Moreover the name of Dr. Lachapelle has been intimately
associated with the effort to improve medical legislation and
to raise the standard of medical education in Quebec. On the
establishment of a branch of Laval University in Montreal,
decided upon in 1878, and the inauguration of the medical faculty
in temporary class-rooms in the old Chateau du Ramezay, on Notre
Dame Street, he was one of the most ardent instigators and
supporters of the movement and contributed in a great measure
to its success. At the present time he holds the positions of
dean of the medical faculty at the university and of professor
of hygiene; from 1876 until 1894 he was proprietor and editor
of L’Union Médicale. In 1885 he had the honor of presiding as
president over the convention of the American Public Health
Association. He had the honor of being elected an associate
member of the Société Française d’Hygiène of Paris. He has been
closely and prominently associated with the Notre Dame Hospital
ever since its establishment and can almost be called its
founder. The splendid institution which owes its establishment
partly to the clinical requirements of the then recently founded
medical faculty of Laval was incorporated in 1880, Dr. Lachapelle
being a member of the board of governors and holding the position
of general superintendent until 1906, while to the present time
he is president of the hospital.
A stanch member of the liberal party, Dr. Lachapelle has often
been urged to become a candidate in nomination for political
preferment but although willing to use his influence for the
benefit of his party he has invariably declined to accept a
nomination because of a sense of duty toward his professional
interests and benevolent engagements. In 1902 he was urged by
many of the most influential citizens of Montreal, both French
and English, irrespective of party to accept nomination for the
mayoralty. He did accept provisionally but later withdrew to
avoid racial complications. When the city government was changed
about three years ago it was deemed fitting that one so eminent
as an authority on sanitation and hygiene and one so dignified
and high-minded as a foremost citizen should be a member of the
new board which was henceforth to administer the affairs of
the city. The Doctor has little inclination for publicity but
yielded to the appeals addressed to him and became controller of
Montreal. He has made a most admirable official, the value of his
service being widely recognized. It is his desire to accomplish
the best possible measures of reform during his term of office,
and his efforts have already been productive of great good. He
was elected in 1910 for a term of four years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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