USA > New York > Niagara County > History of the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels : Niagara University, Niagara County, N.Y., 1856-1906 > Part 7
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Thirteen students matriculated for this course of lectures, and both teachers and students engaged in the new enterprise with good cheer and earnest zeal. Before the year expired, ground had been purchased on Ellicott Street, between Broadway and Clinton Street, plans for a new college building had been made, and the edifice was well under way. It was not finished, however, in time for the open- ing of the second course of lectures, October 1, 1884; but by the beginning of the following year it was ready for occupancy. The occasion was celebrated by a public opening, and the classes were duly installed in the new quarters in January, 1885.
Thus began the Medical Department of Niagara University. Its first teachers were men of ability, zeal, and experience. Its pur- poses were better fitness on the part of the student for the study of medicine, and higher standards for graduation; and to realize them an entrance examination was at once exacted, a three years' graded course of study was entered upon (although a four years'
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course was recommended), and an examination was required in all the branches taught, the first examination being given by the fac- ulty, and the second and final one by an independent board of med- ical examiners appointed by the trustees of the University.
The original purposes of the school were never changed. Its faculty changed from time to time, either by death or resignation, but the vacancies were always supplied, for the most part, by good men. Reinforcements were constantly being made, and the stand- ards were gradually elevated till at last a full four years' graded course was established. Although many obstacles had to be met and overcome, although the classes were necessarily small and the income correspondingly limited, although there were no resources from endowments with which to remunerate teachers, yet the school steadily advanced in favor, excelled in the clinical teaching of med- icine, surgery, ophthalmology, otology, laryngology, and pre- eminently obstetrics, offered excellent laboratory facilities, enjoyed the great advantage of the personal contact of teacher with student - an advantage which can scarcely be overestimated - and, finally, found appointments to hospital positions for a larger proportion of its graduates than was ever done, probably, by any other college in this country. The college building had been greatly enlarged; the courses of study had been extended; the teaching force had been largely increased; and the school had seemed to reach its zenith point in 1897-'98, its fifteenth year.
Beginning April 12, 1886, and ending May 11, 1898, thirteen classes were graduated, with a total number of one hundred and thirty-seven, or an average of nearly eleven each year. The small- est graduating class was that of 1887, which numbered four, and the largest that of 1895, which numbered nineteen. In 1893-'94, the school opened its doors to women on the same terms as men. Several young women availed themselves of this privilege, and two have been graduated, viz., Miss Anna E. Hutchinson (1895) and Miss Mary O'Malley (1897).
Such is a brief outline of the history, aims, and some of the achievements of the Medical Department of Niagara University up to its last graduation, May 11, 1898. During the fifteen years of its existence great changes and advances have been wrought in the standards and requirements of medical schools, particularly in this State. State laws had imposed on medical colleges an entrance qualification and a three years' college course of study, and, by granting licenses only to those who passed an examination by an
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independent State Board of Medical Examiners, had disqualified a medical diploma as a license to practice. The demands upon medi- cal teaching had gradually increased till they had become so great that the income from students' fees was insufficient for necessary equipment and salaries, especially in schools where the number of students was small. In Buffalo, the University of Buffalo, under the influence of the progressive minds of its medical faculty, had made rapid strides toward reaching the higher ideals of medical teaching.
In the meantime, the Medical Department of Niagara Univer- sity had sustained an irreparable loss in the death of its president, Dr. John Cronyn, on February 11, 1898. Following his death such radical changes were made in the staff of the Sisters' Hospital that its clinical resources, which had been so essential to the suc- cess of the school, became diverted and seriously jeopardized. Con- fronted by these general and local conditions, and with both faculties working on nearly parallel lines, it became apparent that the effi- ciency of medical teaching and the interests of the medical profession in Buffalo could be best subserved by a union of the two schools and their equipments. After careful deliberation, and with the approval of the president and trustees of Niagara University, a plan was agreed upon by which to merge the medical faculty of Niagara Uni- versity with that of the University of Buffalo. With three or four regretted exceptions, all of the principal members of the former were received by the latter. The Medical Alumni of Niagara were to have all the privileges and recognition belonging to the Alumni of Buffalo, and the undergraduates were to be accepted as its stu- dents under the same conditions as those exacted of them by Niag- ara. This amalgamation was consummated June 21, 1898.
Events have already demonstrated the wisdom of this combi- nation, and it has received almost universal commendation. In thus merging its identity with that of another, older, and stronger medi- cal school, the Medical Department of Niagara University loses none of the honor and distinction which it has won as a pioneer in this State in laboring for better methods and higher standards in medical education. It has been faithful to its trust, and has con- summated its purpose. It will ever live in the medical history of this State as one of the advance guards in the struggle for the elevation of professional attainments. The University of Buffalo itself will recognize the value of its labors, and everywhere will its name be respected and its memory cherished .- A. A. H.
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To illustrate the position occupied in the professional and public mind by our Medical College during its career, we choose at random from many similar accounts of previous and succeeding years, that from the Buffalo Express of Wednesday, May 13, 1896. The article here reproduced, besides showing the minute interest taken by the press in what concerned our Medical College, will serve to record the names of many of its professors and alumni, now promi- nent in their profession throughout the country :
" Yesterday was a busy day for the medicos of Niagara Univer- sity. In the morning and afternoon the Medical Department Alumni Association of the University held its eleventh annual meeting in the amphitheater of the college building on Ellicott Street. The morning session was preceded by an examination of the candidates for graduation by the medical examiners of the University. The following is a list of those who passed this final ordeal: Joseph Patrick Francis Burke, Buffalo; Cornelius John Carr, Greenwood, N. Y .; Edward Charles Corston, Buffalo; Frank Ames Crosby, Hickory Corners, N. Y .; William Edward Goodsell, Medina; Mor- gan Daniel Hughes, Elmira; John Joseph Mahoney, Jamestown; George Elias Nour, Syria; James Albert Oliver, Stevensville, Ont .; Lieb Hirschow Sheiner, Buffalo; Gideon Davis Smith, North Che- mung, N. Y .; James Stanislaus Walton, Scranton, Pa.
" The morning session of the Medical Alumni Association opened at 10:30 o'clock, with the president, Joseph J. Kam, in the chair. The programme was carried out as published in the Express yester- day. In delivering the address of welcome, Dr. Carlton C. Fredericks heartily praised the work of the University and the hospitals. He spoke concerning the advances made in medical science in the Uni- versity and dwelt encouragingly upon the future of the institution. He regretted the opposition which the Medical Department had to contend with owing to the fact that some of the alumni were not strictly loyal to the institution. He said the Alumni Associa- tion was strong enough to be of the greatest benefit to the Univer- sity, and that in a measure its success was in their hands.
" Dr. John Cronyn spoke briefly in the same tenor. He said the Sisters' Hospital was now as well equipped as any, and that there was consequently no excuse for the sending of patients to other insti- tutions by the graduates of Niagara University.
" Dr. Joseph T. Kane, president of the Alumni Association, dwelt in review on the work of the past year and concluded his annual ad- dress with some remarks on ' Some Evils of Free Medical Attendance.'
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During his remarks he said that it happened more frequently than most people would think probable, that people who were well able to pay for medical attendance accepted free treatment at the dispen- saries.
" The business session, which followed, was opened with the read- ing of the minutes, and this was followed by the reading of memorial resolutions on the death of Bishop Ryan, who was chancellor of the University. The resolutions were prepared by a committee ap- pointed by the president, consisting of Dr. Cronyn and Dr. Lothrop of the faculty, and Dr. Gram of the alumni. The treasurer's report was read and Drs. Culbert, Hourigan, and Dunham were appointed by the chair as an auditing committee. On motion of Franklin C. Gram, M. D., it was voted that the permanent chair- man, Dr. John T. Twohey of Buffalo, secure a photograph and bio- graphical sketch of each member of the Alumni Association for future reference.
" The morning session was concluded with the election of the . following officers: President, Dr. Jacob S. Peterson, of New York; First Vice-President, Dr. F. W. Maloney, of Rochester; Second Vice-President, Dr. J. W. Nash, of Buffalo; Secretary, Dr. Henry Osthues, of Buffalo; Treasurer, Dr. Frederick M. Boyle, of Buffalo; Executive Committee, Dr. John J. Finnerty, Dr. Frederick A. Hayes, and Dr. J. G. Ernest, all of Buffalo.
" The afternoon session began at 3 o'clock and was devoted to the reading of papers on medical themes as follows: 'Involuntary Intox- ication from a Medico-Legal Standpoint,' Sidney A. Dunham, M. D .; 'Treatment of Retrodeviation of the Uterus,' C. E. Congdon, M. D .; ' Some Heart Lesions and Their Treatment,' D. L. Redmond, M. D .; 'Treatment of Puerperal Convulsions with Report of Cases,' L. G. Hanley, M. D .; 'Puerperal Eclampsia with Report of Cases,' J. S. Peterson, M. D. Discussions followed the reading of each of the different papers.
"The class commencement exercises of the Medical Department were held at the Star Theater, beginning at 8 o'clock in the even- ing. The theater was filled with the friends of the graduates whose names have already been mentioned. On the stage were seated mem- bers of the faculty of the University, the speakers of the evening, and others. The raising of the curtain disclosed the graduates in black college gowns and caps, standing at the front of the stage. From there they descended to the seats reserved for them in the orchestra chairs. The faculty were also gowned and hooded, the
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colors of the hoods designating the college degree. Purple and red denoted the degree of Doctor of Medicine; purple and white, Doctor of Philosophy ; and purple and scarlet, Doctor of Laws. The exer- cises were presided over by Dr. Lothrop, Vice-President of the col- lege faculty, who spoke briefly of the loss sustained by the University through the death of Bishop Ryan, its chancellor. Owing to the death of the chancellor, the trustees directed that the conferring of the degrees be done by John Cronyn, M. D., Ph. D., LL. D., presi- dent of the faculty.
" The valedictory address was delivered by Herman Mynter, M. D., professor of operative and clinical surgery. Among other things he said: 'I have, much against my desire, been selected to deliver the valedictory address to you to-night. My work among you has not been to theorize or generalize, but to teach you to apply the knowledge gained by lectures and study to the concrete case in the clinic room and at the bedside. I may, therefore, perhaps, consider this occasion a kind of clinic lecture with the patient left out, and with an assured and certain diagnosis of a number of full-fledged young physicians, try to give a prognosis of your future, and to lay down certain rules of treatment which may insure you a healthy professional life and the gratitude and esteem of your clients. Will you succeed and what is the road to success? There is but one royal road to success, and that is knowledge. With it you are bound to succeed. The opportunity will present itself. Come it will.'
" He told the graduates that their measure of success would depend largely on whether they were willing to go further into the search for knowledge, costly though that search might be. The student who devotes much time and $10,000 in the pursuit of knowledge will have a greater proportion of success and fame than the one who must or is content to limit himself to the outlay of $1,000 in the same search. He advised them to attempt to learn more also by practical work in hospitals and to retain membership in their medical societies. He told them not to start out with the idea that the world owes them a living. It does not, unless the living is hon- estly earned. He concluded by telling the young men to take unto themselves wives to share their joys, successes, sorrows, and misfor- tunes, all of which fall to the lot of the average man.
" Following this came the affirmation of the pledge by the grad- uates, who arose in their places in the orchestra.
"Dr. Cronyn then conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine on each candidate. The manner in which it was done was, as stated
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yesterday in the Express, in accordance with an ancient rite termed ' hooding.' Alvin A. Hubbell, M. D., Ph. D., Secretary of the col- lege, called each candidate to the stage separately. They were met by Dr. Buswell, who introduced them to the President with a Latin formula. Each candidate then knelt before the President, who, hold- ing the candidate's hand in his, pronounced the necessary formula in Latin, while they were 'hooded ' by another graduate. After the ceremony each signed his name to the pledge, which takes the place of the hippocratic oath. The ceremony, which is usual in the Eng- lish universities, is interesting and impressive. Dr. Lothrop stated that the three graduates who won highest honors in the final exami- nations were: John Joseph Mahoney, Jamestown, N. Y .; Joseph Patrick Francis Burke, Buffalo, N. Y .; and Morgan Daniel Hughes Elmira, N. Y.
" The Rev. Willard F. Mallalieu, D. D., Bishop of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church of this city, delivered the address to the grad- uates, having come home from the General Conference in Cleveland to do so. In part, he said: 'There are five learned professions ; the clerical and medical are the oldest, the most necessary, the most useful, the most honorable. Whatever changes take place in the progress of humanity, neither of these professions will cease to exist. The one has to do with the moral and spiritual needs of man, the other with the physical and material. The one has to do with things that are unseen and eternal, the other with things that are seen and temporal. While mortality is the sure inheritance of the physical frame, there must be those who, by natural endowments and much careful study, have qualified themselves to combat disease and minister to the needs of suffering, dying humanity. Dr. Mallalieu continued in many ways to draw parallels between doctors of the soul and the doctors of the body. He said: 'It will be seen the medical profession, which, to superficial observers, may appear to have to do only with the body and its physical ills, has a far wider and even vastly nobler scope, for it has within its range of observation and care the whole man, and so it is not only an ancient and honorable profession, but one of greatest dignity and importance.'
" He urged upon the graduates the necessity of keeping abreast with the times; constant study, he told them, was necessary. The world is moving swiftly along. It has achieved more in the past seventy-five years than it did in the previous 5,000 years. Never before has there been such a restless, resistless, persistent activity as in these closing years of the nineteenth century. He concluded by
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congratulating the graduates upon their auspicious going forth into their chosen profession, and told them to dare take for their motto, not the words, ' Ne Plus Ultra,' but simply ' Plus Ultra.'
" This concluded the exercises of the evening. Afterward the Alumni Association met at the Genesee Hotel, where they enjoyed the annual banquet. The tables were very beautifully and tastefully decorated and covers were laid for about 100. The toastmaster was Dr. Joseph J. Kane, President of the society. The following toasts were proposed and responded to: 'Niagara University,' the Rev. L. A. Grace, C. M .; ' The Alumni,' Dr. F. C. Gram; 'The Beloved Physician,' the Hon. R. B. Mahany ; ' Our Enemies,' D. V. Murphy ; 'The Expert Witness,' Dr. William C. Krauss; ' Stratford's Motto,' Editor Joseph O'Connor; 'The Newly Fledged,' Dr. John J. Mahoney.
" A competitive examination will be held some time later in the week to decide who shall be appointed to the positions in the hospi- tals. Three honor students will be appointed to the Sisters' Hospital and one to the Emergency Hospital."
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NIAGARA LAW SCHOOL
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CHAPTER VII
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY (Continued) - SCHOOL OF LAW ESTABLISHED - NOTABLE PETITIONERS - OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SPECIAL SCHOOLS - " BUFFALO COURIER'S " REPORT OF LAW SCHOOL'S FIRST COMMENCEMENT.
I N 1887 a petition signed by ten of the most prominent lawyers in Buffalo and its vicinity was addressed to the trustees of Niagara University, praying them to erect a school of law in Erie County. By the 6th of May of that year the articles govern- ing such a school were drawn up, accepted, and signed and the Niagara Law School became a fact.
The faculty consisted of these petitioners, who chose the Hon. Charles Daniels, then Justice of the Supreme Court, as dean, and the Hon. James M. Smith, former Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Buffalo, as associate dean. The rest of the faculty was made up of Hon. Charles Beckwith, Chief Judge of the Superior Court of Buffalo; Hon. James Sheldon, former Chief Judge of that court; Spencer Clinton, Esq., James Frazer Gluck, Esq., Hon. George Clin- ton, John George Milburn, Esq., Adalbert Moot, Esq., and Tracy Becker, Esq. During the course of the year, Hon. Albion W. Tour- gee and Le Roy Parker, Esq., were elected to membership among these legal celebrities.
It is a mistake to suppose that the trustees of the University threw out their drag nets as soon as they became empowered to main- tain special schools, and endeavored to draw within their jurisdiction as many separate faculties as could be induced to enter. The official correspondence relative to the creation of separate departments shows how cautiously the authorities proceeded, and what strict guarantees were required before they would lend their aid toward any movement of the kind. The legists who petitioned us to take them into our fold were anxious to gain legal recognition for their school, but were unable for financial reasons to secure the necessary consent of the Regents. We were asked to help a deserving cause, one which, like the aim of the Medical Department, purposed to increase the requirements and promote efficiency in the study of its special branch. We readily consented, although no monetary consideration whatever was present to influence us, nor could any reasonable hope be held
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out that recruits for our study hall would come to us by way of our newly established Department of Law. On the contrary, it was from our ranks that both the medical and law schools were enabled to draw matriculates in no small numbers.
On the evening of the 10th of October, 1887, the opening exer- cises of the Law School were held in the Library Building, Buffalo, Bishop Ryan, Chancellor of Niagara University, presiding, and a very large audience in attendance. The reception accorded by the public to the new venture was encouraging to a high degree, yet not more than might have been expected when the social and professional standing of the law faculty is taken into account. Special lectures became one of the distinguished features of the course, and were attended not only by the students proper, but by many others who had already taken degrees in the science of law. Such lecturers as Judge Daniels, John George Milburn, Esq., Hon. Albion W. Tour- gee, could not fail to attract especially post-graduate students of the specialties for which these gentlemen, as well as others of the faculty mentioned, had earned a national reputation.
During the next few years that this school remained under the supervision of Niagara's trustees it enjoyed deserved popularity and success. When, on February 10, 1891, the law faculty severed its connection with the University, affiliating its school to the Univer- sity of Buffalo, it was with the assurance formally expressed in very flattering terms that Niagara had, by its fostering care of the legal department while in its infancy, enabled our sister university to secure a law school of which the entire State of New York is deserv- edly proud. Professors and graduates of this, as of the Medical School, were received by the new trustees on a footing equal to that enjoyed by their own professional and student body, the best proof, it would appear, that the University of Buffalo appreciated this accession to its ranks from the legal and medical schools of Niagara University.
A HIGH COMPLIMENT
"We take the liberty of quoting the following from the Buffalo Morning Express of June 18, 1888: 'At the recent examination of law students for admission to the bar, conducted by the com- mittee of examiners, those students who had taken the course of lectures in the Buffalo Law School during the past year stood first in excellence. This is a good showing for the law school and speaks well for the thoroughness of the training which students receive there.'
" The Buffalo Law School is the Law Department of Niagara
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University. This being the first time our law students have entered into competition for legal honors, we have every reason to feel proud of their success."- Index, June 27, 1888.
The following account from the Buffalo Courier of Thursday, June 30, 1889, will illustrate the high esteem in which our Law School was held by the public, and the excellent standing which it had already acquired in the first two years of its existence:
" The Buffalo Law School's first commencement, held last even- ing in the lecture room of the Buffalo Library, was a very auspicious affair. The large attendance included a good sprinkling of the fair sex, whose interest in the limbs of the law was attested by handsome baskets and bouquets of flowers.
" Among those present were the Rt. Rev. Stephen V. Ryan, D. D., C. M., Chancellor ; and of the Faculty, the Hon. Charles Daniels, LL.D., Dean and Professor of Constitutional Law ; the Hon. Charles Beckwith, Professor of Equity Jurisprudence; the Hon. George S. Wardwell, Professor of the Law of Torts; Leroy Parker, Professor of the Law of Contracts and Private Rights; George Clinton, professor of Maritime Law and Admiralty ; Adelbert Moot, Professor of the Law of Evidence; Charles P. Norton, Registrar and Professor of the Law and Practice of Civil Actions ; and E. Corn- ing Townsend, Secretary and Treasurer. There were also present Judges Titus, Stern, Hammond, and Corlett, P. W. Lawler, and E. C. Robins.
" In the absence of Justice Daniels, Dean of the Faculty, who was detained at a country court and came in at a later stage of the pro- ceedings, the opening remarks were made very briefly by Judge Wardwell, who caused a little titter by saying that the introductory remarks would be reserved until near the close, when he hoped the worthy Dean would be present.
" Occupying the front row of seats sat the members of the gradu- ating class, a very intelligent-looking group. Their names are as follows : Herbert T. Auerbach, Corsicana, Texas; James B. Boyle, Auburn, N. Y .; Arthur C. Coffey, Buffalo; Godfrey M. Frohe, Buffalo; Loran Lewis, Jr., Buffalo; Julius A. Schreiber, Buffalo; A. Wallace Thayer, Buffalo; Louis L. Ullman, Buffalo.
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