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!. The their treatment in the climate in which necessity for the modus procedendi he intends to practice, and will supply for the formation of the new school, him with that information which is as well as the personality and the necessary to his successful practice, and qualifications of the members of the which he could not obtain except at faculty were the subjects of contro­ home. versies in the home, in the streets, The undersigned respectfully invite the in the exchanges, in the coffee-houses, attention of the Students of Medicine in and in the newspapers. the Southwest, to the above observations, The announcement of the faculty the confidence of success, announce, that composed practically of English-speak­ THE LECTuRERS OF TilE ing physicians, a few of whom had MEDICAL COLLEGE OF LOUISIAKA only recently arrived in the city, will commence on the first Monday of incited the expression of acrimonious 4 HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NE\V ORLEANS oprmons. Communications from po­ first one of t hese documents was signed lemics appeared in the press. Un­ "An American Physician" and was fortunately the identity of these letter published in the French section of the

riG. I. DR. THOMAS lluNT.

writers is lost to us today, because it was the custom of that time for all letters from the public published in the newspapers to be signed with a FIG. 2. DR. JOHK llARRISON. non de plume. Strenuous objections Bee of October 3, I 834. It read as were voiced against the establishment follows: of the College without first procuring the sanction of the Legislature or Yesterday whilst I was reading your the authorization of Congress. It was gazette, I noticed the announcement of also evident that the idea of "self­ the establishment of a medical college appointed professors" was distasteful in New Orleans. I was delighted, because to many members of the local pro­ I thought that Congress had legally fession. The very youth of many created a college, which would be so of the organizers of the College was useful to the citY, and also, that Louisiana, a subject of rancorous discussions.* so happily sit"uated for the study of The following communications the diverse branches of the art of healing, which appeared in the contemporary would acquire a regular school from newspapers are of the greatest histori­ which would emanate distinguished phy­ sicians, cn.pable of imparting to our cal importance because they voiced profession its well deserved lustre, and the strong opposition by many of to those who practice their profession, the the physicians of this city to the amount of consideration, of which they establishment of that institution. The are deprived of a large portion by the *Hunt, Harrison, Luzcnbcrg, and Mackie numerous chn.rln.tans, who have shame­ were then twenty-six years old. fully arrogated to themselves, to the great Annals of Medical History 5 shame of our tribunals, the right to God is my witness, that it is not my practice medicine, either by the usurpa­ intention to even insinuate that the tion of titles that they at no time pos- honorable gentlemen who have signed

F1c. 4· Dn. Auc~:sTus H. CENAS.

the prospectus are not in the above mentioned category, but this is not alone F1c. 3· DR. CHARLES A. LuZENBERG. sufficient, because, no matter what may be the extent of their education, they do sessed, or by making a vile trade of the not have the right to appoint themselves noblest of professions. to these all important professorships! I was greatly surprised to notice that These chairs should be allotted only after the college was organized without legal a competitive examination conducted authorization: In England, in Germany, before one of the leading faculties of the in France, and in fact in every civilized Union, or to physicians who have already country, a school of medicine cannot be graduated from one of these faculties, established without legal authority. The or from one of the principal universities professors are appointed only by the of Europe. The professors should be at Go\·ernment or by an university. The least thirty years of age. These professor­ aspirant for a chair must be at least a ships should demand as much experience doctor of medicine in one of the principal as knowledge. Do the signatories of the faculties of the country. If we acknowl­ prospectus combine all these essential edge that this is as it should be, and requisites, or even a majority of them? recognize the fact that this concerns Without a shadow of a doubt, NO! How, the most difficult science in the world, then, can they possibly teach in a Medical the one to restore health, the one which College? is of the greatest interest to all citizens, I do not know to what extent liberty it is, therefore, of the utmost importance may be stretched in the United States. that only the most learned professors But I do not think that a medical school be chosen. may be legally organized in the manner 6 liiSTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEw 0RLEA:\'S proposed by our honorable confreres. confidence?" he queried, and "why do The future alone can determine this they not inspire that confidence? question. Is it because the public has so often I do not know whether any invitations been duped by charlatans who do not were extended by the organizers of the even have the necessary talents to be new college to a Creole or European born bootblacks? The ethical doctors have physician who practices their profession here, to join them in their enterprise. necessarily suffered from the ma­ If they have not done so, they should neuvers of these scourges of the human have, and I am certain that the one to species." He welcomed the advent of whom an invitation should have been the new college because it promised extended, would have proved to the a strong guarantee for the safeguard­ signers of this prospectus that a medical ing of hea[th, and because of the school should not be instituted ad libitum. assurance that its students would There is still much more to be said possess the indispensable knowledge on the subject, Mr. Editor, but as this needed for the practice of their art. is only intended to be a communication The cudgel was taken up in defense for your journal, space is necessarily of the new college by a correspondent limited. With your kind permission, I who signed himself "Humanitas." reserve to myself the privilege of writing again if the occasion should present He prefaced his remarks by stating itself. that he had neither the intention nor (signed) An American Physician.* the desire to precipitate a discussion relative to the merits of the medical The opinion of "An American Phy­ college, but that he shared the opinion sician" was evidently not shared by of a majority of the citizens, the the Editor of the French section greater number of whom were most of the Bee for in the following issue, respectable, and enlightened, relative he editorially commented that "those to the advantages to be drived there­ who had the idea of founding here a from by the country. He stated that medical college have undisputed rights the sole purpose of his communication to the gratitude of their fellow citizens was to destroy by a simple recital in general, and also especiaiiy to the of the facts, the impression caused the esteem of men fully capable of by an article signed "An American appreciating a similar benefaction." Physician." He cited the fact that the He further asserted that there was London College of Medicine was or­ not a country in the world where ganized through the efforts of a single greater precautions had to be taken individual, Dr. Thomas Linnoire, of to C'onserve health, and that nowhere All Saints, at OxfurJ. That the U ni­ else less attention was paid to that versity of Pennsylvania, the most serious problem. The public always prominent institution in the United hesitated before caiiing in a physician. States, well known by all American And very frequently the disease had physicians, originated from an asso­ progressed considerably before it was ciation of a few enterprising doctors decided to call in "a man of the art." of Philadelphia, for the purpose of "What is the cause of the negli­ delivering lectures on the different gence? Is it because physicians in branches of medicine. Encouraged general do not inspire the necessary by their success, they petitioned the *A literal translation. state legislature to incarporate their Annals of Medical Ilistory 7 institution. Their request was not only Now I will answer more in point, to granted but funds were allotted to what concerns me in the above article. continue their good work. He made I am not a French lawyer, as says the the prediction that-the college of medi­ author, but really what is purported cine of Louisiana would not only follow by my signature, which I will show if necessary,- and that I have at least the the same footsteps, but would be same right to assume the titles of physi­ crowned with the same success. He cian as any of the professors of the announced that the state legislature embryo faculty. would be appealed to, at its next 1 Ie sneers at me because I pretend that session, for the grant of a charter and a medical college should only be estab­ for suffrcient funds to accomplish the lished by an Act of Congress. I am very desired purpose, and he felt certain far from denying to Congress the right that many persons in the state would of passing such a law, since I am of the lend their aid. opinion that a faculty of medicine, He asserted that the offer of a instead of a local, is of a general interest, professorship was made to one of the and that it never was contemplated most distinguished French physicians by the writers of the prospectus that their students, on leaving the institution, of Ne''" Orleans, which he declined should be allowed to practice only within after mature deliberation, because the limits of Louisiana, which, however, he did not feel that he was sufficiently must be the necessary consequence of a conversant with the English language. law passed by the Legislature, and if this "An American Physician'' retorted, ever happens that body might be expected this time in the English language, in to take the utmost care that the professors the Bee of October r o. His letter reads should give proof of their capacity, before thus: being allowed the right, if I am aiiowed to use the expression, to dispose of the Mr. Editor: I have read in the Louisi­ lives of their fellow citizens. ana Advertiser* a communication sup­ 2nd: My opponent who has a turn posed to originate from a member of for jesting, pretends that it is my opinion the future medical college, in which the that the professors should be gray headed. au thor complains of the virulent attacks I really was so ignorant as not to know from many quarters aimed at that institu­ th~t many persons have gray beards at tion. He assumes that these attacks ought thrrty. If such a notion is entertained to be ascribed to interested motives, and professed by the future faculty, but I am far from attributing to the I will certainly go and listen to the reasons writers these selrrsh and despicable views. alleged in demonstration of it; but Instead of apprehending any danger seriously speaking, I contend that in for the institution, I really believe that general it should be much more desirable all persons possessing but a moderate that men with gray beards in preference share of common sense, and particularly to beardless youths, should teach the those of the profession, will on the con­ diflicult art of curing diseases, an art trary be highly gratified at the establish­ that the great Hypocrates maintained ment of such a school, if it afforded should be studied through life, however all the requisites indispensable to at­ long it might be. tain the object contemplated by its In conclusion the author of the article establishment. pretends that I blame the faculty for n?t having. im;ited some French physi­ * Unfortunately this issue of the Louisiana crans to ard m the formation of the Advertiser is not available. Institution. 8 HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEw ORLEANS

The gentleman must be almost utterly observe that I do not write under the unacquainted with the French language, influence of bad feeling. On the contrary in thus construing my expressions for I entertain a great esteem for the writers there is not the least mention made of of the prospectus; with most of them l French physicians. By Europeans I mean am personally acquainted. M y only object English, German, French, Spanish, Italian was to give publicity to my views, which physicians, a great number of whom can I believe are based upon the honour write and speak correctly the English of the profession. language. If, as it is pretended, a distinguished I did say the Creole or European French physician has refused to associate physician, and add that had the founders himself with the future faculty, this of the college proposed it to them, they refusal corroborates what I have advanced would have opposed it on the ground on the subject l have treated. It confirms that such an institution cannot be self what I have said that no physician of erected, at the will of the proposers; whatever origin he may be, comprehend­ which as far as I can see, has no other ing that he owes to his profession, will meaning than that the Creole or European ever consent to support an institution physicians could not with any excuse which may be regarded as illegal, not­ have co-operated in the execution of the withstanding the respectability of those project. who have given it unauthorisedly a local I do repeat it; no man of sense will habitation and a name. ever oppose an institution so evidently (signed) An American Physician. calculated for the public benefit- as a medical college established in New Or­ That communication, evidently leans, as it is alleged by my opponents, written by a physician of foreign who affect to shift their ground to this birth, provoked the following diatribe new question;-but without intending to from the pen presumedly of one of the hurt the feelings of any man, I think organizers of the new college, which the professors of such a college should appeared in the October I 3, I 834: not be self appointed to such high func­ Bee, tions, which to be successfully performed, must stand the test of public scrutiny, MUGITUS LABYRINTHI or otherwise have afforded proof of great Mr. Editor: medical and chirurgical requirements suf­ Having observed in your last paper ficient to entitle them to the honour of an essay signed" An American Physician" professorship. endorsed to advance objections to the I consider them highly competent, establishment of the "Medical College but should they continue still to doubt, of Louisiana" under its organization; I cannot but think that they should be we have thought it proper to write a much gratified at finding a fitting oppor­ few words in reply to that communica­ tunity to display their knowledge before tion, with a view to elucidate the subject, the public eye. Thus they will avoid any and expose the errors under which the suspicion that in establishing a medical writer of that article laboured. school, they have been more influenced The gentleman commences his remarks by their interest and a desire to accumu­ by disclaiming the influence of any late filthy lucre, than by a due regard invidious motives, and strenuously assert­ to their talents or their love of humanity. ing the right and title to the appelation The Legislature should not grant them of Doctor- In this respect he needs no a charter or give them money unless one to blow his trumpet- He then goes satisfied as to their attainment. on to make some wise and current remarks An impartial public I think will readily respecting the appointme.nt of a college Annals of Medical I listory 9 by the Congress of the United States. Notwithstanding his assertions to the Is the "American Doctor" so ignorant contrary, we are disposed to belie,·e that of the laws of his country, as not to be he considers himself one of the adept, aware that Congress has no right to and is abusing the present faculty for not interfere in such matters. . . . His asser­ possessing sufficient penetration to dis­ tions, if we understand his phrase aright, cover his merits and offer him a that the Legislature cannot incorporate professorship. a college, the diplomas of which will "lnvidia, siculi non invenere tyrani be legal except in Louisiana, is so marked tormentum magus." an absurdity, as not to need a moment's (signed) Marcurius. * notice. If this be true, there is no school in the Union capable of sending forth With this last communication this physicians legally qualified to practice campaign of vituperation between the the profession, anywhere except within French and English speaking physi­ the limits of their own States. cians closed. Although the new college With respect to the fact of his being, was still a subject of controversial as he terms himself, an American we have discussions, the plan of attack was strong doubts, for we do not conceive changed. The editorials and com­ it possible, for an American professional munications in the daily press were man, to manifest so profound an igno­ rance of English Grammar as this writer more constructive in tone, and a has done; his sentences are many of them strong effort was made to have the obscure and in fact incomprehensible to lectures delivered in the French and our understanding, and we are inclined English languages. to consider his signature as altogether The establishment of a new college usurped and soi-disant. was accepted as a fait accompli. The Indeed it appears quite plain to us, that curriculum proposed by the youthful this gentleman is pretty much in the founders of the medical college of situation of a "mus in pice"j he has Louisiana was discussed, criticized, commenced making his remarks on a scrutinized, investigated and dissected subject of which he is evidently totally whenever and wherever doctors met. uninformed, and is deficient of a "quantum Prophesies were made as to the possi­ suf/icit" of sense to retract from the bility of its success. The younger disagreeable dilemma, with credit or satisfaction to himself. We shrewdly members of the profession, carried suspect that if an anatomical investiga­ away by their undaunted enthusiasn, tion was made, the existence of a perfect glorified its founders and predicted vacuum would be discovered in one place for it a brilliant future. The more besrcles the. Torricellian tube, namely matured and gray headed practitioners in the interior of the gentleman's cranium. shook their heads, and although they Our author seems inclined to view all acknowledged the necessity for such the faculty in the light of boys,- perhaps an institution, they voiced the opinion as he is himself advanced in years; if that there would not be a sufficient this he the case, there is a little excuse number of students, from the stand­ for his nonsensical garrulity, hut we point of education, qualified for the would advise him for the future to confine study of medicine. They ambitioned a his paltry attacks to those more equal to himself in information and acquirements. college which would cast honor on the We think his style and language would State of Louisiana, one which would better suit the "ignobile vulgus" then * It may be surmised that this communica­ enlightened minds. tion was written by Doctor Luzenberg. IO HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEw ORLEANS graduate physicians the equal in learn­ Medicine of Louisiana appear to be ing, distinction and culture to those actuated by philanthropic sentiments, of the greatest centers of medical lore and the French doctors who practice in the old country. They prayed for a their art here, doubtless, have the same high standard of medical education, sentiments. If such be the case, they and offered suggestions which, from should teach without an honorarium. Then the professors would not be a their experience, they felt would prove burden on the Government. The number most advantageous to the students of of classes could be doubled, and there medicine. would then be two professors for each The following anonymous letter branch, one of whom would teach in appearing, in the Bee, October I 8, I 834, French, and the other in English. written in French by a proponent of But I do not think that a French physi­ a higher standard of medical educa­ cian would accept a chair if he had to tion is interesting. It reads in part: teach according to the scheme proposed in the prospectus. Although the teaching Although a subject of a great deal of staff would necessarily be divided, the acrimonious discussion, the school of school could be directed by one dean and medicine about to be established offers housed in the same domicile. Separate great advantages. To this day no one days could be designated for the courses has as yet proposed a solution for the given in the French and the English difficulty. I will try to lift the veil which language. obscures the obstacles in its path. If I He then discussed the status of am successful in accomplishing this I will muster enough courage to detail a primary education, and the necessity plan of medical instruction. of a proper foundation for the study of medicine. The colleges established The first issue he discussed was: Should in New Orleans up to that time, he the lectures be delivered in the French said, did not teach philosophy, and or English language, or should they but few of the humanities. He dwelt be given in both. He thought the latter upon the necessity of founding a plan was feasible, but he doubted that college in which the classics and the proposed professors could speak philosophy would be included in the French, and that even if they were curriculum. He also proposed that this able to do so, that they could conduct college should be under the direction their courses of lectures in that idiom. of the rector of the University. He conceded for the sake of argu­ He submitted a plan of medical ment, that the Americans did not wish education which was far in advance of to compel the Creoles to study medi­ the requirements of the colleges of the cine only in the English language, but time in this country. He suggested a admitted that the Creoles would much course of four years, the first of which prefer to receive their instruction in would be pre-medical. The course was the French. He asserted that there was to be opened only to students who not a language in which more science had studied the classics, and who were and medicine were written than the prepared for the study of philosophy. French language. He continued: The third year Latin was to be reviewed, and philosophy was to be The American Physicians who have taught in the French language. The appointed themselves to the School of medical course for that term was to Annals of Medical Histmy I I be limited to anatomy, physiology, institution where students may be chemistry, hygiene and medical phys­ properly prepared for the study of ics. At the end of the first term, the medicine. He deplored the fact that students should pass a public examina­ such a school did not exist in the tion and "those whose merits and immediate south, and that, of neces­ appLication deserved the confidence sity, the new school of medicine must of their professors would be entrusted draw its students from the northern with the teaching of the new stu­ states and from Europe. He appealed dents." By following this plan, the to the legislature of the State to assist number of professors for the second in the promotion of the two colleges. year term would be augmented. He suggested that the college of St. During the second year, internal path­ James (Jefferson College) and the ology, botany, operative medicine, institution of Mr. Bellanger in New and even pharmacy could be taught. Orleans could, if they would procure During the third year special atten­ special professors, offer a pre-medical tion would be given to operative course. He ended his editorial with medicine, external and internal clinics, the following admonition: external and internal pathology. The fourth or graduating year should The Medical College can give its comprise internal clinics, medical his­ course, it is their undisputable right. tory, internal pathology, medical juris­ But what guarantee have we that the prudence, clinics and obstetrics. There professors have the necessary qualifica­ should be a summer and a winter term. tions if they are not legally instituted? -- He ended his communication with And besides how do we know that the the statement: "Here is a course of young men who take their course are It medicine, I hope some day will be fully able to understand them? is then absolutely necessary, that the legisla­ given to Creole students in the Medi­ ture must recognize officially the teachers, cal College of Louisiana.'' and that all students seeking admission It is needless to say that such an to the medical school must pass a public idealistic plan of medical education examination. Such a serious undertaking fell on deaf ears. It was far beyond the demands the taking of all necessary times. precautions. The editor of the French section of the Bee on October 2 I, I 834, deplored The announcement of the establish­ the fact that there was not in the city ment of a medical college in New and its vicinity a college capable of Orleans was hailed with delight in the giving a course of instruction befitting surrounding country. The following a student of medicine. He claimed editorial in the contemporary issue "that was the greatest obstacle to the of the St. Francisville Phoenix voiced promotion of the new medical school; the heartfelt approval generally ex­ because before commencing the study pressed by the press of the other of medicine, a student should employ parishes of the State: a portion of his youth in preparatory courses, so that he will be thereby It will be perceived by reference to better able to understand that intri­ the prospectus published in our columns cate science." He stressed the im­ to-day, that a part of the enterprising portance of having in this city an physicians of New Orleans pave put in 12 HISTORY OF J\ilEDICAL EDUCATI00: IN N E\V 0RLEAl\iS reqmsrtwn the elements upon which to the faculty, nobly braved and con­ build up a Medical College there. This quered all diOiculties." efTect to supply a desideratum, universally The lvlcdical College of Louisiana acknowledged in our state, should be inaugurated its first course of lccturcs hailed with delight, and patronized by on the first Monday of January, I835· every philanthropist and lover of science, The minutes of the College state and we ardently hope that no one \viii that Dr. Edwin R. Smith tendered his lend a listening ear to the croaking of prejudice and the cold calculation of resignation of the Chair of Materia scepticism; but encourage by all laudable .Medica, on October 2, I 834, because and eHicient means, this meritorious "the consideration arising from the experiment. We are glad to see that loss of a very near and dear relative Dr. Barton fills an important chair in put it out of his power to retain the this infant institution. It is to us a strong professorship with which he had been and promising earnest of its success. honored." His resignation was received \Ve know his devotion to his profession, with great regret of the cause which his untiring zeal, his experience, his had occasioned his decision, and Dr. sacrifices, and we have a confident Edward H. Barton was unanimously assurance, if his efForts are properly elected to succeed him as professor of responded to, the enterprise will not fail. lVlateria lvledica. Dr. Smith, although Dr. lngaUs is a man of science, and his appointment we think, happily cast. The one of the organizers of the lVledical other gentlemen we are not acquainted College of Louisiana, never fulfi!Icd with, but we have heard them highly the duties of the professorship. spoken of. We shall advert to this subject Dr. Barton was editorially com­ hereaf'ter as the occasion may seem to mended by the Bee as "a gentleman of require, and in the meantime recommend e.·tendecl information, great experi­ an attentive perusal of the medical ence as a physician, having resided for prospectus alluded to for the motives more than fifteen years in Louisiana, and reasons which have actuated and and in every way fully qualified for influenced those gentlemen, who have the trust." identified their reputation and fortunes Chailie tells us that during the first in the accomplishment of their purpose. session no d u tics were discharged by D espite the strong opposition of a Dr. Harrison, the Adjunct Professor large number of the most influential of Anatomy and Physiology, in con­ members of the local medical profes­ sequence of an indisposition, and sion, the organizers of the medical that Dr. \\! arrcn Stone demonstrated college, with undaunted determina­ anatomy. 1 tion, persisted in their cflorts, which The college did not own its domicile; were eventually crowned with success. some of the lectures were delivered at Speaking of the difficulties en­ the homes of the professors, and others countered by these pioneers of medical in the hall No. 4 I Royal Street, and edLrcation in the Southvvest the Bee twice a week lectures \vcre held in the (April 29, 1835) editorially said: "The wards of the Charity H ospital. The experiment was rather hazardous, as course was of two years; the sessions the establishment of a medical college were of four months. was viewed with jealousy, if not The following is the introductory suspicion. But the zeal and prudence passage of the first lecture delivered of the gentlemen who united to form to a class of medical students in Ne,,- Annals uj i'vledical Historv

Orleans. This masterly address attests of organization, th~t every phenomenon the culture, the superior capabilities of organized matter results immediately and the high seicntifrc attainments of from those laws. To ascertain those that great teacher, the first Dean of laws, which are few in number and of the M edical College of Louisiana, Dr. remarkable simplicity, to become familiar Thomas Hunt: with their operation, to know their cause, nature and seats of the lesions of Until within the last centurv, and structures, and the true character of particularly the latter portion u of it, remedial agents; these form a considerable :Medicine was not entitled to be ranked portion of the labours of a physician. among the sciences. Its principles had This is the work which the student of not developed. The labors of its professors medicine undertakes-a work, to accom­ were devoted towards speculations; to the plish which is in the power of every well invention of theories (so-called) founded educated man, having an ordinary portion on the principles of other sciences; to of understanding and a . clue spirit of the discussion of subtle and abstract perseverance. The sources from which doctrines, and to the practice of empyrical the weU established principles of the arts. science are to be taught, are the different The great defect of the ancients was departments of learning allotted to the their careless observations of facts, and various professors of our institution. their almost total neglect to register It would be foreign to the object of this them. Carried away by a foolish pride, address to extend any remarks by ex­ they imagined that tmth was to be patiating on the dignity and importance attained by the mere ·exertion of the men­ of the several branches of medicine. tal po..,vers of meditation. They accord­ Ana tom v is the basis of all medical ingly misspent in the metaphysical jargon know l edge ~ All the branches of the pro­ of the schools that time ..vhich thev fession are in a great degree dependent might have more usefully employed in :t upon it, while it is independent of them. natural and practical observation. It is the science of organization, health The honor and glory of raising medicine and diseases. A competent knowledge from this degraded condition, of elevating of it is essential to the honest practice her character, awe! placing her almost of medicine; for how can he repair the on a level ·with the exact sciences, \vas derangements of. structures, who does reserved for Bichat, the appearance of not know what structure is? And the whose works, it is justly sn id, was the knowledge can only be acquired by termination of the older and hypothetical unremitted labor and close observation medicine, and the commencement of in the dissecting room, with the aid of modern physiological or philosophical books. Anatomy presents no obstacle medicine. The discovery of general anat­ to its acquisition which is not easily om.y, and the union of anatomy and surmounted by perseverance. pathology, have laid the solid foundation There is no mystery about science. of a rational and scientific theorv. Nlecli­ Truth is simple and reveals her doctrines cine, now marching with the b; nner of in a language intelligible to every mind. reason in her hand, will go on achieving She affects no air of pedantr.y, and victories, until her empire shall be co­ decrees it inconsistent with her vocation extensive with the civilized world. to annoy and perplex the learners with Nature, who in aU her operations far-fetched and uncouth terms. To my governs by fixed general laws, has not mind. there is a moral sublimitv in devi ated from her ordinary course in the picture of a learned and philanth~opic regard to men. Scientific observation man, conveying the lessons of wisdom has established that his life is the result and experience, in the beautiful language HrsTORY OF NlEDICAL EoccHIO:-.J r:-.J NEw ORLEANS of simplicity, to an inquiring and intelli­ State, tending at once to the general gent student. preservation of health, the increase in population, the extension of trade and The first session of the Medical commcrc·e, the productiveness of agri­ College of Louisiana was attended by cu I tu re and the rapid growth and promo­ eleven students, the greater nurnGer tion of the arts and sciences. of whom were citizens of the neighbor­ ing states. It was provided in Section one of The first course of lectures termi­ that Act that they were thcr<:>by con­ nated on April 27, r8Jj. The profes­ stituted a body corporate and politic sors were highly commended, and it under t he name of "The Faculty of was stated that the lectures were well the Medical College of Louisiana.'' attended by the students as \Yell as by Section four provided that: "respectable persons of both sexes." We read in the B ee of April 29, 1835, The Faculty of the lVledical College that the "Grst course of lectures bv shall be and they are hereby authorized the professors of the institution havs to ma ke such regulations as they might terminated. \Ve have heard these think proper for the election of professors, lectures highly commended and have to remove and dismiss any professor from his professorship in the institution, and been informed that they were at­ to fill, under any regulation that they tended by respectable persons of both may deem expedient any vacancy in sexes,- in addition to the students: the Faculty provided always that it eleven of whom have already been shal! require the concurrence of a majority matriculated." of four-fifths of the members of said It also stated that this >vas an auspi~ Faculty, to elect any professor or to cious commencement of the Coilegc. remove or dismiss any professor from his The College was granted a charter professorship in said Medical College. by the State Legislature on April 2, 1835: It 'vas entitled: An Act to It was also enacted in Section six Incorporate the Faculty of the Medi­ that the Governor of the State, the cal College of Louisiana and the Judges of the Supreme Court, George 1Vledical School of New Orleans. The Eustis, G. Mulligan, W. H. Sparks, preamble of this Act reads as follows: and John B. Dawson be constituted the Board of Trustees of said College. \Vhereas, the encouragement of learn­ This act also provided for the ing is one of the first duties of an en­ incorporation of the 1\ilcdical College lightened Legislature; and whereas, of New Orleans, \vhose Faculty shall Thomas Hunt, M.D., John Harrison, comprise Drs. Labatut, Lemonnier, M.D., Chas. A. Luzenberg, M.D., J. Monroe Formento, Lambert, Fortin, Tricou, Mackie, M.D., Thomas R. Ingalls, M.D., Conaut and others. Its Board of Ed. H. Barton, l\t.D., Aug. H. Cenas, Trustees to be composed of the M.D., have associated themselves together and taken measures for the establishment Governor, the lYiayor, the Recorder, of a Medical College in the City of New and the lVIcmbcrs of the City Council Orleans, and vVhereas the establishment of the City of New Orleans. of such a college would greatly advance It \vas also provided in the act that the cause of science and produce most the Medical College of Nev,r Orleans beneficial results to the people of the should have the same rights and I , Annals of fV!edical History .? privileges as the l\lcdical College of the college and the patronage of the Louisiana. public. Of his superior attainments and It is logical to surmise that the capabilities Cor a professorship in a ny p rofession of the city were still divided faculty, there can be no doubt; this, his among themselves. This division was lectures alone, delivered during the past racial, or rather it was lingual. The season, suflicientlv attested. Faculty of the J\llcdical College of \Ve can but surmise that only a very Louisiana was composed of members serious provocation would have in­ of the Medical Physical Society, and duced Dr. Hunt to resign from the that of the Medical College of New teaching staff of an institution he not Orleans of those of the New Orleans only founded, but labored for so lVledical Society. The membership of assiduously during the most trying the former was principally composed and critical period of its existence. of the English and the latter of the Todav, we do not know the causes French speaking physicians of this of the discord. The only intimation City. of the dissension is to be had from a Although the Medical College of few cryptic remarks in the daily press. New Orleans was granted a charter, The Bee of June I I, I 835, editorially it failed to materialize. Apparently commented: its promoters realized the futility of such an institution [n a country which vVe are indeed sorry that the Faculty was rapidly increasing its English­ has forfeited the aid of the acknowledged speaking population. The faculty of abilitv of Dr. Thomas Hunt. It was the contemplated medical school was aimo;t well that the organization of that composed of some of the most noted College commenced de novo, and that and cultured physicians in the South. elections \vere consequently held for The .Medical College of Louisiana, every deanship so instituted. during its first yca.r, was rent by dissensions. We read in the Bee of The chair made vacant bv the May I6, I835, that Doctor Hunt, the resignation of Dr. Hunt was not imme­ founder, the chief promoter, and the cliatelv filled, for it was announced Dean of the school, and whose abilitv in the Bee of June I 2, that" a successor as a professor was highly respected, to Dr. Thomas Hunt (as Professor of resigned not only from the Chair of Anatomy) has not yet been selected; Anatomy, but also as the head of the but enquiry is made in every quarter institution. It stated no reasons for for an efficient candidate." Dr. Hunt's resignation, but only said: On J unc I I, I 835, it was announced "\Ve arc pleased to ascertain that the that Dr. Ingalls had vacated his resignation proceeded from the most professorship of Chemistry to which honorable and disinterested motives," Dr. W. B. Powell had been elected. and that: On the following day Doctor Cenas tendered his resignation of the chair I-Ie had to encounter manv difficulties of Obstetrics, and' Diseases of \V omen from being placed in the va~guarcl of an and Children. He was replaced by Doc­ institution, resembling one that had tor Ingalls. Speaking of this resigna­ failed; and noblv he surmounted those tion a contemporary newspaper lacon­ difllculties, till h~ obtained a charter for ically remarked: "A propos, wou lei not r6 HrsTORY OF IvlEDICAL EoucATI00: 1:-1 NEw ORLEANS an old \voman ans\vcr very well as Those competent to form a correct professor of midwifery?" judgment on the subject regard your The name of Dr. W. Byrd Powell, reasoning in refutation of the most the newly elected professor of Chemis­ prevalent hypothesis concerning the fo r­ try, was frequently mentioned in the mation of coal perfectly conclusive; and news as well as in the advertisement though they may not fully adopt the novel vie·ws which you have advanced, columns of the contemporary press. they can discove r in them nothing He was an itinerant lecturer on phre­ chimerical, nothing repugnant to sound nology. His lectures in New Orleans philosophy. were very popular; in fact the reputa­ Permit us to add that we have been tion he achieved therefrom elevated much gratified vvith the personal inde­ him to the professorship of chemistry. pendence and decision of character dis­ The fol!owing testimonial attests the played in your efforts to enlighten high regard in which he vvas held by ignora nee and overcome unbelief. You some of the most prominent members have declared your peculiar views with of the clergy, the bar and the Medical the sincerity of truth and maintained profession. them with calm dignity which adorns those who with a just appreciation of New Orleans, June 5th, 1835. human applause, regard it less than nothing in comparison with the value of To \V. Byrd Powell, M.D. truth and of a clear conscience. Dear Sir: Be pleased, clear sir, to accept the The class recently in attendance on assurance of our esteem of your personal your instructions in the Congregational character, and our ardent attachment Church, have with one voice requested to those enlarged views of philosophy the undersigned to return you their and religion of which you are an able thanks for the information you have and eflicicnt advocate. imparted to them on the science of (signed) Henry A. Bullard phrenology. Benjamin Story It gives us pleasure to assure you that E. H. Barton all those who have listened to your Theodore Clapp entire course of lectures are satisfred that phrenology is an interesting branch of human knowledge. Your lectures de­ On the second clay of J unc of that livered in a style perspicuous and strong, year Dr. Powell gave a farewell gra­ often eloquent and beautiful, are dis­ tuitous lecture on Phrenology; which tinguished for an astonishing amount of was advertised in the Bee, June 2, valuable and instructive facts in relation 1835, as not only to be a revised edi­ to the philosophy of the human mind. tion of his last lecture, but to comprise These facts .1rc entirely independent of an analysis of the whole science or all theoretical speculations on the mental rather theory. science; and their importance would Dr. Powell taught in the Medical remain undiminished were all the specula­ School of Louisiana for only one tions to pass away into utter oblivion; session. The reason for the short and give you the credit in this our new world, of being the frrst in laying the axe tenure of his professorship is unknown at the root of prejudice, and false philoso­ today. He is the only one of t he phy and pioneering the road to truth, professors of New Orleans about whom to the true science of mind and en­ there is any question of his ethical lightened religion. conduct. \Vhy he left New Orleans, Annals of 1Hedical History 17

'Nhcrc he went, what he did, or what Medical College. Dr. Powell, the became of him, we do not know. Even Professor of Chemistrv will deliver his the newspapers of this city which were introductory lecture t~-night at 7 P.M., so profuse in his praises, and contained in the hall of the institution, No. 41 so many of his advertisements, were Royal Street. The ladies and gentlemen of the City ominously silent on his departure. are respectfully solicited to attend. We The second session of the j'vlcdical are happy in having in our power to S<1.Y College of Louisiana opened on De­ to our friends, that this gentleman's cember 7, 1835, with a lecture from course of lectures will be illustrated by Professor Luzenberg, the newly ap­ an apparatus superior to that of any pointed dean. The attendance, which similar institution southwest of Baltimore. 'vvas slightly increased, numbered six­ We can inform further that his cabinet teen matriculates. of mineralogy, which he will use as far It \'Vas customary in those days for as it can prove auxiliary to his course, the professors to extend, through the is equalled by few anywhere; and none medium of the press, invitations to the on our side of the mountains. ladies and gentlemen of the city to To the citizens and especially to the youths of our alluvial country, this must attend their opening lectures. They certainly prove both interesting and even extended to the public, on the instructive. As a lecturer, his labours last paying of a small fee, the privilege of spring upon another and highly interest­ attending certain courses intended for ing subject, must give more satisfactory medical students. The advertisement information to the public than anything columns of the French and English we can sav. sections of the contemporary news­ His subject to-night is of a general papers are replete with these invita­ nature, and calculated to interest all, tions. They arc not only interesting but more especially the friends of science, but are of historical interest. From the legislation and political economy. following it will be seen that these \Ve bespeak for him a he a ring not public notices were always most !Tat­ only on account of his talents but because he is the friend of our city, as he proved tering to the professors. himself last summer in his public lec­ The following notices and advertise­ tures in the West, by disabusing it of ments arc taken from the files of the the slander which the idle, the ignorant, Bee fur the month of December, 1835: the prejudiced and the wicked have heaped upon it abroad. Dr. Edward H. Barton will deliver a lecture this afternoon at 41 Royal Street And in the advertisement column --his introductory for the season. From \Ye find the following: ; his known ability in his profession and diligence in accumulating observations J\!Iedica I College. Dr. Powell's course and statistical details, we have no doubt of chemical lectures will commence this of his being highly interesting. evening at 5 o'clock P.:vt., in the hall He will probably glance at the climate of the institution, and will continue of Louisiana and New Orleans, and the every day except Sundays, till the first local causes assigned for endemic diseases, of April. To the first week of this course for he has collected a vast number of the ladies and gentlemen are invited. facts bearing on this subject; and there­ During this tim~ those who desire to fore can do it more justice. attend the course, or only the popular IS H I ST ORY OF :\lEDICAL EoUC\TIO'\ I'\ N Ew OI{LE.-\'\S portion of it, \Yill obta in tickets at his rcllcctcd not onl.' throughout the o!Ece No. 45 1 ~ Cana l St. South, hut o\er the \\·hole extent of At 7 o'clock to-night, at the same place, these United States. It is tocla the he will deliver his introductorv. The ladies :Medical Department of Tulane Uni­ and gentlemen arc solicited to attend. vcrsit.\·. Its graduates number over H e that desires to acquire an accurate 6200. Its fame, its science and its knowledge of man, of physiology and achievements arl' knm\ n the world pathology, should attend the daily lec­ over. Its alumni arc justly proud tures given at the Hospita l from 12 to r, by D r. C. A. Luzenbcrg. of thci r A ln1a l\ 1a ter' s disti nguis heel T hey are those of a n1aster of his heritage. profession. Too. much honor and credit cannot \\fe have received an " Introductory be cast upon Thomas Hunt. It was his Lecture on the Importance D erived from zeal and his [on· for humanity which Medical Science in Improving the Physi­ impelled him to found nearly one cal Condition of a Country, etc." by hundred years ago a medical college Ed ward Barton, M.D., of the MediG~I in New Orleans. Louisiana owes him College of Louisiana. a debt of gratitude \\·hich cannot be The lecture is published in pamphlet repaid. form, and can be obtained at any of the His memory is fitly perpetuated in book stores. It contains much useful information- particularly as regards the recently completed building of J\!Ialaria and swamp lands and should Tulane University, the dernier mot in therefore be read by all the intelligent medical school construction, where a of our citizens. \Ve would promise to make marble tablet reads: extracts from it; but that we wish our subscribers to purchase it. THE FACULTY OF THE MEDICAL DEPART\!E:'\T The first ~rear of medical education OF THE U:'\'IVEH.SIT¥ O F LOUISIA:'\'A in New Orleans \Vas a hectic onl·. HAVE ERECTED Tli!S TABLET !:'\' :Y!E:\IORY OF Not only the success, but the vcr.y TH0:\1.\S H U N T , :VI.D. existence of the :Medical College of A FOUND EI{ Oro THE l\!ED!CAL COLLEGE OF Louisiana was then very precarious. LOUISL-\"'A, 1:'\ SEPTEMBEK A.D. 183.} It was the undaunted ardor, the over­ \VHO W.\S I301Z:'\' ll\' ClL\RLESTO"', S. C., whelming love of the profession, the :\lAY 18, r8o8, steadfast determination, and the AND DIED 1:-.1 THIS CITY, :\lARCH 20, 1867. unflagging spirit to conquer no matter liE WAS TilE THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE how nearly overwhelming the odds, as U:'\IVERSITY OF LOUISIANA well as the fearless courage of these A:'\'D PI{OFESSOR OF PllYSIOLOGY A:'-I D beardless youths, the organizers of the PATHOLOGY first medical co!Icgc in the Southwest !:'\' Tl!E :\!EDICAL DEPART:Y!E NT. which surmounted dissensions in their THE U"'IVERSITY Oro LOCISL\:'\'A ,'viOUI{:'\'S own ranks as wei! as the untiring ITS .\lOST GIFTED .\'\D ELOQUE"'T TEACHER, opposition of obstructionists. A"'D SCIE:'\'CE A N E i"TH USL\STIC A:'\D They built well, for from this U l\'TIHI >IG LEADER. modest beginning, this college without liE BRO G HT TO HIS J;"'; ST!{UCTIO:'\'S 1:'\' even a domicile, with only eleven PIIYSIOLOG Y matriculates, grew to become a great TilE RESOLI{CES OF A CCLTIVATED A"'D institution, one \\·hose influence is LE.·\ 1{:'\FD EX PEIU E:'\CE; Annals of i\1/edical History

:\:"D HIS DEivlONSTl{ATIO~S l~ PATHO­ The Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Luzen­ LOGICAL A~AT0ci'1Y, bcrg, dclivcrccl an oration in Latin, HEPEATED FOI{ YEAIZS l;\i TilE CHAIUTY which was said to be in conformity IIOSPITAL, with a custom which was more honored CO:--IDL:CTED BY A :\lASTER L'"lBLED WITH A in the breach than in the observance. P ROFO ND KNOWLEDGE 0:'\: TilE SCBJECT lVlr. George Eustis, a prominent mem­ AND REMARKABLY GIZACEFUL A~D SKILL- ber of the local bar, and also a member FCL li'\ THE CSE OF THE KNIFE, of the Board ofTrustces of the Institu­ CO~ST!TlJTED A COURSE THE YIOST PEH­ FECT EVE!{ DELIVE RED 0:'\: TillS tion, spoke eloquently to the gradu­ CO:'\TINENT. ates. After the conferring of degrees, THE SEIWICES OF PROFESSOR HUNT the exercises terminated with prayeL AS THE PRESID!l"G A:'\'D EXECUTIVE Of'f'ICER The degrees of Doctors of .VT cclicrne, Of' THIS DEPAHTME T, the first. conferred, not only in Louisi­ IllS VALUABLE DEVOTION TO IT, ana, but in the South\vcst, were AND THE LA!{GE !~CREASE li'\ THE awarded to the following studtnts: l{ESOUl{CES Of' THE l~STITU TIO)! l\llcssrs. M. M. Carpenter, R. S. OBTAl)!ED :'1-!Al~LY BY I-llS ENERGY AND IllS l\11. A. Delatule, Alphonse Delavigne, 1:--IFLUEi'\CE \Valter Fosgatc, Alexander Hart, Al­ Fl{0:\1 THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE bert Simeon Kostki, Ogden D. Long­ STATE stan·, John C. Lawhon, john I I. Lewis, HAVE E 1 TITLED ItlM TO THIS GKATE­ FUL MEMORIAL. F. J. Romer, Cornelius Tra.\\·eck. The Bee on April 6, 1836, reported The .!VIeclical College of Louisiana that: during the first ten years of its exist­ ence was of slow growth. The number The assembly convened on the occa­ of its students, although then slightly sion was more respectful than numerous. But science and literature are yet in t heir increasing year year, was small and by infnncv in New Orleans. its graduates seldom cxcecdccl ten a The" Medical College of this State has vcar. The roster for the second session some very intel!igent and experienced ~hows thirty matriculants. professors,-such as Luzenberg, Barton, The first graduation exercises took Harrison, Cenas, Ingalls, Powell and place at four o'clock in the afternoon Mackie, and wil! doubtless vvin that of April _j, r 836, in the Congrtgational success which its many local ad,·antages Church in St. Charles Street. The present and its real merits desen ·e and orator on that occasion \Yas the demand. Honorable Henry A. Bullard, the Henceforth it may rival others of learned and distinguished J usticc of fame, and be honored as well a sup­ the Supreme Court of Louisiana, who ported throughout the United States. lw \·irtuc of his office \\·as a member of The following recommendation was tl;c Board of Trustees of the College. incorporated in the message of Gov­ He was also the founder of the ernor E. D. White to the Legislature Louisiana Historical Society. of the year r836: The exercises \\·ere openccl with prayer by the Reverend Theodore The A'ledical College originating in Clapp, author, humanitarian, and one scientific zeal, and supported by private of the most noted as \\·ell as one of the contribution, is doing credit to itself in most belo\Tcl clergymen of this city. promoting medical education, and the 20 HISTORY or i'vlEDICAL EoucAno:--: I:--: NEw 0RLE.\:--:S study of the peculiar diseases of our was more numerous in students and climate. The number of the students that the majority came from the h:.1s considerably increased since the neighboring states." They expressed last year, and its prospects are such as regret at the departure of many to test the practicability of founding students because of lack of proper such a school here, and to warrant what­ facilities and suitable accommoda­ ever patronage the Legislature might think proper to extend it. tions. The Committee called attention to the fact that they had "no apart­ Shortly afterwards, a bill was ments for lectures, and for the deposit presented in the Senate by Senator and preservation of anatomical prep­ Brownson, to appropriate $6o,ooo.oo arations, collections and specimen for the erection of an edifice for the of natural history, pharmacy, botany, use of the \'Iedieal College of Louisi­ mineralogy, drawings, books, models ana. This grant was predicated upon and evcr.y variety of chemical and the condition that the property should surgical apparatus." They asserted belong to the state, and to revert back further: to it should the college cease to exist. Without legislative aid neither indi­ The followinao ar<>uments0 were ad- vanced by the proponent of the bill: vidual talents and exertion, the good will of the community nor their well-merited "The State would be benefitted not reputation, can l'ntcr into competition only in aiding medical knowledge and with more favored institutions enjoying endowing a really useful institution, the benefits of public munificence, unsub­ creditable alike to Louisiana and to jectecl to the exaggerated expenses of the the individuals connected with it, but City of New Orleans,* or the more for­ would obtain the gratis attendance midable terrors of its reputed insalubrity. of the professors of the Charity Hospital." It was announced in that prospectus While the bill was unanimously that the course \nmld begin on the adopted in the Senate, it failed of first Monday in December and end on passage in the House. the fourth Saturday in Ivlarch. The second annual report of the Even at that time the study of Medical College of Louisiana, dated medicine \\·as very expensive. 1t ap­ January, I 837, signed by a committee proximated $I :JO.OO per session. The of the Faculty composed of Drs. J. fees were: Harrison, J. Jones, and E. H. Barton, 1 complimented their graduates in the J\ latrit·ulation fee $ 5.00 Price for tickets for each professor 20.00 following flattering terms: "To ex­ Demonstrator's ticket ro.oo press to you who arc alike interested Graduation fee 30.00 in us that the proof of their acquire­ ments would have been creditable to The study of medicine for at least any Medical School, and have well three years was required for gradua­ merited the first literary and profes­ tion. Two years of this time to be sional honors conferred in the State spent in a medical school, and at least of Louisiana, may be no invidious the last at the .!'vlcdical College of assumption of self-praise." '' The cost of' living in New Orleans " ·as It \Hts mentioned in that report very high compared to other cities in the that "the present cOIIrsc (I 837- 38) Union. Annals of Medical History 2!

Louisiana. The applicant for a diploma Louisiana; Honorable F. X. Martin; in medicine should have attained the Honorable H. A. Bullard; Honorable age of twenty-one and must present to H. Carleton; Honorable R. C. Nichols;

FIG. 5· DR. WARREN STO:o-IE.

the Dean a respectable thesis on a FIG. 6. Dn. J.•IM I::S JmHoS. subject connected with medicine or some collateral science by the first clay George Eustis, Esq.; G. Nliligan, Esq.; of March, and exhibit satisfactory Wm. H. Sparks, Esq.; Ivlajor General testimonials of moral character and J. B. Dawson; General S. Johnson; preliminary education. Judge Butler and Judge Brownson. The following professors composed The graduation exercises for that the [acuity for the session 1838- 39: session took place in the large hall \Varrcn Stone, ;\I.D., Professor of A­ of the Charity Hospital on March 28. natomy ; Eel. H. Barton, M.D., Dean The valedictory address was clclivcrccl and Professor of the Theory and by Professor J. Monroe l'vlackie. 2 Practice of Ivleclicinc; John Harrison, At that time changes were frequent, ~!.D., Professor of Physiology and not only in the personnel of the Pathology; James Jones, ,\I. D., Pro­ Faculty, but in interchanges between fessor of Obstetrics and Diseases of the various chairs. The catalogue for Women and Children; J. .Monroe the session of 1839 40 announced that .Mackie, :vi.D., Professor of iVJateria Dr. James Jones reliquished the chair Medica and Therapeutics; John J. of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women Riddell, }!.D., Professor of Chemistry and Children for the professorship of and Pharmacy; \Varren Stone, :\!.D., the Theory and Practice of Ivlcdicine, Professor of Surgery. replacing Dr. Barton who resumed the The board of Trustees of the College teaching of his original branch, J\ila­ were as follows: His Excellency E. D. teria J•v1edica and Therapeutics, pre­ \Vhite, Governor of the State of viously taught by Dr. .Mackie ,,·ho 22 HISTORY OF lVIEDlCAL EDLCATION 1:'-: NEW ORLEANS

had resigned. The new appointments the years 1840- 41 gives the folio" ing were G. A. Nott, :\!.D., Professor of interesting account of the curriculum: Anatomy; A. H. Ccnas, :vi. D., Professor The professor of anatomy limits him-

F•G. 7. On. Jou~ J. RIDDELL

of Obstetrics and Diseases of \Vomcn self to special anatomy and thereby completes everything belonging to his and Children; C. \V. Nlorgan, H. D., Demonstrator of Anatomy. course. The Professor of Physiology exhibits It was announced that Doctors Nott Iikewis~ to his class all tissues, apparatus and Ccnas had returned from Europe and organs of which he ,is to communi­ after a stay of a few years devoted to cate the functions, and performs his preparing themselves for the teaching physiological experiments in their pres­ of their respective branches. ence; on the subject of General Pathology A school of pharmacy was estab­ ;tnd Pathological Anatomy he pursues a lished by the .Medical College of similar course. Louisiana on October 20, 1838. The course on the Theory and Practice It was not until the end of the year of Medicine is one of special pathology, 1840, that the College acquired its and special therapeutics, leaving to an­ domicile. It was a modest building in other the subject of General Pathology, and avoiding useless dissertations on the immediate vicinity of the Charity Nosology, Contagions, lYliasms, etc.; it Hospital, "·hich at that time was is devoted to the history, causes, char­ considered to be a comparatively acter, nature and treatment of particular retired location. For the first time the diseases. These the Professor more fully lecture rooms " ·ere under one roof. illustrates by clinical lectures twice a The prospectus for the session of week in the ~,;ardsofthc Charitv Hospital. Annals of i\lledical Histmy 23

The greater pa rt of the Surgery Course ground, 120 feet square, at the corner is delivered bv the Professo r at the bed­ of Common Stn'et and Phillipa, now side of the patients; and all his operations U nivcrsitv,, Place , \Yas t'"loTantcd b\·- ' the and dressings are performed in the State to the college b~- an act of the presence of the class. In the Surgical Legislature for the erection of a suit­ Department, the advantages of this able edifice to house that institution. college rank those of all others in the This site was immediately in the rear Union. The number of wounds, fractures, dislocations and other injuries, and dis­ of the State House, then situated on eases requiring the frequent exercise of Canal Street between Baronnc and operative surgery, admitted into the U nivcrsity Place, which building \\'ttS wards of the New Orleans Hospitals, will formerly the Charity Hospital. be found on examination, to exceed that The following interesting account of any other in America. of the grant of this site to the lVIedieal In the clinic of Obstetics and on Dis­ Co!Icg~ by the State Legislature and eases of Children and of Females, the the conditions on which it was pred­ same care is taken to touch lightly upon icated, appeared in the first issue of all that is not useful, and to bring forward the New Orleans 1\11 edical and Surgical everything of practical importance. In Journal, i\1ay, 1 844. It reads: no respect do the modif1cation of climate afiect diseases, more than those in females and children. Good models and plates are Previously, in 1843, the Board of frequently resorted to. Administrators elected annually four phy­ In the chair of l'vlateria Medica and of sician~, one Visiting Physician and a Chemistrv, the same satisfactorv and House Surgeon, to perform the pro­ advantag~ous demonstrations anl prac­ fessional services of the Charity Hospital tical system of instruction will recommend for twelve months, who had their pro­ them s~ kes to the good opinion of the fessional service~ prescribed and received Pupils. a small compensation. At the session of the Legislature in January, 1843, the Professr)rs of the Louisiana ?vledical Col­ That session Dr. S. \V. Ruff suc­ lege petitioned that body to grant them ceeded Dr. Barton to the Chair of a certain portion of the public square; :Matcria Medica and Therapeutics; on which to build a College Edif1ce, in and Doctor John Harrison was elected consideration for which privilege they to the deanship. The following year offered to render all the necessary pro­ the Chair of Dean Harrison, Professor fessional services to the Charity Hospital of Physiology and Anatomy, was for the term of ten years, free of charge. divided between himself as Professor As soon as the other physician~ of the of P hysiology and Pathology and city became appraised of the move­ Doctor A. J. \Veclderburn, as Profes­ ment, they at once sent to the Legislature sor of Anatomy. Doctor \V. .M. a counter-proposition against the prayer Carpenter was elected to the Chair of the Professors, so far as related to the granting the exclusive attendance of the of Materia Medica and Therapeutics, Hospital, but making no other objection made vacant by the resignation of to any other aiel the Legislature might Doctor S. \V. Ruff. think it proper to extend to the Medical It \:vas not until the tenth year of its College; they likewise agreed to attend existence that the State of Louisiana the Hospital gratis. The result was that gave its offrcial recognition to the the Legislature very properly granted Medical College of Louisiana. A lot of the Professors a site for a College Edi- 24 HISTORY OF MEDICAL EoucATIOi': IN NEw 0RLEA='iS

flee, and held them bound to attend the \\fe arc told that "the Faculty wards of the Hospital for the next ten laboured under great disadvantages years, provided they should be called from its commencement, for want of a upon; but that they should be entitled suitable house in which to deliver to no preference in the election of attend­ lectures; but this defect is now reme­ ing Physicians and Surgeons, by the died, and they have a beautiful edi~'cc, Board of Administrators. The Board can make its own selection from the erected. during the past year. ( 1 843), Body of the Licensed Physicians in the possessmg every convenience neces­ Cit:,;; and if their appointments are not sary to this object." accepted, they have a right to demand In the same medical journal we the services of the aforesaid Professors. have the following description of the They moreover increased the number of new College Building: attending Physicians to eight, and Visit­ ing Physicians to two, and made the It is situated on a portion of the election semi-annually. Capitol Square fronting Common Street The Professors are generally elected ... the facade being adorned with two to attend the wards of the Hospital very rich Corinthian columns. It con­ during the winter season, and are enabled tains on the ground floor a large and thereby to deliver clinical lectures to the well arranged lecture room, capable of Medical Class. holding at . least two hundred students, During the term following the adoption to which is conveniently attached the of these regulations, the professional chemical laboratory, also two smaller services •vere most punctually performed; rooms, appropriated to the purpose of a and the mortality of the Hospital will library and reading room. On the second compare favorably with any previous floor is a large room which contains similar period. The Hospital was more the lVluseum, besides two smaller rooms, frequented by Physicians of the City, and the Amphitheatre.... On the third and more attention was paid by them floor is the dissecting room. to post-mortem examinations, and to special anatomy, than probably was It was regretted that the library and ever clone before during the summer museum were as yet small, but it was months. claimed that the" faculty were making Some half-dozen students are admitted laudable efforts to increase them." into the Hospital who arc furnished board and lodging in the house, and are This building was erected at a cost required to perform all the minor opera­ of $1 5,ooo.oo. It was the domicile of tions by the attending Physicians. To be the medical college until the year I 847. admitted, they arc required to give That year the college removed to a satisfactory evidences of their qualifica­ larger and rnorc commodious building, tions, moral character, etc. erected for its purpose on an adjoining Admirable opportunities are afForded site. The former structure then became these students; but few of them, how­ the domicile of the Law Department ever, can be induced to prosecute their of the U nivcrsity of Louisiana. studies; but a few of them, however, can In 1845, the success and fame of the be induced to remain at their posts College induced the Convention to during the sickly season; and it is melan­ establish, by the Constitution, a Uni­ choly to relate that of the three who versity in New Orleans, named the determined to stay last summer, two U nivcrsity of Louisiana, and to con­ died of Yellow Fever. stitute the Medical College, as then ') .• Annals of i\1edical Historv -) orgn nizcd, the i\ilcclical Department Journal, in the issue of January, r845, o(said institution. predicted: The Tvlcdical Department of the U nivcrsity of Louisiana was destined At a day not distant, New Orleans to become one of the grratcst institu­ must become the scat of a great J\iledica[ tions of its kind in the United States. College; and if the present Professors The first ten years of its existence were of the Louisiana Ivledical School should hectic ones. The number of its stu­ not be destined to establish it, they wi[[ dents was small. Its very existence at least be entitled to the honor of having was not only continuously thrratencd laboured zealously in the cause. Such has been the germ and growth of all great by the animosities and jealousirs of enterprises, and the pioneers who struggle man.Y of the most influential members with the first diffrcultics should share of the local profession, and by racial the glory of those who complete them. prejudices which were so strongly New Orleans possesses all the elements intrenched in the population of the and facilities requisite for medical in­ city of that time, but by internal struction; these will soon be fully seen dissensions as well. During that period and appreciated; and hence we con­ only one of the founJers, Doctor fidently venture the prediction we have Harrison, taught uninterruptedly, the made. others, for reasons unknown to us today, resigned their professorships. The fame of the Medical Depart­ During the first five years of the ment of the U nivrrsity of Louisiana existence of the .IVledical College of extended throughout the southwest. Louisiana, lectures were held in the Not only students but practitioners of public halls, No. 4 r Royal Street, No. medicine came hither, attracted by I4 St. Charles Street and No. 239 the superior facilities lor clinical medi­ Canal Street, in the offices of the cine in the Charity Hospital and by professors, and from I 840 to I 843, in a the unquestionable high scientific at­ small house in close proximity to the tainment of the teachers of the medi­ Charity Hospital. The faculty was cal college. greatly handicapped by the want of "vVe are pleased also to see several funds and the lark of the neces­ practitioners from the interior, who sary equipment for the teaching of have come to spend as long a time as their profession. Despite thrse appar­ they can stay from home, for the ently insurmountable obstacles they purpose of refreshing and improving conquered. thcmsrlvcs .... Our hospitals arc al­ The great accession in population, ways opened to visitors and the pro­ fessors invite all graduates to at­ not only in the city but in Louisiana tend their lectures gratis," editorially and the neighboring states, legislative commented a contemporary medical support, and the new domicile furnish­ journal. 3 ing the necessary facilities for teaching Postgraduate medical teaching was medicine, were the dominant factors evidently inaugurated that year in which spelled the success of that the South. institution. The Faculty for the session of \Vith prophetic vision the Editors of I846-47 was composed of the follovv­ the New Orleans i\1edical and Surgical ing professors: John Harrison, ;\'I. D. , HISTORY OF NlEDICAL EoUCATrox I:--; NEw 0RLE.-\:--;s

Professor of Physiology and Path­ tion. Extremely clilllcult us the science ology ; J ame.s Jones, !'.l.D., Professor of of medicine really is, is it not the height Theory and Practice of Medicine.; of absurdity to expect progress from \Varren Stone, :-I.o., Professor of Sur­ ft!ling up the profession with unlettered men? is not on! y the height of gery; J. L. Riddell, .\I. D., Professor of It absurdity; it is more than that. It is a Chemistry ; A. H. Ccnas, M.D., Pro­ disgrace to the profession of medicine, and fessor of Obstetrics and Diseases of a positive injury to society at large. Women ancl Chikren; \V . .M. Carpen­ I speak plainly on this subject, for it ter, M.D., Professor of JVlatcria Medica is time to speak plainly. We all deprecate and Therapeutics; A. J. Wedderburn, the quack. But what is a quack? Johnson, ?vi.D., Professor of Anatomy; J. Y. in his dictionary, defines him to be "a Lemormier, M.D., Demonstrator of vain pretender to physic; t~ pretender Anatomy. to arts which he does not understand." Dr. Lcmonnier, the first Creole to If such be the true definition, then the teach in the medical college, succeeded majority of our medical graduates are Dr. John F. Eustis. - quacks; for who will pretend to say, that The roster of the college showed 163 a young man understands the science matriculants, which was 6o rnorc than of medicine after having only two courses for the previous session. of lectures in a Medical College? The thing [s a 'lnonstrous absurdity. Dr. R. M. Graham in a masterly So long as the present system continues plea for a higher standard of medical let us discontinue the use of "learned education, delivered before the Physi­ profession" and '' qua.(.~ k ''and say nothing cal-lVledical Society of New Orleans, about the progress of medical science. November 27, 1846, gives an interest­ If \oVe wish to elevate the profession ing view of the medical profession of and cause the science to advance, we that time. He said: must have an educated profession. Our members must be learned men, with If \Ve wish to advance, we must minds fitted, by classical learning and increase the power of our instruments a long course of philosophical studies, of observation, ... multiplying them for the work of observation and deduc­ wi!! not do. 'vVe must require that men tion. With such men we look for progress; be educated before they enter the pro­ without them we may expect to sink fession. And I wi!! state, too, what I lower in degradation, and to near louder mean by education; a thorough classical, and longer .th.e laugh of derision which philosophical and mathematical educa­ is already raised against us. tion. Or plainer still, I mean that before We will a vail ourselves of this occasion one is allowed to enter the profession, to speak in just terms of our high admira­ he be required to have received the degree tion for the Medical College of Louisiana, of A.B. at lea..<;t from some College or the learned faculty of which are all University. members of this society. Until this is the invariable regulation No medical school in this countrv let us not call ours a learned profession; has raised so high the standard fo-r for it is as far from the truth, as it would professional preferment or advancement be to call the profession of a carpenter or as this CoUege. And although it has bla·cksmith a learned profession. If we struggled for years against a regularly wish to see the science of mecl ~ cine ad­ organized opposition, no doubt can exist vanced, \Ve must qualify its members to that it is firmly established. It now philosophize, to observe facts, and to numbers about I6o students, young know how to engage in legitimate cleduc- gentlemen from ,·arious parts of the Annals of i\lleclical Histmy -~­!

South\Yest, and it may be said ·without with universal approval, for we read any attempt at flattery, that they would in the New York Annalist of August, compare, in all requisites of mental 1848, that they "acquiesced, but very endowment and education vvith any class reluctantly, in the flxation of the 1 in the United Statcs. t erm at five months, by the American Even as eady as the later forties :Nlcdical Association, and yet live in the standardization of medica[ educa­ hopes that the future will sec the tion was a vital issue. The shortness of period much increased." the sessions, the two year term, the The Faculty of the Jefferson lVIedi­ small number of professors, the crowd­ cal College, in their annual announce­ ing of lectures, the lack of clinical ment for the year 1848. held that: fatcilities were subjects of controversial discussions. At that period a survey The prevalent idea, that too much is of twcnty~four medical coHegcs in the attempted to he taught in the four months United States revealed that one school generally allotted to the medical session, had a lecture term of eight months; is of more rec-ent origin .... another, seven months; two, f1vc and a The time usually employed in lectures during four days in the week is six half months; three, five months; five, hours, and it is acknowledged in all four and a half months; six, four professions that six hours daily ought months; three, sixteen weeks; and to be devoted to professionat reading. two, fourteen weeks. 5 To lecture may be regarded as synony­ One of these schools, the St. Louis mous with "to read"; consequently the University of Missouri, had eight medical student who listens to six hours professors; the others had six to seven in the day may be looked upon as having professors, excepting the University been "read to" for six hours; and there of Virginia vvhich had only three. can be no essential difference between The Committee on Medical Educa­ reading and being read to, except in the tion of the American l'vledical Associa­ ci rcumstance that the latter is much tion reported to the annual conven­ easier on the student. The well informed and able lecturer adapts his elucidations tion held in Philadelphia in 1847, that: more readily to the comprehension of "It is next to an impossibility, that his hearers than can be done in the best the strongest intellect can receive and books. He has an opportunity of perceiY­ wei! digest some half a dozen dis­ ing whether he is understood; and should courses or more a day, embracing sub­ he think he is not, he modifies and repeats jects which have sometimes little his instructions. or no immediate connection with each other." It advocated that "with The sessions of the Medical Depart­ a lengthened period of teaching, a ment of the University of Louisiana double advantage will be gained; a usually opened on the third Monday of wider extent of information may be November and terminated on the imparted to the student, while his third Monday in March. Ostensibly time will be occupied with fewer the course was of three years; the first lectures during the day." year \vas supposed to be under the The fixation of a minimum term of direction of a private tutor or precep­ lectures of five months by that conven­ tor, and the other two in a medical tion, although recognized by the pro­ college. The lectures in the different fession as a step forward, did not meet brunches were divided as follows: HISTORY OF l'vlEDICAL EDt:CATION IN NEw 0RLEA:'\S

Anatomy, five hours; Pathology and amphitheatre at the Charity Hospital Physiology, four hours; Theory and was completed. The teaching facilities Practice of 1\!Iedicinc, six hours; Sur­ of the Medical College were thereby gery, five hours; Obstetrics and Dis­ greatly improved. eases of \Vomcn and Children, four This new building was one of the hours; Materia Medica and Therapeu­ largest and best arranged for the tics, four hours; and Chemistry, four teaching of medicine in the United hours, the course totalling thirty-two States. Its architecture and size were hours per week. imposing. Its dimensions were 1 oo feet The increase in the number of front by 104 feet in depth. It contained students \Vas rapid and steady. They three large lecture rooms, capable of flocked hither not only from the accommodating 6oo students; a large neighboring states, but practically hall for a museum, several large dis­ from every part of the Union. Ninety­ secting rooms, and the necessary num­ three students, of whom fifteen were ber of private ofllces for the professors. graduates, enrolled for the session of During the winter months the I 845-46, and I 88, of whom thirty-nine wealth of teaching material in the were graduates in medicine and two in Charity Hospital was placed alto­ pharmacy, matriculated in I 850. gether at the disposal of the Pro­ The Board of Administrators of the fessors, fur they were in full charge University for the Ia te forties was of the wards of that institution during composed of: Isaac Johnson, Governor that time. This exceptional advantage, of the State of Louisiana; George unsurpassed by any other college Eustis, Chief Justice of the Supreme on this continent, was cditoriallv Court; A. D. Crossman, lVlayor of the commented upon by a contemporary City ofNc\V Orleans; Honorable P. \V. medical journal. 0 It said: Farrar, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Maunsel \Vhite; R. vVe fear that the great advantaaes ofFered by the Hospital as a school of C. Nicholas; Judge J. T. Preston; practical medicine, has not yet been Isidore Labatut, ~!.D.; Levi Pierce; fully appreciated by the profession; but l'vl. lVI. Cohen; \V. P. Hort, M.D.; the time will come, and that soon, when \V. C. lVIicou; C. Rosel ius. both the teacher and student, will not The rapid growth of the college soon only talk of clinical medicine, but the one demanded a more spacious domicile. will hasten to teach, and the other to In r848, a new edifice was erected on learn, medicine in the only way in which Common Street, behvecn Common it can be taught. To make a good and and Phillipa, now University Place, practical physician we must educate on the present site of the Crescent all the senses; the touch, the eye, etc., and Tula ne Theatres. This new home and in this way nothing will be 'omitted of the Medical College as was already co. lcula ted to convey knowledge of diseases. mentioned, was adjacent to the former To teach practical medicine, nothing domicile, vvhich was afterwards used is equal to the opportunities presented to house the Law Department of the to the student by our great Charity University. This group of buildings Hospital. Here he may study the symp­ was destined to be the home of the toms of diseases during life, ami inspect U nivcrsity of Louisiana for nearly the body after death; here, no obstacle forty years. At that time the first is interposed to wrest from science the Annals of i\1edical Histo1y fruits which justly belong to her; in guided to the contemplation of frrst other words, post-mortem examinations principles, and a knowledge of elementary are not only tolerated almost to any forms. Into the wide domains of natural extent, but the public actually encourages science, his manly understanding pushed the practice even in private circles. It is its inquiries and enriched itself with spoils the fault of the Professors if it does not from all its grand subdivisions. There make this one of the first practical schools was no department of useful and polite of Medicine in the United States--in the knowledge that hid its treasures from world. his active researches. The evolutions of mind, subtle, mysterious, wonderful as Doctor John Harrison, Professor of they are, and the diversity of material Physiology and Pathology of the being in all its forms and relations, were Medical College of Louisiana and at familiar to him as his every day one time its Dean, died on March I 3, thoughts .... I 849. He was not only one of the With all this diversity of knowledge organizers of that institution, but he and largeness of attainments, he com­ taught u ninterrupteclly from the time bined a modesty which shrunk from vain of the founding of the college to the and ostentatious displays. His opinions day of his death. He \Vas succeeded were his own, were liberal, comprehensive, by Doctor Thomas Hunt, the organ­ and positive; yet he was never knovm izer and the frrst clean of the school. to urge them at inopportune moments, His loss was greatly regretted not or in a spirit of dogmatism. They were the ripe fruits of years and research; only by the Faculty and alumni of were well matured; well elaborated. Yet that college of medicine, but by the they were the firstlings of a mind mis­ profession of the South. trustful of its powers, although conscious The following beautiful tribute of of the truth and direction they had respect was paid to the memory of taken." Doctor Harrison by the Physico Med­ ico-Society of New Orleans at a special The college, in 1850, received a meeting held on March 3 I, I 849: generous appropriation of $2),000.00 That, since its institution, a more from the State Legislature to purchase painful duty has not devolved upon it anatomical preparations illustrative than to place on record the death of one, of human and comparative anatomy ; whose association with us has been anatomical paintings, plates and dra\.v­ marked by all those high qualities of ings; medical, surgical and obstetrical heart, and rare endowments of mind preparations, paintings, plates, draw­ which proclaim him the man, the scholar ings, and instruments; preparations and the teacher. That in whatever for the teaching of physiology and aspect he is seen, the eye rests on bold pathology; pharmaceuticals, chem­ and prominent traits of character; gener­ icals and philosophical instruments, ous in impulse; magnanimous in conduct; etc. Prolessors Cenas and Wedderburn frrm in purpose and lofty in aim. Pleasing were entrusted with the responsibility as was this combination of a

The Colk·gc prospectus for the session "he has had repeated applications to of r851 - 52 mentioned that "amongst make the same for different colleges in the preparations in human and com­ England, but he has always refused." parative anatomy, arc the entire col­ Evidentl~· a magnificent fee, made lection of muscular preparations from possible by a liberal appropriation, the Academy of Anatomy at Florence, induced that master craftsman to representing in about 300 wax models, make an exception for the medical perfectly executed, the entire anatomy college in New Orleans, for shortly of the muscles. aftcr~vards these splendid wax figures illustrating eight.Y skin diseases were Thibert's entire collection of models, placed in the museum of the Medical representing the anatomy of tissues, College of the University of Louisiana. and Auzou's valuable cabinet of human Dr. \Vcddcrburn also announced and comparative anatomy. The collec­ that he had ordered 500 specimens tion of human bones is very large and of Materia .Medica to be put up in put up in the best manner; and there beautiful glass bottles, and to be is also a very handsome collection of arranged in their natural order. This skeletons of the inferior animals, a large collection was acquired from Verron number of urinary and biliary calculi; and Fountain of Paris, and was said many of which were obtained from to be on a plan of the College of Dupuytren's museum at Paris and from Pharmacy of Paris. the College of Surgeons in Lomlon. The local museum was one of, if not the largest and the finest in this v.,r ax models of diseases of the skin country, and it was even claimed that were made by .!VIr. Towne from his it equalled any in Europe. original collection at Guy's Hospital In the early fifties the success of in London, which was then the only the college was assured. It was one institution in the world which could of the best equipped schools of medi­ boast of having such a magnificent cine in the Union. It had learned collection. Professor \Veddcrburn in professors and possessed unexcelled a letter dated June 2, 1850, written facilities for teaching; unlimited clin­ in Paris addressed to Dean Gustavus ical material in the Charity Hospital; Nott stated that .Mr. Towne was a rnagnificen t domicile, the last word engaged in making anatomical and in medical college construction ill pathological preparations for that insti­ this country; an amphitheater at the tute for twenty-five years. He averred Charity Hospital where cases wer that Towne's models of diseases of the shown to advantage, and a museum skin are superior to anything on the unsurpassed not only in the States Continent, or in fact, in the world; but in the world as well. and that his anatomical models in Its renown spread everywhere. Stu­ wax arc infinitely superior to anything dents flocked hither in large numbers he had seen. "In fact," he said, "my not only from the South, but from the imagination never could have con­ East, North and \Vest. ceived that art could have arrived at Its eighteenth session (18j1- 52) such perfection." opened with I 86 matriculants, and its " H e has never sold a preparation graduates numbered 43· The follo\\·­ in his life," Dr. \Veddcrburn wrote; ing year the number of its students Annals of 1Vledical Histmy 31

increased to 219 and its graduates to State of Louisiana; A. D. Crossman, 72, amongst whom must be noted Mayor of the City of New Orleans; Doctor Stanford E. Chai!lc, who was Honorable ?vl. \Valker; Honorable Maunsel \Vhite; Honorable D. Y. Nicholas; Honorable Isidore Labatut, 1\-I.D.; Levi Pierce, Esq.; M. l'vl. Cohen, I~ Esq.; John Slidell, Esq.; James Rode!, Esq. Doctor John J. Castellanos, the medical historian, was the valedic­ torian of the graduating class of 1856. Drs. Cornelius C. Beard and Samuel P. Chopin were appointed demon­ strators of Anatomy in the fa!I of the year 1853. Thvey subsequently became the organizers of the New Orleans l'vledical College, and respcc­ tively its professors of Anatomy and Surgery. Doctor J. C. P. Wedderstrandt was the professor of Anatomy a nd Fu;. <). Dn. Eow.u

FIG. 10. U:-.~IVERSITY oF LouiS IANA MEDICAL 0F.PARniE NT FROM Tf ~J E PRoSPECTL>S, 186o- 61. " T11r-:Cr. TEH B uiLDING Is O NE OF THE MosT SPACIOUS A:-

Gallier and Turpin. that branch of medicine. Professor The reputation of the College had Hunt was then the Dean of the School spread throughout the Union. Stu­ of Medicine. dents flocked hither from Mississippi, The trustees of the University im­ Alabama, Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee, mediately preceding the Civil War Kentucky, 1\llassachusetts, Nlissouri, were: T. 0. Nloorc, Governor of the South Carolina, Georgia, N orth Caro­ State of Louisiana; E. T. Merrick, lina, .Maryland, Florida, Virginia, New Chief Justice of the Supreme Court York, Illinois, and from France, of the State of Louisiana; J. T. Ivlexico and South America. Monroe, Nlayor of the City of New Four hundred and t\vo students, of Orleans; Honorable T. G. Hunt; whom I I 3 were graduates, registered Daniel Edwards; John Pemberton; for the term I 859- 60. J. A. D. Rozier; \Vm. R. Miles; The two years preceding the Civil Robert J. Ward; Issac J. Seymour; \Var proved the most prosperous. For Newton Richards. the session of 186 r -62, ·.P4 names During these twenty-seven years were on the register of ~Matriculates . the State of Louisiana contributed The roster of the school shows that $83,00o.oo to the Medical College. during the first twenty-seven years Chaillc tells us that the state was of its existence 6482 students studied fully repaid for its generosity. He gives their profession within its portals. the following estimate of the pecuniary Such a magniftcent showing is today benefits derived from these appropria­ amazing to us, especially in view of tions7: "Attendance upon thr Charity the difl!cultics encountered at that Hospital for ten years, $24,000.00; time in travelling and the merited the amphitheatre in the same hospital, reputation of the city's unhealthiness. $2,)00.00; ''vest wing of the U nivcrsity On July 6, r 86o, Doctor L. ~M. building (transferred to the Law Annals of i\1edical Histol:V 33

Department of the University), ~I5,­ bered in the two colleges, the iVledical ooo.oo; library, apparatus, prepara­ Department of the University of tions in museum, etc., $2o,ooo.oo; Louisiana and the New Orleans Medi­ repairs, insurance, etc., on the College cal College, approximately 6 I 7 edifice, belonging to the State, $I 6,­ students. ooo.oo; education of indigent students, Unfortunately during the height $42,ouo.oo, amounting in all to of this unusual success, that great $ I I<),ooo.oo." devastating war between the States Ne\\· Orleans was then the third broke out. Professors abanclonrd their largest medical center in the United Chairs for service in the field and States. The two medical schools were students rushed to join the ranks very prosperous. The students at­ of their respective sections. The Char­ tracted hither by the uncxccllccl facili­ ity Hospital was converted into a ties for medical teaching and the military hospital. The portals of the unusually large amount of clinical medical colleges were closed for the material in the Charity Hospital num- duration of the Civil War. HISTORY OF NlEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS FRO:vl ITS BIRTH TO THE CIVIL WAR By A. E. FOSSIER, M.D.

0iE\V ORLEAi\S, LA.

PART II

Ew OI{LEA~"S ScHOOL OF :VlEDICI:'>E only of New Orleans and of the State In the New Orleans i\1edical News of Louisiana but of the whole South­ and Hospital Gazette for December, west, was ra pid. The number of 1855, appeared the following adver­ inhabitants doubled, tripled and q uad­ tisement: rupled in a comparatively short pe­ riod of time. The clinical facilities PRIVATE EXA\!iN AT!Ol"S presented by the Charity Hospital The undersigned have formed an asso­ ·were unsurpassed in this country. ciation for the purpose of thoroughly The reputed learning of the physicians preparing students of medicine in all and the unexcelled skill of the sur­ the Branches t[lught in the :Vledic[ll geons of this city attracted large Schools of the c~untry , through the numbers of ·· medical students who means of regubrly conducted examina­ cro\vded the. halls of the rvlcdical tions. Thev will a lso receive "Office Students" .for the term of six months, Department of the University of or one or two years. The examinations Louisiana. Such were the conditions will commence immediately after the which encouraged the founding of a Introductory Lectures in the Medical new school of medicine. Department of the University of Louisi­ Despite the strenuous objections ana, and continue until the close of the of the professors of the old college sessiOn. and their friends, and the impeding I. L. Crawcour, i\LD. Anatomy and tactics of obstructionists, the -organ­ Chemistry. izers of the new school of medicine Howard Smith, :vt.D. Materia Medica, achieved their a mbition. The estab­ Surgery and lishment of a new College of .l\lcdicinc Pr.1ctice. in New Orleans was announced in an D. vVarren Brickell, l\LD. Obstetrics and D iseases of editorial in the New Orleans ;\l[edical \Vo men and News and Hospital Gazelle of May, Children and 1 856. It reads in part: Physiology. Tr·IE NEw 0RLEAL"S Sci-IOOL or .\lEDI­ TERl\IS CINE: Under the general law of the For the session of four months. $ 30. oo State of Louisiana, an institution has For off1ce students, six months . 50. oo been duly organized and incorporated For off1ce students, one year ... IOo.oo under the style and title of the ·"New Orleans School of Medicine" with full Evidently this quiz class was the powers to impart medical instruction incentive for the organization of a and to grant diplomas to such as may new rn edica l college in this city. be deemed worthy of the same .. In a short The accession of population, not time, a full and comprehensive prER or- TuLA . 'E AvEN UE AND VILLEHE Sn~EET, medicine per annum, there is every possi­ 0 PPOS LT T ilE C11AIUTY lloSPI AL. · ble reason whv she should have trebled that number; :~nd to all of t hem s he can approbation of the profession throughout afford greater facilities for the proper the country. An elegant and commodious acquirement of a medical education than edifice is in process of construction, any other city in the Union. and will be ready for use before the beginning of the, lecture season; and The New Orleans School of Mccli­ e\·ery effort will be made to supply all cine was unostentiously inaugurated the material necessarv for the most on .Monday, November 17, 1856, at satisfactory demonstration on the various eleven o'clock in the forenoon. But branches. scant notice was given to that occasion The announcement of the establish­ in the daily press. The New Orleans ment of a new medical school in the 1\!lcdical and Surgical Journal was City of New Orleans, will excite no silent on the subject. su rpri e amongst our renders; that emo­ The Pica_yunc of November 16, tion has long lingered on the strange 1856, commented on the adn·nt of phenomenon of the existence of but one the new college as follows : such institution in a place of all others the most fertile in the resources neccssarv The rapidity with which the enterpris­ to the ucquirement of a complete medic; [ ing faculty of this new school of medicine education. \Vith clinical advantages un­ have erected their college edifice, has surpassed, if equalled in the world, and surprised the community. \\ith opportunities for the study of Thus far, they have proven themselves pathology and anatomy in all its phases, equal to the task of contending against such as are elsewhere unknown, it is difl"iculties, and they now open the doors stwnge indeed that the profession of of as well appointed an institution as is 1'\e\v Orleans should have so long remained to be found in the land. They haYe the HISTORY oF NlEDICAL EocCATION 10: NEW 0RLEAi'\S most ample advantages to ofFer their schools in the land, and consists o( pupils in the wards of our great Charity about two hundred of the rarest and most Hospital, and everything looks as if valuable specimens from nature, all in they \Vere working in right good earnest. the most beautiful condition fo r the So much for well directed private closest examination. The chemical and enterprise. philosophical apparatus are equal to any, having been ordered from the best The College edifice was situated at manufacturers in Europe and America, the corner of Common, now Tulane and without regard to cost.... Here, Avenue, and Villcre Street, directly then, is what has been done; and we may opposite the main entrance of the undertake to say that it has all been Charity Hospital, on the site of the done by surmounting as many obstacles present ambulance building. It was as were ever thrown in the way of any erected at a cost ofSI;,ooo. The build­ similar enterprise in the land. But ob­ ing was well lighted and well venti­ stacles, diflicultics, are nothing in the way lated, and it was proclaimed by many of well directed and useful enterprise; to be "one of the most imposing and success is only the more honorable edifices in the city." It was said that and gratifying, '~' hen it comes as a it contained two of the most beautiful triumph over natural and factitious ob­ structions combined. lecture rooms ever constructed. Each comfortably seated 300 persons. The But that writer frankly acknO\d­ Dean's room was spacious and there edged that: were eight anterooms for the usc of The New Orleans School of Nledicine the professors. It had also a janitor's owed much, however, to the enlightened room, and a hall to be used as a liberality of others besides those vd10 dispensary. enrolled themselves as pupils in the In a contemporary medical journal8 institution. To the generosity of our it was stated that the dissecting room private citizens she was indebted for was the finest in the country, and was near! v the whole of her beautiful museum; well supplied with gas and with rain and vto the wisdom and public spirit water from a large cistern on top of of the Board of Administrators of the the building. In the same editorial it Charity Hospital, she was indebted for was mentioned that water was con­ that fmn footing. ducted to every room in the house The tuition fees were practically from the cistern and that gas found the same in the two colleges. Se enty­ its way to every point where it was two students hailing from Louisi­ required. ana, lVlississippi, Texas, Alabama, "The museum room is stored with Georgia, North Carolina, South Caro­ everything requisite for the complete lina, and Nicaragua matriculated for demonstration of a course, and the the opening session. This unexpectedly Faculty arc early expecting two more large number of students, which was shipments from Paris of the most claimed to be the largest initial dass elegant preparations ever sent to this of any medical college in the land, was country." This articie continued: most gratifying to the Faculty, be­ The obstetrical cabinet of wet prepara­ cause it boded the ultimate success tions is probably not equalled in the of the school. Southern country. It has been purchased "The success of the institution, so from an ex-professor of one of the oldest far as early patronage goes, is placed Annals of i\1edical History 37 beyond all doubt on the part of its Auscultation and Percussion; Samuel friends; and if the institution has Chopin, M.D., Professor of Surgery; any enemies (\vhich we Hatter our- Isaac L. Crawcour, ;vi.D., Professor of Chemistry and _Medical J urispru­ dence; Howard Smith, iVI.D., Professor of Materia Medica and Therapeutics; John 1\11. W. Picton, .\I.D., Professor of Diseases of Women and Children; D. \Varren Brickell, J\'I.D., Professor of Obstetrics; Cornelius C. Beard, .vt.D., Professor of Anatomy; Anthony A. Peniston, :'>I.D., Adjunct Professor of Anatomy. It was announced in the first pros­ pectus of the school that it was the intention of the faculty to demon­ strate practical medicine and surgery at the bedside as fully as possible. And that in addition to the facilities for this purpose a!rorded by the hospital, a dispensary would be es­ tablished at the college, for the exam­ ination and treatment of such patients as may not wish to enter the Hospital. FIG. 12. DR. E. D. F E N I'o: ER. Here the students would be required, in their tllrn, to put up prescriptions, selves it should not have), they had apply dressings, etc. "Indeed every better not waste their labor in at­ dfort would be made to render the tern pti ng to stay its progress"; warned course of instruction as practical as the New Orleans J\1edical News and possible." Hospital Gazette. It enth usiasticall v This was the frrst dispensary es­ opined: "What nev.r Medical Scho<;l has ever made a more flattering begin­ tablished in the Southwest. It served ning? If energy, industry, and a firm its purpose well, because there were determination to excel, will cause the no facilities in the Charity Hospital class of another year to be twice or for the treatment of outdoor patients; three times sixty-seven, then are the ambulant cases were treated in the Faculty sure of their presence." wards of that institution, much to the The new school offered a frve discomfort of the resident sick. The month course. The first dean was following editorial in the New Orleans Doctor E. D. Fenner. The organizers i\1edical News and Hospital Gazette, of and the first members of the Facultv February, 1857, is the only source of were: Erasmus D. Fenner, :'>LD., Pn~­ information from which a glimpse may fessor of Theory and Practice of Medi­ be had today of the modus operandi cine; A. Forster Axson, i'vi.D., Professor of that dispensary and of the lying-in of P hysiology; Thomas Peniston, :'>LD., department of the new medical col­ Professor of Clinical Medicine and lege ; it reads : HIST ORY OF ~11EDIC .-\L Eoucuro"' 1 NEw 0HLE.-\L':S

They have novv opened a Free Dis­ to p; lvc prompt attention. So that, in pensary for the inclif!:ent sick and lying-in reality, the indigent parturient female women, where advice and medicine will who pbccs herself under the care of this be furnished g ratuitously on stated days of the week. I n Nev\' Orleans, the word Dispense\ ry is so met hin.g new. l ndecd, it mav be said to be new in all Southern cities.' It therefore behooves us to tell what the objects of the institution are, what is to be gained bv the establishment. These are threefold first, as regards the ad\·a ntages derived by the student of medicine; second, as regards the welfare of the sick poor; and third, as rega rds the interest of the State in a pecuniary point of view. Experience at the North has pro\·e n clearly that there is a large class of cases which may be treated at the Dispensary with far more advantage to the student of medicine. Of this class we may mention, a[[ minor surgical operations which do not require the patient to take to bed; the large class of skin diseases; va rious chronic affections; recent cases of venereal disease; most of the diseases of children, etc., etc. Ry the concentration of these cases at the dispensary on stated days, the student F1 c. 13. Dn. D. \V.,nRE'-' f!niCKELL. is not only enabled to see disease in variety, but he is required to make diagno­ d ispensary, is better ofT than many sis, write prescriptions, apply dressings, women of ample means, who from a and compound and dispense medicines. sense of false modesty, place themselves But if all this is useful to the student, and their offsprings in the hands of old there is still a nother point of more women mid·wives, who either do mischief importance than all others. Rv the estab­ by meddling, or allow mischief irreparable lishment of a lying-in depa~tment, the to take place, through total ignorance student is enabled to attend the parturient of the manner of arresting or relieving. woman entrusted to his care, at her own ... The faculty have opened their dis­ home, where nll his duties mav be pensary for the benefit of their pupils­ performed with the most comfort to his wishing at the same t ime to giYe their patient, and the greatest degree of mite towards the relief of suffering instruction to himself. ... "The lying-in humanitv; but thev a re sure that neither woman receives the very best attention; the pcOJ;le of this State nor of this City, for she is not only assigned to the care will expect them to furnish medicines of an ndvanced student of medicine, gratis to thousands. One or two thousand who is known to be capable of attending dollars will enable them to do more good her (and is, therefore, far superior to than has ever been done in New Orleans the female midwife) , but in case of any with four times the a mount of mone\·. difliculty whatsoever occurring in the case, Here, then, is another of the impro\ ~­ the Professor of Obstetrics in the New ments already begun by t he Faculty of the Orleans School of Medicine is bound New Orleans School of Medicine. Annals of Afedical History 39

The c!forts of the Faculty of the \Ve arc indebted today to the mas­ new Medical School to improve the terly article "Remarks on Clinical existing system of medical teaching l\tledicinc" by Professor Fcnner0 for b.Y increasing the usual number of the following description of the med­ professors, by lengthening the term ical teaching then in vogue and of of lectures one month, a nd by adopt­ the reform' and innovations inaugu­ ing a system of daily cl inical instruc­ rated by t he new school: tion especially at the bedside, met I\1edicine is an art as well as a science; with the hearty approval of the and like all other arts, that of skillful nwdical students of the South and the practice can only be acquired by observa­ physicians throughout the land. tion and experience. He who devotes The Board of Administra.tors of the himself to his profession with the deter­ Charity Hospital, at a meeting held mination to master it and to realize its on November 3, 1856, accorded to advantages as far as he is capable, requires the new school the same rights and extensive opportunities of seeing various privileges enjoyed by the older med­ forms of disease, injury and deformity, ical college. The visiting physicians to which the human system is liable; and surgeons elected by the Board of bringing to bear upon them all his senses, as well as his judgment, and for the year were: From the Medical likewise, of observing the effects of Department of the University of medicines and the curative powers of Louisiana: Surgeons: Drs. Stone and nature. vVithout such opportunities, he Hunt; Physicians: Drs. Jones, Cenas, may store his mind with all the learning N ott and \Vedderstranclt. From the of the books and teachers; he may under­ New Orleans School of Medicine: stand all theories that have ever been Surgeon: Dr. Chopin; Medicine: Drs. promulgated, but he will not be able at Fenner, Beard, Picton, Thus. Penis­ once to make a skillful application of ton, and Axson. Physicians from the his knowledge to any useful purpose. He Profession at large: Drs. \Villiam ·would be like a navigator, who had never Cox, A. Peniston, l\tlartin, and Taney. managed a larger vessel than a jolly-boat; The New Orleans School of l\tlecli­ a mechanic who never handled a tool; an engineer who never bridged a rivulet cinc was the pioneer in clinical teach­ nor saw a steam engine in operation; ing, not only in this city and in the an architect who has only seen the pictures Southwest, but in the Union as well. and drawings of temples and palaces; It is evident that it was organized or an astronomer who never directed a because it was sensed by its founders telescope. Yet such has been the general that the students who sought their course of medical instruction follmved medical education in New Orleans in this country from the beginning, and were not receiving the proper clinical is for the most part even to this day. teaching and that a wealth of clinical In Europe, this grand error has long material was wasted, and that the since been recognized and remedied; but we in America have but recent1v acknowl­ students \:Vere poorly prepared for the edged its importance, and applied our practice of their profession. All credit inventive genius to its correction. The must be given to them for inaugurat­ course of qualifications preparatory to ing a comprehensive and practical entering upon the practice of medicine system of bedside teaching, for which hitherto pursued by nine-tenths of the this city enjoyed for so many years medical students in this country has a \veil-merited rep utation. been to read a text-book on each of the HISTORY OF MEDICAL EoucAno:--~ I=" NEw ORLEANS different branches, to hear two courses student of medicine must see disease of lectures, occasionally vvalk through and observe its daily progress from begin­ the wards of a hospital, where he may ning to end, as well as the efTccts of see a Professor prescribe for a number rem~dies, before he can become a skillful of patients or perform a surgical opera­ practitioner. tion, then be able, when questioned, to The Facultv of the New Orleans repeat a respectable amount of what he School of Mevdicine, deeply impressed rend in books or been told by his teachers, with the importance of demonstrating, and he obtains a diploma. Under such as far as possible, all the practical system of instruction, experience is only branches of science, resolved on its acquired at a considerable expense to inception, to quit the beaten tract so human life .... I think I may safely long pursued in this country, and to say that previous to the present day, strike at once for the latest improvements nothing like a systematic course or plan in teaching, which have been established of clinical instruction has been adopted in the greatest medical institutions of the by any of the medical colleges in the day. United States. Indeed, there is scarcely The following is our plan: The student a citv in the Union that commands the is provided with a printed ticket, to be nece;~ary facilities; but it might appear pasted in his note-book, and having a invidious in me to attempt to particularize suitable blank space for inserting the their comparative advantages; so I will number of the ward and bed, the name only mention the general course that has of the patient, his age, nativity and hither been pursued by the most promi­ vocation, the diagnosis, duration and nent medical colleges, and close this result of the case. :\1lost of these blanks paper with a description of the plan can be filled at once, but, of course, adopted by the New Orleans School of some of them must remain till the ter­ Medicine. . mination of the case. The course hitherto pursued by such To facilitate the inexperienced student of our medical colleges as command in the novel duty he is about to undertake, any hospital privileges ·whatever has and to answer the purpose of the Ch ef been to allow the students to visit the de Clinique, he is also furnished a printed hospitals twice a week, \vhen the pro­ sheet containing the following series of fessors walk through the wards with a questions relative to the history and crowd of students at their heels, and make existing state of the patient: a sort of running commentary on the different cases before them. The pro­ Q UESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE HISTORY OF THE fessors also deliver clinical lectures twice CASE a week, and perform surgical operations Previous History: before the class. New Orleans is the only How long have you been sick? city within my knowledge, that has a \Vhcre were you when attacked? large hospital convenient to a Medical How were you taken-first symptoms? School and accessible to students daily How did the disease proceed? without charge; but even here, the course What treatment before entering Hospital? of clinical instruction heretofore pursued At what hour did you enter? has been pretty much the same as above \Vhat was prescribed by the House Sm­ described. gcon? Most of our medical schools of late Present State: years have been trying to supply the Note the general appearance or the patient . ~vant of hospital facilities by establishing Note the skin, whether hot or cold, dry or clinics and dispensaries; but the defect moist. is too glaring to require comment. The Note the tongue, appearance of. Annals of A1edical Hi.';lmy -P

Note the thirst. the case terminates fatally, the body is Note the stomach, \\·hethcr quiet, nausea followed to the Dead-house, 'vvhere a or vomiting. post mortem examination is made before Note the abdomen, whether full or not, the students. Before opening the body tender on pr-essure or not, tympanitis, or the professor must declare his opinion dropsical cfTusion. of the pathology of the case, the seat of Note the bowels, whether loose, easy or costive. disease, and the morbid conditions to ote the urine, free or scant; color of it. be found. He does this boldly; without ote the chest symptoms- breathing, claiming to be infallible in his judgment, cough, pain, physical signs. but to test his skill in diagnosis, and his ote the hemt, sounds of. willingness for his pupils to profit by Note the pulse, number and character of. any blunder he may have committed. Note the appetite. . . . I will say nothing of the clinical Note the rest and sleep. instruction to be given in the obstetrical Not e the pain, where located. wards of this hospital. The Legislature Note the debility. has granted us equal privileges in this as Diagnosis: in every other department of the Charity Remarks of Visiting Physi('ian. Hospital, which we shall turn to the Treatment: benefit of the students; but we hope to accomplish more in the obstetrical branch Having asked all these questions and of our Free Dispensary. We here take made a connected narrative of the replies, the address of such indigent women as the student is prepared to receive the desire to be delivered at home, and when Visiting Physician, who requires him the call is made, a competent student, to read aloud what he has written, to whom the case has been assigned, corrects all inaccuracies, and proceeds starts promptly, and performs the duty, to pronounce the diagnosis, with such if the labor is simple; but if any difTiculty instructive explanations as he thinks presents he calls on the professor at requisite. The student can insert in his once. note-book such of these clinical remarks Our professor of anatomy, Doctor as he may vvish to preserve. The professor Beard, is a thoroughly educated oculist, then points out the indications, dictates and will demonstrate daily the proper his prescriptions, and proceeds to the next method of diagnosing and treating the bed, where the attending student goes various diseases of the eye. He is a master through the same process if he has a new of all the surgical symptoms that perform patient. On the following morning the on this delicate organ. student visits the patient an hour before It will be seen that the plan of clinical the professor, notes any change in the instruction we have adopted is much the sympt ms, and also the operation of same as pursued in the General Hospital the remedies prescribed. When the pro­ of Vienna, which was introduced into fessor arriYes, he can hear these notes the Meath Hospital, of Dublin, by Doctor in as little time as it would take him to Graves in 182 r, and has been continued get the same information by questioning there ever since, with entire satisfaction. the patient himself. After his clinical I should not omit to mention also remarks, he prescribes again and passes the practical instruction given at the on. This course is pursued from day to Free Dispensary of the New Orleans day till the termination of the case School of Medicine, on three days of either in recovery or death. If the patient every week. Here we prescribe for thirty recovers, the professor makes a brief or forty patients a day, presenting the summary of the pathology and treatment ordinar.y complaints of men, women and of the case before discharging him. If children. T he students see how this is HISTORY OF lvlEDICAL Em.i CATIOi\" IN NEw 0RLEA!\"S done, and also assist in putting up J. F. Glass, Georgia; Thomas Haug­ prescriptions. hey, Alabama; Chas. L. Evans, Missi.<>­ sippi; William Sandel, Jr., Louisiana; Dr. Fenner ends his article by A. J. Thompson, North Carolina; quoting Dr. Latham, of St. Bartholo­ J. F. Grall, Gcrmanv; Thomas II. mew's Hospital of London, who said: Powell, Tennessee; James E. Keator, I know that f[,·c out of six of those who Louisiana; Stanford Perrv, Louisiana; profess to attend the medical practice lVIark Andrews, J\!Iississippi; D. \\'. of t his hospital (and it is the same of \\iilkinson, lVIississippi; N. R. Payne, other hospitals), never watch a single ~'VIississippi; J. \V. Chandler, Louisi­ case of disease through its entire course, ana; J\II. P. Quinn, Louisiana; E. P. during the whole period of their pupilage. Stubblefield, Louisiana; W. C. Hicks, I say this with great sorrow, and as a Mississippi; J. M. Scaife, Louisiana; warning to those whose pupils have yet P. J. Gibert, Cuba; William P. Smith, to begin. This is what I menn by the Alabama; S. L. Singletary, Louisiana; materials of knowledge running to waste. E. T. Gazlcy, Texas; W. R. Capehart, Dr. Fenner remarked that while North Carolina; Richard S. Bo.yd, this was true and applicable to the Tennessee, \V. A. Stanley, Tennessee; state of things hitherto existing in A. A. Caruth, Louisiana; J. F. Allen, New Orleans, he predicted that this Tennessee; R. G. Stanscrs, California; would soon change, because with its J. W. Fitzpatrick, Alabama; J. W. extensive hospital and beautiful lec­ Totten ham, Mississippi; G. Vv. Pearce, ture rooms, the day was not far Mississippi; S. Wallace, Arkansas; W. distant when this city would rival S. Rogers, Texas; J. T. Jenkins, Dublin, Paris and Vienna in the great Alabama. business of clinical instruction, more The New Od('ans School of Medi­ especially for the qualification of the cine in the second year of its existence Southern practitioners. ranked eleventh in the number of The number of matriculants for the graduates, among similar institutions second session (I857--58) of the New in the United States. The lVfcdical Orleans School of Medicine was most Department of the University of flattering, the enrollment was I 26 Louisiana was fifth on that list. The students of whom 33 were graduates. leading medical schools in the United The commencement exercises for that States and their respective number of year were held on .March 3 I, I 858. graduates were: Prizes \Vcrc offered by the Chairs of Chemistry and Obstetrics to the Jefferson Medical College, 209 Graduates students who stood the best written University of Pennsylvania, 145 Gradu- examination on their respective sub­ ates jects. The award for Chemistry was University of New York, 127 Graduates University of Nashville, 109 Graduates a silver cup and was won by Stanford University of Louisiana, 68 Graduates Perry, of Louisiana; the prize for Georgia Medical College, 61 Graduates Obstetrics, a complete set of obstetri­ College of Physicians . and Surgeons, 53 cal instruments, was presented to Graduates J. F. Grall of Germany. St. Louis l\tledical College, 49 Graduates The first graduates from the New Medical College of Ohio, 43 Graduates Orleans School of lvledicinc were: Rush Medical College, 36 Graduates Annals of IV!edical Histmy 43 Pennsylvania Medical CoHege, 35 Gradu­ that the prediction made by the ates friends of the New Orleans School of New Orleans School of Medicine, 34 Nledicine, that competition would Graduates prove to be beneficial to the two New York Medical College,, 33 Graduates. institutions, was confirmed. The following year the New Orleans The commencement exercises for School of ~1ledicine surpassed, by a the third session was held at the Ly­ considerable margin, both in the num­ ceum Hall on April I, 1859· The cere­ ber of students and of graduates, the mony was opened by an eloquent and Pennsylvania .Medical College, the approprjatc address by the Reverend St. Louis .Medical College, the New B. M. Palmer, Pastor of the First York Nledical College, the Medical Presbyterian Church. Professor How­ College of Ohio and the-! Rush Nlcdical ard Smith addressed the graduates in College. The U nivcrsity of Louisiana the name of the F acu]ty. The Valedic­ retained its respective position. tm·ian, Dr. H. D. Evans, of Alabama, N C\Y Orleans \Vas fast becoming delivered a touching address. The one of the greatest medical centers degree of Doctor of Medicine was in the Union. During the term of conferred on thirty-six students and I 858-59, 497 students had matricu­ the degree of Pharmacy on three. lated in the two medical schools of In 1858 the New Orleans College of this city, and at the end of that :Medicine lost two of its most learned srssion the degree of Doctor of Nledi­ professors: one, Dr. Thomas Peniston, cine was conferred on 130 of these of the Chair of Clinical Nlcdicinc, ·who young men. The enrollment of the was forced to resign because of ill University of Louisiana was then health, and the other Doctor John 333 of whom 97 were graduates; of ~I[ oore \Vhite Picton, Professor of the New Orleans School of Medicine, Diseases of \Vomcn and ChHdren, who I6-t and 36 graduates. died on the tv\'enty-eighth day of The leading medical schools in the October. Dr. Peniston was succeeded country were then: J cfferson Nledical by Doctor Austin Flint whose literary College with 570 matriculants and work had placed him in the front rank 2.56 graduates; the University of Penn­ of medical writers in this country, and sylvania with 4IO matriculants and who was a clinician of international I -J.O graduates; the University of Nash­ reputation. Doctor Flint taught in ville with 435 matriculants and I03 this city during only the winter graduates; the University of Ne\V months. During the spring and sum­ York with 350 matriculants and 97 mer months he returned to the North o-raduates ; the University of Louisiana where he resumed the teaching and with 333 matriculants and 97 gradu­ practice of his profession. He also a tcs; t he Nledical College of South gave a private course in auscultation Carolina with 195 matriculants and and percussion, consisting of twenty­ 58 grad uates; the J\tledical College of five lectures, to students and prac­ Georgia with 165 matriculants and titioners of medicine. 57 graduates; and the New Orleans Doctor Picton was one of the College of Medicine with I 64 matricu­ founders of the N ew Orleans School lants and 36 graduates. of Medicine, a surgeon of ability and From these figures it will be seen an old practitioner of this city. As 44 HISTORY oF .lVlEDICAL EDUCATION Il'\ NEw ORLEANS Professor of Diseases of Women and The files of the local medical journals Children he labored for the advance­ arc replete with articles on his dinical ment of the Institution with all the observations made in the Charity energy of his mind and body. He was Hospital. the oldest member of the Faculty. The The Faculty for that year was only changes in the faculty for the composed of the follo,ving professors: session of 1857- :58 ;. in the Chair of Erasmus D. Fenner, 1H.D., Professor Physiology, Dr. Anthony A. Peniston, of Theor and Practice of !vledicinc; adjunct Professor of Anatomy suc­ Austin Flint, M.D., Prolcssor of Clin­ ceeding Doctor A. Forster Axson, and ical Medicine and Medica[ Pathology ; Doctor Theodore S. Clapp replacing Anthony A. Peniston, M.D., Profcs or Doctor Peniston. of Anatomy; Austin Flint, Jr., M.D., \\'hen Dr. Austin Flint, Sr., was Professor of Physiology and Anatomy; appointed to the Chair of Clinical Samuel P. Chopin, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Auscultation and Per­ Clinical and Operative Surgery; Cor­ cussion, in the fall of 1857, Dr. Thomas nelius C. Beard, :\LD., Professor of Peniston was made emeritus professor the Principles of Surgery and Surgical of that branch. He was the (irst Pathology; D. \Varren Brickell, M.D., Emeritus professor of this city. The Professor of Obstetrics and Medical teaching of dinical medicine and Jurisprudence; Isaac L. Crawcour, auscultation and percussion was then M.D., Professor of Chemistry; HO\vard an innovation in this country. It Smith, M.D., Professor of Materia was said of Dr. Hint that the irn~ Medica and Therapeutics. portance of his teaching was That year the Chair of Surgery was . . , recognized by all who heard him, divided into two distinct branches: and it is not exaggeration to say, that one of Clinical and Operative Surgery, the student who assiduously attended his which was retained -by Doctor Cho­ lectures at the bedside and in the amphi· pin, and the other of The Principles theatre had a more useful fund of informa­ of Surgery and Surgical Pathology tion on the subjects taught than could be which was held by Doctor Beard. elsewhere acquired in the country, and Doctor Beard was replaced as Pro­ this because there was the time and the fessor of Anatomy by Doctor Anthony material, and than a teacher unsurpassed. A. Peniston, who for many years was Dr. Flint's style of teaching surpasses a prival dozent of that important 10 anything we have seen. branch of medicine. Doctor Flint was the recipient of The title of the Chair of Physiology the first prize for the best essay of the was changed to that of Physiology year, presented by the American and !vlicroscopy. This was the first Medical Association at its annual time microscopy was taught in the conventions for the years I 852 and Southwest. Doctor Austin Flint, Jr., 1858. The titles of his contributions the son of the renowned Austin flint, were: "On Variations of Pitch in the Professor of Clinical Medicine, was Percussion and Respiratory Sounds, called to this professorship. Doctor and their Application to Physical Austin Flint, Jr., \vas then the Pro­ Diagnosis," and "Essay on The Clin­ fessor of Physiology of the Bu(l'alo ical Study of Heart Sounds in Health .Medical College and of the New York and Disease." He was a prolific writer. Medical College. He was one of the Annals of i\Iedical History 45 first two physicians who devoted their Orleans School of .Medicine was the time exclusively to research and teach­ seventh. The leading colleges in this ing. He was said to have been an country were: Jefferson Medical Col­ cxperimcn tal physiologist. lege, 630 students of whom I 70 Dr. H. D. Schmidt, formerly con­ wc.~re graduates; University of Penn­ nected with the M obile Medical sylvania, 5I5 students of whom 173 School, was then appointed Demon­ were graduates; University of New strator of Anatomy. He enjoyed an York, 41 I students of whom I 38 were enviable reputation throughout the graduates; University of Louisiana, country as an anatomist and a micro­ 401 students of whom I I 3 were scopist. He had been for many years graduates; University of Nashville, prosector to Professor Leidy of the 401 students; Medical School of South University of Pennsylvania. Carolina, 248 students; New Orleans The New Orleans Medical College School of Medicine, 2 I6 students of of Medicine \Vas then considered by whom 63 were graduates. many unqualifiedly the best medical The growth of the New Orleans school in the land. School of Medicine was phenomenal. On March. 29, I 86o, the annual It surpassed the most sanguine expec­ commencement was held at Odd Fel- tations of its founders and patrons. 1t 10\~/s Hall, the largest in the city. It drew its students from the whole 'vas located on Camp Street opposite Southland. On its mster for that Lafayette Square. It was filled to year were matriculants from Louisi­ capacity. vVc can visualize the eclat ana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, of that occasion from the following Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas, North abstract taken from a contemporary Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, newspaper: District of Columbia, South America, A brilliant audience was in attendance. and California. In four years the num­ The music discoursed by Prevost's Or­ ber of its students increased from sev­ chestra, from the Opera House, was enty-six to 216. Editorially, the New such as only Prevost can produce. The Orl.eans i\Iedical News and Hospital valedictories of Professor Crawcour and Gazette of January, I86I, commented: Dr. W. W. Scott of Mississippi, were most Notwithstanding the terrible financial felicitous~ indeed, the exercises passed crisis and unprecedented politica,l excite­ ofl' in a manner not only satisfactory, ment which exists, the dass of the New but more than flattering to the friends Orleans College of Medicine is this day of the institution. (D~cember 20, 186o) larger than it ever The degree of Doct or of l\llcdicine was at the same date, and the proportion was conferred on sixty-three students of bona fide students (undergraduates) and to three on Pharmacy. far greater. The Institution will stand New Orleans was fast becoming the fully up to the expectation of friends, and great medical center in the United under other and more favorable surround­ ing circumstances would have surpassed States. Statistics for medicat colleges this. lVlan y students have been denied for the session of I859- 186o elo­ the pleasure of coming to us, and many quently afllrm that statement. The have even had to return home after Medical Department of the University coming to the city, having found it of Louisiana was fourth on a li t impossible to make arrangements for of forty-two colleges, and the New even paying their board and lodf!;ing. HISTORY OF I\1EDICAL EoucATION IN NEw 0RLEA:'\!S

After the termination of that session and tri-weeklv admissions to the dis­ the school was forced to close its pensary of th~ school, which is Hooded doors bee a usc the Civil \Var had been with patients; and all without charge. declared. Can an v other citv in the Union afford The advent of the new school the sa~e facilitie;, even if paid for? aroused the lethargic inclifl'crcnce of No, not one. \Ve are sorry to draw com­ the medical profession in New Orleans parisons, but it is our honorable privilege and in it can be found no just cause for and of the Southland. In its very offense. \Ve took part in the medical incipiency it was in the vanguard of regeneration of New Orleans; we were the march of progress of medical determined that her light should no education. From the very first day longer be hidden under a bushel, and our of its organization it asserted its labor shall be ceaseless while we are leadership. Its phenomenal success in the field. She is to be (she is) the must be attributed to the vision, medical center of the South. This four acumen, ambition, and unremitting short years of labor have made her, and toil of its faculty. It can be truthfully four more will fmd her the medical asserted that it was one of the most center of the Union. This soil is the successful as wcli as one of, if not the richest, the seeds have taken root, the most progressive schools of medicine tillage is deep, and the harvest is certain. in the \\!estern Hemisphere prior to The faculty of the New Orleans the Civil \Var. The editor of a contem­ College of Medicine claims priority in porary medical journal commented the establishment of a chair of Clinical The prospects of this medical institu­ IVledicinc in the United States. \Vhen tion arc brighter than ever. Her friends that claim was questioned, this retort stick to her; she is daily forming new 'Nas made in the same editorial: ones; students are writing from all quarters; her facilities for teaching are But tell us, gentlemen, in what school, unequalled in the land; and medicine previous to our movement, was there a will be taught within her walls and those regular chair of medicine? None of the of the Charity Hospital as the exigencies mere bogus titles attached to sotnebody demand. \Ve can truthfully say that the tacked to a faculty: but, where and who New Orleans School of Medicine has was the professor who did actually labor been the first to leave the old narrow in this branch, over sick men, with the path, and open the broad road of real students at his elbow, every day, and practical improvement in the business during the whole session? 11 of teaching medicine; it is by no means equalled, as her strides nre so long that It is greatly to be regretted that it is a difficult task to keep up with her. because of the Civil \Var this flourish­ She has the ambition to be the very best ing school of medicine had to close its school in the land, and youthful ambition, doors. in this republican country of ours, is Although it was reorganized after almost illimitable in its success. . . . the declaration of peace between the \,Ye trust our students will come in early, States, because of the exigencies of as they will find the opportunity for dissection and clinical study unrivalled, the time, the abject poverty of t he and no man can acquire too much kno·wl­ people of the South, the hectic period edge in either branch. Only think! Daily of reconstruction and the lack of visits with one or all of five physicians financial support from the State, the at the bedside of the sick in the hospital, faculty was forced to disband, and the Annals of i\1edical History -t7 New Orleans School of J\lledicine be­ imbued with the thought of secession came defu net. even if it would result in war. Although there is no medical college The first concerted movement in a to perpetuate the memory of the Northern city by Southerners to leave founders of the New Orleans College for the South, because they were of Medicine, although there is no in­ abused and discriminated against, was scription in a magnificent temple of made by the medical students from scientific lore to commemorate their Dixie in Philadelphia. The action of achievements, and although the names these tnedical students caused a great of these pioneers of medical education deal of acrimony and not n little are almost forgotten, yet their influ~ consternation all over the Union, and encc on the progress of medical cdttca­ resulted in criminations and recrimi­ tion not only in the South but nations among the students and facul­ throughout the vvholc U nitcd States ties of the medical colleges of the will endure the ravages of time. The North as well as the South. The first verdict of posterity will be "Exitus inkling of the action of the seceding acta prohat." students was had in New Orleans from the Daily Picayune of December THE SECEDING STUDENTS 21, r859.Itsaid:

Long before the first gun was fired ABANDONMENT OF NORTHERN COLLEGE at Fort Sumter on April 13, r86r, the Philadelphia, December 20: Over four rumbling of the approaching war was hundred southern medical students are manifest. about leaving this and neighboring ,cities J calousy, distrust, hatred, and mis­ for institutions in the South. It is said understanding ran rampant through­ the movement is a general one and upon out the Union. The nation once united an extensive plan, originating with the by the bonds of fraternity \Vas divided. Southern i\'ledical Colleges, others say The activities, bordering on fanati­ that this movement originated with the cism, of the abolitionists of the North students themselves. caused the resentment of the South­ SECOND DISPATCH erners. A mutual feeling of mis­ trust had insidiously crept in the Philadelphia, December 20: A meeting homes, schools, business, professions of Southern Medical students took place and churches; in fact, wherever men in this city last night, and a large number congregated it was the topic of ani­ resolved to leave the schools of this ~;;ity. The Jefferson College loses two hundred mated discussion. Abuse was heaped students, and the Pennsylvania Uni­ by brothers on brothers of the same versity one hundred. A large number of nation. Patriotism was considered them go to the Richmond Medical only from the standpoint of section­ College: The three hundred leave to­ alism. The allegiance due the United morrow by special train for the South. States by its citizens was divided by the Mason and Dixon line. The An editorial comment of this paper c~untry was divided into the North for the following day gives an inter­ and the South, the slavc-ho!lders and esting account of the strained relation­ the abolitionists. The minds of the ship then existing between the North citizens of this great country were and the South. It reads: HISTORY OF MEDICAL EouCATION IN NEw ORLEANS

The concerted movement of Southern and heatedly discussed in editorials Medical Students in abandoning the of the great dailies in the country. Philadelphia schools, and returning to The accusation was made by the complete their education in the schools faculties of the medical colleges of of the South, has its great signirrcancc Pennsylvania and of New York that as to the degree in which the Southern the action of these students was feeling, engendered by the recent demon· actuated the medical colleges of strations of northern abolitionism is Gy pervading all classes in the South and the South; that these institutions penetratina into all its relations of busi­ had employed agt.~nts or propagandists ness and associations in the North. These to foment dissension in order to draw young men from various states in the these young men to their own schools. South, respond to what they believe This imputation was denied by the to be the sentiment at home, and put Daily Picayune in the following auicle: into practice the first large and impressive demonstration of the gro ..ving determina­ There never has been any good reason tion at the South, to encourage, by all why students from this region of country means possible, a self-sustaining policy should have gone North for medical in business, in commerce, in manufacture ecluca tion. There are two institutions and in education. It is an act which in this city, which arc amply provided prefigures the adoption of a general in all their departments with means of policy all over the South, to rid ourselves instruction not to be surpassed anywhere, of the dependence, under which we have plentiful apparatus, learned professors, languished and the North has grown and thoroughly educated trained men rich and arrogant, upon Northern store­ of science and study. This has been houses and "vorkshops for everything we growing into knowledge and appreciation of [i\te, so that the number of students use and buy, and the Northern colleges is largely increasing each year. Doubtless and schools, for the training up of the they will be given new accessions, under generation which is, after us, to have the impulse given to proper Southern the custody of states. It has been done policy by the excitement of the time, in the heat of a just resentment, in the and which whatever be the issue of the practical application of a just theory of pending conflict, will we trust, be incor­ self-defence ::tgainst assaults, with which porated into the permanent policy of the current events menace us. But it was not Southern States, as an indispensable less true as a general policy, for the peace­ element of self-dependence. ful development of the resources and The implication might be that the capabilities of the South, for its material medical colleges of the South have growth and for intellectual advancement, employed agents, or taken son1e active when there was no immediate cause for measures, after the Northern fashion of caiiing it out as a measure of retaliation "drumming" to get custom for them­ for wrong, or preparation for unfriendly selves. That pr::t ctice never gained a non-intercourse. foothold at the South in any department of business. \Ve can safely say that no Needless to say that the action Southern institution has made use of of these Southern medical students such means, and that we knmv that none anmsed the ire and resentment not have been practiced by either of the only of the afTectcd medical schools, institutions here. but as well of the anti-slavery and abolitionist parties. It was the vital Immediately after reading the dis­ question of the day, and it was widely patches mentioned above, the student Annals of 1\1edical History 49 bodies of the two medical schools of On that same day the Medical this city met and passed resolutions Students of the U nivcrsity of Louisi­ approving the action of their fellows ana unanimously adopted the follow­ in Philadelphia, and extended to them ing resolutions: a cordial invitation to complete their Mr. S. J. Luckett was called to the studies in New Orleans. These reso­ Chair. lutions were published in the dailies of Having heard by late advices from this city and were telegraphed to Philadelphia, that a large number of the students front the South at the Medical Students attending the Medical Northern coliegcs. These meetings Schools of this city have been compelled were held on December 22. to withdraw from the .same 011 account l'vlr. A. R. Gourrier was the chair­ of the sectional question which unfor­ man, and l\1r. W. W. Scott was the tunately divides our common country, Secretary of the meeting held by the and which should not have the least students of the New Orleans College bearing on our glor,ious profession: of 1\lledicine. The following resolutions Therefore were unanimously adopted: r. Be it resolved, That in consideration of the sectional feelings now existing Whereas, the Southern students of between the Northern and Southern medicine in the Northern colleges, desir­ portion of the Union, and the exhibition ing "not tu patronize Norther n institu­ on the part of the North of hatred toward tions" have asked the faculty of the those institutions which we love and New Orleans School of Medicine, on cherish, as the basis upon which our what terms they would receive them happiness and prosperity depend; and for the remainder of the current season on account of the insults and outrages (they, the students, having paid for to which we are ever liable in the North, their tickets); and whereas, the Faculty that we fully approve of the course of t he New Orleans School of Medicine pursued by our fellow-students of the have replied to them that they will South in Philadelphia. 1·eceive them on payment of $5.00 for a 2. That we tender 'to them our con­ m·atriculation fee, and that those propos­ gratulations upon the manner in which ing to graduate will pay the gradu-ating they have acted in determining no longer fee, $25.00. to reside in a community in which there Resolved, That we cordially approve cannot be a feeling of mutual respect and the action of our Faculty: That we will friendship. cheerfully receive all Southern students 3· That, whereas, under existing cir­ leaving Northern schools, and will freely cumstances we do not receive, on the part share with them the great advantages of the North that respect which is due with which we are surrounded, and to to us as citizens of the United States, which we, its class, are entitled: it is our duty as men of the South to That a copy of the papers containing afford that support to our own able the proceedings of this meeting be sent institutions, which, for so long a time to the med,ical sttidents in the different has been given to those of the North, to Northern schools: the neglect of our own. . That a telt'graphic dispatch be for­ 4· That we appreciate the nwtives warded irnmediatelv to those students which induced our bwthers in the pro­ who have already l;ft or intend to leave fession to determine to come among us the 1 orthern schools, inviting them to for the prosecution of their studies, and, :1 ccept the facilities of the New Orleans furthermore, that we extend to them the Schools of :Vfedicine gratis. right hand of fellowship;. and good will, )0 HISTORY or- MEDICAL EDUCATION I~ NEw 0HLEAi\S promising them, if fate guide them to the the last month to obtain signature~ to "Crescent City" n welcome greeting; a pledge of secession; and on Tuesday also, ns uring them that the facilities morning, December twentieth, a final to be enjoyed in our institution, if not meeting was held in the Assembly B uild~ superior, arc at least equal to any on ing rooms, preparatory to the exodus the \Vestern Continent. And we feel of the disaflcct,ed members of the classes ourselves warranted in further assuring of the different schools. The president them that our high-toned and liberal of the meeting, we learn, was Mr. Lee, faculty, as \vell as ourselves, will know of Alabama, ass,isted by several \ice­ how to receive them. presidents and secretaries. Addresses were made on the occasion, among others, by These resolutions from the medical Doctor F. E. Luckett and Doctor H. H. students of New Orleans added fuel .McGuire; and letters and telegraphic to smoldering embers. The lay press dispatches read from Governor \Vise of and the medical journals of the North Virginia, a nd the deans of the medical reeked with abuse of the Southern schools of Richmond, Charleston, Savan­ medical colleges. A diatribe resulted nah, Augusta, New Orleans and Nash­ therefrom in the medical journals of ville, tendering sympathy, and a cordial welcome to such secessionists as might the North and of the South, and feel inclined to resort to those institutions. principally in the Nortb American The meeting is said to have been con­ !V!edico-Cbiruro·ical Review which was D ' ducted with great decorum. The time fixed published in Philadelphia and was upon for their departure from the city edited by Doctor S. D. Gross, Pro­ was Wednesday night, De<:ember twenty­ fessor of Surgery in the J eiferson first, with free passes provided by the Medical College of Philadelphia, and Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, by Doctor T. C. Richardson, Pro­ through Doctors Luckett and McGuire, fessor of Anatomy in the Medical over the whole route, and one thousand Department of the University of do!Ia rs, said to have beeJl sent from Louisiana, and the New Orleans i\1/ed­ Virginia, to defray incidental expen~es. ical News and Hospital Cazel'ie pub· The number of students that: left has been variously estimated at from one lishcd by Doctor \Varrcn Brickdl, to two hundred, a large majority of whom Professor of Obstetrics, and by Doctor were matriculates of the Jefferson College. E. D. Fenner, Professor of Theory and It is understood thnt they ·were joined Practice in the New Orleans CoLlege at the depot b-y a small number of of .Medicine. Southern students from the Uni\ ersity The following editorial in the issue of New York. The exodus was a \·owedly of January, I86o, of the Nortb Amer­ conducted bv Doctors Luckett and [\lc­ ican i\1/edico-Chirurgical Review gives Guirc, the former of whom had brrn us an interesting report of what intrusted with the railroad passes and transpired in Philadelphia, it reads: the disbursement of the mone\·. It is proper to add that these gentlemen had Exoous OF SouTHERN lviEorcAL STu­ a large quizzing class, consisting of DENTS.-- For some time past much excite­ nenrlv two hundrrd Southern students, ment has existed among some of the a nd generally known as the " Southern Sottthcrn .Medical Students of this city, quizzing class." Of this class the great growing out, as has been alleged, of majority have left; and the whole number the Harper's Ferry movement. It has of secessionists, one hundred, it is said, been vaguely rumored that a committee had previously been pledged to the medi­ of thirty had been appointed earlv in cal school of R ich mond. The manner in Annals of Medical History which the secessionists were received the Virginia Medical College at Rich­ at Richmond will appear by the following mond; Henry R. Frost, Dean of the dispatch, copied from one of the daily Medical De1;~utment of the University journals of this city: of South Carolina; to President Robinson, of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and RECEPTION OJ:' THE SOUTHERN MEDICAL Baltimore Railroad, and all others who STUDENTS AT RICHMOND, VA. have extended to us the substantial Richmond, Va., December 22. The seceding encouragement anJ aid so essential to rneuical students from Philaclclpltia arrived the furtherance :1 nd successful accomplish­ here to-Jay, and ,,·ere received l)y the faculty ment of our enterprise. and students of the J'vlcclical College, the Governor's guard, and an immense throng Resolved, That we extend a cordial of citizens. The procession marched to the invitation, and will cheerfully welcome Governor's mansion, where the students were in the South, anv Northern students addressed by Governor Wise, and afterwards who wiU subscr(be to the prevwus by Professor Gibson, at the college. A dinner resolutions. was then partaken at the Columbia Hotel. Resolved, That a copy of these pro­ The students were received with great ceedings be sent to all the Northern enthusiasm by our citizens, and as the pro­ meuical colleges, for the benefit of South­ cession passed through the streets the shouts ern students who may ha vc m;Hricula ted of the men 'Nere deafening, while the ladies in them. manifested their delight h.v the w:n·inp.: of l~c so lved, That the SuL~thcrn papers \heir handkerchiefs. generally, be requested t:o publish the The objects of the secessionists are proceedings of this convention. best explained in the language of the \Vc have given the above stat·ements preamble and resolutions adopted at of this proceeding as they have been the meeting at the Assembly Building Clmununicated to us, as matters of interest rooms, on the twentieth instant: tn the medical profession of the UniteJ vVhereas, vVe have left OUF" homes and State~ in all time to come. As faithful congregateJ in this city, with a view journalists it is our duty to chronicle to prosecute our medical studies; and the event, and to express our profound having become fully convinced that we regret at its occurrence. Various rumors have erred in taking this step; that our arc afloat in this city, both in the pro­ means should have been expended, and fession and in the community generally, our protection afrorded to the mainten­ as to the origin of this movement and ance and advancement of institutions those who played the chief part in its existing in our sections, and fostered execution; but as we ourselves have no by our own people:- authentic data to guide us, we shnll, Resolved, That in a body, or as many for the present, forbear any further as approved of the act, we secede from comments. the institutions in which we have severally In the next .issue of that same matriculated, return to the South, and herein pledge ourselves to devote our journal was published the fullowing future live~ and best efforts to the protec­ statement: tion of our common interests. In the a_rticle of our journal, above Resolved, That in taking this step, referred to [January, t86o] we included we disclaim any persona[ animosities, the schools at New Orleans as among and deprecate any political agitation. those that had opened their arms to the · Resolved, That we tender our grateful disaffected students. It is due, however, acknowledgments and heartfelt thanks to the University of Louisiana to say, to the Hon. Henry A. \Vise, Governor that she stood entirely aloof from an of Virginia; Dr. L. S. Joynes, Dean of participation in the movement. We make 52 HISTORY OF l'vlEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS this statement upon the assertion of our her character; we write to prove that colleague, Dr. Richardson, the Professor the charges made against her, directly of Anatomy of that institution, who and indirectly, have no shadow of founda­ declares that the whole faculty were tion in truth; we write to show that the opposed to the proceeding and that no North American lVledico-Chirurgical Re­ dispatch, or communication of any kind view has never given a true history of was sent by them to this city either before, the secession movement; and we write during, or after the stampede. to show this same Review, that in the maxim we have adopted at the head The New Orleans lvfedical News and of this article* it may find food for Hospital Gazette strenuously objected reflection. The simple credulity it has to that statement in a caustic editorial evinced proves that its mother never which appeared in its issue of April mentioned to it the true old proverb: r 86o; it said in part: "All's not gold that glitters." rst then: The only connection the There is within us a sense of pride New Orleans School of Medicine ever which may prompt us to treat '"'ith has had with the seceding students sovereign contempt an indirect attack of the north was in her receiving a dis­ on our personal status in society; but patch from New York City, signed by the slightest inuendo directed against the "Alabama Committee" saying that the noble institution to which '''c are the southern students contemplated leav­ attached, as teacher, and for the perma­ ing New York, that they had paid for nent establishment of which we have so their tickets, and desiring to know on long, so faithfully, and so honestly what terms she would receive them; to laboured, shall never pass unnoticed which dispatch the Faculty sent the while we have its interest at heart and following reply: can write clearly enough for the com­ The Faculty of the New Orleans College positor to read our manuscript. of Medicine deeply regret that you have \Ve had hopes that every medical found yourselves under the necessity journal north of the Mason and Dixon's of leaving the school to which you are line, which had had its worse suspicions attached. They will receive you on uroused by the voluntary secession of condition that you pay for matr,iculation medical students from Philadelphia and and graduation fees. New York, had ere this vented its fullest 2nd. The Faculty of the New Orleans measure of spleen against Southern Medi­ School of Medicine hav.e never had,, cal Colleges, and leave the leaven to its at any tirne, any communication, of own work. But the March, r86o, number any kind whatsoever, with any student of the North American i\1edico-Cbinagical of medicine attached to or seceding Review, stirs the pool again, and with a from any school in Philadelphia; and we gusto tells us plainly of supremacy of self now demand of the North American over ail consideration whatever. ... i\1edico-Chirurgical Review proof to the Now, if we have a reader who thinks contrary- not heresay proof, but proof that our remarks are intended to excuse positive.... the New Orleans School of Medicine Is the Review silly enough to believe for the action she has taken in this that the classes of the schools here or secession movement, that reader knows elsewhere, could thus fredy throw open not the material of which we are com­ the doors of the institutions without the posed. 'vVe vvrite to show that our positive approbation of the respective institution stands on an eminence from which she can, and does, look down on *An open foe may provt! a curse all who directly and indirectly asperse But a pretended friend is worse.- Gay Annals of i\1/edical History 53

Faculties, or if the clas~es did act thus truckle to no man's reputation; and while independently of the Faculties (said she is ever ready to meet the 'open foe,' Faculties bein~ opposed to the proceed­ she condemns the little moles that, under ings), does nc;t the Review think it a the eMth and in the clark, vainly struggle soiemn duty of said Faculties to as pub­ to sap her deep laid foundation. licly express their disapprobation of the course pursued? In its issue of .May, I 86o, the Review Has the Review been informed which replied as folfows: of the Faculties of this city, "opened They declare,* not in so many words, their arms," embraced and graduated it is true, but by implication, that they the one seceding student who found his are ready to die in defence of their noble 'vVa y to New Orleans? Or does the Review institution, the establishment of which thi;1k that a Faculty opposed to the has cost them so much labor, and anxict. '• proceeding~ would only have been acting and treasure, and that they will permit consistently in declining to admit the no one to cast any imputation, even of the seceder? most indirect character. All this is very Would it not. be well for the Review, right and just, and valiant. Keep your since it aspires to writing a history school pure and chaste before the public of the secession movement, and a history and the medical profession. Let her be, is worse than flat, if falsified, to send like Caesar's wife, above suspicion. special messengers on to the various cities T€> all such sentiments we cordially it has named, and collect at least a few subscribe. Rut why, gentlemen, are you substantial facts? Its present position abusing the Review, and calling it by is a most unenviable one, for all impartial, hard names: In the article to which you truth-loving readers (if it ever does pub­ have taken such exception, the great sin lish the facts) are sure to condemn its which we committed, in your immaculate course. eyes, was that we did not include you The editorial emphatically denied in the sam<.: category as the University that telegraphic dispatches emanating of Louisiana, in her disclaimer, made from the Dean of the New Orleans through our colleague, Professor Richard­ College of Medicine, were read at the son, respecting her supposed interference in the late stampede in this city. It is h<.:re meeting of the seceding students in that the shoe pinches, "hinc illae lachry­ Philadcl ph ia, on December 20. It mae." \Ve should have been rejoiced if further asserted that b.v printing such we could extend to vour school a similar statements based on vague rumors courtesy. But we co~;ld not; for, although "it evinces a disregard for others we were not able to assert, from any which admits of an interpretation by oflicial documents in our possession, no means flattering to itself." that you sent any telegraphic communica­ "Once more we say, we do not shed tions' to the medical students of this ink to excuse the New Orleans School city, "tendering sympathy and a cordial of Medicine for what she has done." welcome to your school," yet we were The editorial ends: perfectly sure that you had sent a dis­ patch to New York, and we had, there­ She has acted openly; we think she fore, a right to assume that yon would acted properly; and she would act again have been very glad to perform a similar in the same manner. She will never service !'or the Philadelphia students tacitly sanction an al't of her pupils if they had addressed you upon the sub- to which she is even indirectly opposed; she will do before the whole world what * Editors, New Orleans :\Jedical News and she will do in New Orleans; she will Hospital Gazette. 54 HISTORY OF MEDICAL EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS ject, which, however, judging from your which was soon to engulf the whole silence, we conclude they never did. nation. It reads: But be this as it may, our ethics are that when a man does a wrong, he is For the frrst time rn life, we look equally guilty whether he commits the onto the New Year with forebodings wrong in one place or in another, upon of all but good. To our patrons, then, we one person or another. The fact that the certainly wish "a happy new year"; but Faculty of the New Orleans School of the wish is clouded with the impossible Medicine sent a dispatch to New York conviction that it is scarcely . in the induces us to exclude her from the benefit range of probability that in this land of the exculpation which '

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