MEDICINE, Eclectic, embodies the prin ciples and practice of the only established American school of medicine. The term Eclectic was not the most fortunate, for at no time has it adequately defined the school's posi tion. When chosen, the term was very popular and was borne by several education systems and books, and was moreover well known to the laity. The name American School of Medi cine, as proposed by Dr. A. H. Baldridge, one of its pioneers, would have been more express ive, would have avoided misunderstandings and would have saved the school much criticism regarding its position among the existing sys tems of medicine. Eclecticism is the direct successor of the American Reformed System of Medicine originated by Dr. Wooster Beach of New York City in 1825. It should not be con founded with Thomsonism (Thomsonianism), or the doctrines of the steam and herb doctors, promulgated and practised in the early part of the 19th century by Samuel Thomson of New Hampshire, the peculiar theories of which the Eclectic school never adopted; the majority of the followers of Thomson being among their most bitter antagonists. In later years, how ever, many of the Thomsonians joined the Eclectic school and creditably assisted in up building it. The most successful organizer of the Eclectic school was Dr. Thomas Vaughan Morrow of Kentucky. The investigations in medical botany and materia medica by Schoepf, Benjamin Smith Barton, W. C. P. Barton, Constantine Rafinesque, William Tully and others gave an impetus to the movement which resulted in the establishment of the new school. The Reformed School of Medicine, by which name what was later denominated Eclecticism was first known, was organized in opposition to the drastic practice of the dominant school of medicine,— bleeding, blistering, and the abuse of the salts of mercury and antimony,— against which Eclectics, as well as the followers of Thomson and Hahnemann, protested. Instead of these barbarous remedies the reformer sought to substitute milder measures and to employ vegetable medicines whenever possible. Yet, in the light of the present the substituted practice of the early reformers would be re garded as but little less barbaric than that which they sought to supplant. The basis of Eclectic philosophy was the sustenance of the vital forces, the avoidance of depleting remedies, and the selection, as with the ancient Eclectics, of the best of remedies and meansfrom all sources, even despising not the primitive medi cines of the untutored American Indians. They did not rest contented, however, with merely ((selecting the best') i they endeavored to im prove on such selections. To the reformer the practice of the dominant school was cruel and inhuman, the remedies barbaric. Out of the
common stock of remedies he chose those best suited to his purpose in what he believed to be a more humane practice. He looked for ward to certain ideals and objects not in accord with the views and practice of the dominant school. For his presumption in thus opposing the authorities in medicine and by inaugurating unwelcome innovations he was branded an irregular; was ostracised by the self-styled regular physicians. An outcast, he was thus forced to organize a school in accord with his theories and practice.
There are three epochs in the history of Ec lectic medicine,— the period of reformed medi cine, from 1825 to 1845; the formative period, from 1845 to 1869, which was largely concerned in organization, and study of plant remedies; and the period of specific medication, from 1869 to the present, in which the best work of the school has been accomplished, and during which the theory of specific medication was promulgated and has been most largely prac tised.
The educational history of Eclecticism dates from 1825, when Dr. Beach privately instructed students at his clinic in New York, where, in 1827, he established an Infirmary, which in 1829, he expanded into the Reformed Medical Academy. In 1830 it assumed the more digni fied title of the Reformed Medical College of the City of New York. It was well equipped and continued in operation until about 1838. Textbooks of a high order were prepared by Dr. Beach. A national society was formed and from this body an expansion movement was begun by the selection, in 1830, of Dr. John J. Steele as an agent to proceed westward and explore the towns on the Ohio River with a view to selecting an eligible site for a branch of the New York College. A circular of the society having reached Worthington, Ohio, Col. James Kilbourne, president of Worthington College, invited the promoters to establish their school in that town. Dr. Steele accepted and Drs. Thomas Vaughan Morrow and Ichabod Gibson Jones were sent to perfect the organiza tion. The Reformed Medical Denartment of Worthington College, as this school was called, entered upon a successful career in 1830, with Dr. Morrow as the leading spirit, but lack of proper facilities, the machinations of enemies, internal dissensions, and the financial crisis of 1837 caused it to be suspended in 1842. Dr. Morrow next removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and assisted by Drs. Lorenzo Elbridge Jones and Alexander Holmes Baldridge, at once organized the Reformed Medical School of Cincinnati. In 1845 this college was chartered by the State of Ohio as the Eclectic. Medical Institute. From this time the term Eclectic has been employed to designate the system and its physicians.