To Work in the Vineyard of Surgery : The Reminiscences of J. Collins Warren (1842-1927)

Six generations of the Warren family of Boston have made notable contributions to medicine and surgery and to medical education. The life of J. Collins Warren spanned the two great discoveries on which present day surgery has developed: anesthesia, and asepsis. A graduate of Harvard College, Dr. Warren studied surgery in Philadelphia, on the battlefields of the Civil War, and in Europe. Returning to Boston, he became one of the outstanding members of the medical profession in the area, always giving freely of his time to the Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts General Hospital. With Dr. Henry P. Bowditch, Warren was a prime mover in the building of the present Harvard Medical School quadrangle which was dedicated in 1906.The reminiscences of Dr. Warren are of great interest to everyone concerned with social and medical developments during an important half century of our country’s life. To make the story told by Dr. Warren easily accessible to every reader, Edward Churchill has provided important commentary and notes, as well as supplementary material on a few phases of Dr. Warren’s career not included in the reminiscences. The epilogue by Dr. Churchill connects the Warren story with the present time, particularly in the field of medical education and the endeavor of medical science. Through presentation of original source material, Dr. Churchill is able also to provide new light on trends and on policy formulation in the field of medical education. PREFACE CONTENTS THE WARREN FAMILY I. TWO DISCOVERIES AWAKEN AN ANCIENT ART II. AN OLD, NEW ENGLAND SURGEON III. NINETEENTH-CENTURY BOSTON AND ITS SURGERY IV. A MEDICAL CADET IN WARTIME PHILADELPHIA V. WOUND SURGERY ON THE PAMUNKEY RIVER VI. THE OLD NORTH GROVE STREET MEDICAL COLLEGE VII. HOUSE PUPIL AT THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL VIII. SURGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN LONDON IX. DRESDEN AND THE SIX WEEKS’ WAR Χ. VIENNA IN ITS MEDICAL HEYDAY XI. THE THREE MASTERS OF BERLIN XII. RUMORS OF CARBOLIC ACID HEARD IN PARIS XIII. PROPHETS OF A NEW ERA XIV. I TALKED WITH LISTER XV. PRACTICE ON PARK STREET XVI. THE OLD GUARD IN CONTROL XVII. A TRICKLE OF NEW IDEAS XVIII. THE ANEURISM OF WILLIAM YOUNG, MECHANIC XIX. A MEW GENERATION AT THE OLD HOSPITAL XX. A NEW GENERATION AT HARVARD XXI. THE MEDICAL SCHOOL MOVES TO BOYLSTON STREET XXII. A TRANSITION PERIOD XXIII. THE GREAT UNDERTAKING ON LONGWOOD AVENUE APPENDICES APPENDIX I. BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT APPENDIX II. THE START ON THE CANCER PROBLEM APPENDIX III. TWO CYCLES OF MEDICINE AT HARVARD: 1846-1906, 1906- SOURCES INDEX