Nathan Smith Davis, Sr. | |
|---|---|
 Davis two months before his death | |
| Born | (1817-01-09)January 9, 1817 near Greene,Chenango County, New York, US |
| Died | June 16, 1904(1904-06-16) (aged 87) |
| Years active | from 1834 |
| Medical career | |
| Profession | Medicine |
| Institutions | Rush Medical College,Mercy Hospital and Medical Center,Northwestern University |
| Signature | |
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Nathan Smith Davis Sr.,M.D.,LLD (January 9, 1817 – June 16, 1904) was aphysician who was instrumental in the establishment of theAmerican Medical Association[1][2] and was twice elected its president.[3] He became the first editor of theJournal of the American Medical Association.
Davis was born near Greene,Chenango County, New York. He lived and worked on the farm until 16 years of age, attending district school in the winter, and studying for six months inCazenovia Seminary. At the age of 17 he began mastering medicine under Dr. Daniel Clark, attended three courses of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Western District of New York, Fairfield, and was graduated from that institution, on January 31, 1837, with a thesis on "Animal Temperature". He first practiced inVienna, New York, but after a few months moved toBinghamton, New York and soon after settled in New York City.[4][5]
In 1841, he was awarded the prize from the Medical Society of the State of New York for the best "Analysis of the Discoveries Concerning the Physiology of the Nervous System." About seven years later the State Agricultural Society of New York awarded him a prize for a "Text-Book on Agricultural Chemistry." He became a member of the Broome County Medical Society, and was one of its censors in 1838. In 1841, 1842 and 1843 he was secretary and librarian of the society, and in 1843 delegate from Broome County to the Medical Society of the State of New York. In 1845 his report as chairman of the Committee on Correspondence relative to Medical Education and Examination led to the organization of the American Medical Association.[4][5]
Almost from the beginning of his career, Davis was identified with medical education. While in Binghamton, he obtained acadaver and demonstrated anatomy to medical students. His first work as a teacher was lecturer and demonstrator of anatomy in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the city of New York in 1848. A year later he moved toChicago and accepted the chair of physiology and pathology inRush Medical College. A year later, in addition, he assumed the duties of the chair of practice of medicine, and remained connected with the institution for ten years. Soon after he became connected with this college, he appreciated the necessity of a better system of medical education, as at that time there was no classification of students and no adjustable curriculum. He began to agitate for reform, but was opposed. He withdrew, and with a few colleagues founded theChicago Medical College, of which he was for more than forty years the dean and professor of principles and practice of medicine. When Davis arrived in Chicago, there was no organization of physicians, and he was one of the prime movers in the Chicago Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society. For twelve years he was secretary ofthe Chicago Medical Society, and in 1855 served as its president.[4][5][6]
Soon after his arrival in Chicago, there was an epidemic ofmalaria, and he found on analyzing the drinking water that it was polluted by sewage. He straightway began agitation for a system of drainage, and to this end delivered a number of lectures resulting in sewerage reconstruction and foundation ofMercy Hospital. His editorial work began while he was residing in New York City, where he was editor of theAnnalist. In 1855 became editor of theChicago Medical Journal, and five years later theChicago Medical Examiner, remaining with these journals for twenty years. It was chiefly through his efforts that theJournal of the American Medical Association was established in 1883, and he was its first editor, continuing in that position for six years.[7] He was a member of theInternational Medical Congress in 1876, and at that time read a notable paper on "American Medical Institutions." In 1887 he was secretary-general and later president of the Ninth International Medical Congress in Washington. While organizing this congress, he was stricken withcerebral hemorrhage, but recovered within three weeks.
Davis was the founder of theAmerican Medical Association (AMA),[8] served as its president in 1864 and 1865 and as a trustee from 1882 to 1884.[4][5] He was the founder and first editor of theJournal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). He was one of the founders ofLind University, which was reorganized into theChicago Medical College and in 1870 became the medical school of Northwestern University.[9] He was also a founder of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, theChicago Historical Society, the Illinois State Microscopical Society and Union College of Law, of which he was professor of medical jurisprudence. He was also an honorary member of theBritish Medical Association, and many other scientific societies in the US and abroad, a charter member of theAmerican Medical Association, American Medical Temperance Association, Illinois State Medical Society, and the Chicago Medical Society. A Chicago Public School was later named after him.
_and_Nathan_Smith_Davis_Sr._(1817%25E2%2580%25931904)_at_Rosehill_Cemetery%2c_Chicago.jpg)
Davis was a voluminous writer. Among his chief contributions to the medical literature are his "Principles and Practice of Medicine", "Medical Education and Reform", "Verdict of Science Concerning the Effects of Alcohol on Man", and "Clinical Lectures". In 1876 he was first attacked by a prostatic disease, from which he suffered until his death. On June 5, 1904, he was taken ill, showing signs ofuremic poisoning. Up to within one hour of his death he talked clearly and well. He died in Chicago on June 16, quietly and without pain.[4][5][10] He was buried atRosehill Cemetery.
Davis'sson and grandson of the same name themselves became physicians.[11]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain:"Deaths".J Am Med Assoc.XLII (26):1691–1692. 1904.doi:10.1001/jama.1904.02490710023007.
