History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

250 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisChildren's Memorial Hospital. Among his principal interests were infantwelfare problems and a pure milk supply.John Milton Dodson (1859-1935) was born in Berlin, Wisconsin, andgraduated from Rush Medical College in 1888. From 1894 to 1897 he wasProfessor of Pediatrics in the Women's Medical College of NorthwesternUniversity. During 1896 he did postgraduate work in Germany. From 1889to 1899 he taught in various departments at Rush before becoming Professorof Pediatrics, a position he retained until near the close of his life. In addition,he was Dean at Rush for many years, and his administrative dutieswere particularly heavy at the close of the century when arrangements werebeing made to transfer the first 2-year students to the University of Chicagoand to confine the last two years to clinical work at Rush. This plan madepossible an eventual extension of pediatric teaching at Cook County Hospitalwhere there was an abundance of material for the purpose. The planbecame effective in the fall of 1901 when the first class of Rush studentsregistered at the University of Chicago. Dodson always displayed a deepinterest in the students and their problems. Even in the days when medicalstudents were a "rough set," there were few unkind words ever utteredabout "The Dean."Samuel Johnson Walker (1867-1924), a native of Covington, Kentucky,received his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School.He held an appointment as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicineat Rush Medical College but was primarily interested in diseases of children.In his later years(1904-1919), he was President of the Medical Staffof Children's Memorial Hospital.Although very few of his many years of activity passed before the beginningof the 20th century, Dr. Isaac Arthur Abt deserves to be mentionedin this history. Dr. Abt was born in Wilmington, Illinois, in 1867. He graduatedfrom the Chicago Medical College (Northwestern University) in 1891and then served a two year internship at Michael Reese Hospital. During1893 and 1894 he did postgraduate work in Vienna and Berlin. From 1899to 1901, just prior to joining the faculty of Rush Medical College, he wasProfessor of Diseases of Children at Northwestern University Women'sMedical School. Through the years he wrote many scientific papers as wellas numerous monographs pertaining to diseases of children. He wasEditor of Abt's System of Pediatrics which was widely and favorably received.For more than forty years he was Editor of the Yearbook of Pediatricsand was largely responsible for its popularity. As a pediatrician hebecame known the world over and has received high honors both abroadand at home. Possessed of a kindly manner, he was an excellent teacher,revered by all his students. Throughout his long life he has maintainedthese fine traits of character.