History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

4g4History of Medical Practice in IllinoisWashburn, who moved from Lawrenceville to Hillsboro in 1856, waselected President of the State Society in 1876. Other members of theAesculapian Society who became presidents of the Illinois State MedicalSociety were Drs. William M. Chambers, Charleston, i860; James S. Steele,Grand View, 1865, and G. W. Albin, Neoga, 1871. It is also noted that fourmembers of the Aesculapian Society became presidents of the IndianaState Medical Association.At a meeting of the Society held at Paris, Illinois, in 1854, a committeewas selected to prepare a memorial and petition to be presented to the statelegislature for "the suppression of quackery." Dr. Charles Johnson, chairmanof this committee, was directed to take the petition to the legislatureand to use his influence on the members to secure passage of a law whichwould protect the public from injuries inflicted by medical pretenders. Thecommittee was not able to secure its passage.Together with a committee from the Illinois State Medical Society, acommittee was appointed by the Aesculapian Society to petition the statelegislature to pass an act which would create a State Health Department.Efforts were made at each biennial session for some twenty years whicheventually (1877) resulted in the approval and organization of a StateHealth Department and a Medical Practice Act.The Aesculapian Society of the Wabash Valley deserves much credit forits aid in reactivating the Illinois State Medical Society in 1850, for thedevelopment of a Medical Practice Act, and also for the development of theIllinois State Health Department. The Society, although more than 100years old, still has meetings regularly which are well attended by membersfrom Illinois and Indiana along the Wabash River Valley.Rock River Medical Society—The Rock River Medical Society was organizedat Rockford, February 17, 1846. With Dr. J. C. Goodhue as President,the meeting adjourned to meet on May 1 9,1 846. It was stipulated thatthere be a semi-annual and an annual meeting. The annual meeting washeld in Rockford on May 18,1847, and the semi-annual meeting that yearwas held in Beloit, Wisconsin. Apothecaries were admitted to its membershipand one apothecary was among its organizers. Dr. Daniel Brainardjoined this Society and he stated that "it was the first medical society organizedupon so extensive a scale in this region."Among the early members were Drs. William O. Chamberlain, S. AllenPaddock, W. W. Welch and Ephraim Ingals. At the 1847 annual meetingheld in the Rockford Court House, Dr. L. Clark was President. Drs.Jeremiah Russell, Charles H. Richings, C. C. Bradley and John Mitchellwere admitted to membership at this meeting. Others present were Drs.Van Brunt, Armor, Abbott, D. G. Clark, A. M. Catlin (Secretary), E. N.Clark, Lane, Spencer, C. G. Clark, A. Clark, Haskell, Williams and Hooker.