1 incident well illustrating the times and the state of affairs then, I began the study of medicine in the office of Prof. John Delamater, then situated on Superior St., opposite Bond St., and I continued my studies with him until I left Cleveland in the fall of 1849 to begin practice in the woods of Northern Wisconsin, where I lived for four years. My entrance upon professional study brings me down to a later period of time in the history of your city. Still, some items may be of interest. At the time of my arrival in the city, or soon after, the personel of the medical profession consisted of Doctors Long and Mills and Hicks. The latter was a London man and was our family physician. There was also a Doctor McIntosh, and I believe these to have been all. I remember well the excitement, and many amusing scenes, connected with the transfer of the medical college from Willoughby. The establishment of that institution in your city was the influence which directed my course in life as to a profession. A pioneer institution as that was, there were some men of far more than ordinary ability connected with it. Three of them were especially noteworthy, and in my judgment would bear comparison with the occupants of chairs in the colleges of eastern cities or of Europe, and it has since been my lot to see and hear and witness the operations of many of them. These three were Professors St. John, Ackley and the elder Delamater. The former, Professor of Chemistry, was a fine scholar, a cultured and traveled gentleman, and if any fault could be found with his lectures, it was that they were sometimes above and beyond the students to whom they were addressed. Professor Ackley is doubtless too well imprinted in your memories to need any comment from me. He was pre-eminently a man of action—a man of powerful will and determination. If any thing was to be done he did it, and if the measure excited antagonism, woe be to the antagonists. He had the mental and physical qualifications of what he was a good surgeon, and especially a bold and skillful operator. Possibly affection and reverence for him who was my preceptor, Prof. John Delamater, will lead me to say too much in his praise. But I think not. The subject would bear a good deal of laudation. A thorough master of his profession, he had occupied perhaps more different chairs as a professor in different medical colleges of the country than any other man, and was a clear and excellent lecturer. Dignified in bearing, kind in manner, pleasant in conversation, taking every pains to instruct, he endeared himself to his students, and he remains, I doubt not, in the memory of all of them, as he does in mine, as the model of an upright, honest, conscientious and faithful physician, albeit of a time which has passed away. It may interest the members of my profession to say I saw the first administration of an anesthetic in Northern Ohio. It took place in the building on the south-east corner of Ontario and Prospect Sts., occupied as a medical college before the building was erected on the corner of St. Clair and Erie Sts. I suppose it would be unjust to say that this was any more than an attempt at an administration, as, to my recollection, it was far from successful in abolishing the pain of the operation, doubtless on account of the inferior quality of the ether, which was not then manufactured for inhalation. This was the beginning of a great revolution in surgery. I have since lived to see the art pass through another revolution, quite as great, that brought about by aseptic and antiseptic procedures. I trust you will pardon the draft that I have made upon your time and patience. The tendency of age to wander on when relating the occurrences of youth, is well known, but this time I will restrain it. I feel, too, that I ought to apologize for the personal form in which I have written, yet this was scarcely to be avoided. I do not doubt that some things I have said have awakened slumbering memories and have interested you. May I not express the hope that some of the facts I have presented may help the generation now occupying the field to appreciate the changes which have taken place within a single life time. What mighty changes! Changes which have affected every phase of human life! We, who are passing away, may well express the doubt that any other generation will see such changes as we have seen. In introducing Mrs. Dr. Henry Gerould, Judge Hamilton said: We have with us to-day Mrs. Henry Gerould. She has very kindly, at the invitation of our Executive Committee, consented to say something to you upon the important question of the Country School 40 years ago. I take great pleasure in now introducing her to you. 1 RECITATION BY MRS. GEROULD. THE COUNTRY SCHOOL OF FORTY YEARS AGO. We cannot speak of hardships sore Of the tawny red man we but guess, Of the wild beast's tread know even less. The courage and zeal the fathers showed, We know their history first and last, To these better times and an easier day. 2 3 4 5 When forests were leveled and fields were sown, On the old log school house at the four cross ways, That a comelier building would meet the needs So the old log house was replaced by the new, When wearied of books, and on mischief intent. Not a shade shut out the glaring sun, Not one seat had a back, no, not one, Save the very front row, and those were so high Would find in sweet sleep the work of the day. The desks, hacked and hewed by the unruly few, Is the fact that no matter how many the kind And no one was found who had courage to say Whose hand marred the desk in this scandalous way. 6 7 8. 9. For three months in midsummer, in dust and in heat, The little folks sped with joyous, glad feet, The sweet-faced young school-ma'am with pleasure to meet. She faithfully taught them their P's and their Q's, Set copies in writing, but let each one choose How much or how little of this he would use. But the names of the presidents from Washington down, Must be learned by these children, not one could be minus. Paid special attention to work in Numbers. In winter for four months, be it more or less, For no woman except of rare talent possessed, This teacher had read one precept well Inscribed in the Holy Book. In "Spare the rod and spoil the child," Great pleasure always took. No child should be spoiled by his careless hand, He "would do his duty well." How he performed this imposed task I will leave for you to tell. But memory brings up to view In shadows stern and dark, The cruel blows, the seasoned whip, The open knife, whose mark |