History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

426 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisthe acquisition of professional knowledge and scientific principles—andwere preliminary to the more practical branches of the second course. Andyet this classification of medical studies, by which the student was first tosecure the principles of his adopted profession and then be taught to applythem, was a marked innovation in the methods of medical education in theUnited States.3. The third important step taken by this school was that by which, withthe extension and expansion of its curriculum, its annual courses of instructionwere lengthened. This was also an advance in the methods ofmedical education in the United States. When first organized, it establisheda lecture term of five months, which was then longer than that of the onlyother medical college in this city, and equal to that of any medical schoolin the country. Since then the annual course was lengthened month bymonth, until it covered two-thirds of a year by 1897.4. Northwestern University Medical School must also be accorded thehonor of inaugurating and establishing in this country a practitioners'course or, as it has now become generally known throughout the country,a postgraduate course.For some time previous to the first formal meeting of those who believedthat the occasion was favorable for the establishment of a medical schoolupon a higher plane than any then existing, a number of the prominentand scholarly physicians of Chicago had been quietly but enthusiasticallydiscussing the enterprise in an informal manner. Several of them had foryears held important chairs in the faculties of other medical colleges, andthey were all,both by education and experience, well qualified to placethe proposed institution upon a broad and enduring foundation.The first informal meeting to consider the matter was held on March 12,1859. Drs. Hosmer A. Johnson, Edmund Andrews, Ralph N. Isham andDavid Rutter were present. It was announced by Dr. Johnson that theobject of the meeting was to organize a medical department of Lind Universityon the basis of a proposition made to them by the trustees of that institutionand submitted for consideration. Dr. Johnson thus formally openedthe meeting and was elected its chairman.The proposition was considered and accepted by them as made by theexecutive committee of the university, at the head of which was SylvesterLind, the founder of that institution. It provided that the university shouldfurnish the medical department with rooms for instruction free of rent forthree years. At the end of that period, it should provide either a permanentbuilding or suitable rooms for the department. After paying current expenses,the matriculation and graduation fees were to accrue to the university,the professors to be nominated by the faculty but appointed by theBoard of Trustees. All expenses, excepting room rent, were to be met by