Edmund Andrews (surgeon)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Andrews was an American doctor, a pioneer in surgery and medical education of the Western United States. He was one of the founders of the Medical Department of the Northwestern University
.
, a son of Betsy Lathrop and Rev. Elisha D. Andrews, the Congregational minister of that town. There, and in Rochester, New York
, he received his preliminary education. He was from the first devoted to botany and geology. At the age of 17 his family moved to central Michigan
, and he entered the University of Michigan
. There he excelled in mathematics and natural sciences and was made president of the literary society of his college. He graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1849. He entered the office of Dr. Z. Pitcher, Detroit, in 1850, and attended lectures in the Medical Department of the University of Michigan. At the end of his first year he was made demonstrator of anatomy; received his degree in medicine in the following year, 1851, and was then made lecturer in comparative anatomy. He received his degree of Master of Arts
in 1852 from the university, and two years later was made professor of comparative anatomy. He was one of the founders of the Michigan State Medical Society, and in 1853 began the publication of the Peninsular Journal of Medical and Collateral
Sciences.
In 1855 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in Rush Medical College, but resigned after one year and devoted himself to practice, especially to surgery. Soon after his arrival in Chicago he aided in founding the Chicago Academy of Science, and was its first president, serving several times in this capacity. A short time after this he, in connection with Dr. Horace Wardner, established a charity dispensary, and a private dissecting room, where he taught a class in anatomy. He was one of the founders of the Chicago Medical College, and was its first professor of surgery. This latter position he held actively or emeritus up to his death. He was also surgeon to the Mercy Hospital. When the Civil War broke out he was made surgeon of the First Illinois Light Artillery, but after a year was obliged to resign by reason of illness incurred in the service. He was the first to make and keep complete medical records of the sick and wounded in war, and his
records were accepted by the surgeon general and formed the basis on which records of that office have since been kept. He was a pioneer in practical antisepsis, and was the first man in the west to employ Lister's method after its exploitation.
Andrews was for many years a member of the American Medical Association
, Michigan State Medical Society
, Illinois State Medical Society, the Chicago Medical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
, the Chicago Academy of Science, Wisconsin Academy of Science, etc. For a number of years he was a trustee of Northwestern University
. He contributed largely to medical literature. He collected and published statistics of 92,815 cases of ether anesthesia
and 117,078 cases of chloroform anesthesia, showing the relative risk in the use of these two agents.
Andrews was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, and a constant contributor to religious periodicals, his chief topic being the harmony of science and religion.
Although he had suffered from enlarged prostate and cystitis
for two or three years he attended to his professional work until the day before he went to the hospital for operation. In January 1904, he was operated by his sons for a stone of the bladder. He recovered after operation well, but then on January 22, he had a sudden attack of vertigo
and died in about an hour.
Outside of his work in medicine, Dr. Andrews was a geologist of repute, and his work on the early glacial history of North America his been very largely quoted. His papers on geologic subjects have been published in the Proceedings and Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Science and in Silliman's Journal. Once only has he found time to cross the Atlantic, in 1867, when he visited the colleges and hospitals of London and Paris.
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
Biography
Andrews was born in Putney, VermontPutney, Vermont
Putney is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,634 at the 2000 census.On December 26, 1753 Col.Josiah Willard led a proprietors' petition for a Putney charter which was issued by Governor Benning Wentworth of the New Hampshire Grants under King George II of England...
, a son of Betsy Lathrop and Rev. Elisha D. Andrews, the Congregational minister of that town. There, and in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, he received his preliminary education. He was from the first devoted to botany and geology. At the age of 17 his family moved to central Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, and he entered the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. There he excelled in mathematics and natural sciences and was made president of the literary society of his college. He graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1849. He entered the office of Dr. Z. Pitcher, Detroit, in 1850, and attended lectures in the Medical Department of the University of Michigan. At the end of his first year he was made demonstrator of anatomy; received his degree in medicine in the following year, 1851, and was then made lecturer in comparative anatomy. He received his degree of Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1852 from the university, and two years later was made professor of comparative anatomy. He was one of the founders of the Michigan State Medical Society, and in 1853 began the publication of the Peninsular Journal of Medical and Collateral
Sciences.
In 1855 he was appointed demonstrator of anatomy in Rush Medical College, but resigned after one year and devoted himself to practice, especially to surgery. Soon after his arrival in Chicago he aided in founding the Chicago Academy of Science, and was its first president, serving several times in this capacity. A short time after this he, in connection with Dr. Horace Wardner, established a charity dispensary, and a private dissecting room, where he taught a class in anatomy. He was one of the founders of the Chicago Medical College, and was its first professor of surgery. This latter position he held actively or emeritus up to his death. He was also surgeon to the Mercy Hospital. When the Civil War broke out he was made surgeon of the First Illinois Light Artillery, but after a year was obliged to resign by reason of illness incurred in the service. He was the first to make and keep complete medical records of the sick and wounded in war, and his
records were accepted by the surgeon general and formed the basis on which records of that office have since been kept. He was a pioneer in practical antisepsis, and was the first man in the west to employ Lister's method after its exploitation.
Andrews was for many years a member of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
, Michigan State Medical Society
Michigan State Medical Society
The Michigan State Medical Society is the professional organization representing physicians in Michigan. Incorporated on June 5, 1866, the MSMS is a non-profit organization that consists of physicians, medical students, and residents. It is currently based in East Lansing, Michigan, near Michigan...
, Illinois State Medical Society, the Chicago Medical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
, the Chicago Academy of Science, Wisconsin Academy of Science, etc. For a number of years he was a trustee of Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. He contributed largely to medical literature. He collected and published statistics of 92,815 cases of ether anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
and 117,078 cases of chloroform anesthesia, showing the relative risk in the use of these two agents.
Andrews was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, and a constant contributor to religious periodicals, his chief topic being the harmony of science and religion.
Although he had suffered from enlarged prostate and cystitis
Cystitis
Cystitis is a term that refers to urinary bladder inflammation that results from any one of a number of distinct syndromes. It is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection in which case it is referred to as a urinary tract infection.-Signs and symptoms:...
for two or three years he attended to his professional work until the day before he went to the hospital for operation. In January 1904, he was operated by his sons for a stone of the bladder. He recovered after operation well, but then on January 22, he had a sudden attack of vertigo
Vertigo
Vertigo is a form of dizziness.Vertigo may also refer to:* Vertigo , a 1958 film by Alfred Hitchcock**Vertigo , its soundtrack** Vertigo effect, or Dolly zoom, a special effect in film, named after the movie...
and died in about an hour.
Outside of his work in medicine, Dr. Andrews was a geologist of repute, and his work on the early glacial history of North America his been very largely quoted. His papers on geologic subjects have been published in the Proceedings and Transactions of the Chicago Academy of Science and in Silliman's Journal. Once only has he found time to cross the Atlantic, in 1867, when he visited the colleges and hospitals of London and Paris.