History of Medical Education in New Orleans •• • from Its Birth to the Civil War •
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HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS •• • FROM ITS BIRTH TO THE CIVIL WAR • ~ I By A. E. FOSSIER, M.D. NEW ORLEANS, LA. "UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA MEDICAL DEPARTME:-IT FROM THE PROS PECTUS , t86o- I86t ." REPRINTED FROM NEW SERIES, VOL. 6, NO. 4, PAGES 320-352, AND VOL. 6, NO. 5, PAGES 427- 447 ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY PUBLISHED BY PAUL B. HOEBER, INC., NEW YORK HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS FROM ITS BIRTH TO THE CIVIL WAR By A. E. FOSSIER, M.D. NEW ORLEANS, LA. PART I MEDICAL CoLLEGE OF LouiSIANA of Louisiana was published in the THOUGH in the early pe- French and English languages. It riod of the nineteenth cen read as follows: tury New Orleans was rapidly increasing in popula MEDICAL COLLEGE OF LOUISIANA PROSPECTUS tion and growing in commercial im Health is a primary and essential portance, and although it poS"Sessed source of human happiness. It increases a great hospital with unlimited clinical population; it cheers and sustains in facilities, and prided itself on the dustry; it gives birth and vigor to enter learning, culture and distinction of prise; it confers the power and infuses a large number of its physicians, it the spirit to prosecute study, and in was not until the year I 834 that the short, with the qualities that usually Medical College of Louisiana was attend it, it bestows on Society whatever organized. This was the first medical is connected with its highest interests, school in the Southwest. and whatever is necessary to the enjoy During the summer of that year ments of the comforts and refinements of a few English-speaking doctors of this life. city, realizing the need for a school Impressed in a good degree with the of medicine in this section of the truth, the great and good men of antiquity were wont admiringly to style medicine Union, decided on its establishment. "a divine art," and to hold its professors The first mention of their intention in the highest estimation as public was made in one of the dailies of the benefactors. Nor has time detracted time, the Bee of September 29, I 834, from the consequence of the profession, which made the following editorial or diminished the honors justly due to comment: its skillful and scientific practice. Indeed the influence of the science of medicine We are highly gratified to notice the establishment in this city of a medical is now universally felt and acknowledged college. The gentlemen who fill the chairs by the civilized nations of the earth, of professorship are men of skill and and attention is paid everywhere under experience, and we hope that we may public authority, in proportion to the not be thought invidious, when we point progress which each society has made out to Messrs. Hunt, Ingalls and Luzen in civilization, to whatever is calculated berg, with whom our acquaintance is to promote and preserve the public extended: The former two have been health. In this enlightened country partic officiating in a like capacity in similar ularly, we are happy and proud to say institutions, and the latter has estab that public anxiety has manifested itself lished a reputation of the highest degree to a considerable extent for the diffusion as a surgeon. of medical knowledge and that liberal In the same issue of that journal appropriations have been made by several the prospectus of the Medical College of the State Legislatures for the establish- [Compliments of the l\1atas Anniversary Fund and of the Orlean<> Purish Medical Society.] 2 HISTORY OF MEDICAL EoucATION IN NEw ORLEANS ment and support of Medical Schools arrest under scientific treatment, the and Colleges. diseases of which thousands are now But it cannot be denied that these victims. schools and colleges, however, creditable Nor will its effects end here. By remov to us considering their youth, are not ing the danger of death and the apprehen yet, in consequence of the rapid growth sion of disease, it will cause population of our population and vast extent of to increase, agriculture to yield additional territory over which that population is profits, trade and commerce to flourish spread, sufficient to answer the growing and the arts and science to advance wants of the country, and accordingly rapidly among us. In short, its operation we every day find prospectuses issuing will be to improve our national extra in various directions, in the name of ordinary advantages, to remove the honorable physicians ambitious to dis obstacles in the path of our prosperity, tinguish themselves in the public service and under proper exertions put New as teachers, inviting students of medicine Orleans in a short time on an equal to attend lectures at designated places footing in medical knowledge with New considered as affording facilities and York and Philadelphia. opportunities for the acquisition of medi In selecting New Orleans as a place cal knowledge. Of these Prospectuses for the location of their school, the under this is avowedly one. signed have been governed by the follow The undersigned practitioners in New ing among other reasons: Orleans convinced of the want of scientific r st. Because it is the largest and medical knowledge in this State and in most populous town in the South several of the adjoining States, and of west, and the most accessible to the non-existence of schools necessary Students. for the diffusion of that knowledge, 2nd. Because its hospitals, which will and aware too that an acquaintance be opened to the undersigned with the peculiar diseases which prevail for the purpose of instruction, are in this part of the Union, cannot be made the largest in the Southern and in Cincinnati and Philadelphia, but must Western States, so that Practical be obtained by the students at the bedside Med.icine and Surgery can be of the patient, and anxious to advance taught at the h~dside Q[_the the cause of science; and to disseminate ~ the only place for this rational principles so as to remove or alleviate human sufferings and to put 3rd. Because the study of anatomy an end to the murderous practice of can be prosecuted with more the empirical arts of selfish specu Ia tors advantages and at a cheaper rate on the ignorance of vulgar credulity, and here than in any other city of thereby to increase the happiness and the United States. prosperity of the country, have associated 4th. Because New Orleans is so healthy themselves together as a Faculty for the during eight months in the year, purpose of delivering Medical Lectures that students can remain in it in the city, under the name and style and study the different types of of the Medical College of Louisiana. diseases at different seasons. The establishment of this school in 5th. Because it is a Commercial town, the City of New Orleans, it is sufficiently and more surgical accidents occur obvious, must prove of the greatest to seamen than to any other benefit to the States of the Southwest class of individuals, and it is generally. It will tend to excite profes consequently the best field for sional emulation, to diffuse knowledge, the study of Surgery in the to expose ignorance, and to eradicate or Southwest. -._ - Annals of Medical History 3 6th. Because in consequence of its January, 1835, and will continue for great population, its .Hospitals are four months from that day. filled with patients, and Thomas Hunt, M.D. Professor of Anatomy 7th. Because as the undersigned pledge and Physiology themselves Students can get board John Harrison, M.D. Adjunct. at $25.00 p~r month. Chas. A. Luzenberg, M.D. Professor of The undersigned feel assured that the Principles and Practice of Surgery. these reasons will have their due weight J. Monroe Mackie, M.D. Secretary. Pro with the Public, and at the risk of being fessor of the Theory and Practice of charged with a little repetition will add Medicine. the following remarks: Thomas R. lngaHs, M.D. Professor of A Home Institution has already been Chemistry and Pharmacy. too long wanted among us. The expense Edwin B. Smith, M.D. Professor of Materia attending the acquisition of knowledge Medica. in schools at a distance from us has Augustus H. Cenas, M.D. Professor of heretofore closed the door of science Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and against the poor student and has caused Children. this part of the country to be overrun Demonstrations in Practical Anatomy with Quack Doctors, to the destruction will be given daily by the Adjunct Pro of human life. An institution like that we fessor of Anatomy and Physiology. are about to establish, which will bring Chemical Lectures will be delivered knowledge to our doors, impart instruc twice a week at the Charity I lospi tal. tion at the cheapest possible rate, and The Hospital will be open every day afford the opportunities of medical educa for the attendance of the Students. tion to all who may feel inclined to avail Thomas Hunt, M.D. -- themselves of them must lead to the Dean of the Faculty. advancement of Science and the rational Sept. 29 treatment of disease by regular bred New Orleans, September 25, I83-t· Physicians, and cannot fail, in whatever point of view it is considered, to obtain This unexpected announcement was the good wishes of every philanthropist the cause of quite a furore in the and friend of science. Besides, to the city. It was the principal topic of student of Medicine in the Southwest conversation. It provoked acrimonious it will recommend itself by this un answerable reason for a preference over discussions not only among members any similar institution at a distance; of the medical profession, but among it will enable him to study diseases and the educated public as wei!.