History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Medical Education in Illinois 451in 1881, on the corner of Wood and York Streets, in the midst of the greathospital and college district of Chicago, and as "the most complete devotedto the teaching of Homeopathy in this country," with a large amphitheater,two large dissecting rooms, and an extensive anatomical museum. A newaddition to its laboratory building was erected in 1894.In Flexner's uncompromising report of 1910, "The city of Chicago is inrespect to medical education the plague spot of the country," for thoughthe State Law was fairly adequate, all of its dozen and more medical schools,except Rush Medical College, Northwestern University Medical Schooland the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the University of Illinois,prepared candidates for the state board examinations in unmistakablecontravention of the law and the state board regulations.occurred continuously throughout several decades prior toSuch practices1910, and thecase of Mrs. Sarah C. Harris may be cited only as one example of the flagrantviolations of the law by many medical schools of those times. A diplomahad been granted her by Hahnemann Medical College after a singlecourse of lectures, after which she practiced medicine more than five years,and then was recommended for the degree by a reputable physician. Injustification of its action, Hahnemann Medical College stated that five yearsof practice were considered the equivalent of the required courses oflectures and that the degree was regarded merely as an honorary one. Afterreprimanding this college, the State Board of Health reaffirmed its goodstanding.It was due in part to such practices, in part to claims and appointmentswhich were unfounded, and to other vainglorious boasting, hiding aspurious facade of prosperity, that many medical schools drew a largenumber of students and lived long beyond the day when they shouldhave ceased to exist. Hahnemann Medical College tore down its old buildingand laid the cornerstone of a new and more pretentious one on the samesite in August 1892. (The further course of this college was fluctuating; in1904, it reabsorbed the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and itslibrary, and in 1922 it was taken over by the General Medical College whichin turn closed its doors in 1924.) 15Bennett College of Eclectic Medicine and Surgery, 16 which was organizedin 1868, had an equally checkered career. According to the 4th annualannouncement of 1871-72, it was at first located at 180-182 Washington15On file at the Crerar Library are several volumes of notes and data pertaining tothe later years of the homeopathic institutions of Chicago.—Editor18Dr. R. M. Strong, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy, Loyola University, has prepareda complete history of the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University, together withhistorical data on Bennett College, including illustrations. Since the material Dr. Strongpresents deals almost entirely with events later than 1900, the manuscript has been filedat the Crerar Library where it may be studied on request.—Editor