History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

Medical Education in Illinois 453The Quincy College of Medicine, or medical department of ChaddockCollege at Quincy, Illinois, which began in 1882, was reorganized in 1888,assuming the name of Chaddock School of Medicine, and became extinctin 1890.Typical of the vaunting which characterized the annual announcementsof most second- and third-rate schools was that of the National HomeopathicMedical College which existed in Chicago between 1891 and 1914.This institution began at 541 North Halsted Street and had a perambulatingdisposition in more points than one: in its second year it was locatedat 571 Clybourn Avenue, and in its fifth year (1895-96) at 272 East ErieStreet in a "spacious stone-front double mansion," and the prospectusstill lauded the spread of homeopathy. But in the same year the word"homeopathic" was dropped and the title became "National Medical College,"with the addition "and Hospital" in the following year. In 1898,the Board of Directors of the college "were compelled, because of itsphenomenal growth, to seek larger and better quarters, now at No. 531-533Wells Street, with an ideal amphitheater capable of seating more than 500students." In the same year, night classes were formed, presaging themedical department of the "Chicago Night University," with which itaffiliated in 1906. In 1900, the name changed to "National Medical University,"so as "to include seven colleges or departments; namely, medical,dental, pharmacal, sanitary, obstetrical, osteopathic and veterinary." Theannual announcement stated further that it "now teaches the differentsystems of medicine," for when such "are taught under the same auspices,a favorable opportunity is given for a fair comparison." It also boasted of"five well-equipped laboratories," and a rebuilt anatomical laboratory,refilled with modern equipment, and well-ventilated and attractive "so thatthe student may spend hours dissecting continuously without impairinghis health." This scene is different from that described by Flexner severalyears later who found that there was only didactic teaching and that "persistentinquiry for the dissecting room" was finally "rewarded by the sightof a dirty, unused, and almost inaccessible room containing a putrid corpse,several of the members of which had been hacked off." Whatever microscopesexisted were locked up in a storeroom, and there was "no pretenseof anything else." The college was in trouble with the State Board of Healthat various times, and in 1909 that body declared it was not in good standing,suspended it, and in 1914 revoked its charter.The Hering Medical College was organized in 1892 to teach homeopathyin its original purity. It, too, led a peripatetic existence, for in its first yearit was located at 2-4 College Place at the corner of Cottage Grove Avenuewhere Dr. Carrie Shaw supervised the work in the "Ladies DissectingRoom," in the second year at the corner of 22nd Street and Indiana Avenue,