The History of the Medical Department of Transylvania University — John Shaqi
The History of the Medical Department of Transylvania UniversityPeter, Robert
History
The History of the Medical Department of Transylvania University
Peter, Robert
Medicine -- Kentucky; Medicine -- Kentucky -- History; Transylvania University. Medical Department
Doctor Dudley's own recollection, as detailed to the present writer,
was also that he and Doctor Overton, as well as Doctor Blythe,
lectured in 1815-16 to about twenty students, of whom the late Doctor
Ayres and the yet surviving Nestor of Transylvania graduates, Doctor
Christopher C. Graham, of Louisville--now almost a
centenarian[22]--were in attendance as pupils. Very little can now be
ascertained, from existing records, of the character of Professor
James Overton, M. D. Doctor Christopher C. Graham, in a recent letter
to the writer, gives some of his reminiscences of him in the following
language: "Doctor Overton was a small, black-eyed man, very
hypochondrical and sarcastic (notoriously so), and yet quite chatty,
humorous, and agreeable; telling his class many funny things.... He
was well educated for his day and plumed himself especially on his
Greek." Doctor Overton removed from Lexington to Nashville, Tennessee,
in 1818.[23]
[Illustration: DOCTOR JAMES OVERTON.
From a Portrait made in Philadelphia before 1815.]
The late Doctor Ayres, of Danville, and latterly of Lexington, informed
the writer that, in 1815, Doctor Dudley, having recently returned from
Europe, was invited by himself and other medical students to demonstrate
to them in anatomy and surgery. Learning _that he would lecture to them
if a class were formed_, they made up one of from twenty to twenty-five,
and Doctor Dudley lectured to them on anatomy and surgery in "Trotter's
Warehouse,"[24] a house situated on the south-east corner of Main and
Mill streets, opposite the site[25] of the old original Lexington
block-house. In the next winter, he recounts, he lectured to about fifty
or sixty students, some of whom were from Ohio. Doctors Overton and
Blythe, one or both, also lectured in both winters.
This may be said to be the real beginning of the successful career of
the Medical Department of Transylvania University, and of that of
Doctor Dudley as a medical professor.
The _Kentucky Gazette_ of March 10, 1817, contains a card published by
a committee of the medical students of Transylvania, signed David J.
Ayres, Thomas J. Garden, and Charles H. Warfield (committee of the
medical class), headed a "Tribute of Gratitude," in which they return
grateful thanks to their professors, Doctors B. W. Dudley, James
Overton, and the Reverend Doctor Blythe, for the ability, fidelity,
and perseverance with which they had taught. A further proof that a
medical session was held in the Transylvania School in 1816-17.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account