USA > New York > Niagara County > History of the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels : Niagara University, Niagara County, N.Y., 1856-1906 > Part 6
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Diceres angelicos assimilare choros,
Gestabant roseam capite unaquaeque coronam;
Biblicus hanc illis Lazarus ipse parat. Lilia gestabant manibus bene olentia puris, Alpino indubie candidiora mire; Namque suos faciunt quos infortunia vexant,
Atque rosa est cordis dulcis imago pii. Non aberat quondam flammis Hopkinsius ustus, Sol veluti coelo luce nitens nimia.
" Conticuere omnes, intentique ora tenebant " Cum Regina istud protulit eloquium
Esto perpetua ! pietatis tu optima sedes, Quam nostrae quondam constituere manus, Qua pietas floret, qua, me custode, fideli Adduntur clero plurima membra pio. Hic viget aeternae divina scientia mentis Qua manet in terris intemerata fides. Esto perpetua! incolumis durabis in aevum, Auspiciis nunquam tu peritura meis. Instar rupis eris quam ventus et unda fatigant, Quam nec tantillum saeva procella movet. Non te turbabit nigris calumnia verbis, Nec molli furtim blanditie hypocrisis ; Non Satanas audax secunda vice redibit
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OUR LADY OF ANGELS
Te rursum flammis urere tartareis. Ac hisce in terris, veteri quas addidit orbi Italus antiquae nauta decus Genuae, Te cuncti sanctam, laudabunt atque beatam Te Matrem dicent Prolis Apostolicae. Subrisit verbis Divus Vincentius istis, Et grates semper, sint tibi, Mater, ait Nec mora; Coelicolae plausum emisere decorum Et finem obtinuit visio sancta suum. Plaudite vos omnes: manibus date lilia plenis, Prodeat ex labiis laus generosa piis, Prodeat in primis ferventi ex pectore; nobis Festivam hanc fecit Virgo beata diem.
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NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
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CHAPTER VI
CHANGE OF TITLE - " NIAGARA UNIVERSITY " - TEXT OF CHAR- TER - SCHOOL OF MEDICINE ESTABLISHED - HISTORICAL SKETCH BY DE. HUBBELL - REPORT OF THE "BUFFALO Ex- PRESS " ON THE ELEVENTH COMMENCEMENT OF THE MEDICAL SCHOOL.
T HE erection of the College and Seminary of Our Lady of Angels into a university was one of the most radical changes effected in our institution since its foundation. The S. O. L. A. of former times gave way to the Niagara University of the present - as far as legal title is concerned, but no further. As the stereotyped announcement in our catalogue has it, " none of the honored and sacred memories of the past shall be broken or marred. The Seminary of Our Lady of Angels both in name and individu- ality shall still be preserved; but instead of standing alone, as here- tofore, it has been associated with other departments of learning."
Some adverse criticism was passed on the faculty of '83 for adopting the seemingly grandiose title of Niagara University, as though new ambitions had seized the governing body of that year and quixotic schemes had been devised without the necessary equip- ment of men and money. University is certainly a bigger word than college or seminary; it is apt to make one think of colossal endowments, an endless string of buildings more or less contiguous and imposing, a regiment of faculties and an army corps of stu- dents, all of them wealthy if not wise. This conception is higher than that of the Regents of New York State, who, on August 7, 1883, finding that the condition of literature in the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels and the value of its property met all the require- ments of law, granted, ordained, and declared " the said Seminary to be erected into a college by the name hereinbefore mentioned (Niagara University) to have, possess and enjoy all the powers and privileges accorded to similar colleges within the jurisdiction of the Regent body." Among these " powers and privileges " was that of maintaining separate schools of learning, not only in Niagara County but also in the neighboring County of Erie, which embraces the City of Buffalo. Indeed, the main purpose of the change was to enable certain very reputable physicians of that city to found a
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medical school, whose extended course and rigorous requirements would help them to elevate the study of medicine from the very mediocre position into which it had fallen in the Empire State. Prior to the establishment of Niagara University's Medical College " there prevailed throughout the State, and, indeed, throughout the United States with very few exceptions, a system of medical teach- ing which almost entirely ignored an entrance requirement, and exacted but two repetition courses of lectures."
As a law of 1853 forbade the organization of any medical col- lege without a fund of fifty thousand dollars, and as the physicians who had espoused the cause of higher medical education in this State were not prepared to advance that sum for the exclusive maintenance of a medical school, recourse was had through the advice of Bishop Ryan to the trustees of Our Lady of Angels, " an institution possessing a creditable reputation and a considerable amount of property." "After due consideration by the late lamented Bishop Ryan, of Buffalo, and the authorities of the col- lege at Suspension Bridge, it was decided to erect that college into a university, which should have power to appoint any faculty it might deem proper." So the story runneth. We consented to become a university for the benefit mainly of a branch of learning which had fallen into disrepute among conscientious physicians of that day.
Of course, the trustees of '83 might have kept the word " univer- sity " out of print and legal existence in our title; they might have, as other institutions have done, clung to the name under which we were incorporated in 1863. A name may be a good thing; it may become an endearing object, but it is folly to erect it into a fetich, hugging it to our breasts as though it had life, power, or sense to hear and help us. It is only fair to give to the trustees at Niagara in '83-'84 the credit of having been as loyal, devoted, and conserva- tive in all things touching the welfare of our institution as their predecessors or those who have since taken up their burdens. The names of Stephen V. Ryan, Thomas J. Smith, Patrick V. Kavanagh, Michael J. Kircher, Michael Cavanaugh, Michael Rubi, John T. Landry, are sufficient guarantee that the change of our legal title was not effected without the best of reasons.
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NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
By the Regents of the University of the State of New York. .
WHEREAS, The trustees of the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, located near Niagara Falls in the County of Niagara, which was organized under the provisions of Chapter 190 of the Laws of 1863, have in due form made application to the Regents of the University to erect the said Seminary into a college, as authorized by Chapter 92 of the Laws of 1883, whenever in the opinion of the said Regents the state of literature in the said Sem- inary and the value of its property, according to the regulations of the said Regents shall justify the same; and, whereas, it is further provided by the said Act, Chapter 92, of the Laws of 1883, that the said college shall have the power to maintain any depart- ment of learning that is maintained by any college or university in this State; and, whereas, the petitioners ask that the said Semi- nary be erected into a college or university, with such powers and privileges as are provided in said statute, and as shall seem proper to the said Regents, and that the said college or university, with such powers and privileges as are provided in said statute and as shall seem proper to the said Regents, may be known as NIAGARA UNI- VERSITY, and may have the persons hereinafter named as the first trustees thereof :
And, whereas, the said petitioners have represented by their peti- tion and statement as to the literary and financial condition of the said Seminary that they hold and are possessed of suitable college grounds and buildings near Niagara Falls aforesaid, and a suitable library and philosophical and chemical apparatus of the value respec- tively as therein stated, and that the provision made for the care, conduct, and management of the said college is such as will insure its efficient working and permanent establishment ;
And we, the said Regents, having considered the said applica- tion, and being of the opinion that the same ought to be granted, in consideration of the premises and in pursuance of the authority in us by law vested, do grant, ordain and declare that the said Sem- inary of Our Lady of Angels shall be, and is hereby erected into a college, by the name hereinbefore mentioned, for the instruction of youth in the learned languages and in the liberal and useful arts and sciences ; it being, however, expressly provided and made obli- gatory that the requirements for admission to the Freshman Class and for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in said college be estab-
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lished and maintained at a standard equal to that of other colleges of this State; that the trustees of said college shall be ten in num- ber; that Stephen V. Ryan, Patrick V. Kavanagh, Michael J. Kircher, Thomas Smith, Michael Cavanaugh, Michael Rubi, John T. Landry, Francis Hannigan, Edward Antill, and John Barry, the persons named in that behalf by the said petitioners shall be the first trustees thereof, and that they and their successors shall be a body corporate by the name of Niagara University, and shall have, pos- sess, and enjoy all the powers and privileges, and be subject to such limitations and restrictions in all respects as are now or may be hereafter prescribed by the statutes of this State in regard to col- leges or by the ordinances or regulations of us, the said Regents, in conformity to law; and that the said institution shall have and possess the general powers of a corporation under the Revised Statutes of this State.
And it is hereby further declared that the said college shall be subject to the visitations of us, the said Regents, and of our succes- sors in such manner as is now or may hereafter be prescribed by law or by the ordinances of us, the said Regents, for ourselves and our successors do hereby reserve the right, at any time hereafter, to alter, modify or repeal this Charter.
In witness whereof we, the said Regents, have caused our common seal to be hereon impressed, and our Chancellor and Secretary to subscribe their names this seventh day of August, in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.
Subscribed by Chancellor Pierson and Secretary Murray.
During the fifteen years that Niagara Medical College was in existence ('83-'98) it proved itself a powerful factor in the eleva- tion of a study which had fallen into serious disrepute through the generally lax methods pursued in the admission of matriculates for the study of medicine. Indeed, it was Niagara Medical College which inaugurated a movement since become obligatory in our State of requiring four years of study before the degree of M. D. could be obtained. An entrance examination very much higher than the then prevailing standards was at once established, while the course was raised immediately to three years, making it a year longer than the courses generally followed at that time. As a natu- ral consequence, the halls of the new school were not overcrowded by students eager to avail themselves of opportunities grand in themselves but offset by the greater length of time required before
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the coveted degree of M. D. could be obtained. Only thirteen matriculated for the first course of lectures, some of which were held at the Sisters' Hospital in Buffalo, beginning October 10, 1883, and others in a rented hall nearer to the center of the city. So confident, however, of success were the gentlemen who had under- taken the maintenance of the new school that they purchased ground and began at once the erection of a suitable building.
By the first of January, 1885, it was ready for occupation, and shortly after the classes were regularly installed in their new quar- ters. Possessing now a home of its own, enjoying also exceptional facilities for clinical lectures through the courtesy of the Sisters of Charity, who threw open their excellent hospital to the faculty and students, the new school soon gained increased attendance from those who were willing to hasten slowly in the prosecution of a study demanding above all things patient investigation along the newer lines of discovery in the medical world. It was not long before the thorough system of teaching thus inaugurated in the face of much conservative opposition began to attract attention and commendation from the press, the Regents of New York State and the medical body generally. The purpose originally declared, and finally accomplished through legislation, of extending the course of medicine to four years, just double of what it had been formerly, naturally won the support of the public and of those established exponents of public thought, the newspapers. A leading journal of Chicago, as far back as '85, replying to the query of a corre- spondent as to the rank of medical colleges in the United States, rated Niagara Medical College fourth in a list of sixteen, while another journal of the same city, about the same date, gave it the distinguished place of third among a like number.
Nor could it well be otherwise, considering the calibre of the men who gave their time and their splendid talents to the accom- plishment of this work. The first faculty was composed of John Cronyn, M. D., President, professor of the principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine; Thomas Lothrop, M. D., Vice- President, professor of obstetrics; Alvin A. Hubbell, M. D., Secre- tary, professor of ophthalmology, otology, and laryngology ; Henry D. Ingraham, M. D., professor of gynecology and diseases of children ; William S. Tremaine, M. D., professor of the principles and practice of surgery and clinical surgery ; Charles C. F. Gay, M. D., professor of operative and clinical surgery; Charles G. Stockton, M. D., Treasurer, professor of materia medica and
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therapeutics; Augustus R. Davidson, M. D., professor of medical chemistry, pharmacy and toxicology; George E. Fell, M. D., pro- fessor of physiology and microscopy; William H. Heath, M. D., professor of descriptive and surgical anatomy; Clayton M. Daniels, M. D., professor of clinical surgery and adjunct professor of surgery; the Honorable Joseph M. Congdon, professor of medi- cal jurisprudence; John L. C. Cronyn, M. D., demonstrator of anatomy.
Among the biographical sketches published in our World's Fair Souvenir Volume is one of the late Dr. John Cronyn, president of the Niagara School of Medicine during all the term of its exist- ence. Readers of that article will learn the quality of the man who was foremost in the movement to elevate the standard of study in medicine throughout the State of New York. His personal traits, his vast experience in private practice, his position as sur- geon or physician-in-chief at the Sisters' Hospital, Buffalo, for a period covering more than thirty years, eminently qualified him to be the active head of such a movement.
Dr. Cronyn succeeded in gathering about him a band of support- ers, nearly every one of whom had already made his mark in some special branch of the medical profession. Prominent among these was the late Dr. Thomas Lothrop, who at the time of his election to the vice-presidency of the new school, had already spent a quarter of a century in the City of Buffalo in the practice of his profes- sion. Erudite, of charming personality, he was from the beginning to the end of our medical school's existence a most zealous and efficient worker with the others who, from its inception, or later in its course, became members of its faculty.
Another physician who contributed extensively to the success of the new movement was Dr. Alvin A. Hubbell, Secretary, pro- fessor of ophthalmology and otology from the time of the school's organization until its absorption into the University of Buffalo. Tireless in his efforts to promote the work in hand, genial of man- ner, enjoying in his specialties a reputation among the foremost in the country, Dr. Hubbell proved himself a most powerful aid in the building up and solidification of the medical department.
The list of surgeons and physicians who at one time or another served on this faculty embraced some of the most distinguished practitioners in the United States. At the bedside of President McKinley, after his assassination, were gathered some of the best medical men that the second city of the Empire State could furnish.
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Two of them were from among the former professors of Niagara Medical College. About a year ago the press of Buffalo announced the death of one of them, Dr. Herman Mynter, formerly professor of surgery, and a recognized authority on subjects connected with his special department. Niagara boys who had'occasion to come under his professional care through football synovitis or aristocratic appendicitis will hear with regret of his demise, and will recall how the big, bluff surgeon could be as gentle as a nurse and as jovial as a schoolboy " when not on duty." Peace to his ashes.
It would be an agreeable task for us to record in detail the worth of such members of the medical faculty as Drs. Ingraham, Tre- maine, Gay, Daniels, and their associates in the work of uplifting the study of medicine to the position which it now holds in our State. But such extended notice is incompatible with the plan to be followed in these compilations. Special mention, however, must be made of one who, though lay to the profession, was largely instrumental in bringing the plans of the physicians to a successful termination. The Honorable Thomas V. Welch, lately one of Niagara's trustees, but since deceased, was in '85 our Representa- tive in the Assembly at Albany, and espoused the cause of the pro- jected school with such characteristic energy that legal difficulties were adjusted satisfactorily and the signature of Governor Cleve- land obtained to the bill erecting us into a university, with special enactment obtained later of maintaining any of our schools in Erie County.
After fifteen years of uninterrupted labor in the special field marked out for the Niagara Medical School by its founders, it was merged into that of the Buffalo University, June 21, 1898, with all its purposes accomplished.
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF NIAGARA UNIVERSITY
By ALVIN A. HUBBELL, M. D.
In the winter of 1882-'83, an agitation arose in regard to the feasibility and desirability of organizing a second school of regular medicine in the City of Buffalo. The large population of Buffalo, its central location in a large tributary territory, and its available clinical advantages, seemed to warrant the idea that such a school would be acceptable and that it could be creditably maintained. Out- side the medical faculty of the University of Buffalo, there was a number of men of the city, in the profession, who seemed to possess the fitness, either by natural aptitude, education, or experi- ence, requisite for medical teachers. Some of these men met together and decided that a school might be organized which should require a better preparation for the study of medicine and a graded and more extended college course of lectures.
At that time, there prevailed throughout the State, and, indeed, throughout the United States, with very few exceptions, a system of medical teaching which almost entirely ignored an entrance requirement, and exacted but two repetition courses of lectures. That the standards should be advanced had become apparent to most thoughtful and educated men. The revelations of physiologi- cal chemistry, the discoveries in bacteriology, the new views in regard to etiology and pathology, had created a demand for more laboratory courses, and the needs for fuller equipment, more time, and more teachers on the part of medical colleges. To break away from the old methods and the old curricula required much courage, and the older medical faculties hesitated. New "blood," or the inspiration of generous endowments of money, seemed to be the only force which could undertake to bring about a higher order of teaching methods and of entrance and of graduation requirements. The University of Buffalo was already doing its best on the old lines. Its faculty, at that time, was controlled by the conservative spirit of its older members, and there was little disposition to change. There was no need of another school in Buffalo unless it could take a position higher than that of others in the State, and endeavor to answer more fully the demands which seemed to be pressing upon medical teaching.
It was, therefore, with these higher ideals in view that a few Buffalo physicians, led by that learned and excellent man, the late
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Doctor John Cronyn, started out to organize another school. But how was it to be done? By the law of 1853, no medical college could be organized in this State without a fund of fifty thousand dollars. It was at first believed that one could be founded in connection with the Buffalo Hospital of the Sisters of Charity, but it was soon ascertained that there was no law to justify it. Through the sug- gestion of Dr. Cronyn, the matter was then presented to the presi- dent and board of trustees of an institution of learning at Suspen- sion Bridge, below Niagara Falls, New York, which had been in existence since 1856, and which had acquired a creditable reputation and a considerable amount of property. It had been chartered by a special act of the State Legislature, with the provision that at any time, when the value of its property had reached a certain sum, it might be erected into a university by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The financial status had been reached by which it could avail itself of the privileges of its charter. After due consideration by the late lamented Bishop Ryan of Buffalo, and the authorities of the college at Suspension Bridge, it was decided to erect that college into a university which should have power to appoint any faculty it might deem proper. There being some doubt, however, about it having the right, when created, to main- tain a faculty in Buffalo, the Honorable Thomas V. Welch, of Niag- ara Falls, at that time a member of the State Legislature, effected the enactment of an amendment to the original law, by which such university, when organized, should have power to maintain any of its colleges in any place in the County of Erie. According to the provisions of this and previous enactments, the regents of the Uni- versity of the State of New York erected the College and Seminary of Our Lady of Angels into Niagara University, granting the charter, August 7, 1883.
Anticipating the action of the regents, all plans had at that time been completed for the medical school. The Sisters' Hospital was pledged to it for clinical purposes, such facilities as it had for lectures and laboratories, and the prospective members of the pro- posed medical faculty were assigned to services in the hospital.
As soon as Niagara University was chartered, the following gentlemen, all living in Buffalo, were appointed to its medical fac- ulty : John Cronyn, M. D., professor of the principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine; Thomas Lothrop, M. D., pro- fessor of obstetrics ; Alvin A. Hubbell, M. D., professor of ophthal- mology, otology, and laryngology; Henry D. Ingraham, M. D.,
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professor of gynecology and diseases of children; William S. Tre- maine, M. D., professor of the principles and practice of surgery and clinical surgery ; Charles C. F. Gay, M. D., professor of oper- ative and clinical surgery ; Charles G. Stockton, M. D., professor of materia medica and therapeutics; Augustus R. Davidson, M. D., professor of medical chemistry, pharmacy, and toxicology; George E. Fell, M. D., professor of physiology and microscopy; William H. Heath, M. D., professor of descriptive and surgical anatomy; Clayton M. Daniels, M. D., professor of clinical surgery and adjunct professor of surgery ; the Honorable Joseph M. Congdon, professor of medical jurisprudence; John L. C. Cronyn, M. D., demonstrator of anatomy.
Doctor Cronyn was elected President of the faculty; Doctor Lothrop, Vice-President; Doctor Hubbell, Secretary; and Doctor Stockton, Treasurer. The first announcement was ready for distri- bution soon after the completion of the organization. The first course of lectures began on October 10, 1883, at the Sisters' Hos- pital. Dissections were carried on in a building in its neighborhood, and the few students who entered this first course were provided with laboratory facilities in the private laboratory of Doctor Davidson, at the corner of Main and Chippewa streets. The dis- tance to the Sisters' Hospital was so great that, during the last half of the course, most of the didactic lectures were given in rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association Building, corner of Mohawk and Pearl streets.
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