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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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Medical Journalism <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oisjS-2100 pledges to susta<strong>in</strong> a journal had been received from a mail<strong>in</strong>g list <strong>of</strong>40,000 physicians, thus assur<strong>in</strong>g its publication. Estimates for pr<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g hadbeen obta<strong>in</strong>ed and, as the bid <strong>of</strong> a Chicago company was lowest, Chicagowas recommended as the place <strong>of</strong> publication. The Trustees were authorizedto proceed with the publication, and Dr. Davis was <strong>in</strong>troduced to theassemblage as editor-<strong>in</strong>-chief. The first number appeared July 14, 1883. Itconta<strong>in</strong>ed 32 pages which <strong>in</strong>cluded a transcript <strong>of</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>utes <strong>of</strong> the meet<strong>in</strong>g<strong>of</strong> the Association, a ga<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> ten months on the usual <strong>in</strong>terval betweenthe meet<strong>in</strong>g and publication <strong>of</strong> the m<strong>in</strong>utes. Even at that early date theeditor was recpaested to secure reliable correspondents <strong>in</strong> <strong>medical</strong> centers<strong>in</strong> the United States and abroad. He was asked to solicit advertisementsfrom "all <strong>medical</strong> educational <strong>in</strong>stitutions and hospitals open for cl<strong>in</strong>ical<strong>in</strong>struction; from book publishers, pharmaceutists, <strong>in</strong>strument makers andall odier legitimate bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong>terests. But all advertisements <strong>of</strong> proprietary,trade mark, copyrighted or patented medic<strong>in</strong>es should be excluded.Neither should any advertisements be admitted with one or more names<strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>ession as <strong>in</strong>dorsers, hav<strong>in</strong>g their <strong>of</strong>ficial titles orpositions attached." By the end <strong>of</strong> the year The Journal <strong>of</strong> the AmericanMedical Association had a circulation <strong>of</strong> 4000 and regular correspondents<strong>in</strong> C<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>nati, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, D. C.In the follow<strong>in</strong>g year (1884) a battle occurred <strong>in</strong> the American MedicalAssociation when a cont<strong>in</strong>gent headed by Dr. John H. Packard endeavoredto move the magaz<strong>in</strong>e to an eastern city. Dr. Davis resigned, but his resignationwas not accepted. Then the delegates voted 191 to 74 to table a motionfor removal. However, <strong>in</strong> 1888 his resignation was accepted, and Dr. JohnB. Hamilton was elected to succeed him. He served for only a few monthsand then resigned. The Journal was thereafter edited by a committee <strong>of</strong> theBoard. Dr. John H. Hollister was supervis<strong>in</strong>g editor and was later madeeditor. Then, <strong>in</strong> 1891, <strong>in</strong> the midst <strong>of</strong> much agitation to remove TheJournal to the east, Dr. J.C. Culbertson <strong>of</strong> C<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>nati was made editor.The battle waged fiercely but Chicago kept w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. With the last issue <strong>of</strong>June, 1893, Dr. Culbertson resigned. Then Dr. Hamilton resigned as trusteeand was immediately elected editor. Dr. Culbertson began publish<strong>in</strong>g letters<strong>in</strong> the C<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>nati Lancet Cl<strong>in</strong>ic attack<strong>in</strong>g The Journal, followed by attacks<strong>in</strong> the New York Medical Record, the Philadelphia Medical News andthe Pittsburgh Medical Review. Those were the years <strong>of</strong> fight<strong>in</strong>g personaljournalism.By 1898 the affairs <strong>of</strong> the Association were decidedly confused. Dr. GeorgeH. Simmons was elected permanent secretary. In December, 1898, Dr.Hamilton died and Dr. Simmons succeeded him as editor, and he demonstratedhis genius as editor by a number <strong>of</strong> immediate improvements, notthe least <strong>of</strong> which was the publication <strong>in</strong> the follow<strong>in</strong>g year <strong>of</strong> an <strong>in</strong>dex.

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