History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

3 1 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisSenate on the same day concurred in the amendments. The bill passed thelegislature March i, 1847, and was almost immediately signed by GovernorFrench. Within twenty days, the trustees purchased 160 acres of land atabout $2.00 per acre for the use of the institution, and during the summerand fall had the foundation of the building nearly or quite laid. JudgeThomas said, 'Miss Dix informed the Board that the plan of the hospitalbuilding then in the process of erection in Indiana was the best plan in theUnited States,' and in consequence the Board obtained a copy of that plan,which upon examination was adopted. The plan of heating at that timewas by furnaces with hot air. Of the insane hospital, the first Board ofTrustees was composed of Judge Thomas as President, Samuel D. Lockwood,Joseph Morton, Owen M. Long, Nathaniel English, William W.Happy, James Dunlop, James Gordon and Aquila Becroft. Dr. JamesHiggins was the first medical superintendent and served until about 1854.The real credit for the legislation which secured the hospital is perhapsdue to a greater extent than to anybody else to the venerable Judge Thomasof Jacksonville who prepared the original bill for the location of thehospital for the insane; to Richard Yates who introduced it in the Houseand to the late Joseph Morton who, as a member of the House, zealouslysupported it. We accord this credit to Judge Thomas because he not onlyframed the bill locating the first institution at Jacksonville, but afterward,as a member of the House, was the leading and influential champion ofsimilar measures as to other institutions, although he was zealously aidedby other citizens of Jacksonville. The bill appropriated $60,000 to erectthe central building and one section on each side. The capacity of theinstitution was then rated at 250 patients."Dr. Black further stated:"I would not have you think the biographicalsketch of Dr. Mead gives him too much credit as the pioneer in the MississippiValley in the proper care of the insane. He certainly deserves fullcredit and it is a fine thing that you have secured so much reliable data onthe subject. It is also to be greatly appreciated that Illinois College MedicalSchool had the advantage of a year of his advanced ideas on this subjectand the aid which his great fund of information and splendid spirit gavetheir enterprise. ... It looks to me as though no individual was entitled toa principal measure of credit but rather that should be reserved for agroup of public spirited and trained people .... aided and guided by astrong group of medical men, of which the leaders were Dr. David Prince,Dr. Nathaniel English and Dr. William Long. ... In the last analysis Ishould say that the credit for establishing the first hospital for the insanein Illinois should go to this group and not to any individual." 56An account somewhat at variance with Dr. Black's statements occurs in Volume I(Zeuch) p. 408 of this series.—Edi tor