History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

CHAPTER XVNEUROPSYCHIATRYBy OSCAR HAWKINSON, M.D.*DURINGthe early days of the Middle West, little was heard about theneed for special care of the insane. The infrequent cases of mentaldisease, as in all other ills to which flesh is heir, were referred to the physician.However, population growth with its many types of personalitiesstemming from all parts of the world faced new and sometimes harshproblems which produced a troublesome increase in the number of insane,and the situation became acutely difficult. There soon came a time when afew men, for a variety of reasons, developed a special interest in this phaseof the healing art and recognized the need for special training and facilitiesfor the care of these unfortunates. Dr. Peter Bassoe has said 1 that "psychiatrypreceded neurology for the simple reason that the troublesome presenceof insane persons made it necessary to do something about them, andnaturally physicians were called on for aid. At first the purely practicaland humanitarian side of the problem absorbed all of the available energy,so the history of early psychiatry means the early history of dealing with thepractical problems of insanity while scientific study came later."The Role of the Illinois State Medical SocietyIt has been said of medical men that their whole interest in life is themaking of rounds, waiting on their patients, attending medical meetings,etc., to the exclusion of little pertaining to the public welfare. The recordshows that this impression is far from the truth. Medical men have beenexceedingly active in establishing institutions and organizing societies. Thefirst Health Department in Illinois was created by physicians. Most of thespade work in establishing the first hospital for the insane in Illinois wasdone by physicians. In 1855, the Illinois State Medical Society moved topetition the legislature to provide more and better facilities for the care* Dr. Hawkinson, in his early years, was an active and competent neuropsychiatristat the Lake Geneva Sanitarium where he served as an associate of its well-known Director,Dr. Oscar King. He has contributed many papers to his special field. The State andCounty Medical Societies of Illinois are obligated to him for his effective work in theseveral official positions he has occupied during his more recent years. Dr. Hawkinsonis a graduate of the University of Illinois.—Editor1Bassoe, Peter: Early History of Neurology and Psychiatry in Middle West, Soc. ofMed. History of Chicago, 5:175.3*4