Fifty years in medicine / by Joseph C. Beck.

  • Beck, Joseph C. (Joseph Clar), 1870-1942.
Date:
[1940], ©1940
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fifty years in medicine / by Joseph C. Beck. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    night schools, although these were not so well thought of. For in¬ stance, there was the Harvey Medical School, the Jenner School, and the Bennett Eclectic School; there were also two homeopathic schools, where there were always large classes. Medical College (1891-1895) In the fall of 1891, I matriculated in what was then known as the College of Physicians and Surgeons, now known as the medical depart¬ ment of the University of Illinois. At that time it was to be a three- year course, but in 1894 the transfer was accomplished between the Uni¬ versity of Illinois and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and a four-year course came into being. Thus the class of 1895 had to take two additional semesters, arranged as summer courses, to make up the fourth year. When I compare the work in our college to that of the present day, I can hardly express the difference. For example, two of our pro¬ fessors in the fundamental branches of chemistry and pharmacology were classmates of ours. Not until the University of Illinois became sponsors for the medical education were the entrance qualifications raised to any¬ thing like a respectable level. At the same time, I must be fair to the teachers, as well as to the students of that day, and say that the work was very earnestly carried on and that much more diligence was em¬ ployed by both teachers and students than I observe these days. Of course, we had very little equipment of the sort used in modern lab¬ oratories and none of the more highly developed scientific apparatus which makes the courses easier for both students and teachers. I must not forget to say that during the first year of my medical studies I was given the opportunity of taking examinations for advance standing in algebra, Latin, and English, subjects which I had not had previous to my matriculation. In the third year of my studies I was pledged to the only existing medical fraternity in the school, the Nu Sigma Nu, and that same year was initiated into the Eta chapter of that fraternity. It was the custom to place the ten students with the highest marks on the honor roll, and I take pleasure in reflecting that my name appeared third on that list, although I failed in otorhinolaryngology. By graduation time,