a suitable site for the New Medical Depart- ment, thereby bringing all the medical buildings together in one portion of the Campus, the Trustees agreeing to secure a suitable location for the Department and its Hospital upon a public thoroughfare in connection with the University Grounds, with buildings equivalent to those relinquished. In the summer of 1901 the buildings were razed, the Department moving into the old two-story car barn on VVoodland Avenue, between Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth Streets. This new site is 260 feet .along Wfoodland Avenue and a depth of 210 feet to Delaney Street. The property was purchased from the Eli K. Price Estate at an expenditure of 5lS46,000. This location was well adapted to fulfil the needs of the School. It was the desire of the Trustees that the new ho-me should be ready for occupancy by the fall of 1903, but owing to the many unforseen difficulties. breaking ground for the new building was de- layed until the fall of 1906. Through the many efforts of the late Dean, Dr. Leonard Pearson, the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania made an appro- priation, which was necessary in order to go on with the buildings. This appro- priation was sufficient to erect the Wfest and South VVings, which were com- pleted in the spring of 1909. The East Vtfing was completed in the early part of 1910, the work made possible by a second State appropriation. In all probability the remaining North VVing will be erected in the course of a year. VVhen com- pleted, the buildings will form a hollow square with a large courtyard in the center. The structures are fireproof and display the science of the most modern architecture. The Thirty-ninth Street side presents a large archway, through which all clinical cases enter. North of this entrance are situated the General Adminis- trative Offices, which are in communication with the office of the Dean. A well- equipped library is also a feature of this fioorg adjoining same is a large lecture room. The second floor is devoted to laboratories and offices of the State Live Stock Sanitary Board and the Department of Mill: Hygiene, while the third fioor comprises the Bacteriological Laboratory and nicely fitted quarters for the Resident House Surgeon. South of the entrance the modern, well-kept Hospital is situated. In it are found the Office of the Hospital and Resident Surgeon, which are in connection with an up-to-date Pharmacy. Passing through these, one enters two large clinic I3