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History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

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CHAPTER XXVEARLY MEDICAL SOCIETIESBy HAROLD M. CAMP, M.D.*INreview<strong>in</strong>g the available early histories <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, as well as the early<strong>medical</strong> journals and lay press, one observes that there were many<strong>medical</strong> societies organized <strong>in</strong> this state even before 1850. Informationconcern<strong>in</strong>g a number <strong>of</strong> them has been obta<strong>in</strong>ed from one <strong>of</strong> the oldestnewspapers <strong>in</strong> this area, the Edwardsville Spectator, which published reports<strong>of</strong> meet<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> societies dat<strong>in</strong>g as far back as 1817.It is learned through this newspaper that, prior to the admission <strong>of</strong>Ill<strong>in</strong>ois to the Union <strong>in</strong> 1818, under the old Ill<strong>in</strong>ois Territorial Act, aTerritorial Medical Practice Act was developed and under a mandate,two district <strong>medical</strong> societies were formed. A resolution was approvedwhich stated: "Whereas well regulated <strong>medical</strong> societies have been foundto contribute tothe diffusion <strong>of</strong> true science, and particularly to knowledge<strong>of</strong> the heal<strong>in</strong>g art, therefore, for the purpose <strong>of</strong> regulat<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>practice</strong><strong>of</strong> physic and surgery, this law is enacted." Two districts were formed;one east and one west <strong>of</strong> the third pr<strong>in</strong>cipal meridian. The orda<strong>in</strong>ed duty<strong>of</strong> the members was to exam<strong>in</strong>e students, give diplomas, charg<strong>in</strong>g thereforten dollars.Apparently but little heed was given to this enactment, for the year follow<strong>in</strong>gIll<strong>in</strong>ois's entrance tostatehood "an Act for the establishment <strong>of</strong><strong>medical</strong> societies" was passed. It directed that the state should be divided<strong>in</strong>to four <strong>medical</strong> districts "<strong>in</strong> each <strong>of</strong> which there shall be a board <strong>of</strong>physicians," and it specifically stated that "it shall be the duty <strong>of</strong> each andevery physician <strong>of</strong> such districts to attend meet<strong>in</strong>gs," and without sufficientexcuse, a f<strong>in</strong>e was to be exacted! They were to elect <strong>of</strong>ficers, exam<strong>in</strong>estudents, collect §10.00 for diplomas issued, and see to it that those notcomply<strong>in</strong>g with the provisions <strong>of</strong> the act be disqualified from collect<strong>in</strong>gdebts from their <strong>practice</strong>. Another section <strong>of</strong> the act provided for the registration<strong>of</strong> births, deaths and diseases, the reports to be transmitted to andpublished <strong>in</strong> some newspaper. Failure to follow these provisions would re-* Dr. Camp started to serve the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois State Medical <strong>Society</strong> as Secretary <strong>in</strong> May 1924.He was elected Treasurer <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Society</strong> <strong>in</strong> May, 1941, and has cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> the dualcapacity as Secretary-Treasurer s<strong>in</strong>ce that time. Dr. Charles J.Whalen, for years Editor<strong>of</strong> the Ill<strong>in</strong>ois Medical Journal, died <strong>in</strong> April, 1941, and s<strong>in</strong>ce then Dr. Camp has servedas Editor.—Editor489

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