History of the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1845-1902 / by Harvey Wickes Felter.

  • Harvey Wickes Felter
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: History of the Eclectic Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1845-1902 / by Harvey Wickes Felter. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    creasing desire to pay a visit to this physician, that I might learn his practice for the good of my fellow-men. I accordingly commenced my journey. After I had traveled about thirty miles, I arrived at his residence; and instead of finding a dashing, popular man, I found his appearance plain and even ordinary. I made known my business, and expressed a great desire to obtain a knowledge of his prac- tice. The old gentleman was not disposed to receive me as a student—he had repeated ap- plications from physicians and others, but he observed that he did . not think it was right to make his practice known.* He sar- castically made this expression to me: ‘Doc- tors wish to be gentlemen, but if I take any one to learn, I want another hog like myself to root around the mountains in search of medicines; they wish to be gentlemen, but they ought to be the servants of all men.’ . . . Notwithstanding my urgent solici- tations, however, I could not persuade him to receive me as a student, and I was obliged to return home disappointed. But the same anxiety continued; and I felt, respecting medicine, something as the Apostle Paul is represented to have felt respecting religion, when he said, ‘A dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me, and woe be unto me if I preach not the gospel.’ ” Another jour- ney was made, and again was Beach re- pulsed, but not hopeless. He further relates: After teaching school awhile, I turned my attention to mercantile pursuits. But this appeared not to be the sphere in which Providence designed that I should move. A series of misfortunes attended all my pur- suits. But it is remarkable that, in whatever business I was engaged, I never ceased praying the Almighty that he would yet enable me to learn this practice, which I so much desired, and, like the importunate widow, continued my intercessions for the space of six or seven years, and during most of which period I was several hundred miles from the doctor’s residence. But a well-di- rected train of events finally brought me to Philadelphia, and I concluded once more to pay a visit to the old doctor. I went, and it happened (but I will not say happened, for it was providential) just at the time when a grandson of his had emigrated to the west- ern country, and left him without assistance. When I again made my errand known, he appeared pleased, and gave me encourage- ment. I informed him that I came with a determination of staying, and did not mean * Had he done so in his day, he would have had his means of livelihood taken from him. to leave his house till I learned his knowl- edge of the healing art. He finally gave his consent, provided I could obtain that of his family: and, after much hesitation, fearing I should make known the practice to their injury, they agreed to receive me. I re- mained with him a sufficient length of time to learn his practice, when he departed this life at the age of seventy-four years. . . . I then succeeded him for some time, until I was called to this city [New York] to treat some difficult cases, which having cured, I was introduced into practice. Having lo- cated myself here, I attended a course of lectures in the University of the State of New York during the time Drs. Post, Ho- saclc, Mott, and others, were professors. I concluded this was best, were it only to de- tect the errors of the modern practice; and subsequently I obtained a diploma, according to the law of the State, which, should any wish to peruse, they will find it recorded in the County Clerk’s Office, in the City Hall. New York. And to refute calumny. I will here subjoin the recommendation of the Censors to the president of the Medical So- ciety, viz.: 'We certify that we have exam- ined Dr. W. Beach, that he has produced to us sufficient vouchers that he has studied the practice of Physic and Surgery the term required by law, that he possesses a good moral character, and that he has sustained an examination before us which does him honor; and we cheerfully recommend him to the president of the Medical Society for a diploma to practice Physic and Surgery.’ ” Dr. Beach at once began his active career. He learned much from a Dr. Ferris and other botanic physicians, and, in fact, from any source which promised a reform in medicine. It was about the year 1825 when he located in New York, at 93 Eldridge Street. He practiced with marked success, instructed private students, and dispensed medicines. He now conceived a plan for a clinical in- stitution and a medical school, and accord- ingly opened, in 1827, the United States In- firmary. and. in 1829, the Reformed Medical Academy, which, in 1830, became the Reformed Medical College. Among those connected with this school, either as students, and some as teachers, were Drs. T. V. Morrow, I. G. Jones, John King, John J. Steele, and one afterward a distinguished surgeon of New York City. Dr. James R. Wood, for many years a leader of medical opinion in his city, and one who had a very flattering opinion of Dr. Beach, characterizing him as one of the really great men of his day.” In 1829 a pioneer national society was formed, known