facilities of clinical teaching was renewed, but was not received with favor, and, in a short time afterwards, all of the physicians resigned.
In 1795 Dr. Cummings again brought this vexed question to the notice of the managers, but “the proposition was promptly rejected upon the ground of such publicity being calculated to do harm to the sick.”
In 1797 Dr. John Church and Thomas C. James were chosen medical officers. These gentlemen were subsequently associated in teaching Midwifery. “In 1803 Drs. James and Church proposed to attend the Lying-in Ward, on condition they should be allowed to have one private pupil present at each case of labor. The application was granted, and much valuable instruction was communicated in this responsible department of medicine.” “The same year, on the 23d of March, Dr. Caldwell was allowed to introduce and instruct twenty, and afterwards forty students, during his stated visits to the medical wards, on the condition of his becoming responsible for their good deportment.”[1]
“In November, 1805, through the efforts of Drs. James and Church, the Managers conceded the privilege to deliver clinical lectures to a class of students twice a week in the ‘Green,’ or ‘Dead House,’ during the winter season. Shortly after, Dr. Barton was permitted to give instruction to his class on the days of his regular attendance at the House. Every successive year now removed more and more the prejudices which had so long operated against the admission of medical students. The Managers were seized with an active desire to promote and foster a system which contributed so largely toward laying a solid foundation of medical usefulness.”
“Until October 25, 1805, no fee was demanded from those attending the instruction of the Institution, but, at the above date, a ticket was directed to be issued, signed by the Presi-
- ↑ Dr. Caldwell, in alluding to this in his autobiography, states: “The first course of clinical lectures in the Philadelphia Almshouse was delivered by myself, not long after the commencement of the present century, the precise year not being remembered (1803). I was then a member of the Faculty of that Institution, and continued my lectures annually for several years, until deprived of my appointment in it on political grounds.” p. 264.
