History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

322 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisAnother early psychiatrist of Illinois was Dr. Shobal Vail Clevenger,versatile, a prolific writer, with a wide interest and experience in the affairsof men whether in the field of science, art, literature or the affairs of government.He was born March 24,1843, m Florence, Italy, being brought soonafter that to the United States. His medical education started when hebegan to read medicine with an Army Post Surgeon. He finally obtainedhis M.D. from the Chicago Medical College (Northwestern University)in 1879 and settled in that city as a general practitioner. Dr. Clevenger soonbegan to specialize in neurology and psychiatry and to write articles underthese titles. In 1883, he secured the position of Special Pathologist to theCook County Insane Asylum at Dunning and began to make case recordsand autopsies on the brains of the insane. The corruption which prevailedin such institutions was shameless and, although he was an appointee ofthe political machine, he began to expose the abuses in the Chicago Inter-Ocean but was unsuccessful in obtaining the cooperation of the press,pulpit, bar, clubmen, business men or any other group. He resigned whena pistol bullet imperiled his family, and devoted himself to private practice,serving for a time as neurologist to the Alexian Brothers and MichaelReese Hospitals. In 1884, his "Comparative Physiology and Psychology"was published, and in 1889, his classic work, "Spinal Concussion," gavehim an international reputation. He lectured in various capacities at theArt Institute, a School of Pharmacy and Law School, but never held a chairin a medical college, although he received offers from eastern institutions.In 1893, Governor Altgeld appointed Dr. Clevenger Superintendent ofthe Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane at Kankakee, and he plannedgreat reforms in the treatment of the insane, based on the belief that insanityisoften due to or aggravated by physical ailments. He gave up hisprivate practice and hospital appointments for this work, but as he wouldnot adjust himself to political exigencies, he was soon forced to resign andreturn once more to private life.Dr. Clevenger wrote much and testified in many cases involving medicaljurisprudence. He also maintained a large correspondence with easternpsychiatrists and brain specialists. Tiring of the city, he lived for manyyears in Park Ridge, Illinois. When finally he sought to resume his practice,it was without success and his last days were spent in straitened circumstances.Dr. Clevenger had the usual defects of versatility.Numerous patentedinventions brought him but little money. As a psychiatrist he was ahead ofhis time and popularized new concepts of mental disease, such as paranoiaand katatonia. As a biologist he ranked high and added to the conceptionof evolution, especially in connection with the difficulty of man in adaptinghimself to the upright position. In his hatred of sham, he sometimes went