History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

102 History of Medical Practice in Illinoistwo periods. In the first (1850-1875) little was known and nothing wastaught concerning the bacterial causes of disease. Hence, the physiciansin Illinois, as elsewhere, differed little in their practical ideas and methodsfrom those in the quarter or even half century preceding 1850. There was,it is true, marked evidence of unrest within the profession. Some disagreedwith harsh methods of treatment, such as bleeding and severe purgation.Others stoutly defended these methods. New systems of practice were proposedand new medical schools were started to teach these systems. Littleactual progress was made until the second period (1875-1900) with itsdramatic discoveries in bacteriology, which laidmedical and surgical practice as we know ittoday.the firm foundation forIt is difficult for us to realize that the bacterial origin of many diseases hadreceived little consideration only seventy-five years ago. Prior to1875, thefew physicians or other scientists who were bold enough to advocate suchan idea were often ignored, forgotten or, if too persistent, were ridiculedand persecuted. The first lectures on bacteria in Illinois were given in 1877by professor Thomas J.Burrill at the University of Illinois in Urbana. 1 In1882, Dr. Romain J. Curtis was elected to the Chair of Hygiene at theCollege of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago. He taught the "germtheory" and believed that it explained the cause of many diseases. Theother twenty members of the faculty at first opposed this theory and onlythe influence of Dr. Nicholas Senn saved Dr. Curtiss from being asked toresign. In time the rest of the faculty was converted to his ideas. 2 The newscience was not named bacteriology, however, until 1884. 1In the medical profession, there were great differences of opinion andpractice between the various systems. Homeopathy was sweeping the country,and the adherents of this system believed in infinitesimal doses ofdrugs and in much milder and gentler methods than those used by theRegulars. The Botanies, after seeing the ill effects of calomel and some otherdrugs of mineral origin, refused to use "mineral poisons" and used onlydrugs derived from plants, forgetting that some plant poisons were asdeadly as the minerals used by the Regulars. "Lobelia #6" was a favoriteremedy of the Botanies. When he didn't know what to do next, the Botanicturned to this remedy even as we today turn to antibiotics. The Physio-Medicals used the basic ideas of the Botanies, of which the system was anoffshot, and added baths of various sorts,the sweat bath being the mostpopular. This was produced by swathing the patient in hot, wet sheets,wrapping him in blankets and surrounding him with hot bricks and (inseason) hot roasting ears. There were seventeen other systems. Many of1Rawlings, I. D.: The Rise and Fall of Disease in Illinois, p. 244. Published by TheState Department of Public Health, Springfield, 111.2Salmonsen, Ella M.: Unpublished Records 0/ Illinois Physicians.