USA > Pennsylvania > Philadelphia County > Philadelphia > A History of the Medical Class of '77, University of Pennsylvania > Part 1
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COUNTWAY LIBRARY HC 18P1 L
Dupl 0
IED.
AILAD
-710
EX LIBRIS
D . MDCCLXXX
NOX SINI SED TOTI
1
DUPLICATE. College of Physicians, OF PHILADELPHIA.
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A HISTORY
OF THE
MEDICAL CLASS OF 77
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
BY
J. M. ANDERS
BOSTON MEDICAL LIBRARY IN THE FRANCIS A. COUNTWAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
1887
..
4/61
Press of GEORGE H BUCHANAN AND COMPANY PHILADELPHIA
PREFACE
In preparing the present class record, the author has aimed to avoid the error of reproducing flatter- ingly drawn pictures of his fellow-members; while, on the other hand, he has, obviously, been compelled . to indulge in personalities, which he trusts, however, are of a sinless nature, or such as may be readily overlooked.
J. M. A.
INTRODUCTORY
At the expiration of a decennium, a small com- munity of Esculapian gentlemen, familiarly known to themselves as the " Class of '77," have turned from their accustomed labors for a brief period of fraternal salutation and convivial meeting. It is pleasing to reflect that after the lapse of one decade of disassociation, they should harmoniously seek to renew those friendly ties, whose birthplace was the bosom of their beloved Alma Mater. Forsooth, manifestations of mutual regard and attachment such as they would exhibit, cannot but call forth the approval of all right-thinking citizens. In com- memorating, on this gala occasion, the tenth anni- versary of our graduation, the object should be not only to rejuvenate old associations, but also to endeavor to promote our individual interests, and our influence, as a body, upon society at large. In no other way, perhaps, could these most desirable aims be more successfully accomplished than by the formation of a permanent class organization. And as class fellows let us be happy in the belief that as we move onward with the current of life into futurity, each new year may tend to strengthen the bond of friendship which unites us as members of one class, and as members of one common brotherhood.
Within the decade which links the present with the time of our graduation, many events of great interest and notable importance have taken place in the social condition of our people; and while to record here the great majority of these occurrences would be irrelevant, there are one or two facts
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which stand out so prominently as to attract our especial attention as members of the medical pro- fession. The advances which have been made in every department of medical science during the same period, are really unequaled in the history of medi- cine. While space is wanting merely to enumerate these numerous advancements severally, the assertion is here ventured modestly, that to their aggregate results, the medical " Class of '77 " has furnished no widow's mite.
Whether this statement is in accord with strict justice, however, will be evident hereafter. Again, at the beginning of the last decennium, the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, which two years previously had adopted a new and improved medical curriculum, demanding among other requirements, attendance upon three full sessions, first conferred the degree of Doctor of Medicine under the new plan of medical education.
The institution of this admirable system formed the most important step toward the attainment of a higher order of medical instruction; and this is altogether worthy of permanent preservation in connection with the history of our class. The authorities to whom is due the credit of having brought about this commendable change of method, have thus lent added lustre to their eminence. And although the glory which covers the alumnus under the new system, would seem to surpass that of the alumnus under the old, perhaps " We ought to blame the culture and not the soil." The memories sur- rounding our college days are alike amusing and precious.
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Not a few of the pranks indulged in (by my collegiate fellows), would furnish incidents for mem- oirs of rare interest.
The writer recalls one occurrence, at least, which is pregnant with moral lessons of great worth, to the minds of those who can appreciate them; and he will with great trepidation undertake its faithful recital.
While sitting on the front seat in the lecture hall, awaiting the arrival of the professor of thera- peutics, to his utter surprise there suddenly appeared just above him, the prostrate form of a male human being, whose name he thinks was Polus, who had been gently borne down on the arms of some of his fellow students from his lofty habitat on the topmost bench. Though this performance, to speak accu- rately, was not strictly similar to the toboggan slide, nevertheless, it possessed many of the salient features of that modern sport.
In 1876 the Centennial Exposition was held in Philadelphia, an historical event of unprecedented interest and importance. Indeed, during the time of that wonderful display of the world's products, Philadelphia seemed to absorb well-nigh the whole country. It seems to me we ought to have a reason- able pride in the fact, that we pursued our medical studies in times that will not be repeated in the present century, and in times when the greatest edu- cational establishment the world has ever known, probably inspired us with noble enthusiasm.
One notes with pleasure the cordial relation that existed between our honored professoriate and the class here represented. How truly great was our
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admiration for their genius as tutors, and our grati- tude for their earnest patient efforts in our behalf. By their wise counsel and generous sympathy they created no slight degree of endearment between themselves and their pupils. Does any one query whether our friendship and admiration for them has, in the ten years which lie behind us, suffered any diminution ? We answer, by no means. Happily by indicating their presence on this occasion, there is afforded an opportunity to express anew, not only the high place which they now occupy in our esteem, but also the profound gratitude we still feel for the excellent training received at their hands. Indeed, we desire to tender to them this day the dearest tribute of our affection. Though it is done most regretfully, mingled with kindly feelings, it seems to be incum- bent to record here the melancholy fact, well-known to all of us, namely, the demise of not less three of our cherished teachers since the date of our first meeting. Their names, which have been the honor of the medical profession, never fail of delighting the ears of those present.
On December 30th, 1876, Prof. Joseph Carson died, at the age of 68 years, of fatty degeneration of the heart. Then followed a pause, succeeded by the death of Prof. Francis Gurney Smith, April 6th, 1878, of hemiplegia, at 60 years of age; another pause, followed by the death of Robert E. Rogers, September 6th, 1884, in his seventy-second year. Facts so mournful as these should serve to remind us that
" Death's invisible come winged with fire."-Dryden.
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To us medical men it might prove to be useful to allude incidentally to an endemic, which rather suddenly developed near the close of our college days. The most distinctively peculiar features of this outbreak, were : first, that it was seen to affect only those students who expected soon to graduate; and secondly, it attained its full development on the first day of the final examination.
The complaint was characterized chiefly by such symptoms as great pallor of countenance, pal- pitation of the heart, loss of appetite, disturbed sleep, increased flow of urine and a state of the nervous system which might be called quaky. In no instance did the affection prove fatal, though during the attack the most awful forebodings were constant concomitants. The method of termination was as curious as it was variable, in that, after the terrible ordeal was past those who were not invited to a seat in the " bus" immediately recovered ; while those who were favored by a summons to the time-honored " shay " at once developed a relapse.
In the presence of a magnificent and impressive scene, surrounded by kind friends, we received the degree of Doctor of Medicine on the twelfth day of March, 1877, in the American Academy of Music in this city. That was for us a proud and gala day. The sublime and beautiful impressions made by the exercises on that occasion remain to-day in our minds unfaded. The valedictory address was deliv- ered by Professor Joseph Leidy. His valuable sug- gestions and instructions to us, as to the proper discharge of our professional duties, have, it is hoped, been remembered until the present. It is
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perhaps a noteworthy fact that that was our last meeting as a class, if we except the present. There followed directly a cheerless parting-some returning to their former homes, scattered throughout nearly every State in the Union, as well'as other countries, others adopting new abodes in which to begin their professional career, while still another proportion- ten in number-not natives of Philadelphia, like the sailors of Ulysses, who, on coming to the coast and eating of the lotus, lost all wish to return home, remained in the City of Brotherly Love. From the records of many members, there can be little room to doubt that the majority of the "Class of '77" entered upon their noble calling with high hopes of future success and glory-a fact which on the present occasion should bring to our minds great pleasure and satisfaction, since it has happily saved us from what otherwise would have been our merited fate-comparative oblivion. For the biographic facts pertaining to our class, during the past ten years, the writer has relied chiefly upon the data furnished by each individual member concerning his own record. And now, each one of us may be pardoned for wishing to hear the story of his own register, and of the influence which his life in a single decade has exerted upon the social evolu- tion of this great nation. Whilst such chronicles as these would in themselves form an interesting chapter in the annals of our race, the writer has presumed to add certain reflections based upon per- sonal knowledge and much painstaking research. It will be convenient to consider our record of mem- bership in alphabetical order.
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CLASS HISTORY
M. VINTON ADAMS, M. D., the first member, was born May 25, 1853, in Litchfield, Maine, and is the only one from the far away Pine State. He was educated in Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College, at Kent's Mill, Maine. For a considerable period prior to commencing his medical studies, he was engaged in teaching, or as Goldsmith has it-
"The village master taught his little school."
After he had read medicine for more than four years, he decided to enter college, where he finished his medical education by devoting himself to lectures for another presidential term of four sessions. It should be stated however, that three courses of lectures had been attended at the medical school of Maine (Bowdoin College), before coming to the University of Pennsylvania. Since he was graduated he has resided at Lisbon Falls, and Brunswick, at which latter place he is now practicing general medicine, quite successfully. He is a member of the Maine Medical Association ; is married and has one child, a boy.
JAMES M. ANDERS, M. D., a grateful member, was born July 22, 1854, at Fairview village, Mont- gomery County, Pa. He received his earlier mental training in the old "Oak Tree" school, in the Public High School at Norristown, and in a theological seminary at Wadsworth, Ohio. . Before entering the University of Pennsylvania, in the Fall of the year 1875, he had read medicine for one year with Dr. G. K. Meschter. In June, 1877, the degree of
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Doctor of Philosophy was conferred upon him, by the Provost of the University, receiving at the same time, the George B. Wood Prize for his essay on "The Transpiration of Plants. " About December 1, 1877, he entered the Protestant Episcopal Hospital of Philadelphia, as resident physician, remaining until March 31, 1879. Later he was appointed to the post of assistant physician on the visiting staff. On April 10, 1879, he settled in Philadelphia with a view to following general medical pratice. In 1885 he became a member of the Bureau of Scientific Infor- mation, Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, chair of Forestry and the Relation of Plant-life to Health. He is also a member of several medical and scientific societies and he has occasionally contributed articles to sundry periodicals. In October, of the year 1886, he issued a work bearing the title " House-Plants as Sanitary Agents; or, The Relation of Growing Plants to Health and Disease." Recently he was appointed.chief of the surgical service in the medical department of the North Fourth Street Mission. As a practicing physician, his aim has been, and ever shall be, to merit no higher claim than that of being a friend of suffering humanity.
FRANK P. BALL, M. D., a worthy member, was born at Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylva- nia, May 22, 1856, was reared at Lock Haven, and educated at Lock Haven Seminary, as well as by a private tutor. Having read medicine for one year, he wisely adopted the systematic course of three sessions at the University of Pennsylvania. During our college days he was observed not to be freely
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communicative, though when talking, it was to and not from, any point. Always neat in dress, he also possessed much native dignity. After graduating, Dr. Ball exemplified the Biblical passage, "He wandereth about for bread!" Having first pursued his profession for a short time at Chester, Pa., then for another short period at Salona, Pa., and removing thence to Lock Haven, where he has permanently located. Here he is following general practice with success, and in vigorous health. His classmates will be rejoiced to hear that he has performed all of the amputations and other opera- tions in general surgery, two craniotomies inclusive. Both in the Lycoming County Medical Society and the Clinton County Medical Society, he has been elected to membership.
WM. BLUNT BARHAM, M. D., a prominent member from Virginia, is easily recollected by the writer as the victim of a practical joke at the close of our last session, The story deserves to be briefly narrated. After being examined by the faculty, Barham, who was known to be very solicitous of the decision of the great tribunal in his own case, was told by one of the conspirators that Mr. Salvador had learned from a source behind the scenes, that he (Barham) was among the number who had been "pitched." He at once repaired to his boarding- house hourly expecting the "bus" which never came. At 10 o'clock P. M. he chanced to the Uni- versity, to receive the hearty congratulations of his friends, conspirators inclusive. Handsome apolo- gies were made but not accepted until the chief of
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sinners agreed to " set up" oysters for the crowd. To his great delight his notice of graduation, on the following morning, bore the word unanimous. He would to-day propose. to all of his classmates Rip Van Winkle's toast : " Here's to your good health, and your family's-may they all live long and prosper."
Dr. Barham was born in Southampton County, Virginia, January, 13, 1852, and was brought up in the same district. His early life was spent in the common schools of his native county. In 1869, he entered Buckham Academy, Hartford County, North Carolina, where he was under the tuition of Prof. Gubian H. Picot. Thence he went to Randolph Macon College, Ashland, Va., remaining for three ses- sions. Dr. Barham was a three-session student, one session, the first, having been spent at the Univer- sity of Virginia. After he was graduated he en- tered upon the practice of medicine with the ardor of a neophyte at Newsom's, Southampton Co., Va., where he still resides, and has met with excel- lent success. The latter fact need not surprise those of us who were familiar with his personal qualities during our college days. In the Medical News for September, 9, 1882, he reported "A Case of Long Standing, Neglected Umbilical Hernia, Resulting in Perforation of the Abdominal Walls and Death." The rest of this paper is of minor importance. He is a member of the Medical Society of Virginia, and a school trustee for the district in which he lives. Twice has he performed Larrey's shoulder amputation, once successfully. On the 4th of May, 1881, he married Miss Fannie Berkeley, of Hanover County, Va., and they have two children.
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CHARLES BAUM, M. D., a model member, is a native of Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, born January 1, 1855, and at once began to receive New Year congratulations. The period of his youth was spent at York, Pa. His preliminary education was obtained at the York County Academy and at Pennsylvania College, from which latter he received A. B., and later, A. M. At the University of Pennsylvania he attended three sessions, having read medicine for six months prior to admission. In 1878, the Provost of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. It will excite but little surprise among those not already acquainted with the fact, to learn that a physician laboring under the three degrees of a university, namely : batchelor, master and doctor, should have made recently a trip to France in attendance upon a prominent patient. Dr. Baum has done something for the profession. He has made valuable statistical researches on sur- gical subjects for Professor D. Hayes Agnew, and has published important articles, from among which we note the following : "Statistics on Nephrectomy" (Phila. Med. Times, Vol. XV, p. 387). Formerly he was one of the attending physicians to the Northern Home for Friendless Children ; resident physician at Pennsylvania Hospital (February 1, 1879, June 1, 1880), and visiting physician for Northern Dispensary, 1880-81. He is a Fellow of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia, a member of the Philadelphia County Medical Society, and of the Sydenham Medical Coterie. Although prac- ticing general medicine with gratifying success, he
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has performed leading operations, as follows: Liga- tion of femoral artery ; herniotomy for strangulated femoral, hernia, and tracheotomy. Of our friend, it may be truly said that he is proficient; is well- disposed, unaffected in manners and esteemed by a large number of patients and friends.
THOMAS J. BIRCH, M. D., a typical member, who, according to the register in the University of Pennsylvania, came to college from New Haven, " Long River " State. Of his course since the date of graduation but little could be learned, and that little, which is admirably calculated to excite our sympathy, was obtained from another fellow-mem- ber who is authority for the statement, that Dr. Birch " Has been put in the alms-house, and also in the prison,"-as physician-in-charge. After all therefore he fills a conspicuously prominent position in life, and is to be regarded as a valuable Yankee member of his class. Under all the circumstances we ought perhaps extend our sympathies to the inmates of the institutions under his care, rather than to the doctor himself. Ever since he left col- lege his home has been in Port Carbon, Pa. Here his success as a family physician has been most excel- lent. Dr. Birch's wife, for he belongs to the married part of the class, was a Miss Brown, daughter of Dr. Brown, a prominent medical practitioner of the same town.
DOWLING BENJAMIN, M. D., an influential mem- ber from across the great deep, comes from an old Southern family distinguished for patriotism from the revolutionary war down. He was born in Balti-
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more, January 23, 1849. When but three weeks old, he lost his father by a railroad disaster. He was given a thorough common school education, and in 1866 took up the study of pharmacy, subse- quently passing the board of examiners in pharmacy of Baltimore. In 1872 he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. N. Jamar, of Port Deposit, and later with Drs. J. M. Ridge, of Camden, and D. Hayes Agnew, of Philadelphia. He first came under the care of his Alma Mater in 1874, and at the time of graduation received honorable mention for his excellent thesis on "Contagion." In 1874 he located in Camden, and in 1876 he represented the Druggists' Association of Camden in the National Pharmaceutical Association, before which body he successfully urged the adoption of a practical course in the colleges. In the practice of medicine and surgery he has met with complete success. . He is a member of the following among other societies: Camden County Medical (having also served as its president), State Medical Society of N. J., Inter- national Medical Congress (section on surgery). In 1885, Dr. Benjamin was a delegate from the New Jersey State Medical Society, to the American Medical Association, and after a stormy debate succeeded in passing his resolution, " To have the course of study for medical students at colleges in this country advanced from a two-session course to a three years' course, a much-needed reform." Among journalists he is regarded as a valuable con- tributor to medical periodicals, having published articles in the Medical and Surgical Reporter, Medical Times, Medical Bulletin and others. At
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present he is a member of the executive council of the State Sanitary Association; also, surgeon to the Pennsylvania Railroad (West Jersey), to the Camden Iron Works, and essayist to the State Medical Society. In 1879 he married Miss Sarah Cooper White, a niece of Dr. J. M. Ridge; has had three children, one, Stella, being deceased. It is seen that he has taken an active part in the deliberations of state and national medical bodies,, making his influence everywhere felt beyond question, and this is what would be expected from a knowledge of his personal characteristics, being courageous, forcible in debate and having great determination of mind.
WILLIAM H. BULL, M. D., a cheerful member, had been a citizen of Philadelphia prior to entering the University as a medical student, which latter step he took rather late in life. He was a close student, and one enjoying much popularity among many of his class-fellows. One of his most marked characteristics was his hearty appreciation of things humorous. When graduated, he settled as a physi- cian in the southern section of Philadelphia, and according to popular rumor he rapidly acquired a lucrative family practice. But he had not practiced long when he got into by-turnings which led from his professional pathway, the latter having become really dislikeful. At last report he was engaged as asalesman in a leading commercial establishment in Philadelphia.
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