History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Dermatology 309The Postgraduate Medical School appeared on the scene in 1889, andDrs. Zeisler and Baum were its early dermatologists.In 1895, Drs. Dennis D. Bishop and A. E. Evans were attending dermatologiststo the Cook County Hospital, followed by Zeisler, Pusey, Campbell,Baum and L. Blake Baldwin.Toward the end of the 19th century it was evident that the specialty wasmarching forward, as is illustrated by these additional appointments:Dr. H. H. Latimer, Professor of Skin and Venereal Diseases, Bennett MedicalCollegeDr. John J.Quirk, Professor of Dermatology and Venereal Diseases, IllinoisMedical College, 1898Dr. W. M. W. Davison, Professor of Skin and Venereal Disease, NationalMedical College and Hospital of Chicago, 1898Dr. L. Blake Baldwin, Lecturer on Skin and Venereal Disease, ChicagoMedical College and Woman's Medical CollegeDr. Joseph H. Greer, Professor of Medicine and Surgery, GenitourinaryDiseases and Dermatology, College of Medicine and Surgery of Chicago,1898Dr. Julia Ross Low, Dermatologist to Mary Thompson Hospital, 1898.Dr. J.Elizabeth Tompkins, Professor of Dermatology, Harvey MedicalCollege. She succeeded Dr. Willis C. Stone who had held this appointmentin 1896.The period of 1850 to 1900 was one of steady progress in dermatology,and toward the end of the century several outstanding discoveries addedmuch to the therapy of skin diseases: Roentgen discovered the x-ray in1895; Niels Finsen from 1894 to 1897 established the value of ultravioletrays in cutaneous tuberculosis; in 1898, the Curies discovered radium, andone year later liquid air came into use, paving the way for Pusey's discoveryof the application of solid carbon dioxide in skin therapy.Illinois dermatologists did even more than their share by giving prestigeto their specialty and by encouraging younger men to make a career of it.The establishment of Chairs of Dermatology, as well as positions on hospitalstaffs, contributed greatly to the strength of the specialty. Journalsdedicated to skin diseases also improved. Dermatologic societies wereformed and the Chicago Dermatological Society, the forerunner of allthose in the Mississippi Valley, was founded in 1901 by Hyde.Pertinent Biographical SketchesAs the pioneer in dermatology, it seems only fitting to head this list witha brief sketch of Dr. Charles Gilman Smith. He was born in Exeter, NewHampshire, on January 4,1828. After receiving his preparatory educationat Phillips-Exeter Academy, he entered Harvard Medical School but soontransferred to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School from which