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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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Medical Education <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois 445William H. Byford, M.D., President and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> ObstetricsT. Davis Fitch, M.D., Secretary and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> GynecologyCharles W. Earle, M.D., Treasurer and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Diseases <strong>of</strong> ChildrenIsaac Newton Danforth, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> PathologyJohn E. Owens, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> SurgeryHenry M. Lyman, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Theory and Practice <strong>of</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>eDaniel R. Brower, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Nervous DiseasesSarah Hackctt Stevenson, M.D., Correspond<strong>in</strong>g Secretary and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong>PhysiologyDavid W. Graham, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> AnatomyPlymman S. Hayes, M.D., Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> ChemistryDr. Thompson, who for years had been a member <strong>of</strong> the college staffPr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Obstetrics and Diseases <strong>of</strong> Women, conf<strong>in</strong>ed herteach<strong>in</strong>gs dur<strong>in</strong>g later years to cl<strong>in</strong>ical <strong>in</strong>struction <strong>in</strong> obstetrics and gynecologicsurgery to the hospital cl<strong>in</strong>ics.Although the <strong>in</strong>stitution had gradually atta<strong>in</strong>ed a high stand<strong>in</strong>g amongthe <strong>medical</strong> colleges <strong>of</strong> Chicago, its senior class had never had an <strong>in</strong>vitationto take part <strong>in</strong> the much coveted competitive exam<strong>in</strong>ations for <strong>in</strong>ternshipsat the Cook County Hospital. Dr. Mergler recorded this situation as follows:"About two weeks before the close <strong>of</strong> the term <strong>in</strong> the spr<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> 1879, we fiveseniors, Kate C. <strong>Bushnell</strong>, Marie J. Mergler, Agnes McMahon, Julia M.McGowan, Cather<strong>in</strong>e Branen Slater, were surprised to f<strong>in</strong>d a notice on theboard <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g us to take part <strong>in</strong> the exam<strong>in</strong>ations held at Cook CountyHospital. At first we thought it was out <strong>of</strong> the question. We had no equalchance with other schools, especially <strong>in</strong> surgery, for we had not gone overhalf the ground. The faculty as a whole did not encourage us. To go or notto go, that was the question. Not to go meant that we should perhaps neverbe asked aga<strong>in</strong>. To go meant to fail. We decided to go if only to show howlittle we had been taught <strong>in</strong> surgery. Our Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>in</strong> Surgery, who reluctantlyhad gone on the staff, told us <strong>in</strong> his <strong>in</strong>troductory lecture he didbelieve <strong>in</strong> 'female doctors,' and he spent more time and emphasis <strong>in</strong> dwell<strong>in</strong>gupon the uselessness <strong>of</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g surgery to women than on the topic <strong>of</strong>his chair. We went!"The exam<strong>in</strong>ation took place at 8 P.M. On our arrival at the hospitalno one seemed will<strong>in</strong>g to show us the exam<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g room. F<strong>in</strong>ally someoneescorted us to the amphitheater. This was filled with a crowd <strong>of</strong> studentsand spectators who received us with deafen<strong>in</strong>g shouts and hisses. Theyclapped, whistled and stamped. They cried 'Pass 'em up,' and we sat down.F<strong>in</strong>ally came the Chairman <strong>of</strong> the staff and the Secretary. The Chairmanlooked daggers at us and <strong>in</strong>quir<strong>in</strong>gly at the Secretary: 'You <strong>in</strong>structed meto notify the regular colleges, sir, and the Woman's College is a regularcollege, so I <strong>in</strong>vited them.' It was Pr<strong>of</strong>essor W. E. Qu<strong>in</strong>e who opened thedoor to us.as

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