Page:A Memoir of Thomas C. James, M. D. - Hodge.djvu/19

 in this city) established at the Almshouse, over which he presided as attending accoucheur. To each case of labour was admitted not only the resident pupils of the house, but three of those attending the lectures, so that in succession all were furnished with cases, the peculiarities of which were duly explained.

The first course of lectures terminated on the 2d March, 1803, the second commenced May 10th, of the same year. So that two courses were delivered every year for three years. On the death of Dr. Church, which occurred about this period, Dr. James associated Dr. Chapman with himself, lecturing with him during the winter of 1807-8, and subsequently as a private and public teacher.

The influence of the eminent men who practiced and taught obstetrics in our city, now began to be felt. This science was emerging from obscurity; the clouds which enshrouded it were dispersing; public attention was roused, and public sentiment demanded that more importance should be attached to this branch of medicine in the schools of our country.

In 1808 Dr. Shippen died, and Dr. Wistar was appointed his successor, as Professor of Anatomy and of Midwifery. Dr. Wistar immediately perceived that these two departments of medical science ought to constitute two distinct professorships. On the 3d of January, 1809, he communicated these sentiments to the Board of Trustees, but it was not until the 11th of April, 1810, that the Board took action on this important proposal of Dr. Wistar, and declared by resolution that there should be a separate Professorship of Midwifery in the University of Pennsylvania; but singular as it now seems, they did not render it obligatory on the student to attend the lectures, nor did they place the Professor on an equality with his colleagues.

For this new and important station—important, not only for the expected incumbent, but for the interests of science and the cause of humanity, several candidates were immediately presented, and supported warmly by their respective friends and admirers. Dr. James had for his opponents Dr. Wm. P. Dewees, who had been practising midwifery since the year 1793 in Philadelphia with great success, and whose reputation as a practitioner was then at its height. Also, Dr. N. Chapman, much younger than his rivals, but whose talents and attainments, whose vivacity, humour, and other social qualities, united with an excellent education in this country, polished by a visit to Europe, and with the influence of many and