USA > Pennsylvania > A history of the Medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from its foundation in 1765 > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
From the time that Dr. Wistar assumed the duties of Ad- junct Professor of Anatomy, in 1792, he devoted his whole energy and the resources of his well-instructed mind to main- tain that important branch-the foundation of all medical knowledge-on the highest level of efficiency; and not only did he sustain himself without detriment to his reputation in contrast with the fair fame of Shippen, but from year to year surpassed himself. To quote· the language of a biographer, " as his class increased in numbers, as was annually the case, and he perceived that he was operating on a wider scale, Dr. Wistar felt the responsibilities of his station augmented. He did not, as many are known to do, hold himself privileged to relax into indolence and the enjoyment of comparative ease, because his fame was established and his fortune made. He recognized in that fame, which drew yearly around him a greater crowd of pupils, nothing but an obligation to maintain and augment it by higher exertions and a more efficient dis- charge of duty."
"To the elevation, as a teacher, he ultimately attained, his ascent was gradual, not rapid. It was the result of a lifetime of persevering labor, his achievements in the last surpassing those of the preceding year. Had he lived to complete the course of lectures, in the midst of which it was the pleasure of Heaven to terminate his career, it would have been decidedly the most excellent he ever delivered."1
With respect to the mode of instruction adopted by Dr.
1 Eulogium on Caspar Wistar, M.D., Professor of Anatomy, by Charles Caldwell, M.D., before the Philadelphia Medical Society, 1818.
139
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
Wistar at the time he was in full occupation of the chair of Anatomy, the statement of Dr. Horner, in a letter to Judge Tilghman, dated Feb. 1st, 1818, is valuable, in consequence of having come from one so intimately associated with him. It is in the following words: "In reviewing the several particulars of his course of instruction, it is difficult to say in what part his chief merit consisted ; he undertook everything with so much zeal, and such a conscientious desire to benefit those who came to be instructed by him, that he seldom failed of giving the most complete satisfaction. There were, however some parts of his course peculiar to himself. These were the addition of models on a very large scale to illustrate small parts of the human structure; and the division of the general class into a number of sub classes, each of which he supplied with a box of bones, in order that they might become thoroughly acquainted with the human skeleton, a subject which is acknowledged by all to be at the very foundation of Anatomical Knowledge. The idea of the former mode of instruction was acted on for the first time about fifteen years ago. It commenced with a model of wax, representing the bones of the Human Ear. This was followed by a wax model of the Temporal Bone, about eighteen inches in diameter; and one of the External Ear. The benefit attending this mode of instruction became now so obvious that a regular system of modelling was undertaken, and no year since has been passed over without the addition of some such article to his Anatomical Museum."
The large-sized wooden models of the sphenoid, palate, and ethmoidal bones, the temporal bone, and the labyrinth of the ear, as well as of the brain in sections, from which the successive classes of students to the present day, in connection with the demonstrations of subsequent professors, have benefited, were most carefully prepared under the direction of Professor Wis- tar by Mr. Rush, the most celebrated carver of his time in Philadelphia.
In speaking of this mode of instruction, Dr. Dorsey, in a letter to Judge Tilghman, says, "that, finding it impossible to demonstrate to several hundred pupils at once the minute · structure of the various organs, he contrived models on a very large scale, to illustrate these difficult subjects, and though not
140
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
the first who had resorted to this method in teaching anatomy, he has more than the honor of invention by carrying the plan very completely into effect. Others had used it in one or two instances; Wistar applied it to every difficult piece of anato- mical structure, and in his Museum of Models he has bequeathed a rich treasure to his successors in the Anatomical chair. No one could fail to become an anatomist who diligently attended his lectures."
The preparations made to illustrate the several portions of the body, including injections of the several organs, corroded specimens and wet preparations constituted the anatomical museum of Dr. Wistar, which, upon his decease, was presented to the University by his relict.1 It was for years styled the WISTAR MUSEUM; but, vastly augmented as it became by the indefatigable exertions of Dr. Horner, and further enriched by the skill and industry of the present Professor of Anatomy, Dr. Leidy, as well as by other contributors, it may safely be regarded as unsurpassed in this country as a collection for teaching purposes.2
Dr. Wistar published a work on Anatomy in 1811;3 and there is no doubt, from the description therein given, "of his having first observed and described the posterior portion of the Ethmoid Bone in its most perfect state, viz., with the tri- angular bones attached to it." Of this discovery the distin- guished anatomist Von Semmering, of Munich, wrote thus to Dr. Wistar, Jan. 17, 1819: " The neat specimens of Ossa Sphe- noideum and Ethnoideum are invaluable additions to my Anatomical Collection, having never seen them myself in so
1 On the reception of this gift the following resolution was passed : " That the Anatomical Museum presented to the Trustees for the use of the Medical School by the family of the late Professor of Anatomy, Dr. Caspar Wistar, be styled the Wistar Museum."
2 The Museum at present contains, in addition to what has been stated, a large collection of materials for illustrating the Chair of Practice, procured by Dr. Wood in Europe, when first assuming its duties, and subsequently augmented by him ; also the Materia Medica collection, and the materials pertaining to all the demonstrative branches. There are also in it some curious wax models by Dr. Chovet, donated by the Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Chovet was a French physician, who taught Anatomy to private classes as early as 1775.
3 System of Anatomy.
141
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
perfect a state. I shall now be very attentive to examine these processes of the Ethmoid Bone in children of two years of age, being fully persuaded M. Bertin had never met with them of so considerable size, nor of such a peculiar structure."1
As a teacher Dr. Wistar " brought to the Anatomical Theatre his deep and various learning, his habitual feelings, and even something of his colloquial vivacity. Although he was strikingly fluent and truly learned, still, there was something in his eloquence peculiarly his own. His was the eloquence of sentiment rather than of manner; and his persuasiveness owed almost as much to his disposition as to the great import- ance of the truths that he unfolded."
" He seemed to have identified Anatomy with his common thoughts, and the language in which he expressed himself seemed like the appropriate expressions of his familiar conver- sation .???
The specialty which Dr. Wistar cultivated with so much success did not preclude attention to other branches of science. His reputation rests doubtless upon his success as a writer and teacher of Anatomy, but, as has been stated, he commenced his professional career as a teacher of Chemistry, with which branch he had acquired considerable familiarity when pursuing his studies abroad. He was also versed in Botany and Mineralogy, and was so much interested in the discovery of organic remains on this continent, then first attracting the attention of the scientific world, as to institute steps to secure their preserva- tion. The prosecution of this most laudable enterprise, in which so much reputation has been gained of late years, was arrested by his death.
The scientific reputation of Dr. Wistar, as well as the ex- tended information possessed by him, induced his associates in the Philosophical Society to elect him its President in 1815, as the successor of Jefferson. Prior to this he had served the Society in the capacity of Vice-President, to which position he had been chosen in 1795. He was in the habit of receiving his friends and scientific strangers at his house on Sunday
' Letter in Tilghman's papers for the Life of Dr. Wistar.
2 Dr. Caldwell's Eulogium.
142
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
evenings. Upon his death a social circle was formed among the members of the Philosophical Society, to which was given the name of Wistar Parties. The meetings were held on Saturday evenings, and continued until within a few years.
Dr. Wistar died on the 22d of January, 1818, before the conclusion of his course, at the age of fifty-eight years, in the maturity of his intellectual force, and at the highest point in his profession to which earthly ambition can aspire. " Beloved, respected, honored by all who knew him, his virtue had secured him the affections of his friends, his talents and industry the respect and esteem of the community in which he lived."1
The Chair of Anatomy, thus suddenly vacated, was filled May 5, 1818, by the election of Dr. John Syng Dorsey, who had supplied the void in the session occasioned by the un- toward event of Dr. Wistar's death.
On July 7, 1818, Dr. Coxe was transferred from the Professor- ship of Chemistry to that of Materia Medica. At this time the title of the Chair was changed in accordance with the action of the Board of Trustees, to wit: "Resolved, that the Professor of Materia Medica be henceforth styled Professor of Materia Medica and Pharmacy; and that teaching the Principles of the Pharmaceutic Art shall be a part of his duties.772
The Professorship of Chemistry, vacated by the transfer of Dr. Coxe, was conferred, Sept. 18, 1818, on Dr. Robert Hare.
At the commencement of the course in 1818, another heavy misfortune hefell the University in the death of Dr. Dorsey. This event occurred on the 10th of November.
Dr. John Syng Dorsey was a native of Philadelphia, and was born in 1783. He was educated at the Friends' Academy, and at the early age of fifteen years commenced the study of Medi- cine with his uncle, Dr. Physick. At the age of nineteen he
1 Memoir of Dr. Caspar Wistar by Caspar Morris, M. D .; Lives of Emi- nent Physicians and Surgeons, &c., edited by Samuel D. Gross, M. D., &c. We would refer to this excellent memoir for a true portraiture of the cha- . racter and moral qualities of this distinguished Professor.
2 The change of title was published at the time of the annunciation of the lectures of 1819. It was probably made with reference to the granting of Degrees in Pharmacy, although it was only the recurrence to the old title of the Chair. See ante, p. 93.
143
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
was admitted to the Doctorate at the Commencement of 1802; the Trustees, upon application to them, having dispensed with the rule which prohibited the conferring of the degree of M. D. on any one who had not attained the age of twenty-one years. His thesis was upon "The Powers of the Gastric Juice as a Solvent for Urinary Calculi." It was published in the series of Theses edited by Dr. Caldwell.
In 1803 Dr. Dorsey went to Europe, and after spending a year improving himself in medicine, and especially in surgery, returned to his native city in 1804. In 1807 he was chosen Adjunct to his uncle in the Chair of Surgery, and in that posi- tion continued until the decease of Dr. Barton, in 1815, when he was elected to the Professorship of Materia Medica. In this position he remained until the spring of 1818, when, by the death of Dr. Wistar, the Chair of Anatomy was left without an occu- pant. For. this position he was well adapted by education and experience, and was elected to it with universal approbation.
At the time this new mark of confidence of the honorable Board of Trustees was conferred, sanctioned by the medical public, Dr. Dorsey was thirty-five years of age, and exhibited all the enthusiasm of a zealous, rightly inspired, ambitious candi- date for reputation in the field of enterprise before him. The course was opened, and on the 2d of November he delivered his Introductory Lecture, which, from the portions published, was full of correct sentiments and elevated thought. It was the last delivered by him. In its preparation the seeds of disease were laid which soon terminated his mortal career.1 "On the evening of the same day that he pronounced his In- troductory Lecture, and while the praises of it still resounded, he was attacked with a fever of such vehemence that in one short week it closed his existence, leaving us only his enviable name and his inestimable example."2
While performing the duties of the Chair of Materia Medica,
' It is stated that while engaged in the preparation of this lecture, late at night, towards the close of October, his fire went out, and without heeding the circumstance he continued his occupation, retiring thoroughly chilled. To this he attributed his sickness.
2 Professor Chapman's Eulogium, delivered before the Medical Class of
--
- - ----
144
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
Dr. Dorsey published a syllabus of his lectures; but previously to this he had given to the public his "Elements of Surgery." which appeared in 1813. This work may be regarded as a faithful exponent of the surgery of the day, as it was taught by Dr. Physick, of whose opinions and mode of practice it was the record; and as it was practised by the author him- self, whose position as a surgeon of the Pennsylvania Hos- pital gave him great opportunities for the acquisition of skill and experience. In that institution he tied the internal iliac artery, the first time the operation was performed in this country. Dr. Dorsey was well versed in the literature of European Surgery, and familiar with its condition from per- sonal observation.
The Chair of Anatomy being a second time within the year deprived suddenly of its incumbent, its duties were temporarily performed by Dr. Physick, who was assisted in meeting the additional responsibilities thus thrown upon him by the ana- tomical skill and dexterity of Dr. Horner. In the following year Dr. Physick was prevailed upon to resign the Professor- ship of Surgery and accept that of Anatomy, to which he was elected, July 13th, 1819.
The Chair of Surgery was filled, Sept. 7th, 1819, by the election of Dr. William Gibson, of Baltimore, who at the time was Professor of Surgery in the University of Maryland, and enjoyed a high reputation as a practitioner and teacher; and in 1820, Dr. William E. Horner was appointed Adjunct Pro- fessor of Anatomy.
the University, 1st of March, 1819. Philadelphia Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences, vol. 1st.
A very interesting Memoir of Dr. Dorsey has been written by Dr. Samuel D. Gross, Professor of Surgery in Jefferson Medical College, and published in his "Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons of the Nineteenth Century." Another memoir was published by the Rev. Dr. Janeway.
SAMUEL COATES
Manager of the Hospital . · 1785-1825 Secretary of the Board . 1786-1812
President of the Board 1812-1825
145
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
CHAPTER XII.
Degrees in Pharmacy-Foundation of six studentships in the Medical De- partment-Appointment of Dr. Dewees Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics and the Diseases of Women and Children-Settlement of the ad eundem footing of other Schools of Medicine-Application for the transfer of the Botanical Professorship to the Medical Faculty-Appointment of Dr. Samuel Jackson as an Assistant to the Professor of Practice, &c., to teach the Institutes of Medicine-Resignation of Dr. Physick, sketch of his life and services-Election of Dr. Horner to the Chair of Anatomy.
PRIOR to 1821 no public facilities were afforded to apothe- caries in the way of regular scientific instruction, nor were in- .ducements held out for the encouragement of their apprentices to qualify themselves thoroughly in the practice of the Phar- maceutic art, which is subordinate to medicine, and indispens- able to the success of the physician.
It will be found recorded on the Minutes of the University that, in 1816 and 1817, Dr. James Mease applied for permis- sion (which was granted) to deliver the Introductory to his Lectures on Pharmacy in the College building. This was the first attempt, by private lectures upon the branch, to improve its condition. Upon the recommendation of the Professors of the Medical Faculty steps were taken by the Board to meet the urgent want presented, and on the 21st of February, 1821, the following resolutions were adopted :-
"1. That the degree of Master of Pharmacy be, and is hereby instituted, to be conferred hereafter by the Trustees of this University on such persons exercising or intending to exercise the profession of an apothecary as are and shall be duly quali- fied to receive the same.
"2. That the Faculty of Medicine be requested to report to this Board at their next meeting a proper form of diploma, and also a list of such apothecaries in the City and Liberties of Philadelphia as are desirous, and, in their opinion, deserving of the degree of Master of Pharmacy, and unless subsequent. 10
146
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
reason to the contrary shall appear, the degree of Master of Pharmacy shall be conferred on such individuals respectively.
"3. That every person who shall have served a regular ap- prenticeship, of at least three years, with a respectable Apothe- cary, or a Master of Pharmacy, and who shall exercise or intend to exercise the profession of an Apothecary, in this State or elsewhere, may, on application to the Board, obtain the degree of Master of Pharmacy : Provided he shall produce a certificate of the Faculty of Medicine, signed by the Dean thereof, of his being qualified to receive the same, which certi- ficate the Faculty may grant on the attestation of the Professors of Chemistry and Materia Medica and Pharmacy, who shall have examined the candidate. He must also produce a certi- ficate of his good moral character.
"4. That in future it shall be requisite for obtaining such degree that the candidate shall have attended at least two courses of Lectures on Chemistry and Materia Medica and Pharmacy in this University."
At the ensuing Commencement in April, 1821, sixteen gen- tlemen of Philadelphia engaged in the practice of pharmacy received the degree of Master of Pharmacy.
This procedure on the part of the University, in the matter of improving and elevating the practice of pharmacy, aroused the enterprising spirit of the druggists and apothecaries of Philadelphia, and incited them to found a "College of Phar- macy," an independent institution, which, through the instru- mentality of its school and of its journal, and by its vigilance with reference to the conduct of its members, has been of incalculable service to the profession of pharmacy, not only in the city of Philadelphia, but throughout the United States.
Another step taken by the Medical School in 1821 is not without interest. In November the Medical Faculty addressed a communication to the Board of Trustees relative to the gra- tuitous admission of students. The terms of the proposition and the action of the Board sanctioning them are thus pre- sented on the Minutes of April 2d, 1822 :-
"The Committee to whom was referred the letter of the Dean of the Medical Faculty, of the 5th of November last, on the subject of admitting six students to gratuitous admission,
147
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
report the following preamble and resolutions. The Board, taking into consideration the letter of the Medical Faculty communicating that the Faculty, desirous of extending the advantages of a medical education to deserving characters who may be unable to pay the fees of attendance, had resolved to establish, under the directions of the Trustees, a foundation of six studentships, for the gratuitous reception to these lec- tures of six students annually, to be recommended to the Board of Trustees in any manner they may please to adopt.
" Resolved, that a Committee of three in number be ap- pointed by the Board, to be denominated a Committee on the foundation of six studentships, whose duty it shall be to give public notice, in due season, before the commencement of each course of Medical Lectures in this University, that applications will be received for the gratuitous admission to the Medical Lectures of six students, whose circumstances may not enable them to pay the expense of admission to said lectures.
" That the said Committee shall, on the first Monday in Sep- tember of each year, examine and determine upon such appli- cations as shall be made to them, and shall, as soon thereafter as convenience will permit, distribute the proper tickets to such applicants as they may approve, and give notice thereof to the Dean of the Medical Faculty.
" It will be expected that the applications made to the said Committee shall be accompanied by testimonials of the follow- ing qualifications : 1st, that the applicant is of good moral cha- racter; 2d, that he is in such restricted circumstances as to be a proper object of this foundation; 3d, that he shall have attained the age of eighteen years; 4th, that he is possessed of sufficient literary acquirements, and of studious habits.
"Resolved, that the said Committee have authority to pre- scribe such regulations for the form and manner of the trans- mission of application to be made to them as they may judge expedient."
Under this benefaction twelve gratuitous students, at least, are annually upon the books of the Medical Faculty.
In 1824, the growing infirmities of age, in addition to the toil of a laborious life, prevailed with Dr. James to seek assist- ance in the performance of the duties of the Chair of "Obstetrics
148
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF
and the Diseases of Women and Children." This was acceded to on the part of the Board of Trustees. The resolution of the Board is as follows :-
"Be it ordained that an Adjunct Professor of Midwifery shall be appointed, who shall hold his appointment so long as Dr. James continues to be Professor of Midwifery; Provided that the expenses of the students shall in no manner be increased by such appointment, and that such Adjunct Professor shall not have any vote in the Faculty of Medicine, except in the absence of the Professor of Midwifery to whom he is Adjunct."
In accordance with this resolution, Dr. William P. Dewees was, on November 15th, 1825, elected Adjunct Professor.
In 1825, the subject of an "ad eundem" footing was settled on more liberal principles than had previously prevailed. It has been shown that the question of admission of students of other schools was considered in 1805, and then placed upon the individual merits of each case. In 1811, a general rule was adopted by the Faculty which imposed the necessity of attendance upon two courses of lectures in other institutions and one in the University as a qualification for graduation. On the 20th of August, 1825, the Trustees passed the subjoined resolution, which indicates the footing on which students of other schools shall be received, and which has always been adhered to since that time :-
"Be it ordained and enacted, that students who produce satis- factory testimonials of their having attended one or more courses of lectures in any respectable Medical School in the United States, organized on the plan of the School of this University, and having attended one full course in this School, and having in all other respects complied with the statutes, and being found on examination to be duly qualified, may be admitted to the degree of Doctor of Medicine, it being under- stood that nothing is hereby intended to be dispensed with which requires an attendance on two courses of lectures in this Institution."
During the same year (1825) Dr. William P. C. Barton ad- dressed a communication to the Trustees, desiring to have his Professorship of Botany again attached to the Medical Depart- ment; whereupon a report was made by the Committee to
·
149
THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
whom the communication was referred, to wit: "That it is of great importance to keep the Departments of Medicine and Natural Science under their present distinct arrangement, and that if at this or any other time it should be thought proper to make Botany a part of the necessary medical instruction, it will be most expedient to do so by the establishment of a new Professorship in the Medical Faculty, and not by the transfer of a Chair from one Department to another." 1
In 1827, it was deemed expedient to aid the Chair of the Theory and Practice of Medicine and Institutes of Medicine, in consequence of the wide range embraced by it. To effect this Dr. Samuel Jackson was chosen Assistant to the Professor, whose duties consisted in giving lectures upon the Institutes of Medicine. This he continued to do twice weekly, until the re-establishment of the Chair of Institutes in 1835.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.