History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

132 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisof pyrogenesis and dissipation of heat: (1) sedative influence of tartaremetic, known favorably as a powerful agent; (2) veratrum, a powerfulcardiac sedative said to reduce temperature 1-3 °F; (3) chloral hydrate in40 to 80 grain dose, said to lower temperature 3-4 °F., to paralyze vasomotorcenters and to lessen heart action;(4) salicylates and salicin in inflammations;(5) aconite, "coming to be ranked among the most prominent agentsfor heat dissipation in febrile cases. ... Its efficiency in arresting inflammatoryprocesses can hardly be estimated .... Probably homeopathy is moreindebted to this simple remedy for what it may claim of success in thetreatment of acute diseases than to all other remedies combined. . . . Aconitelessens heart action, relaxes arterioles, doubles the capillary volume andthus, while removing blood pressure, it drains away the blood from partsthat are over-congested, and not only lessens the temperature but preventsmischief that might otherwise ensue." (6) Administration or use ofquinine.A paper on "The Present Status of Specialism in Medicine and Surgery"was delivered by Dr. A. Reeves Jackson, Chicago. He referred to the passingof the "family doctor" and the advent of the specialist. Dr. Jackson favoredspecialism and said that its rise was the result of: (1) a multiplicity ofprofessorships in medical colleges and deficient medical education. He saidthat several schools had established postgraduate courses, and he questionedtheir adequacy; they presented lectures and demonstrations only but gaveno practical work to develop skill. Schools, he said, did not normally providewhat they knew their pupils needed most, namely, clinical experience.(2) Success in medical teaching, supplementing the lack of practical trainingin the college curriculum, and meeting the growing demand evinced bythe public and the profession for special medical and surgical skill. Dr.Jackson stated: "We must concede need of specialism; were it not for thespecial worker the profession would go backward, nay, never would havegone forward. . . . Many self styled specialists are not qualified by diligentstudy, knowledge or experience. Again certain young inexperienced persons,who, at the beginning of their professional life, herald themselves asspecialists, and who, by claiming to treat a certain class of diseases only,convey the implications that they are enabled to effect unusual results.They seldom redeem such promises. The claim to superior special skill isonly a cunning device to attract attention and to catch the unwary." (3)Many advances and discoveries of modern specialism, as to etiology, understandingof particular diseases as well as proper treatment, and (4) obligationsof the medical profession and the public to specialism.Coincident with this, there appeared the following editorial in theNorthwestern Medical and Surgical Journal on "General Education as Preparatoryto Medical Studies": "The necessity for a reasonable amount of