Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - History of University of Illinois at Chicago (1921) [PAGE 6]

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COLLEGE OP M E D I C I N E

HISTORICAL SKETCH

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was increased from $60,000 to $100,000. A total of $50,000 was expended this year for the erection of six new laboratories adjoining and connected with the college building. Attendance upon three full winter courses was made obligatory. The curriculum was extended. Much more attention was given to demonstrative and laboratory teaching t h a n formerly. From this time on the progress of the school was rapid— indeed almost phenomenal, as it was the first among the western medical colleges t o inaugurate laboratory teaching. The total number of matriculants was 248, 42 of whom were graduates, making a 19 percent ratio of graduates to resident matriculants. Professor Bayard Holmes had been elected corresponding secretary, and conducted an energetic correspondence with prospective medical students. The requirements for admission were increased, so t h a t every candidate for admission to the College of Physicians and Surgeons was required to present a certificate of good moral character from a reputable physician, and (2) a diploma or certificate from a recognized college, school of science, academy, normal school, or high school, or other evidence of satisfactory preliminary education. Students unable to meet these requirements were admitted on passing a satisfactory examination in the following subjects: (a) English, including the writing of an essay of at least 200 words on some well-known person or important recent event, the subject to be announced at the time of the examination; (b) mathematics, the examination to cover compound principles and percentage in arithmetic, and fractions and equations of the first degree in algebra; (c) physics, the examination to cover elements of physics as presented in Balfour Stewart's work; (d) Latin, including the rudiments of grammar, translation of easy Latin prose into English, and of English into Latin, the commentaries of Caesar to furnish the basis of both. T h e plan of instruction was arranged in four separate annual courses. Each year consisted of a winter term of seven months, and a spring term of two. A year after the World's Fair, 1893, we erected the first medical laboratory building equipped for the use of students in Chicago—in anatomy, bacteriology, chemistry, pathology, physiology—six stories in height, 30 x 100 feet in size. A large supply of equipment and material had been purchased in Europe. The basement of the laboratory wings contained living rooms for the curator; storerooms, laundry and boiler room. On the first floor were a reading room, quiz room, coat room, and hall. The second floor contained the histological laboratory, with desks and lockers, which was connected and continuous with the microscopical laboratory of the main building, and constituted a single room of 25 x 156 feet, communicating with storerooms and special preparation rooms. The third floor was divided into a pathological laboratory and four connecting preparation rooms, a n d was complete in its appointments. The fourth floor had a chemical laboratory, provided with desks of special design. On the fifth floor was the biological laboratory, 25 x 156 feet, the general arrangements of which were like those of the microscopical laboratory. I t contained aquaria, cages for small animals, and other necessities for biological study. Here, studies were carried on in experimental surgery. On the sixth floor was the anatomical department. Each laboratory was thoroughly equipped and perfectly lighted, heated and ventilated. I t was confidently asserted t h a t in no other medical college on the continent did students receive as much laboratory instruction. In October, 1893, the college met with a very great loss in the death of its president, A. Reeves Jackson, Professor of Gynecology, the guiding spirit of the institution up to t h a t time. Professor Charles Warrington Earle was elected President in his stead, and guided the affairs of the college during the following year, when his u n timely death occurfed. I n February, 1896,- members of the Faculty and other friends of the college purchased the Post-Graduate Medical School and Hospital for $50,000 in order to secure additional clinical advantages for the college. I t was converted into the West Side Hospital, and was connected to t h e old college clinical amphitheatre by a covered bridge. During 1896 negotiations were opened b y Governor Altgeld with Professor Quine, President of t h e Faculty, looking toward t h e affiliation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons with the University of Illinois as its medical department. At the suggestion of the Governor the trustees of the University appointed a committee to confer with a similar committee from the college t o formulate a plan of union. Professors, Quine, Steele, and King represented the college in these negotiations with President Draper and a committee of the trustees of t h e University. The outcome was t h a t on April 21, 1897, a lease was made to the University of the College property for four years. From this date the college passed under the control of the University. C O -

education was introduced, and university methods adopted. The growth and prosperity of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, now known as our College of Medicine, was even more rapid than before. Its reputation and solidity as a part of the Hta,te University were recognized by medical students and its classes grew with amazing rapidity. The attendance in 1895-96 was 235; in 1896-97, 409; in 1898-99, 514; in !S<M)~i900, 579; and later 710. In 1899, the College and the University, realizing t h a t a union of the two institutions was mutually advantageous, entered into a new agreement under a twenty-five y^ar lease, by which a t its termination all the college property and good will became Uie property of the University. During this lease one-third of the net profits were to w> to the University toward a medical college and endowment fund, two-thirds to F;O to the stockholders of the college. Great credit is due to the Committee for the successful manner in which it conducted these delicate negotiations to a satisfactory conclusion, by which the College In wit me the medical department of the University of Illinois, and by which during the life of the lease, the faculty retained an advisory relation and made all nominations I'm* vacant faculty positions. On and after May 1, 1900, the College of Physicians and Surgeons became the College of Medicine of the University of Illinois. I t was in (his year t h a t William H. Browne came as superintendent. He has since been a dominant factor in the development of the College. The year 1900 was memorable for other events than the affiliation of the College inul University on a rental basis. I n this year the College had an attendance of 635 medical students. We were growing at a tremendous pace, and were crowded for room. We obtained permission of the Trustees to purchase the West Division High School building and property for $186,000, and to convert it into a medical college building. We paid $100,000 cash, and the balance in five annual payments. We also acquired Mm Illinois School of Dentistry, and in 1901 converted the old Medical College Build-' mp; (which in June, 1901, had been partially destroyed by fire) into the present College *»|[ Jontistry Building. A Dental Faculty was appointed, and the building was equipped with an up-to-date dental college outfit. For the opening session in October, 1901, we connected the two college buildings by a covered bridge, and also p u t in a bridge to the West Side Hospital, which had been secured years before by members of the 1'M.ctiIty for the use of our students in clinical demonstrations and teaching. In 1906 other members of the Faculty erected the University Hospital with 100 beds in order to afford our students better clinical advantages. Look at this illustrious list of teachers as I pass them in review before you—all revered members of your old Alma Mater in its early years of sacrifice and service: Henry Palmer, noted surgeon, Surgeon General of Wisconsin; Robert L. Eea, great anatomist and surgeon; Nicholas Senn, master surgeon, noted author; Christian Fenger, Pathologist and surgeon; Alex. Hugh Ferguson, Surgeon; John B. Murphy, premier mirgeon of the world, whose work was recognized as one of the epochs of medical advancement; J. J. M. Angear, principles of medicine; Frank E . Waxham, intubationist; Walter S. Christopher, diseases of children; A. W. Harlan, dental surgeon; W. T. Eckley, anatomist; Boerne Bettman, oculist and aurist; J. T. Jelks, G. U. surgeon; Albert M. Iloadley, anatomist and surgeon; John A. Benson, physician and physiologist; J, IYT. G. Carter, sanitarian; Adolph Gehrmann, bacteriologist of international reputation; and many others. Idvery life is a monument to somebody's ideals. We are all sculptors chiseling into perfection or sadly marring the lives about us. The class room and lecture hall and laboratory are studios; the students are living stones out of which the teacher IM daily carving characters; the graduates are the living symbols of the ideals of their Alma Mater. We cannot all serve in the Faculty or in the field of teaching, but when these others Kivc their lives to sacrificial service in the cause of humanity, whose training and going forth on their errands of mercy have been made possible by our service and gifts to advance medical education, our money has been transformed into life. Monuments Iiililt of stone may perish, but the monuments we erect out of our lives are imperishable. There are living monuments t h a t will endure forever. The preliminary affiliation between the College and the University having proved MiiiiNfactory, on February 9, 1900, a new lease of the College to the University was «titered into for a period of 25 years, dating from M a y 1, 1900, to April, 1925. This niMl.rument provided for a Dean, an Actuary, and a Secretary of the Medical Faculty, nil to be selected by the President of the University. I t also contained a provision I or the purchase of the college property by the University at an agreed price, any