University of Cincinnati College of Medicine - Annual Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

Page 186 text:

As children of the old college returning to celebrate the finish of one and the beginning of another century each will have his story of the one who most did give him strength and support in the moulding of his career. Whittaker, the unpretentious selmlariwilh power unfeigned, left an imprint upon hundreds of his students that time has not effaeetl. The stimulus to imitate his varied perfections was received from his every utterance and was accepted by everyone sitting at. his feet like a holy baptism administered to devoted disciples. He was an ardent admirer of Daniel Drake, the founder of medical education in this City. Proud of the privilege to be numbered as one to take up the work begun by the old battling pioneer, he never lost opportunity to express his admiration for this uncompromising toilet. Whittaker was chosen to Fill the chair of Theory and Practice in the year 1879 and began his lectures by giving a history of the Chair Dl Practice. It was carefully prepared as were all his lectures and reads like a romance. To me he represented everything that was profound. He never lacked for language to express his ideas. Each word he used H1 ted so precisely with the one to come that his every effort resembled all that could be expected of literary skillebeauty and perfection. Many of the students were illy prepared by preliminary education for the deeper study of medieine-yet everyone who listened to this amiable and dis- tinguished savant was inspired to better endeavor. His passing was untimely. Brilliant as was his career in the chair of medi- cine it was ably maintained by every successor. To what extEnt medicine is now taught by didactic methods. I Cannot tell. ll' progress has decreed a dih'erent course then surety is the student of today deprived of much that is charming in his preparation. Let it not he assumed that as a simple lahnrer in the vineyard I would be thoughtless or cruel enough to make comparison of the present with the past. particularly when it covers a period of forty years. Yet speaking for the t'hildren oi the old home-place whether in the Old Miami-the Old Cincinnati 01' the old Ohio. I feel I would be untrue to the traditions of the past if I failed to pay tribute to the earnest men who in by-gone years paved the way for that which gives the greater glory in the marvellous reconstruction eff today. The old proprietary colleges are gone never to be revived. Their teaching force in that day held the best men of the city. Their hickerings and their differences were of value only because they incited each to better work. Young men well prepared were yearly sent to the world to bind up its wounds. Yet these very men meeting as internee in the hospital or mingling in their several Fields of work melted into one common band of brothers with but the single purpose to blaze the way for that which followed. From among these some were placed on duty to work out questions of great moment to the public and t0 the profession. Time alone revealed their importance. The constant concern of one among us in child education has been so intense and untiring that a school system has evolved in our city so niagnihcient that it has excited the wonder and envy of the entire Civilized world. In questions interlaced Page One Hundred Eighty-fuur

Page 185 text:

Alumnal Address VERY seat in the lnwer umphitheuler was occupied inver four hundred E students were gathered for the lust morning lecture. I: was an inter- esting group made up of men from all parts of the Central West. VVllllU many were already in the mitlrlle period nf life. liy fur the greater number were in the years rtf early manhood. The lung bent-hes in that Ultl room were tlivifletl hy aisles thttt entrttnve and exil might lJL' mtn'e eusily zltftfrmL lilisheda Every face on every bench wore a wonderful look of CXPL'ClilFle. A master was to till the hour. The great bell in the tower of am adjacent building sung in muurnltll tunes the birth of the noon hour and sin'tttltancuus with the passing ul the echo Hi the last stroke there entered through the door behind the desk at yuuthl'ul main laulllcssly attired. Hi5 seriuus mien impressed all who knew him. He was not severe in appearance, but rather did it lean towards sadness. As he entered this day reflection seemed to hold him in its entrancing arms; for. as if awakening, he bowed acknowledgement to the applause which greeted him, and pausing for :1 moment. he suitl-Gentlemen: the vnive til the great hell seems like the pleading notes of 21 cello marking the passing rat the pt-ritttl. Centennial Celebration Address by Dr. Louis .S'rirwab, J11 D. and then, heaving a little sigh, at the same time stroking hie smooth chitL ht- quoted from the dreamers. the little sonnetirHBat-kward turn backward. Uh time. in thy flght 'muke me a child again just fur Ulll: night. He recited in style quite dramatic and was conscious of the effect this little lJy-pluy haul ttpun the elites. for with unusual energy and with more than usual eloquence he poured mil: the lesson til the hour. His Charming methntl tJf giving the history of disease hallnwetl hy Etiology afiymptomatologyipathology and treatment was excelled hy ntme nf hi5 colleaguest On this occasion his literary acrhitccture was superhehis Inl'ty deductions unequalled and couched in language rare and choice: his every listener fur the entire hour was in a state of complete enchantment. He was describing the ravages of Progressive Muscular Atrophy. With skill inimitable he led his audience into the past, recounting the observations of old writers from the time of Hippocrates t0 Churcot, t0 whorrt he gave in glowing terms full credit for definitely determining the lesion. In tlepeeting the pitiless course of the disease his word picture was so realistic that students hguratively shutlclerecl at the contemplation of the sickening results of this strange malady. A pin falling to the Hour would have disturbed the breathlessness that pervaded the room. 50 Fixed was the attention of every student to this peerless speaker. His closing peruritiun was touching in the extreme and 215 the last word left his inspired lips there came from the top row a roar of approval. which gathering impetus as it spread, made the walls of the 01d temple tremble. Ht- etoocl for u moment as if contemplating his triumph while over his pallid check there played a blush so subtle that it was evident he was by supreme effort controlling his emotions and with a pleasing bow left the room. This WHH lml one of many lirilliant lectures delivered by james. T. Whittaker, an alumnus of this cullege. the eleventh meessor of Theory and Practice, since the birth of the school unt- hundred years ago. Pug:- One Hundred E-i'gMy-Hirec

Page 187 text:

with the prufession it was not always clear how or wlutt best to do ebut in the and that which was done reflects the wisdom of honest struggle and is displayed in all its sublimity at the end oi 21 hundred years of service. If the roll of the old Guard was called tonight but few WIJultl answer. C'onnereComegySe-Carsoanawson-Dandridge-Mussey-Eit'llbergiFurCl't- heimer-ReamyePalmereMurphyeMentlenhttll-Miliikin- -HyntlnmniSt-t-ly - --HolmeraeWilliams-Rothueker --- Longwurth - WVhittuker antl others my treacherous memory does not now recalliall have gone to their sleep. Of the old Miami faculty one far in the afternoon of life is still spared to us. The Eight of years has silvered his heard but it ha's not bowed his head nnr dimmed his interest in the affairs of the craft. One whom you deservedly honored today. mellowed by age still treads the furrow. Wilh zeal unabating he lingers at the alter around which his fonrlest memories dwell daily renewing the faith of the fathers and drinking tleep of the greater faith of the new generation. The men of his making are- around you and scattered over the land thousands Htill live whnse vnltmhle lives were lash- ioned by his singular power as a teacher. But Siricrateiul as we are to the men of the past let L15 not forget the part played by the great City of Cincinnati. From a population of ten thousand in 1820, the city has grown until today practically live hundred thnusanrl are found within its corporate limits. While other Cities in these years: have ex- ceeded this growth none may boast of :1 better government nor excel in a more generousimore contentedemore prosperous and patrintie citizenship It may be truly said that what the city did in granting permission to iesue bonds for the building ed a great hospital was the outcome of years of endeavor by one man and that man an alumnus of this college. Twenty years of patient waiting. watching and appealing to nverenme all obstacles and yet so sincere the purpose and so pure that it required but a single clay for the people to grant its credit in support of the great undertaking. This was the one important link needed to complete etlueatinnal requirements and make Cincinnati the medical mecca of the Central States. Spurred by the willingness of the people to bear the burden of the fabulous cost of this wonderful improvement and to support by yearly appropriations funds to maintain the hospital and the school. Philantruphy stretching out a bountiful hand provided the funds for the construction of a medical college building rivalling in archi- tectural beauty all similar structures in the land. The uncertain future of a little chiid struggling in its mother's anus, quickened the ultruistic spirit of the same loving and discerning woman and folltm'ing her noble and divine impulses she gave freely from her purse that the infant might live to enjoy a happeir future. Again may it be said that an alumnus of this century Old seh001--a genius who for forty years bowed over microscope and test tube weaving from his deep and ceaseless studies. immutable laws to govern the control of early life. made possible by his intense interest this precimm contribution the better to spread to listening craftsmen the power to correct and conserve. The sacrifices made by medical men in which life itself was oFfered for the beneht Of the human family has been supplemented by precious gifts without Page One Hundred Eighty-jiw