History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Ophthalmology 269In 1868, Dr. Hildreth gave the first clinics in ophthalmology and otologyat the Chicago Medical School (Northwestern University). He is said tohave been a capable specialist but for reasons of personality was not overlypopular with his colleagues. He became a charter member of the AmericanOphthalmological Society in 1866, and in 1870 died at the age of thirtyeightfrom an overdose of gelsemin for neuralgia.Another of the early ophthalmic pioneers in Chicago was Dr. DanielSigismund Jacobsort, who came there to practice in 1866. He had beenborn in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1837. His father, said to have been apersonal friend of Bartholdi and Mendelssohn, encouraged him tohavean extremely liberal education. In 1856, he was granted a degree inphilosophy and, in 1862, that of Doctor of Medicine in the University ofCopenhagen. After the Schleswig-Holstein War, in which he served as aninfantry surgeon, Dr. Jacobson began the practice of ophthalmology inCopenhagen, acting as assistant to Hansen Grut. On November 7, i860,he arrived at New York and shortly thereafter established himself inChicago as a general surgeon with special emphasis on ophthalmologyand gynecology. Beginning in 1871, however, he limited himself toophthalmology exclusively and established a private hospital and clinic at303 Wabash Avenue. This was completely destroyed in the Chicago fire, andhe again resumed general practice w r ith emphasis on ophthalmology. Hewas ophthalmic surgeon to the Cook County Hospital from 1878 to 1885,and was the first ophthalmologist to Michael Reese Hospital in 1882. RushMedical College gave him an honorary M.D. degree in 1881. In 1887,he became the first President of the Scandinavian Medical Society. He leftChicago in 1889 because of failing health, and returned to Copenhagenwhere he died in 1894.Dr. Samuel Jones settled in Chicago in1868, two years after Dr. Jacobsonhad arrived from Copenhagen. He was born in Bainbridge, Pennsylvania,in 1836, and graduated from Dickinson College with an A.B. degreein 1857. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvaniaini860. As a U.S. naval surgeon, he participated in the famous engagementof the Monitor with the Merrimac at Hampton Roads. In 1868, heresigned from the service and went to Europe to study ophthalmology andotology. Locating in Chicago later that year, he soon took an active partin medical affairs, being credited with establishing the eye and ear departmentsof St. Luke's and Mercy Hospitals and the South Side Free Dispensary.He became Professor and Head of the Department at ChicagoMedical College (Northwestern University) following the death of Dr.Hildreth, a position he held from 1870 to 1897. From 1874 to 1882, hewas on the staff of the Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary and, from 1875 to1882, edited the Chicago Medical Journal and Examiner.