History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

356 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisTHE INTRODUCTION OF BACTERIOLOGYINTO THE MEDICAL CURRICULUMIN CHICAGO*By GEORGE H. WEAVER, M.D.fABOUT 1890 bacteriology appeared injl\. medical schools of Chicago. At firstthe curriculum of the regularinstruction was carried on bylectures and demonstrations to small groups of students who had electedsuch courses. In 1889 Bayard Holmes became director of the bacteriologiclaboratory at Northwestern University Medical School, where for twoyears he gave lectures and demonstrations to small groups of students. Althoughthe school had an equipped bacteriologic laboratory, no laboratorycourses were offered to students. During this same period didactic discussionswith demonstrations were given at the College of Physicians andSurgeons by Romain J.Curtis. In 1891 William T. Belfield became professorof bacteriology in Rush Medical College and began systematic lecturesin his department.Up to this time laboratory facilities for giving systematic courses inbacteriology to the large number of students were lacking in allthe Chicagoschools. The first move to correct this was made by the College ofPhysicians and Surgeons, and their lead was quickly followed by the otherschools. The general movement in laboratory building at this time waslargely due to the enthusiastic leadership of Bayard Holmes. When he becamesecretary of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in July 1891 hewas also made professor of surgical pathology and bacteriology, and during1891-1892 he instituted a laboratory course in bacteriology occupying twohours each week, for a limited class of students. He also persuaded theschool to erect a laboratory building, and by the fall of 1892, a new buildingwas completed, containing a completely equipped bacteriologic laboratory.Here were introduced courses in bacteriology for second yearstudents, consisting of one lecture and four hours of laboratory work aweek, with Adolph Gehrmann as demonstrator.* Reprinted from Bull. Soc. Med. Hist. Chicago 5: 1-2, 1937.f Dr. George Weaver, well known for his studies in the early medical history of Illinois,was a member of the first committee that issued Volume I of this series. Some years beforehis death he published the paper which is reprinted herewith. Most of his datacovers the period from approximately 1890 to 1900. He was at that time active as ateacher in this field and this information, therefore, is first-hand. The paper is in realitya continuation of or supplemental to the one prepared by Dr. Hektoen.—Editor