The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-25
Some Old lime History and Familiar
Names.
A Sketch That Will Recall Former
Physicians.


premiership OF an indefinite period,
su fficiently long for his preceptor TO con-
slider him competent, be was given let
ter of recommendation which Was his
only credential. Among the teachers
whose services in this direction were most
sought were Drs. William and Pardon
Bowen and DIR. Levi Wheaton, OF Provi-
dence, Drs. Babcock of Westerly, Whit
bride of Tiverton and Fisk and Anthony
of Scituate.
After the organization OF the State Med
cal Society, applicants were examined
by the censors and licensed 10 pr actlce
by the society.
According to the charter OF the Rhode
Island Medical Society, granted at the
February session. 1872, il was enacted:
"That the president and members OF
said society, or such officers or membe
as they shall specially appoint Tor that
purpose, shall have full power ana au-
thority to examine all candidates for the
practice of physic and surgery, who shall
offer themselves for examination, respect
ing their skill In their profession; and IL,
upon examination, the said candidates
shall be found skilled in their profession,
and fitted for the practice of IT, they
8 lalI receive the appreciation Of the said
society, in letters testimonial, under the
seal of said society, signed blythe president,
or such other person or persons as snali
be appointed for that purpose.
No examinations under the provisions
of that act have been held by the censors
OF the society for many years, but every
applicant for membership has to pass
rigid examination before board OF exam
iners appointed for that purpose, In
anatomy, surgery, obstetrics, physiology
materia medsca. chemistry, therapeutics
and hygiene. In the year 1900 there were
but five medical graduates In the state
at present there are something over SIX
hundred.
The first medical schools founded in the
United States were in Philadelphia, In
1852; I'm New York, 1858; in Boston, 17s0
and in Hanover in 1900. In 1910 one was
opened in Providence in connection with
Brown University, Drs. William ingalls,,
Levi Wheaton. Solomon browne and Will
liam G. Bowen being appointed profes-
sors. The first named gentleman and the
| last gave two courses of lectures on anat-
omy and surgery and chemistry, which
| were all that the college then required OF
candidates for medical degrees. Dr. IN
| gals then transferred his lectures to Bos-
| ton, where they were continued until
| 1922 when the school was re-organized AT
| the college in Providence with the fol-
| lowing corps of professors:
| Levi Wheaton, M. D., on theory and
practice o: physic and obstetrics; John
Dewolf on chemistry; Solomon browne,
| M. d., on materia medica and botany;
| Usher Parsons, NJ d., on anatomy,
physiology and surgery.
| From 1922 to 1926 the number OF pupils
ranged from twenty TO nifty, most OF
| whom received the degree OF doctor OF
medicine. 1t was found, however, that
| the proximinity of medical schools in Bos-
/ ton, New Haven and Pittsfeld would pre-
| vent the growth and success OF one In
| Rhode Isla nd, and, therefore, the school
was abandoned In 1926. DIR. Parsons,
| who had given q short course OF lectures
on anatomy to the upper classes In the col
iege since 1922, continued them until 1873,
| when these also ceased.
The passage of the "Medical Bill' and
the registration OF physicians are the last
| of number of changes of interest to
he profession which have been made
since the writer first put out his sign as
an NJ. ID. in 1857.
At that time there were only about
forty practicing physicians in the city, OF
| whom not more than half dozen remain.
Commencing down town on Wickenden
/ street, was DIR. Anthony, whose office was
next to that of DR.. Arlington, who was
then quite an old man and had relin-
ouished most OF his practice.
| On South Main street, near Planet
street, DR.. George l.. Collins had an Office.
The office of Drs. Okie and Wilcox was
on Benevolent street where the Hope
| Clubhouse now stands. DIR. {. w. Parsons
| was at number George street, while hii
father, DIR. Usher Parsons, occupied .
building on Waterman street, then called
President street. on the site OF the schoo
| of Design. DIR. Usher Parsons at that time
| was the on.y survivor of the battle of Lake
Erie, ne having been surgeon on thu
| "Lawrence, the flagship of Commodore
Perry. After the war OF 1872 he was pro
fessor OF anatomy in Brown University
and later professor OF obstetrics in Jeffer
| son Medical College, in Philadelphia. HI
Il a n nf M nf rn "
ged build, with features of marked indi
| viduality. DIR. Joseph Maursn, whose
| office and residence were on South MAR
| street in rooms afterwards occupied by tn,
Hospital Trust Company, was a doctor o.
the old school, a man of courteous man
| ners and dignified mien. In 1S49 he com.
| mencsd the efforts which after several
years labor resulted in the establishment,
| of the system of registration of births,
marriages and deaths in this State.
DIR. George E. Mason's office was or
Benefit street, corner of Hopkins. HI
was q young man, very brilliant anf
successful surgeon, whose only enemy wal
himself
DIR. Ely, still living, one OF the oldes,
and most respected of the profession In
this city, had his Office on Benefit street
near College.
At that time Benefit street was as IL IL a
present, a favorable location for physic
4
than half the number there were in the
whole city in 1865.
DIR. #. Ii. Peckham built and occupied
an Office on Benefit street now occupied
by his son and grandson, worthy descen
dants OF d respected sire.
Next to DIR. Peckham, DIR. Newell bull
an Office which he still retains one OF
the veterans of the profession whose in
fiuence has been felt, and whose pen hat
frequently been used in advocacy OF mat
tiers of municipal welfare.
Just around the corner from Benef
street on Meeting street, Drs. Capron ans
Perry were located for number of years
IL waHs could speak, those in that Office
might tell tales of dissection, OF portion
OF bodies surretitiously received by ex
press from New York by certain digni-
lied members OF tie profession who were
students i'm those days and who were en-
thusiastic in the study OF practical anat-
ouiy. DIR. Cepron was physician muci
beloved, and VINO had longer expert
ence in the practice OF obstetrics thar
falls 10 most physicians. During 60 year
OF practice he had attended over 7CO
cases OF childbirth in this city and vi