13.07.2015 Views

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Neuropsychiatry 315<strong>of</strong> the <strong>in</strong>sane <strong>of</strong> the state, and also to provide an <strong>in</strong>stitution for the pr<strong>of</strong>oundmental defectives (idiots). In 1868, this <strong>Society</strong> decided to <strong>in</strong>vestigatewhat legislation, if any, was necessary to secure the rights and comforts <strong>of</strong>the <strong>in</strong>sane who did not have the benefits <strong>of</strong> hospital care. In 1869, the<strong>Society</strong> considered for the first time the matter <strong>of</strong> legaliz<strong>in</strong>g the plac<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>the <strong>in</strong>sane <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>stitutions on certification <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> requir<strong>in</strong>g a jury trial.As the result <strong>of</strong> this prelim<strong>in</strong>ary work, <strong>in</strong> 1877 the Committee on Idiocy<strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> was able to report that a build<strong>in</strong>g tohouse and tra<strong>in</strong>300 mentally defective children had been completed atL<strong>in</strong>coln. The care <strong>of</strong> the crim<strong>in</strong>ally <strong>in</strong>sane had for years been a troublesomeproblem for their custodians and, <strong>in</strong> 1890, the House <strong>of</strong> Delegates <strong>of</strong> theState <strong>Society</strong> discussed the possibility <strong>of</strong> separate accommodations for thesepersons. There was also a great deal <strong>of</strong> agitation at thistime <strong>in</strong> arous<strong>in</strong>gpublic <strong>in</strong>terest to secure the best talent available to staff these <strong>in</strong>stitutionswith men <strong>of</strong> scientific ability rather than with proper political affiliations.The care <strong>of</strong> the epileptic, the mental defective and the <strong>in</strong>sane hadalways seemed as much a social as a <strong>medical</strong> problem. Proper hous<strong>in</strong>g,activities, education and work were essential <strong>in</strong> themselves. In 1894, theIll<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> endorsed and urged the establishment <strong>of</strong> acolony for these unfortunates. This was later erected at Dixon.In 1895, the House <strong>of</strong> Delegates recommended that the State Legislatureprovide funds for establish<strong>in</strong>g pathologic laboratories <strong>in</strong> all state hospitalsfor the <strong>in</strong>sane, and discussed the study, classification, etc., <strong>of</strong> pathologicspecimens so abundant <strong>in</strong> the state hospitals.With the firm establishment <strong>of</strong> any branch <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e, there follows<strong>in</strong> time the organization <strong>of</strong> specialty societies.So it was <strong>in</strong> this state withneuropsychiatry. The Chicago Neurological <strong>Society</strong> was organized at the<strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> Dr. Sanger Brown on January 5,1898. He served as the first president;the other <strong>of</strong>ficers were Dr. Oscar A. K<strong>in</strong>g, vice-president; Dr. SidneyKuh, record<strong>in</strong>g Secretary; Dr. H. T. Patrick, correspond<strong>in</strong>g secretary;Dr. Henry M. Lyman, Councilor. The first scientific meet<strong>in</strong>g was held atthe Grand Pacific Hotel on April 26, 1898 with papers by Drs. P. L. Hollandand G. H. Lodor. The members dur<strong>in</strong>g the first year numbered twenty,<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> addition to the above Drs. P. L. Holland, M. L. Goodk<strong>in</strong>d,Archibald Church, E. W<strong>in</strong>g, Otto L. Schmidt, Daniel R. Brower, J. J.Maugear, Henry M. Bannister, Nathan S. Davis, Jr., and J.G. Kiernan,and Pr<strong>of</strong>essors H. H. Donaldson and Jacques Loeb.The Role <strong>of</strong> Individual PhysiciansIn the mid-1800's, there appeared on the scene <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois a number <strong>of</strong><strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>of</strong> command<strong>in</strong>g stature, both physicians and laymen, whohad the genius and the drive to <strong>in</strong>itiate a program for care <strong>of</strong> the mentally

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!