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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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354 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisbacteria as causes <strong>of</strong> human diseasenot distant University <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois("the germ theory <strong>of</strong> disease"). In the(then called the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois Industrial University)bacteria early received consideration from the broad biologic po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>of</strong> view. In 1882 T. J.Burrill, pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> botany and horticulture, publisheda monograph on the bacteria, "silent-work<strong>in</strong>g denizens <strong>of</strong> the earth,the air, and the water," <strong>in</strong> which he gave an excellent account, fully abreastwith that time <strong>in</strong> every respect, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g a full description <strong>of</strong> the tuberclebacillus, <strong>of</strong> "their nature and effects, together with a systematic description<strong>of</strong> the species." Burrill was one <strong>of</strong> the first <strong>in</strong>vestigators <strong>in</strong> bacteriology<strong>in</strong> this country, describ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 1880 Micrococcus amylovorus as the cause<strong>of</strong> "blight" <strong>in</strong> plants, especially pear and apple trees.Further evidence <strong>of</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g general <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> bacteriology <strong>in</strong> Chicagoare seen <strong>in</strong> the <strong>medical</strong> press. Koch's <strong>of</strong>ficial report on cholera <strong>in</strong> Egypt wastranslated. Note is made <strong>of</strong> L. L. McArthur's demonstration(1885) <strong>in</strong> the<strong>medical</strong> society <strong>of</strong> cholera germs obta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> Koch's laboratory <strong>in</strong> Berl<strong>in</strong>.Farran's <strong>in</strong>oculations aga<strong>in</strong>st yellow fever and cholera are mentioned.What is said to be the first report <strong>in</strong> this country <strong>of</strong> human act<strong>in</strong>omycosiswas made to the Chicago Medical <strong>Society</strong> by J. B. Murphy. In the discussionFenger and Belfield po<strong>in</strong>ted out that the diagnosis rested on themicroscopic demonstration <strong>of</strong> the fungus. Then A. Schirmer reported acase and A. J.Ochsner one <strong>in</strong>volv<strong>in</strong>g the lungs; <strong>in</strong> both these cases thefungus was demonstrated.Soon after Koch's discovery H. D. Schmidt, a pathologist <strong>of</strong> New Orleans,claimed that the "socalled tubercle basilli" were merely fat crystals, buthe retracted this claim and said that he would not have made any mistakeif he could have seen the bacillus Koch described. Schmidt also doubtedthe reality <strong>of</strong> the leprosy bacillus; he presented his views before the StateMicroscopical <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois and asked that certa<strong>in</strong> microscopic preparations<strong>of</strong> leprous material <strong>in</strong> which he could not f<strong>in</strong>d any bacilli be referredto a committee. The report <strong>of</strong> the committee reads:"The committee appo<strong>in</strong>ted for the purpose would report that they haveexam<strong>in</strong>ed the slides accompany<strong>in</strong>g Dr. Schmidt's paper, and would saythat they have been unable to f<strong>in</strong>d any bacilli <strong>in</strong> them. The slides appearto agree <strong>in</strong> every respect with Dr. Schmidt's statements <strong>in</strong> regard to them."Lester Curtis, M.D.Pr<strong>of</strong>, <strong>of</strong> Histology, Chicago Medical CollegeJames Nev<strong>in</strong>s Hyde, M.D.Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dermatology, Rush Medical CollegeChristian Fenger, M.D.Pathologist to the Cook County Hospital

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