History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Otolaryngology 301The Role of Early Illinois Doctors in OtolaryngologyIn the 1880's, articles by Illinois specialists in otolaryngology began appearingin publications outside the state, and in the transactions of thevarious special societies. The influence of these nun and the importance oftheir contributions to the specialty arc Eurther reflected in their election toDr. E. Fletcher Ingals became a charter member of thespecialty societies:American Laryngological Association in 1878, and its President in 1886;Dr. Moreau R. Brown of Chicago became a Fellow in 1892 and Dr. T.Melville Hardie in 1889. Dr. W. E. Casselberry, who became a Fellow in1889, was its President in 1898. Dr. E. L. Holmes was the only Illinoisdoctor to be elected to membership in the American Otological Societyat its first meeting in 1 868 and later was made an honorary member; thenext name to appear on the roster of this Society was that of Dr. Samuel J.Jones in 1875. For a number of years they were the only two members fromIllinois, then Dr. Elliott Colburn was elected in 1892 and Dr. George F.Fiske in 1899. While the Chicago Medical Society was organized onApril 19, 1850, Dr. Samuel O. Richey appears to be the only early memberof this Society to specialize in ophthalmology and otology.Following a plan devised by Dr. E. Fletcher Ingals, the Chicago Climatologicaland Otological Society was organized in January 1899 with thefollowing charter members:E. Fletcher Ingals,PresidentMoreau R. BrownArnold KlebsNorval H. PierceJohn A. RobisonArthur M. CorwinW. E. CasselberryOtto J. SteinHenry G. OldsE. T. DickermanW. L. BallengerA. SolenbergerJohn E. RhodesArthur R. EdwardsAs the society became interested more especially in ear,Frederick MengeGustav FuttererH. CoulterJ.Otto T. FreerHomer M. ThomasGeorge E. ShambaughOtto BriddeGeorge A. MorgenthauJames T. Campbellnose and throat,a number of these members who were primarily interested in diseases ofthe chest or in general medicine dropped out, and in 1905 it became theChicago Laryngological and Otological Society.Many of the men who achieved a reputation in otolaryngology towardthe end of the nineteenth century really made their most notable contributionsin the beginning of the twentieth. Brief biographies follow for someof the early leaders in this specialty.Biographical SketchesIt is interesting to note that one of the leaders of Illinois medicine,Ephraim Ingals, felt that information for biographical sketches was diffi-