History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Medical Bacteriology 355Frank Billings described the staining of the tubercle bacillus, basinghis article on personal work.From the foregoing account it is obvious that the influence of the Germanschool predominated in the bacteriologic developments in Chicago.A persistent scoffer in the late eighties always referred to the germ theoryas "the German theory." But Pasteur by no means was overlooked. Hiswork is discussed in the books by Burrill, Belfield, Gradle and Black. Someof his lectures were published in translation. In 1886 and 1887 letterswritten from Paris by Chicago physicians describe personal visits to Pasteurin his laboratory, with special reference to his investigation of rabies. TheChicago Pasteur Institute for the prevention and treatment of rabies,"first in the West," was founded by Antonio Lagorio in 1890.In1888 the foundations were laid for the quarantine of patients withdiphtheria when the health department of the city issued the declarationthat diphtheria is not a filth disease but a contagious disease like smallpox.In 1889 Nicholas Senn published a review of the current literature onwhat he called surgical bacteriolosrv. This book was translated into French.It is fitting to end these notes on the beginnings of bacteriology in Chicagowith two quotations from Senn's book because they illustrate well theprogress of bacteriology during the years covered by the notes and the author'sgrasp of its significance:"Within a few years bacteriology has revolutionized surgical pathology.All wound complications and most of the acute and chronic inflammatorylesions which come under the treatment of the surgeon are caused by microorganisms;hence the necessity of a proper recognition of the importanceof bacteriology as an integral part of the science and practice of modernsurgery. . . ."At thistime, surgical pathology has almost become synonymous withsurgical bacteriology. Textbooks on surgical pathology of only a fewyears ago are consulted in vain for information on many subjects whichnow attract universal attention. Owing to the activity which is manifestedeverywhere in the investigation of the microbic cause of disease, the manydiscoveries which are being made in rapid succession, works on pathologysoon become old, and are consigned to the shelves of the antiquarian almostbefore they have left the press."This brings one to the close of the pioneer epoch in Chicago medicine.The modern epoch begins about 1890. New laboratories are organized inthe medical schools; laboratory teaching is developed, and laboratorymethods are introduced into clinical diagnosis; bacteriology is added tothe curriculum; bacteriologic methods are introduced into public healthwork and bacteriologic principles are followed in the care of infectiousdiseases; and before long research in bacteriology is well under way.the