College of Medicine History: 1820 - 1850

“The study of medicine must cultivate the faculty of observation...by personal observation at the bedside of the sick.”

    - Daniel Drake

Medical College of Ohio

Charter granted by Ohio legislature in 1819 -Tenth oldest medical school in the U.S.,  second West of the Alleghanies First session in 1820 held on second floor of 91 Main St. -Class of 25 students -Tuition was $65 plus $21 graduation fee -Requirements for graduation were 2 courses of lectures plus 3 years study with a  “reputable practitioner” First graduating class in April 1821 produced 7 physicians -Graduate John Lambert Richmond performed first Caesarian in U.S. in 1827 Class of 1827 had 80 graduates; 132 in 1831 Despite competition from many other medical schools and frequent faculty turnover, has survived continuously -Primary affiliation with Cincinnati Hospital In 1896 became a part of University of Cincinnati and moved onto campus

The Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum

Charter granted by Ohio legislature in 1821, applied for by Drake and supported by William Henry Harrison First hospital in Ohio First teaching hospital in U.S., affiliated with Medical College of Ohio Building completed in 1823 at a cost of $10,000 -Originally consisted of 13 rooms and 34 lunatic cells Additional wing added in 1833 to bring capacity to 150 beds Hospital Rules and By-Laws: -“No pay patients shall be admitted to the exclusion of the sick and poor of the city” -“All patients, whether pay or charity, will be treated alike in the wards”

Medical Department of Cincinnati College

• Founded by Trustees of Cincinnati College in 1835
• Daniel Drake returned from Jefferson Medical College to be the first Dean
• Considered the most distinguished faculty of the time
• “Open war” rivalry with Medical College of Ohio
• Closed in 1839 due to lack of funding