13.07.2015 Views

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

490 <strong>History</strong> <strong>of</strong> Medical Practice <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>oissuit <strong>in</strong> a f<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> $10.00. Another section <strong>of</strong> this bill provided for the exam<strong>in</strong>ation<strong>of</strong> bills rendered by physicians for exorbitant charges, make necessaryadjustments, and return such surplus as might be unreasonably made.This law was repealed by the legislature <strong>in</strong> 1821.In 1824, a bill was aga<strong>in</strong> brought before the legislature to organize the<strong>medical</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ession under statecontrol and "on motion <strong>of</strong> Mr. Forquer,a select committee <strong>of</strong> three was raised to <strong>in</strong>quire <strong>in</strong>to the expediency <strong>of</strong>establish<strong>in</strong>g by law, Medical Societies with leave to report bill or otherwise.Messrs. Forquer, Sim and Logan composed the committee." It seems quiteobvious that this legislative action was prompted by a popular demand forreform <strong>in</strong> the <strong>medical</strong> situation made reprehensible by the presumption <strong>of</strong>the unqualified to treat the sick.In the April 25, 1820, issue <strong>of</strong> the Edwardsville Spectator and <strong>in</strong> severalfollow<strong>in</strong>g issues, notices appeared stat<strong>in</strong>g that an attempt was be<strong>in</strong>g madeto fulfill the provisions <strong>of</strong> the Medical Practice Act <strong>of</strong> 1 8 1 9, as follows: "TheFirst District Medical <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> the State <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois will convene <strong>in</strong> Edwardsvilleon the second Monday <strong>of</strong> May next," and it was signed by JohnTodd, President. Another call was made October 9, 1820, appear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> theissue <strong>of</strong> October 24th, stat<strong>in</strong>g "The <strong>Society</strong> composed <strong>of</strong> the first <strong>medical</strong>district <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, will meet at Edwardsville the second Monday <strong>of</strong> Novembernext, at 10:00 A.M. agreeable to previous adjournment. ... It is hopedthat the importance <strong>of</strong> this meet<strong>in</strong>g will be sufficient <strong>in</strong>ducement to causepunctual attendance <strong>of</strong> the members." This was signed by Dr. Todd'spartner, Dr. Samuel J.D. DeCamp, Secretary.This district society was obviously function<strong>in</strong>g, as Dr. Todd published areport <strong>of</strong> an epidemic <strong>of</strong> fever as related by Dr. J. J.Crabb, Belleville, atone <strong>of</strong> its meet<strong>in</strong>gs. The statement was made "that the disease answersthe description <strong>of</strong> a unit def<strong>in</strong>ed by Dr. Rush, bilious and malignant." Theannual meet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the First District Medical <strong>Society</strong> was held at Edwardsvillethe second Monday <strong>of</strong> May, 1821, and was noted <strong>in</strong> the callsignedby Dr. Henry Perr<strong>in</strong>e, Secretary. In the calls it was stated that "punctualattendance is particularly requested, as bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>of</strong> importance will belaid before the meet<strong>in</strong>g."The Second District Medical <strong>Society</strong> was likewise function<strong>in</strong>g, as wasevidenced by a report published May 29, 1820, by William L. Reynolds<strong>of</strong> the Kaskaskia Medical <strong>Society</strong> and given by Hugh Steel <strong>of</strong> Brownsville<strong>in</strong> Jackson County, tell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> health conditions prevail<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> that county.These societies were quite obviously the first <strong>medical</strong> societies to beorganized <strong>in</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois. We are all familiar with the organization <strong>of</strong> theMedical <strong>Society</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ill<strong>in</strong>ois, organized <strong>in</strong> 1840 with John Todd, President,and C. F. Hughes, Secretary. Efforts were obviously made to keep this<strong>Society</strong> alive, and a few meet<strong>in</strong>gs were held.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!