Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 22

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166

USA > Georgia > Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II > Part 22

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The catalogue for 1894-1895 states the requirements of the institution for graduation of students to be as follows:

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Requirements for Graduation, Session 1894-5 .- The candidate must be twenty- one years of age, of good moral character, and must present to the proctor the requisite evidence of having studied medicine three years, inclusive of attendance upon lectures. He must have attended two courses of lectures of five months each in two separate years, in a recognized medical college, the last of which shall have been in this institution. He must present to the proctor, by the first of February, a thesis of his own composition, and in his own handwriting, on thesis paper, on a medical subject. . The amount of graduation fee must be deposited with the thesis; in case of failure to pass a satisfactory examination, the money will be refunded. A report of any of the clinics will be accepted in lieu of the ordinary thesis. He must pass a satisfactory examination on anatomy, physiology, chemistry, materia medica, practice and general pathology, obstetrics and diseases of women and children, diseases of the eyes, ear and throat, surgery and physical diagnosis.

Educational Requirements .- First course students at martriculation will be required to give satisfactory evidence to the faculty of such educational qualifica- tions as will be deemed necessary for the successful prosecution of their medical studies. These requirements will be similar to those of other reputable medical colleges in this country. But if a student so applying be unable to furnish evidence of such literary qualifications, he will be permitted to martriculate and prosecute his medical studies, and be allowed to qualify himself prior to application for graduation.

*The Last Session of the Two Years' Course .- Recognizing the demands of the present day for a higher standard of medical education and a more thorough preparation for the practice of medicine, the Atlanta Medical college will hereafter require attendance upon three courses of instruction as a preliminary to gradua- tion. This requirement will be applied only to students who take their first course of lectures subsequent to the issue of this catalogue. Students who have already attended one course of lectures in a regular medical college in good standing will be allowed to graduate after attending the session of 1894-95 in this college and passing a satisfactory examination.

Faculty .- A. W. Griggs, M. D., emeritus professor of practice; William Abram Love, M. D., professor of physiology and pathological anatomy; A. W. Calhoun, M. D., LL. D., professor of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat; H. V. M. Miller, M. D., LL. D., professor of principles and practice of medicine, and dean of the faculty; W. S. Armstrong, M. D., professor of anatomy and clinical surgery; J. S. Todd, M. D., professor of materia medica and therapeutics; Virgil O. Hardon, M. D., professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and children; Louis H. Jones, A. M., M. D., professor of general and medical chemistry and medical jurisprudence: W. F. Westmoreland, M. D., professor of principles and practice of surgery; W. S. Kendrick, M. D., professor of clinical medicine and physical diagnosis, and proctor.

Southern Medical Institution .- This institution is located in Atlanta. It has had a prosperous career during the sixteen years of its existence. The building is of modern construction, commodious and fully equipped for advanced medical teaching. The course of instruction will cover a graded course of three terms of lectures of six months each, in three seperate years, divided between the years as follows: First year .- Anatomy, chemistry, physiology, materia medica, histology, and microscopy. Second year .- Anatomy, chemistry, physiology, materia medica, surgery, pathology and pathological anatomy, practice of medicine and obstetrics. Third year .- Surgery and clinical surgery, medicine and clinical medi- cine, operative surgery and venereal diseases, obstetrics and gynecology, diseases

*This action was taken prior to enactment of bill for state board of medical examiners.

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of the eye, ear, throat and nose, bacteriology and urinary analysis. Students who so desire can stand examinations at the end of the second term and receive certificates of proficiency in the branches of anatomy, :materia medica, physiology and chemistry. No further examinations will then be required in these studies. Clinical instruction in this institution is furnished from two sources. First, the clinics held daily in the college building; second, Grady hospital. Two members of this faculty are members of the visiting staff of Grady hospital. Clinical material is abundant in quantity at this school. The faculty is an able one, and the course of instruction is thorough.

Requirements for Matriculation .- Every student applying for matriculation must possess the following qualifications: He must hold a certificate as the pupil of some known reputable physician, showing his moral character and general fitness to enter upon the study of medicine. He must possess a diploma of graduation from some literary or scientific institution of learning, or certificate from some legally constituted high school, general superintendent of state education, or superintendent of some county board of public education, attesting the fact that he is possessed of at least the educational attainments required of second grade teachers of public schools; provided, however, that if a student so applying is unable to furnish the above and foregoing evidence of literary qualifications, he may be permitted to matriculate and receive medical instruction as other students, and qualify himself in the required .literary departments, and stand his required examination as above specified prior to offering himself for a second course of lectures. The foregoing diploma or certificate of educational qualifications, attested by the dean of the medical college attended, together with a set of tickets, showing that the holder has attended one full course of medical lectures, shall be essential to attendance upon a second course of lectures.

Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine .- I. The candidate must be twenty-one years of age, of good character, and must have attended three full courses of lectures of six months each in a medical school recognized by this insti- tution, the last of which shall have been in this college. 2. He must have dissected the different parts of the body in this or some other regular medical school during two terms of lectures. 3. He shall undergo a personal and satisfactory examination before the faculty. This examination must take place at the close of the session. 4. He must have attended, actually, three-fourths of each course of six months spent in this school, as required by the laws of Georgia. 5. He must have settled all indebtedness to the college, as shown by the books of the proctor. 6. He must have attended a laboratory course in each of the following: Chemistry, histology and operative surgery. 7. He must have attended two courses of clinical or hospital instruction. His conduct while in college must have been unexceptionable. (Note .- The requirements in reference to attendance upon three courses of lectures, two courses of dissecting, and laboratory courses, apply only to students who have not attended a course of lectures before Sept. 1, 1893.) Any student who attended a course of regular lectures before that date may attend the course of 1894-5 in this institution, and apply for graduation at the end of that term. By the ruling of the Southern Medical College association, this is the last opportunity offered for such student to graduate without attending two full courses in addition to that already taken. After 1894-5 every student will be required to present tickets for three full courses as a requisite to graduation.

Faculty .- Thomas Spencer Powell, M. D., professor of obstetrics and diseases of women, and lecturer on medical ethics; Wm. Perrin Nicolson, M. D., professor of anatomy and lecturer on clinical surgery, and surgeon to Grady hospital; Gus- tavus Garnett Roy, M. D., professor of materia medica and therapeutics, and lecturer

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on diseases of children; James McFadden Gaston, M. D., professor of principles and practice of surgery; Charles Shepherd Webb, Ph. B., M. D., professor of the principles and practice of medicine; William Simpson Elkin, M. D., professor of operative surgery and genito-urinary diseases, and surgeon to Grady hospital; Henry F. Harris, M. D., professor of chemistry and lecturer on pathology and histology; Floyd Wilcox McRae, M. D., professor of physiology and lecturer on clinical surgery and diseases of the rectum; Logan M. Crichton, M. D., professor of diseases of nose and throat; Dunbar Roy, A. B., M. D., professor of diseases of the eye and ear; J. B. S. Holmes, M. D., adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynecology.

Oglethorpe Medical College .- This college was located in Savannah. It was organized in 1855, with the following corps of medical teachers: H. L. Byrd, M. D., late of Savannah Medical college, professor of principles and practice of physics; E. LeRoy Antony, M. D., of Waynesboro, Ga., professor of obstetrics and diseases of women and children; Wesley C. Norwood, M. D., of Cokesbury, S. C., professor of materia medica and medical jurisprudence; James 'S. Morel, M. D., of Savannah, Ga., professor of anatomy; John Davis, M. D., of Abbeville, S. C., professor of physiology; Wm. T. Feay, M. D., of Savannah, Ga., professor of chemistry and pharmacy; Charles Ganahl, M. D., of Savannah, Ga., professor pro tem. of the principles and practice of surgery; R. J. Nunn, M. D., of Savannah, Ga., demon- strator of anatomy. The following is a list of the graduates from the class of 1855; John W. Barber, S. D. M. Byrd, James A. George, J. J. Jones, W. J. Orr, Wm. M. Marsh, John A. Mayer, and John A. Owens. How long this school existed, and what success it met with, I am unable to state. I applied to physicians in Savannah for data to write the history of this school, but could not get the necessary informa- tion.

Savannah Spring School of Medicine .- "The Southern Medical and Surgical Journal" for 1856 has the following notice of the above named institution: "Savan- nah Spring School of Medicine .- An organization under the above name has been formed in our city. The term of lectures is to be from the middle of March to the end of June. The lecturers are Holmes Steele, M. D., on obstetrics, the physiology of generation, and diseases of women and children; John M. Johnson, M. D., on medical chemistry and materia medica; Joseph J. West, M. D., on anatomy, the physiology of the viscera, etc., and Charles H. Colding, M. D., on minor and operative surgery. Fee, $50, in advance."

Savannah Medical College .- This college was organized in 1853. The course commenced with the following corps of professors: Dr. R. D. Arnold, on the theory and practice of medicine; Dr. P. M. Kollock, on obstetrics and diseases of women and children; Dr. W. G. Bullock, on the principles and practice of surgery; Dr. G. W. West, on medical chemistry; Dr. H. L. Byrd, on materia medica and therapeutics; Dr. E. H. Martin, on physiology; Dr. J. G. Howard, on anatomy; Dr. J. B. Read, demonstrator of anatomy, on pathological anatomy. Thirty-six students attended the course. The following is a list of the graduates: John W. Arnfield, of South Carolina; Elisha W. Harral, of South Carolina; Joseph J. Hankins, of Florida; Richard G. Nunn, of Georgia; George W. Cleland, of Georgia; Joseph J. West, of Georgia. During the session of 1854 the class numbered forty-nine, of whom seventeen were graduated. In 1855 the graduates numbered twelve. This institution continued its exercises for a number of years, and met with reasonable success. In 1879 the faculty was constituted as follows: W. M. Charters, M. D., professor of obstetrics; J. G. Thomas, M. D., professor of the theory and practice of medicine; W. H. Elliott, M. D., professor of the principles and practice of surgery ; W. Duncan, M. D., professor of clinical medicine, and dean of faculty; B. S.

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Purse, M. D., professor of materia medica and therapeutics; J. P. S. Houstoun, M. D., professor of physiology; George H. Stone, M. D., professor of anatomy.

THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.

In February, 1849, the faculty of the medical college of Georgia, feeling the necessity of organizing the medical profession of the state, published the following notice in the "Southern Medical and Surgical Journal," issued at Augusta :

"To the Physicians of Georgia .- The faculty of the medical college of Georgia suggest to the medical profession of the state the propriety of organizing an association. Since the institution of the National or American association, our sister states, Alabama and South Carolina, have taken action on the subject. It is therefore proper to call a convention of the physicians of Georgia, to be held in the city of Augusta on next Tuesday, Feb. 20; then to adopt such measures for the improvement and benefit of the profession as they may deem proper." After the publication of the above notice the Georgia Medical society of Savan- nah suggested that the meeting be held in the city of Macon March 20, Macon being more centrally located than Augusta. The faculty of the medical college of Georgia, desirous of unanimity on the subject, accordingly issued a circular and addressed it to all the Georgia subscribers of the "Journal," stating their cheerful acquiescence in the suggestions of the medical society of Savannah. The meeting, therefore, of the physicians of the state was called for March 20 in the city of Macon.

In pursuance of the above call the convention assembled in Macon at IO o'clock on the morning of March 20, 1849. About eighty delegates were present, the delegates representing the counties of Baker, Baldwin, Bibb, Burke, Chatham, Clarke, Cobb, Crawford, Dooley, Fayette, Floyd, Gwinnett, Henry, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lee, Madison, Meriwether, Monroe, Morgan, Muscogee, Ogle- thorpe, Pike, Richmond, Stewart, Sumter, Troup, Twiggs, Upson and Washing- ton. On motion a committee of one from each county represented was appointed by the chair to select permanent officers for the convention. The convention being thus organized, on motion the president designated the following gentlemen a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws: Drs. R. D. Arnold, J. M. Green, Thos. Hoxey, Chas. West, Hugh J. Ogliby, R. Q. Dickinson, James M. Gordon. After some discussion and modification the constitution and by-laws were unani- mously adopted. The convention then resolved itself into "The Medical Society of the State of Georgia." The first business in order being the election of officers, a ballot was ordered, and the following gentlemen were declared duly elected: President, Dr. Lewis D. Ford; first vice-president, Dr. R. D. Arnold; second vice-president, Dr. Thomas R. Lamar; corresponding secretary, Dr. James M. Green; recording secretary, Dr. C. T. Quintard. The society then proceeded to ballot for delegates to the "American Medical association." On counting the votes it appeared that the following gentlemen were elected, viz .: Drs. Thos. Hoxey, T. F. Green, H. J. Ogliby, E. L. Strohecker, Robert Campbell, I. E. Dupree, W. B. Stevens. The following committee was appointed to memorialize the legislature on the necessity of instituting a regular registration of marriages, births and deaths: Drs. Arnold, Strohecker, Ogliby, Geo. A. Winn, G. F. Cooper. A resolution was introduced and adopted that a committee of one from each con- gressional district, of which the president of the society shall be chairman, be appointed to address the profession at large on the expediency of forming aux- iliary societies and other matters. The president appointed the following: Drs. L. D. Ford, Thos. Stewardson, Chas. West, E. F. Knott, W. P. Beasley, Wm. N.

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King, W. L. Jones, Asbury Kingman. A resolution was passed that the next an- nual meeting of the society take place in the city of Macon on the second Tuesday in April, 1850.

The constitution states the objects of the society and qualifications for membership as follows: The object of this society shall be for the advancement of medical knowledge, the elevation of professional character, the protection of the interests of its members, the extension of the bounds of medical science, and the promotion of all measures adapted to relieve suffering humanity and to pro- tect the lives and improve the health of the community. Sec. I .- The society shall consist of every person now present as a member of the state medical con- vention, who is a graduate of a respectable medical college, or who may be authorized to practice by the legislative act of 1839, re-constituting the medical board of the state, and who shall conform to the regulations of the society. Sec. 2 .- Any member of the profession thus qualified can hereafter, on written appli- cation to the society through the corresponding secretary, be admitted to it by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. Sec. 3 .- The society shall hold an annual meeting on the second Wednesday in the month of April of each year. The place of meeting shall be determined for each succeeding year by a vote of the society. The constitution also provided for the organization of auxiliary societies in the various counties of the state, and required such societies to conform to the constitution of the State Medical society and the code of ethics of the Ameri- can Medical association.

A MIGRATORY BODY.

The society has always been a migratory body, meeting each year in some one of the large towns or cities of the state. The society continued under the consti- tution of 1849 until 1868, when a new constitution was adopted. The objects of the society have always been as declared in article 2 of the original constitution. The constitution of 1868 withdrew the privilege of membership from licentiates of the state board of medical examiners, and adopted the following article: "The members of this institution shall collectively represent and have cognizance of the common interests of the medical profession in every part of the state, and shall hold their appointment to membership, either as delegates from local institutions, as members by invitation, or as permanent members. The delegates shall receive their appointment from permanently organized medical societies, medical col- leges, hospitals, lunatic asylums and other permanently organized medical and sanitary institutions of good standing in the state. Each delegate shall hold his appointment for one year, and until another is appointed to succeed him, and shall participate in all the business and affairs of the association. The permanent members shall consist of all those who have served in the capacity of delegates, and of such other members as may receive the appointment by a two-thirds vote, and shall continue such so long as they remain in good standing in the body from which they were sent as delegates. Permanent members shall at all times be entitled to attend the meetings and participate in the affairs of the association so long as they shall continue to conform to its regulations. Every member elected prior to the permanent organization of the annual meeting or before voting on any question after the meeting has been organized, must sign these regula- tions, inscribing his name and address in full, specifying in what capacity he attends, and if a delegate the title of the society and institution from which he has received his appointment, at the same time stating that he is a (regular) graduate of medicine from some regularly chartered college."

The constitution of 1868 also changed the name of the society and adopted

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that of "The Medical Association of Georgia." In 1873 a new constitution was adopted, the only material changes being the article on membership. Article 3 of the existing constitution, adopted in 1873, reads as follows: "Sec. I .- There shall be only one class of members in this association. Every regularly educated medical man within the limits of the state who is a graduate of a regular medical college in good standing, and who adopts and conforms to the code of ethics of the American Medical association, shall be eligible to membership in this body." The other material change in the organic law of the association was the organization of a high court in the body, known as "the board of censors." The duties and powers of the board of censors are as follows: Sec. I .- The board of censors shall hold annual meetings, concurrently with the annual sessions of the association, to whom shall be referred all applications for membership with vouchers from two members, and in such case their decision shall be reported to the body for action. Three of their number shall constitute a quorum, and the chairman and secretary shall be designated by the president." Sec. 2 .- They shall take cognizance of all offenses against the association or its code of ethics, and shall be authorized to strike from the list of membership all violators of its regulations, and shall report the names of individuals and the offense for which action has been taken immediately to the association, at which time or at the next succeeding meeting all such individuals may have the right to appeal to that body.

EVERY DISTINGUISHED PHYSICIAN A MEMBER.

The association has since its first organization embraced in its membership every distinguished physician in Georgia. At its annual meetings numerous medical papers are read and discussed. The year book issued by this body is regarded among the ablest issued by the various state medical societies in Amer- ica. The medical association of Georgia is, and has ever been, conspicuous in American medicine by reason of the marked ability of many of its members. Many of the ablest papers in the year books of the American Medical association, the American Public Health association, the American Surgical association, the American Gynecological society, the International Medical congress of 1876, and the Pan-American Medical congress of 1892, are from the pen of members of our State Medical association. Many of its members have attained world-wide fame. The association has been constant and zealous in promoting the objects of its organizations. Its membership numbers 369, from various counties in the state. There are about 1,500 regular physicians in Georgia, all of whom should be active members of an association with the high aims and purposes which animate the state association. Yet it seems impossible to enlist their co-operation. As a consequence of the lack of interest in the state association on the part of the majority of the physicians in our state the profession is utterly devoid of influence in shaping medical legislation. As individuals the physicians of Georgia are foremost in public confidence and respect in their respective communities, but collectively, it must be confessed, no equally reputable body of men is so poor in public influence in matters pertaining to their own calling. So far as my information extends the physicians of the state have failed to secure the passage of any medical bill carried before the general assembly. I cite a few recent in- stances: In 1875 the association sent a committee of its members before the leg- islature asking that the state establish an inebriate asylum, but the general assembly refused the request. In 1889 the Medical Association of Georgia, alive to its duties as conservators of the public health, prepared and presented to the legislature a bill for a state board of health. The bill contemplated the sup-

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port of the board by use of the annual state tax on doctors. But the "Potiphar peagreens" in the assembly promptly killed the bill because it cost something and that something only the annual tax wrongfully imposed upon physicians of the state. Here is a high tribute to the unselfishness of the medical profession of Georgia. Striving as a body to decrease the burden of preventable sickness and death in the entire state, and to the extent that the effort should be successful, thus sacrifice their professional incomes, yet hindered in their noble, self-sacrificing effort because of the insignificant annual cost of maintenance of a state sanitary board.

In 1893 the association renewed its efforts before the legislature to secure a state board of health. But this effort failed of success. In 1893 the State Medical association, desiring to elevate the standard of medical education in Georgia, drafted a bill solely in the interest of higher medical education in this state and asked the legislature to enact this bill, but it was defeated by the ignorance of our school of medicine with the aid of the irregulars and quacks.

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Memoirs of Georgia; containing historical accounts of the state's civil, military, industrial and professional interests, and personal sketches of many of its people. Vol. II, Part 22

Author: Publication date: 1859 Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association Number of Pages: 1166

Author:
Publication date: 1859
Publisher: Atlanta, Ga., The Southern historicl association
Number of Pages: 1166