EARLY INTERNSHIPS IN ST. FRANCIS
HOSPITAL--
A REMINISCENCE
by H. M. PLATTER, M.D.
In September 1889 I enrolled in Starling
Medical College
with Dr. Thomas C. Hoover as my
preceptor. I had already
completed three years of preliminary
education at Ohio Wesleyan
University. Dr. Hoover was professor of
surgery at the college
and the visiting surgeon to St. Francis
Hospital. At the con-
clusion of my freshman year, the first
house physician or intern
was appointed for St. Francis, and the
college announced that
succeeding house physicians would be
chosen from among the
students who had finished their courses
in the upper third of their
classes.
Living quarters for the house physician
were provided in
the hospital, but entrance thereto was
through the medical college
up three flights of winding stairs and
past the dissection room to
the back of the building. Dr. Hoover's
student--myself--and
Dr. Loving's student--Edgar M.
Hatton--also were required to
share the two rooms provided for the
house physician. The quar-
ters were comfortable, quiet, and gave
every opportunity for study.
Here for a period of three years, I
resided, and then I received
the appointment as house physician and
served in that capacity
during the year of 1892-93.
The announcement in the annual report of
the hospital each
year stated that the ordinary time for
daily visits of the physicians
and surgeons was between 9 and 11
o'clock each morning. In
case of emergency they would be called
immediately, day or night.
The house physician, the announcement
read further, was in con-
stant attendance during the day and
night. This latter statement
was only too true! Either the house
physician or the two students
who occupied his quarters were subject
to call at all times. If they
did not report they were severely
reprimanded.
At that time the hospital was known as a
"closed" institution,
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