History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

3 16 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisill. Characteristic of these men were their strong and energetic personalities.Being forceful individualists, they commonly moved about fromcity to city or from institution to institution. Wherever they went, theywere sure to leave their impress upon the development of neuropsychiatryin a variety of constructive ways. On the whole, they constituted a group ofbrilliant and versatile men who in their field, were hardly matched byleaders in any other specialty.For this reason it has seemed appropriate to present in this chapter thesubject, in part at least, as a collection of individual studies, in realityshort biographical sketches of nearly a score of these great men. Most ofthem were born outside the state and later moved into Illinois, some tocontinue there permanently; others, after a time, to move on to other locations.Among these was Dr. Edward Mead, the first well recognized psychiatristof Illinois. 2 Although he spent only about ten years of an active life inthis state, his great influence continued through many decades. A somewhatdetailed account of his background and accomplishments gives anexcellent picture of his determination to improve the fate of these persons,in spite of opposition and innumerable obstacles, disinterest perhaps beingthe most difficult to overcome.Dr. Mead was born in Leeds, Yorkshire County, England, on March 21,1819. At the age of twelve he migrated to this country with his family andentered upon the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. RobertThompson of Columbus, Ohio, one of the most influential physicians inthat state. In 1841, Dr. Mead was graduated from the Medical College ofOhio and, in order to round out his education, he left for Europe to continuehis studies. Upon his return from Europe, he had plans to locate inCincinnati but relatives in the Chicago area urged he go farther west, whichhe did, settling in or near St. Charles, Illinois, where he had time to teachin the recently organized medical school and to carry on an extensive practiceamong the early settlers of this primitive area. His interest in theinsane and their care continued, with the hope and determination thatmore could be done for the amelioration of a tragic and difficult situation.Soon he became actively interested in the establishment of a state institutionfor mental defectives at Jacksonville, Illinois, and claims have beenmade that he did almost all the work required to establish this hospital.In 1847, Dr. Mead resigned from his professorship in the Illinois Collegeand removed to Chicago. Here, in August 1847, ne opened the first privatehospital for the insane in Illinois. The records which he kept of his patientsin this institution would indicate a systematic mind with careful attention2Weaver, G. H.: Pioneer Neuropsychiatrist in Illinois: Edward Mead, Bull Soc. Med.Hist. Chicago, Vol. 3, p. 279, 1924.