History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Prefaceixall of its local health department facilities; the cholera epidemic of 1866 wasundoubtedly and justifiably used by some of the prominent physicians ofthat time to frighten the city fathers into passing an ordinance which laidthe foundation for the present Chicago Health Department. Some of theearly individual members of the profession founded schools and collegesin Illinois, some of which bear their names as founders: Dr. B. F. Edwardswas active in aiding the establishment of Monticello Seminary and ShurtleffCollege in Alton; Dr. John H. Evans was largely instrumental in foundingNorthwestern University; Evanston was named after him and its DavisStreet was named after his good friend, Dr. N. S. Davis. (See Vol. I for moredetails on this subject.)Others of these early practitioners were deeply religious and were activein founding churches; some were active in politics as mayors or membersof the State Legislature and Dr. W. H. Bissel of St. Clair County wasinaugurated as Governor on January 12, 1857. Still others were editors,authors, etc.In general, the physicians of that era were more active in civic affairsthan are the doctors of today. However, their professional activities werenot as time-consuming as they are at the present time, and they were notengulfed in the sea of literature or in special societies that today requireso much time.To obviate a recurrence of the situation following Dr. Zeuch's death, 3and from the many years of experience that the Illinois State MedicalSociety has had in the preparation of its history and the collection anddisposition of its historical records, two decisions have been reached: (1)For purposes of safety and continuity, an active committee, such as the onenow at work, should be perpetuated and should assemble from time totime for the discussion of the historical problems always at hand beforethe Society. This committee should cooperate with the Permanent Historianand with the Committee on Archives.(2) It seemed evident that thereshould be an official Compiler of Records located in a fire-proof building,since many valuable and irreplaceable Society records are at present notadequately arranged or properly protected against disaster. Towards thatend, the John Crerar Medical Library in Chicago has been made the centralofficial depository- for the present history work of the Society with its MedicalLibrarian, Miss Ella Salmonsen, as the compiler of such data.The work of the Committee on Medical History to publish Volume IIhas now been completed but the Society's recording of medical historicalaUnfortunately, Dr. Zeuch died very shortly after Volume I was finished in 1927. Withhis death disappeared nearly all the committee's records and documents. This was a serioushandicap for the work on Volume II and will be for all future historical efforts inthe Illinois State Medical Society.